The Judas-Tree

Once on a time Brahmadatta the king of Benares had
four sous. One day they sent for the charioteer, and said
to him,

" We want to see a Judas-tree l ; shew us one ! "
" Very well, 1 will," the charioteer replied. But he did
not shew it them all together. He took the eldest at once
to the forest in the chariot, and shewed him the tree at
the time when the buds were just sprouting from the stem.
To the second he shewed it when the leaves were green, to
the third at the time of blossoming, and to the fourth when
it was bearing fruit.

After this it happened that the four brothers were
sitting together, and some one asked, "What sort of a
tree is the Judas-tree ? " Then the first brother answered,

" Like a burnt stump ! "

And the second cried, " Like a banyan-tree ! "

And the third "Like a piece of meat 1 !"

And the fourth said, " Like the acacia ! "

They were vexed at each other's answers, and ran to
find their father. " My lord," they asked, " what sort of a
tree is the Judas-tree ? "

" What is that you say ? " he asked. They told him the
manner of their answers. Said the king,

"All four of you have seen the tree. Only when the
charioteer shewed you the tree, you did not ask him
' What is the tree like at such a time ? ' or ' at such another
time ? ' You made no distinctions, and that is the reason
of your mistake." And he repeated the first stanza :

All have seen the Judas-tree
What is your perplexity?
No one asked the charioteer
What its form the livelong 1 year!