Note 8 — Batiushkov.

The wise man, who according to the oriental story (current also in Russia) received Truth when she had been inhospitably driven from place to place. In Russia I have heard the fable thus:—A Vakir in his ramble trod where the ground re-echoed his footsteps—“It must be hollow here,” thought he; “I will dig, and I shall find a treasure.” He dug, and discovered a spring, from whence a beautiful and naked female sprung forth—“Who art thou, loveliest daughter of heaven?” said he. “My name,” she replied, “is Truth; lend me thy mantle.” This he refused to do; and she hastened to the city, where the poets found fault with her figure, the courtiers with her manners, the merchants with her simplicity. She wandered about, and none would give her an asylum, till she fell in with a poor man, the court news-writer, who thought she might be a very useful auxiliary: but she blotted out whatever he composed, so that no news was published for many days; and the sultan sending for his newsman to inquire the cause of his silence, was told the history of the intrusive guest, who was in consequence summoned to court. Here, however, she was so troublesome, turning every thing upside down, that it was determined to convey her away; and the sultan ordered her to be buried alive in his garden. His commands were obeyed by his courtiers; but Truth, who always springs up with renewed vigour in the open air, rose from her grave; and, after wandering about for some time, found the door of the public library open, went in, and amused herself by burning all the books that were there, with the exception of two or three. Again straying forth in search of an abode, she met a venerable man, to whom she told her story—and this was Pilpay. He received her to his house with a cordial welcome, and requested her company to his museum of stuffed beasts, birds, and insects. “Thou hast no discreetness,” said he; “in the world thou art constantly getting into scrapes: now take the counsel of an old man, make this cabinet thy abode; here thou hast a large choice of society, and here dwell.” She found the advice so reasonable that she adopted it; since when her voice is only heard in the language of fable, and her chosen interpreters are the animal creation.

Pilpay’s Fables were translated into French by Galland, 2 vols. 8vo. 1714. There are also several English translations.