Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/58

40 commanded him to bring to his presence the sea eagle, the prince of the birds. When the sea eagle came before Solomon, he ordered it to fetch the mountain eagle from the roof of the building. This was done. As soon as the mountain eagle saw Solomon, she began to utter the praise of God and then she greeted the King.

The King looked at the old bird and said,—

What is thy name?"

"Alanad."

"How old art thou?"

"My years number seven hundred."

"Hast thou ever seen the door of the building on the roof of which thou hast thy nest ?"

"King! mayest thou live forever! By the life of thy head I know nothing of the door. I have a brother two hundred years older than I am. He is more learned than I, perhaps he can tell thee, King, what thou desirest to know. He lives in a nest a little above my home."

Solomon again commanded the sea eagle to fetch Alanad's brother. When he came before the King he was praising the great and good Creator of all things. He then greeted Solomon, who asked him,—

"What is thy name?"

"Alôf."

"What is thy age?"

"The days of my life are nine hundred years."