[168] While the noble ones, of noble conduct, were taking counsel together thus,
the hunter appeared to them, as the Ender (Antaka) appears to the afflicted.
Catching sight of the enemy, those birds (dijā), long-time well-wishers of one another,
both kept silence and did not stir from their seats.
And seeing the Dhataraṭṭha geese flying up from this quarter and that,
the enemy of birds advanced with speed upon the lords of birds.
And he, having advanced with speed and come right up to those supreme birds,
drew back — that hunter — pondering, "They are caught."
[He beheld] the one sitting there bound, and the other again unbound,
seated close beside the bound one, looking on, undaunted.
Then, perplexed indeed, he addressed the white one,
seated there, great of body, overlord of the flock and host of birds:
"Since he that is bound in the great snare can make off to no quarter,
why then do you, unbound, a bird of strength, not go?
What, pray, is this bird to you, that, being free, you wait upon the bound one?
The birds fly off and forsake him — why do you alone remain behind?"
[Variant readings: ¹ Sī: baddhaṃ; Yu: bandhaṃ. ² Ma: buddhisampannaṃ. ³ Ma: paccakamittha.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.