good enough for him and had returned to earth. ‘Very good,’ said the Jade Emperor, ‘you may return to your duties. I will send heavenly soldiers to arrest him.’ At once Vaisravana and his son Natha came forward and volunteered for this service. They were put in command of the expedition, and appointed the Mighty Magic Spirit to lead the way, the Fish-Belly general to bring up the rear, and the captain of the Yakshas to drive the troops on. Soon they were out of the southern gate of Heaven, and on their way to the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. They then chose a piece of flat ground, where they encamped, and the Mighty Magic Spirit was chosen to provoke battle. He buckled on his armour and, brandishing his great axe, he strode towards the mouth of the Water Curtain Cave. Outside it were gathered together a band of monsters–wolves, tigers, and so on -prancing about, flourishing spears and swords, leaping and noisily brawling. ‘Accursed creatures,’ cried the spirit, ‘go quickly and tell the groom that a great commandant from Heaven has come by order of the Jade Emperor to receive his submission. Tell him to be quick about it, or you will all of you pay with your lives.’ The monsters came helter-skelter into the cave.
‘A terrible thing has happened,’ they announced.
‘What’s the matter ?’ asked Monkey.
‘There’s a heavenly commandant at the gate,’ they said, ‘declaring that he has been sent by the Jade Emperor to receive your submission. If you don’t submit at once, he says we shall all pay for it with our lives.’
‘Bring me my arms,’ cried Monkey. He put on his bronze helmet, his golden corselet and cloud-stepping shoes, and with his magic staff in his hand, he led out his followers and arrayed them for battle.
When the Mighty Magic Spirit saw him, ‘Wretched monkey,’ he cried,’ do you know me or not ?’
‘What scurvy deity are you?’ asked Monkey. ‘I have never set eyes on you. Tell me your name at once.’
‘Vile trickster!’ cried he, ‘how dare you pretend you do not know me ? I am the leader of the vanguard of Vais”ravana’s heavenly host, the Mighty Magic Spirit. I come by command of the Jade Emperor to receive your submission. Disarm at once and throw yourself on Heaven’s mercy, or all the denizens of this mountain will be put to the sword. Breathe so much as half of the word “No,” and you will instantly be sliced to pieces.’
‘Scurvy deity,’ cried Monkey, very angry, ‘stop your bragging. If I were to strike you dead with one blow of my staff, you could not carry my message. So I shall spare your life, that you may go back to Heaven and tell the Jade Emperor that he does not know how to use a good man when he finds one. I have innumerable arts of magic. Why should I be put to mind the horses? Look what is written on this banner. If he admits my right to this title, I will leave him in peace. But if he refuses, I will come up at once and strike such a blow at his palace as will tumble him from his dragor couch.’
Looking about, the spirit saw the banner, with its inscription, and laughed aloud. ‘The impudence of this vile monkey 1’ he cried. ‘Call yourself “Equal of Heaven” if you please, but first swallow a good dose of this axe of mine!’ and he struck at Monkey’s head. But Monkey was not ruffled, and met the blow with his staff. It was a good fight that followed. At last the spirit could withstand no longer. Monkey aimed a smashing blow at his head, which he attempted to parry with his axe. The axe split in two, and he was obliged to run for his life. Back in the camp he went straight to Vaisravana and kneeling before him panted out, ‘The groom has magic powers that are too great for us. Iwas unable to stand up to him and have come to plead for mercy.’
‘This wretch,’ said Vaisravana, looking contemptuously at the spirit, ‘has humiliated me. Take him away and cut off his head!’ But his son, prince Natha, slipped
‘A terrible thing has happened,’ they announced.
‘What’s the matter ?’ asked Monkey.
‘There’s a heavenly commandant at the gate,’ they said, ‘declaring that he has been sent by the Jade Emperor to receive your submission. If you don’t submit at once, he says we shall all pay for it with our lives.’
‘Bring me my arms,’ cried Monkey. He put on his bronze helmet, his golden corselet and cloud-stepping shoes, and with his magic staff in his hand, he led out his followers and arrayed them for battle.
When the Mighty Magic Spirit saw him, ‘Wretched monkey,’ he cried,’ do you know me or not ?’
‘What scurvy deity are you?’ asked Monkey. ‘I have never set eyes on you. Tell me your name at once.’
‘Vile trickster!’ cried he, ‘how dare you pretend you do not know me ? I am the leader of the vanguard of Vais”ravana’s heavenly host, the Mighty Magic Spirit. I come by command of the Jade Emperor to receive your submission. Disarm at once and throw yourself on Heaven’s mercy, or all the denizens of this mountain will be put to the sword. Breathe so much as half of the word “No,” and you will instantly be sliced to pieces.’
‘Scurvy deity,’ cried Monkey, very angry, ‘stop your bragging. If I were to strike you dead with one blow of my staff, you could not carry my message. So I shall spare your life, that you may go back to Heaven and tell the Jade Emperor that he does not know how to use a good man when he finds one. I have innumerable arts of magic. Why should I be put to mind the horses? Look what is written on this banner. If he admits my right to this title, I will leave him in peace. But if he refuses, I will come up at once and strike such a blow at his palace as will tumble him from his dragor couch.’
Looking about, the spirit saw the banner, with its inscription, and laughed aloud. ‘The impudence of this vile monkey 1’ he cried. ‘Call yourself “Equal of Heaven” if you please, but first swallow a good dose of this axe of mine!’ and he struck at Monkey’s head. But Monkey was not ruffled, and met the blow with his staff. It was a good fight that followed. At last the spirit could withstand no longer. Monkey aimed a smashing blow at his head, which he attempted to parry with his axe. The axe split in two, and he was obliged to run for his life. Back in the camp he went straight to Vaisravana and kneeling before him panted out, ‘The groom has magic powers that are too great for us. Iwas unable to stand up to him and have come to plead for mercy.’
‘This wretch,’ said Vaisravana, looking contemptuously at the spirit, ‘has humiliated me. Take him away and cut off his head!’ But his son, prince Natha, slipped
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