The Story of the Mango Bird

THE STORY OF THE MANGO BIRD In a certain country a hen bird is eating the mangoes at a Wild Mango tree, it is said.

THE STORY OF THE MANGO BIRD

In a certain country a hen bird is eating the mangoes at a Wild Mango tree, it is said.

While a man was chopping the earthen ridges in the field at which is the Wild Mango tree, having seen the Mango Bird the man went up the tree, and having caught the Mango Bird and descended from the tree to the ground, struck the Mango Bird on the root of the tree. Having struck it he asked the Mango Bird, "Mango Bird, was that day good [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

"Both that day was good and to-day is good Through eating the mangoes of a Mango tree, And looking if hardness in Mango root there be."

After that, the man having placed the Mango Bird in a gap in the earthen ridge in the rice field, in which there was water, asks the bird, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

"Both that day was good and to-day is good Through eating the mangoes of a Mango tree, Looking if hardness in Mango root there be, And 'mid the lower lands the frolic watery."

After that, as the man was coming home taking the bird, there was a grass field by the path. Having struck the bird [on the ground] in the field, the man asked, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

After that, the man having taken the bird, as he was going home struck the bird on the road stile, and asked, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

After that, the man having taken the bird, as he was going to go (sic) into the house struck it on the door-frame, and asked the bird, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

After that, the man, having [broken the ligature round the end of a torch, and] lighted the torch, and set the bird upon [the flame, to singe off the feathers], asked, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

"Both that day was good and to-day is good Through eating the mangoes of a Mango tree, Looking if hardness in Mango root there be, 'Mid the lower lands the frolic watery, Keeping up old customs on the grassy lea, Finding that the road stile would be crossed by me, Learning the defects of the door-frame's carpentry, Fracture of the tying of the torch by thee."

After that, the man cut up the bird with the bill-hook, and says, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

"Both that day was good and to-day is good Through eating the mangoes of a Mango tree, Looking if hardness in Mango root there be, 'Mid the lower lands the frolic watery, Keeping up old customs on the grassy lea, Finding that the road stile would be crossed by me. Learning the defects of the door-frame's carpentry, Fracture of the tying of the torch by thee, Looking the smith's bill-hook's cutting to see."

After that, the man put the bird in the cooking vessel, and having placed it on the hearth [to cook], asked, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

After that, this man, having apportioned the cooked rice on the plate, and having apportioned the flesh of the bird, while he was eating [it] asked, "Mango Bird, was that day good, [or] is to-day good?"

Then the bird says,

Sir, behold! Be good enough to remain looking out."

Having said [this], the Mango Bird flew out of the man's nose. The man died just as the bird was flying away.