THE SELFISH MAN

Previous
CharactersMan, Camel, Wise Man, Tiger

Camel. Pray, sir, where are you going?

Man. I am going to the Wise Man to seek my fortune.

Camel. Seek mine, too. I have had these sacks of gold on my back for a long time. I cannot lie down. Seek mine, too.

Man. I will.

Tiger. Pray, sir, where are you going?

Man. I am going to the Wise Man to seek my fortune.

Tiger. Seek mine, too. For a long time I have had this thorn in my foot. I cannot rest. Seek mine, too.

Man. I will. [Man comes to Wise Man.]

Wise Man. I pray you, sir, why are you here?

Man. I seek my fortune. I am a very poor man.

Wise Man. Then, I fear you have been living only for yourself. Think of making others rich and you will become rich.

Man. In the jungle I met a camel. He carried two sacks of gold on his back. They were so heavy that he could not lie down. He asked me to seek his fortune, too.

Wise Man. Take the sacks off his back. Then he will be free, and you will have the gold. Why did you not do it before?

Man. I was thinking only of myself. After that I met a tiger. For many days he has had a thorn in his foot. He cannot rest. He asked me to seek his fortune, too.

Wise Man. Take the thorn out of his foot, and both of you will gain by it. Why did you not think of this before?

Man. I was thinking only of myself. [Man goes homeward. He meets the tiger.]

Tiger. Have you found my fortune?

Man. The Wise Man told me to take the thorn out of your foot.

[Pulls thorn out and starts to go on.]

Tiger. Thank you. Here, take my treasure. I did not think of giving it to you before. [Man goes on.]

Camel. Have you found my fortune?

Man. The Wise Man told me to take the sacks off your back.

[Man takes off sacks.]

Camel. Thank you. But stop! These sacks are full of gold. Take them, and both of us will be happy. Why did we not think of this before?

Man. We were thinking only of ourselves.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Clyx.com


Top of Page
Top of Page