Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/65

Rh "You know," he exclaimed, "how very much I have exerted myself to explore this wonderful palace, and now that I have seen all it contains and I have learnt its secrets, I am puzzled by this little inscription. I must find out what it means."

He rubbed his magic ring and summoned Ashmodai.

"Good Ashmodai, find some one who can read the writing on this plate."

Ashmodai made an obeisance and vanished. In a moment he returned with a child of the desert. The lad was dressed like a shepherd boy. As soon as he saw Solomon he fell on his face to the ground. The King told him to rise. He obeyed and said to the King,—

"Tell me what is troubling thee, mighty Solomon, wisest of mortals!"

"Take this silver tablet and read its inscription."

The child of the desert took the silver plate and looked at it for a few moments. He then said,— "This writing is neither Hebrew nor Arabic. It is Greek, and the following is its meaning: 'The image on the throne with the Crown on its head and the scepter in its hand is the likeness of Shadad the son of 'Ad, King of the desert. I ruled over a thousand thousand provinces. I rode a thousand thousand horses. A thousand thousand Kings paid me tribute. I slew a thousand thousand warriors and when the angel of death came near to me, I was