Without asking any questions, the astonished and half frightened officer
hastened from the presence of his king, and gave all diligence in the
performance of his urgent duty. He found ready access to the prince of
the magicians, delivered to him the message of the king, and retired. The
astrologer soon sent the message to his numerous companions, and in a
short time the concentrated wisdom of the great metropolis stood in the
presence of the king.

"Ye have done well," said the king, eying them with a degree of severity,
"to be thus punctual; a failure on this point might have involved you in
serious difficulties. Ye stand before the king as the representatives of
wisdom. Ye profess to be able to bring to light hidden mysteries, and to
make known the transactions of the future. The correctness of your
professions is about to be tested. If it stands the ordeal, well; if not,
woe be unto you!"

"All this thy servants profess," replied the chief astrologer, "and all
this they can perform. Let them but learn the desire of the king, and
they stand ready to execute his pleasure."

"This day," replied the king, "while slumbering on my bed, I dreamed a
peculiar dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the vision."

"Oh, king, live forever!" replied the magicians, well pleased with the
nature of their task. "Tell thy servants the dream, and we will show thee
the interpretation thereof."

"Will ye, indeed!" answered the king, ironically. "But the thing has gone
from me. I have no distinct remembrance of the various features of the