Note 16 — Note to Chapter 60. The fables of Pilpay.

Benfey (Panchatantra, Vol. I, p. 231) quotes the following passage from John of Capua’s version, “Dicitur autem, melior omnium regum est qui aquilæ similatur in cujus circuitu sunt cadavera, pejor vero omnium est qui similatur cadaveri in cujus circuitu sunt aquilæ.” It is wanting in De Sacy’s edition of the Arabic version, and in the old Greek translation. This looks as if the Hebrew version, from which John of Capua translates, was the best representation of the original Indian work.