| “Woe to you and the day you were born!” his dog answered him and began to howl and weep his loudest. But he refrained from speaking further. Nor did he bite his master, who had raised him from a puppy.
The lad lay in wait for the demon, the dweller in his lake, among the reeds. The spirit emerged to engage once more in battle with the crocodile. He was an old man, shining of countenance like a god. All his limbs were of gold and his hair was as silver covered with flowers and stalks. The lad leapt upon the spirit, who cried out, “What is your quarrel with me? What is the meaning of coming to smite me with your axe?” The prince told him of his bargain with the crocodile, whereupon the water spirit counseled, “Beware, O King’s son! The crocodile has deceived you. No sooner will you slay me, than the beast will devour you. Long ago I was a great magician in the land of Naharin but, when I came to bathe in this lake, that fiend of a crocodile bit off the finger of my right hand on which was the ring engraved with a spell. Now I cannot recall the words of magic or repeat them. Since that time I come each day to engage in battle with the crocodile so that I might kill him and retrieve my ring. But I am old and cannot defeat that demon, mighty with his teeth and tail. You are young and strength is in your body. Kill the crocodile for me and I will reveal to you your true fate, O King’s son!” The lad knew the magician spoke the truth, as only a sorcerer could know the secret of his birth and that he was a royal son of the land of Egypt. Lo, the prince slew the crocodile with his axe in a terrible combat. In its belly was the ring of the spirit and the golden finger of his hand, which was restored to him. The water spirit said to the prince, “Indeed, you have acted well and with valor. The Seven Hathors spoke in a riddle, the meaning of which will become known. Truly, the fate of a man is ordained and he is bound by it. It cannot be escaped, though he run from it to the end of the earth, even unto Naharin. You are in the hands of the gods. They will do with you as they like, whether in this place or another. Return to Egypt and confront your destiny without fear. The valiant man breaks down the wall and becomes his own keeper. Go, before Pre sets in his horizon. Leave behind your wife and take with you only your servant and this dog, the one faithful to his master.” GO TO NEXT |