"Oh, ask her not, O king," cried his mother and his wife, casting

themselves upon the ground before him, for they were mad with fear.

"Ask her not; she has strange fancies such as are not meet for your

ears to hear. She is bewitched, and has dreams and fancies."

"Peace!" he answered. "I will listen to this woman's wanderings.

Perhaps some star of truth shines in her darkness, and I would see

light. Who, then, is he, woman?"

"Who is he?" she answered. "Are you a fool that ask who he is? He is--