विक्रम चरित (उज्जैन सम्राट् विक्रमादित्य - पराक्रम, न्याय एवं ३२ पुतलियों की कथा सटीक)

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such enquiries were made regarding them, and at the same
time was astonished that a parrot should display so much
sense and sympathy. There was something very extraordi-
nary about that, he thought. In the belief that a parrot,
which could show such wonderful wisdom, might also devise
some means for the amelioration of their condition, he
besought it to take pity on their miserable state, and
asked it to come down from the tree, assuring it that no
harm should be done it. Seeing the kind and grateful
manner in which the invitation was tendered, the parrot
flew down from the tree, and joined the wanderers below.
These people, one after the other, drew near it by turns,
and prostrated themselves before it. The chief, at the end
of this obeisance, said, “ Oh sage parrot ! do us the favor
to listen attentively to our unfortunate tale. We are of the
tribe of Bahooroopee ; we arrived at this city about a
month ago, with the view of following our calling, which is
that of strolling players, and by such means to earn an
honest livelihood ; but I regret exceedingly to state that the
king will not permit our doing so, nor will he condescend to
witness our performance, which has proved a sore disap-
pointment to us, and we are now at a great loss what plan
to adopt to obtain a subsistence. We have been compelled
by sheer necessity to part with all we possessed when we
first set foot in this city, even with the ornaments which
formed a part of our appendage, for the purpose of obtain-
ing food, so that we have nothing left now, and are therefore
quite destitute.” The parrot, after a patient hearing of
this sad case, asked the chief if any of them were masters of
any particular art, by exhibiting which the king might be
induced to sympathise with them. He replied that if the
king would only tolerate their presence, and allow them a
fair opportunity of winning his patronage, he would under-
take to secure it ere long. The parrot then desired to be
informed of the arts with which the Bahooroopees were
familiar, and they did so. But, much to their surprise,
none of them seemed to please the parrot, still less did they