Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon Volume 3

Excerpt: The Prince and the Ascetics In a certain country there is a Prince it is said. After the Prince became big for the purpose of marrying him they began to visit all cities to seek an unpolluted Princess. Because they did not meet with one according to the Prince’s thought he began to look at many sooth books. While looking from a book he got to know one circumstance. The matter indeed [was this]:—There was [written] in the book that when the Prince remains no long time inside the hollow of a large tree a Princess will be born from the Prince’s very blood. Thereupon having considered it according to the manner in which it was mentioned he stayed inside the tree. When he was there not much time he met with a Princess also in that before-mentioned manner. The Prince thereupon took the Princess in marriage. After he took her in marriage having constructed a palace in the midst of that forest both of them stayed in it. While they are [there] the Prince having come every day [after] shooting animals skinned them and taking the skins and having fixed them on the wall asks the Princess “What animals’ skins are these?” He asks the names from the Princess. Then the Princess says “I don’t know.” On the day after that after the Prince went for hunting a Vaedd? came near the palace. The Princess having seen the Vaedd? called him. Then the Vaedd? went to the palace. After he went the Princess asked the Vaedd? “What animals’ skins are these?” The Vaedd? informed (lit. told and gave) the Princess of the names of the animals. Then the Princess asks the Vaedd? “Where do you live?” The Vaedd? says “I also live very near this palace in the midst of the forest.” The Princess says “Vaedd? advise me how to cause you to be brought to me at the time when I want you.” Then the Vaedd? said “I will tie a hawk’s-bell in my house and having tied a cord to it and tied it on a tree near the palace and pointed it out at the time when the Princess wants me shake the cord. Then I shall come” he said. The Vaedd? having informed the Princess about this matter after the Vaedd? went away the Prince having come back [after] doing hunting just as on other days asked the Princess the names of these animals. That day the Princess told him the names of the animals. After that she was unable to inform him of the name of the animal he brought. The Prince having reflected walked round the palace. When he looked about having seen that a cord was tied to a tree he shook it. Then having seen that the Vaedd? comes to the palace the Prince remained hidden. The Vaedd? having come and spoken to the Princess after the Vaedd? went away the Prince having gone to the palace went for hunting. Walking in the midst of the forest he went near a river and when he was looking about having heard the talk of men the Prince went into a tree. Having gone [there] while he was looking three men (minis) came and having slipped off their clothes and finished after they descended to bathe from the three betel boxes of the three persons three women came out. They having opened the mouths of the three betel boxes of the three women when he was looking the Prince saw that three men are inside their three betel boxes. After that the Prince descended from the tree to the ground and asked the three men [when they had bathed] “Who are you?” Then the men say “We all three are ascetics” they said. After that the Prince calling the three persons went to the palace. Having gone [there] the Prince told the Princess to cook rice for twelve. After she cooked he said “Having set twelve plates of cooked rice place them on the table.”