The crimson fairy book . diers cameto him with a new falsehood, he was as ready to listen tothem as before. * Gracious Majesty, said they, the youth whom youhave made keeper of your jewels has declared to us thata child shall be born in the palace this night, which willbe able to speak every language in the world and to playevery instrument of music. Is he then become a prophet,or a magician, that he should know things which havenot yet come to pass ? At these words the king became more angry thanever. He had tried to learn magic himself, but somehow,or other his spells would never work, and h
The crimson fairy book . diers cameto him with a new falsehood, he was as ready to listen tothem as before. * Gracious Majesty, said they, the youth whom youhave made keeper of your jewels has declared to us thata child shall be born in the palace this night, which willbe able to speak every language in the world and to playevery instrument of music. Is he then become a prophet,or a magician, that he should know things which havenot yet come to pass ? At these words the king became more angry thanever. He had tried to learn magic himself, but somehow,or other his spells would never work, and he was furiousto hear that the prince claimed a power that he did notpossess. Stammering with rage, he ordered the youth tobe brought before him, and vowed that unless this miraclewas accomplished he would have the prince dragged at ahorses tail until he was dead. In spite of what the soldiers had said, the boy knewno more magic than the king did, and his task seemedmore hopeless than before. He lay weeping in the chamber. THE GOLD-BEARDED MAN 211 which he was forbidden to leave, when suddenly he hearda sharp tapping at the window, and, looking up, he behelda stork. *? What makes you so sad, prince ? asked he. Someone has told the king that I have prophesiedthat a child shall be born this night in the palace, whocan speak all the languages in the world and play everymusical instrument. 1 am no magician to bring thesethings to pass, but he says that if it does not happen hewill have me dragged through the city at a horses tailtill I die. * Do not trouble yourself, answered the stork. * I willmanage to find such a child, for I am the king of thestorks whose life you spared, and now I can repay youfor it. The stork flew away and soon returned carrying inhis beak a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid itdown near a lute. In an instant the l^aby stretched outits little hands and began to play a tune so beautiful thateven the prince forgot his sorrows as he listened. Thenhe was
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondon, bookyear190
