...this one's an old one, I think? Once a man, out walking, saw a young woman struggling to carry a bundle on her own, and ran to help. When he did, he found her to be beautiful, and asked where she was going at the early hour all on her own. She seemed to be in some distress, and told him that her family had cast her away and that she'd been sold as a concubine to a man no better, and so she was alone in the world.
Having compassion, he took her in to his house, although she said that her presence must remain a secret. Therefore, he only told of her to his wife, who was worried, but he was sure it would be fine.
Therefore, when he next met a monk walking who told him that he had been enthralled by some creature, he also paid him no heed, and went along happily, returning to his home. Such a beautiful girl could mean him no ill, he thought.
But when he returned, he found the library he kept was shut closed and locked, and climbing over the wall to get to it, thinking that perhaps there'd been a mistake or a mishap, he found the inner room shut as well. At this moment, he began to wonder if something was very, very wrong.
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...this one's an old one, I think? Once a man, out walking, saw a young woman struggling to carry a bundle on her own, and ran to help. When he did, he found her to be beautiful, and asked where she was going at the early hour all on her own. She seemed to be in some distress, and told him that her family had cast her away and that she'd been sold as a concubine to a man no better, and so she was alone in the world.
Having compassion, he took her in to his house, although she said that her presence must remain a secret. Therefore, he only told of her to his wife, who was worried, but he was sure it would be fine.
Therefore, when he next met a monk walking who told him that he had been enthralled by some creature, he also paid him no heed, and went along happily, returning to his home. Such a beautiful girl could mean him no ill, he thought.
But when he returned, he found the library he kept was shut closed and locked, and climbing over the wall to get to it, thinking that perhaps there'd been a mistake or a mishap, he found the inner room shut as well. At this moment, he began to wonder if something was very, very wrong.