Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/159

Rh &quot;Have done with the castle, Achikar. Get thee to thy King and I will send with thee three years' tribute. Would that I had never written my foolish letter to thy lord. Give him my greetings and tell him I shall never again ask for such an impossible thing as a castle in the air. We must learn to be satisfied with such things as are possible and right. Farewell, wise Achikar.&quot;

Straightway he returned to his lord, King Sennacherib. When the news reached the King of Assyria that the trusty Achikar was returning, he went out to meet him and rejoiced over him exceedingly. When they met the King cried: &quot;Welcome home, dear Achikar, the strength of my kingdom, the prince of my realm.&quot; Achikar told him how he had fared in Egypt, and with pride showed him the three years' tribute sent by Pharaoh. King Sennacherib was delighted and said: &quot;Take of this tribute as much as thou dost desire.&quot; &quot;I desire naught but the safety of my lord the King. I am happy to know that I have been able to serve thee. Continue to trust me and I will do all I can to help thee to increase in honor and greatness.&quot;

Achikar lived to be a very old man. To his last day Sennacherib honored and loved him as the wisest man in his kingdom.

Achikar, v-vii.