The Boy Apprenticed to an Enchanter

Tower of Babylon. The King himself was fain to hear about that city that was the greatest in the world, and about the King who was the mightiest of all Kings, and he commanded the attendants to

hair, and those near him who touched his hand felt it chilled. Then King Manus signed for a chamberlain to go to him, and he went and wiped Eean's brow with a napkin, and then brought him a goblet of the richest wine. He raised up his head and drank, and looked down the table, and saw the high candles that burned brightly, and saw the face

ng a different color. The first wall is white, the second wall is black, and the third wall is scarlet; the fourth wall is blue, the fifth wall is orange, th

ight dress that had the curious figures upon it. He took into his hand the staff that was made of two ser

e came to the palace, and my master spoke to the doorkeepers and they permitted us to enter. We went through the outer courts where there were soldiers who carried naked swords in their hands. And because

g

and spices burned before him. But his face was white, and it was like to the face of a man in a dream. Only o

, the King looked upon us. He spoke to my maste

robe, and he showed himself in the straight garb that wa

he said, "is the mean

master, Zabulun the Enchanter, upon the King of Babylon. Pretending to speak of the meaning of dr

And then the ancient dwarf said to the King, "Of the three dreams that see

ore than three dishes. And then I dreamed that afterward these three dishes were hidden fro

, "is easy to discover. In the lore of the Chaldeans a dish signifies a

e King spoke up and said, "Why

warf the staff that was formed of two ser[Pg 42]pents twisting together. The end of the staff lifte

d remarkable," said the King. And the dwarf said,

f the Lions, and there came along the way a laden ass. Of that dream al

into the eyes of the King. "A laden ass signifies a treasure fo

crown of scarlet feathers upon his head. "In

y third dream?"

g

the ancient dwarf, "was

"I dreamed of arrows that were

arf looked long upon Zabulun the Enchanter. But

eams, O King. They are of a treasure that is to come into your possession. The treasure is hidden. It is hidden beneath a tower.

t Zabulun's plan for the taking of the Magic Mirror was being put into practice. And it seemed to me that fear came over the an

g make search for treasure beneath

be banished and will come to the King no more. I speak as a Magus. But now I have shown you the meaning of the three dreams, and there is no more to be shown." And saying this the Enchanter put the garb of a merchant over the robe of the Magus. A cup was ha

ng, and[Pg 45] when we were far out

this treasure, and they, too, will search for it. It will come about that these many searchers, digging for the treasure, will brea

ay of the Lions. I was affrighted, and it seemed to me that the lions th