The Man who changed into a Woman at Will.Was his wife his or the other man's?
So the king went back as before under the sissoo tree, put the goblin on his shoulder, and started toward the monk.And as he walked along, the goblin told the king a story.
There was a city called Shivapur in Nepal.Long ago a king named Glory-banner lived there, and he deserved the name.He laid the burden of government on his counsellor named Ocean- of-Wisdom, and devoted himself to a life of pleasure with his wife Moonbright.
In course of time a daughter named Moonlight was born to them, pleasing as the moonlight to the eyes of men.When she grew up, she went one day in spring with her servants to a festival in the garden.
There she was seen by a Brahman youth named Master- mind, the son of Rich, who had come there to the festival.When he saw her plucking flowers with one arm uplifted, he went mad with love.His heart was taken captive by the gay maiden, and he was no longer master of his mind.
He thought: "Is she the goddess of love, plucking the spring flowers in person? Or is she a forest goddess, come here to worship the spring-time?" Then the princess saw him, like a new god of love incarnate.The moment her eyes fell on him, she fell in love, forgetting her flowers and even her own limbs.While they looked at each other, lost in love like people in a picture, a great wail of anguish arose.They lifted their heads to learn what the matter was, and just then an elephant that had broken his chain, maddened by the scent of another mad elephant, came by, crushing the people in his path.He had thrown off his driver and the ankus hungfrom him as he ran.And everyone fled in terror.
But the youth Master-mind ran up in a hurry and took the princess in his arms.And with a mixture of fear and love and modesty she halfembraced him as he carried her far out of the elephant's path.Then her people gradually gathered, and she went to the palace, looking at the youth, and burning over the flame of love.
And the youth went home from the garden, and thought: "I cannot live, I cannot exist a moment without her.I must seek help from my teacher Root, who is a thorough rogue." And so the day slowly passed.
The next morning he went to his teacher Root, and found him with his constant friend Moon.He drew near, bowed, and told his desire.And the teacher laughed and promised to help him.
So that wonderful rogue put a magic pill in his mouth, and thus changed himself into an old Brahman.He put a second pill into Master- mind's mouth, which changed him into a lovely girl.Then that prince of rogues took him to the king and said: "O King, this maiden has come a long distance to marry my only son.But my son has gone away, and I am going to look for him.Please keep the girl.For you are a protector to be trusted while I am looking for my son."The king was afraid of a curse, so he promised to do it.And summoning his daughter, he said: "Daughter, keep this maiden in your chamber, and let her live with you." So the girl took the Brahman youth Master-mind in his girl form to her own apartments.
