The Moon, they say, called Mantis,
sent him with life to people saying:
Go to men and tell them this--
As I die and dying live,
you too shall die and dying live.
Mantis started, took the word.
Then Hare stopped him by the path,
he said: What, insect, is your errand:
Mantis answered: I am sent by Moon,
by that one, I must say to men--
As he dies and dying lives
they too shall die and dying live.
Hare the quick-tongue said to him:
Why run? You are shaky on your legs.
Let me go, I outrun the wind.
Hare ran, he came to men and said:
Moon sent me with this word--
As I die and dying perish
you shall die and utterly die.
Hare raced again to Moon,
told him all that he had said to men.
The Moon said dark with anger:
How is it you dared tell them
this thing I never said:
He took up wood, a sharp fire-log,
with one blow in the face
struck down the Hare. He split
the lying Hare's lip to this day.