The Jackal and The Crow

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of
Benares, the Bodhisatta became a tree-spirit in a certain
rose-apple grove. A Crow perched upon a branch of his
tree, and began to eat the fruit. Then came a Jackal, and
looked up and spied the Crow. Thought he, " If I flatter
this creature, perhaps I shall get some of the fruit to eat ! "
So in flattery he repeated the first stanza :

Who is it sits in a rose-apple tree-
Sweet singer! whose voice trickles gently to me?
Like a young- peacock she coos with soft grace,
And ever sits still in her place.

The Crow, in his praise, responded with the second :

He that is noble in breeding- and birth
Can praise others' breeding 1 , knows what they are worth.
Like a young- tiger thou seemest to be :
Come, eat what I give, Sir, to thee!

With these words she shook the branch and made
some fruit drop. Then the spirit of the tree, beholding
these two eating, after flattering each other, repeated the
third stanza :

Liars, foregather, I very well know.
Here, for example, a carrion Crow,
And corpse-eating Jackal, with puerile clatter
Proceed one another to flatter!

After repeating this stanza, the tree-spirit, assuming a
fearful shape, scared them both away.