PAGE 2
The Magicians’ Gifts
by
To this place the king made his way, and taking the narrowest of the field-paths, went on and on till it led him straight into a cave, where an old woman sat over a fire.
“Does a magician live here?” asked the king.
“No one lives here but myself,” said the old woman. “But as I am a wise woman I may be able to help you if you need it.”
The king then told her of his perplexities, and how he was desirous of finding the magician, to persuade him to recall his gift.
“He could not recall the other gifts,” said the wise woman. “Therefore it is better that the prince should be taught to use his power prudently and to control his temper. And since all the persons capable of guiding him have disappeared, I will return with you and take charge of him myself. Over me he will have no power.”
To this the king consented, and they returned together to the palace, where the wise woman became guardian to the prince, and she fulfilled her duties so well that he became much more discreet and self-controlled. Only at times his violent temper got the better of him, and led him to wish what he afterwards vainly regretted.
Thus all went well till the prince became a man, when, though he had great affection for her, he felt ashamed of having an old woman for his counsellor, and he said, “I certainly wish that I had a faithful and discreet adviser of my own age and sex.”
On that very day a young nobleman offered himself as companion to the prince, and as he was a young man of great ability, he was accepted: whereupon the old woman took her departure, and was never seen again.
The young nobleman performed his part so well that the prince became deeply attached to him, and submitted in every way to his counsels. But at last a day came when, being in a rage, the advice of his friend irritated him, and he cried hastily, “Will you drive me mad with your long sermons? I wish you would hold your tongue for ever.” On which the young nobleman became dumb, and so remained. For he was not, as the wise woman had been, independent of the prince’s power.
The prince’s grief and remorse knew no bounds. “Am I not under a curse?” said he. “Truly I ought to be cast out from human society, and sent to live with wild beasts in a wilderness. I only bring evil upon those I love best–indeed, there is no hope for me unless I can find my godfather, and make him recall this fatal gift.”
So the prince mounted his horse, and, accompanied by his dumb friend, who still remained faithful to him, he set forth to find the magician. They took no followers, except the prince’s dog, a noble hound, who was so quick of hearing that he understood all that was said to him, and was, next to the young nobleman, the wisest person at court.
“Mark well, my dog,” said the prince to him, “we stay nowhere till we find my godfather, and when we find him we go no further. I rely on your sagacity to help us.”
The dog licked the prince’s hand, and then trotted so resolutely down a certain road that the two friends allowed him to lead them and followed close behind.
They travelled in this way to the edge of the king’s dominions, only halting for needful rest and refreshment. At last the dog led them through a wood, and towards evening they found themselves in the depths of the forest, with no sign of any shelter for the night. Presently they heard a little bell, such as is rung for prayer, and the dog ran down a side path and led them straight to a kind of grotto, at the door of which stood an aged hermit.