THE FIRE BIRD
tell him what would befall his first-born; but the King bade him speak out, and he obeyed.
'Sire,' he said humbly, 'I come not to tell thee bad news, but rather to warn thee in time, lest a vision that came to me in the night should perchance come true.'
The King looked a little anxious, for he had heard tales, strange but true, about this wise man from Persia and his wonderful powers.
'Speak on, Ferdâsan,' he said.
'Sire,' replied the seer, 'the dream that came to me was a deep-sleep vision. Doubt not that it is a warning entrusted to me to lay before you. O King, this is the substance of it. Fifteen years came and went before my inner eyes, and the son that has been born to you from heaven grew more beautiful year by year. But at the close of the fifteenth year he—flew away!'
'Flew away!' cried the King, startled. 'And what was the manner of his flight, O Ferdâsan?'
'Sire, in the midst of the palace gardens, Hausa, the Bird of the Sun, came to seek him or to be sought by him. He mounted on the back of this bird; and then, as the twilight fell, it carried him away westward.'
'With what purpose, Ferdâsan'
'That, sire, I can reveal to you only in words that hide my thoughts, and——'
'Nay, nay; tell me all, I command you.'
'His fate stands thus. He is destined to marry the Maiden of the Dawn, and, in quest of her, he will fly westward in his fifteenth year, unless——'
'Yes, unless what, man?'
'Unless you yourself, sire, keep watch and ward and so prevent him.'
The King stared at the seer. How could he believe this thing?
'It seems that you have come to disturb my peace,' he said angrily. 'What proof have I that you speak truly? If your wisdom has brought me this warning, then your wisdom can avert
160
