offer hymns of praise to his still more foolish gods,
unaware of the real giver of all good things, to whom he should have
offered the spiritual sacrifice. He then, ascribing the cause Of his
son's birth to things lifeless and dumb, sent out into all quarters to
gather the people together to celebrate his son's birth-day: and thou
mightest have seen all the folk running together for fear of the king,
and bringing their offerings ready for the sacrifice, according to the
store at each man's hand, and his favour toward his lord. But chiefly
the king stirred them up to emulation. He brought full many oxen, of
goodly size, for sacrifice, and thus, making a feast for all his
people, he bestowed largesses on all his counsellors and officers, and
on all his soldiers, and all the poor, and men of low degree.

III.

Now on his son's birth-day feast there came unto the king some five and
fifty chosen men, schooled in the star-lore of the Chaldaeans. These
the king called into his presence, and asked them, severally, to tell
him the future of the new-born babe. After long counsel held, they said
that he should be mighty in riches and power, and should surpass all
that had reigned before him. But one of the astrologers, the most
learned of all his fellows, spake thus: "From that which I learn from
the courses of the stars, O king, the advancement of the child, now
born unto thee, will not be in thy kingdom, but in another, a better
and a greater one beyond compare. Methinketh also that he will embrace
the Christian religion, which thou persecutest, and I trow that he will
not be disappointed of his aim and hope." Thus spake the astrologer,
like Balaam of old, not that his star-lore told him true, but because
God signifieth the truth by the mouth of his enemies, that all excuse
may be taken from the ungodly.

But when the king heard thereof, he received the tidings with a heavy
heart, and sorrow cut short his joy. Howsoever he built, in a city set
apart, an exceeding beautiful palace, with cunningly devised gorgeous
chambers, and there set his son to dwell, after he had ended his first
infancy; and he forbade any to approach him, appointing, for
instructors and servants, youths right seemly to behold. These he
charged to reveal to him none of the annoys of life, neither death, nor
old age, nor disease, nor poverty, nor anything else grievous that
might break his happiness: but to place before him everything pleasant