Page:Sagas from the Far East; or, Kalmouk and Mongolian traditionary tales.djvu/294

270 they turned to go away, and one of them yet lingered, the child called after him, saying,—

"Wait a little space, sir minister; I have a word to say to you!"

And the minister stood still in great astonishment. But the child said, "Bear these words faithfully unto the King:—

"It is said that when the young of the peacock are first fledged their feathers are all of one blue colour, but afterwards, as they increase in proportions, their plumage assumes the splendid hues admired by men. Even so when a King's son is born. For a while he remains under the tutelage of his parents; but if, when he has come to man's estate, he would be a great king, worthy to be called king of the four parts of the universe, it will behove him to call together the princes of the four parts of the universe to a great assemblage and prepare for them a sacred festival, at which such may be their number who may come together to honour it, that fifteen thousand waggon-loads of salt may even fall short of what is required!

"So the parrots, when they first break through their egg-shell, appear very much like any other birds, but when they are full grown they learn the speech of man and grow in sagacity and wisdom. Even so when a King's son is born. For a while he remains under the tutelage of his parents; but when he comes to man's estate, if he would be a mighty king, worthy of being