The Panchatantra - Story 71

STORY NO. 71. THE CUNNING SLUT

In the town of Dwaravati(Dwaraka in Gujarat) there was a wanton cow-herdess who used to entertain two lovers, the magistrates of the town and his youthful son, unknown to each other and to her husband. One day she was sporting with the magistrate's son merrily, when the magistrate knocked at the door seeking her company. The young man was frightened to death. But the cow-herdess promptly put the terrified youth in a cupboard, and opened the door and admitted the magistrate and sported with him. The cowherd unexpectedly returned and knocked at the door.. The magistrate was alarmed at the prospective loss of his reputation. The cow-herdess becalmed him and said, "You just walk out of the house with this stick, wearing an angry look, and nothing will happen to you" and handed to him a stout lathi(A stout stick).

She then opened the door, and the magistrate rushed out with the stick. The cowherd asked his wife, "Why has the magistrate come to our house She replied, The silly old man had a row with his son, and chased him with that stoat stick in order to give him a heavy beating. The frightened young man rushed into our house, and I shut him up in our cupboard to save him from the beating. The angry old man who had lost track rushed into our house, seeking his son, and, on not finding him, is rushing out with the stick as angrily as ever. Here .is his young son"and opened the cupboard and let out the young man. The cowherd praised his wife for her act and the young man went home in peace.