The Project Gutenberg EBook of Balthasar, by Anatole France

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Title: Balthasar
And Other Works - 1909

Author: Anatole France

Editor: Frederic Chapman

Translator: Mrs. John Lane

Release Date: May 9, 2008 [EBook #22059]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BALTHASAR ***

Produced by David Widger

BALTHASAR

And Other Works

By Anatole France

Translated by Mrs. John Lane

Edited by Frederic Chapman

London: John Lane: MCMIX

CONTENTS;

Balthasar

The Cure's Mignonette

M. Pigeonneau

The Daughter Of Lilith

Laeta Acilia

The Red Egg

Balthasar

TO THE VICOMTE EUGENE MELCHIOR DE VOGUE

"Magos regos fere habuit Oriens."{*}
--Tertullian.

I.

In those days Balthasar, whom the Greeks called Saracin, reigned in
Ethiopia. He was black, but comely of countenance. He had a simple
soul and a generous heart The third year of his reign, which was the
twenty-second of his age, he left his dominions on a visit to Balkis,
Queen of Sheba. The mage Sembobitis and the eunuch Menkera accompanied
him. He had in his train seventy-five camels bearing cinnamon, myrrh,
gold dust, and elephants' tusks.

As they rode, Sembobitis instructed him in the influences of the
planets,{*} as well as in the virtues of precious stones, and Menkera
sang to him canticles from the sacred mysteries. He paid but little heed
to them, but amused himself instead watching the jackals with their ears
pricked up, sitting erect on the edge of the desert.

* The East commonly held kings versed in magic.

At last, after a march of twelve days, Balthasar became conscious of the
fragrance of roses, and very soon they saw the gardens that surround
the city of Sheba. On their way they passed young girls dancing under
pomegranate trees in full bloom.

"The dance," said Sembobitis the mage, "is a prayer."

"One could sell these women for a great price," said Menkera the eunuch.

As they entered the city they were amazed at the extent of the sheds and
warehouses and workshops that lay before them, and also at