great, and keen is the thirst for vengeance, so I said to my heart,

"Not yet awhile; I will endure this also; afterwards, if need be, I

"I thank the king for his graciousness, and I will warm me at the

fire. Speak on, O king, while I warm myself, and thou shalt hear true

Then, my father, I stretched out my left hand and plunged it into the

fire--not into the hottest of the fire, but where the smoke leapt from

the flame. Now my flesh was wet with the sweat of fear, and for a

little moment the flames curled round it and did not burn me. But I