one with another. The shepherd stood still with surprise, but the
snake round his neck whistled, and immediately all the arch
unwound itself.

'When we are come to my father's house,' said his own snake to
him, 'he will reward you with anything you like to ask--silver, gold,
jewels, or whatever on this earth is most precious; but take none of
all these things, ask rather to understand the language of beasts. He
will refuse it to you a long time, but in the end he will grant it to
you.'

Soon after that they arrived at the house of the King of the Snakes,
who burst into tears of joy at the sight of his daughter, as he had
given her up for dead. 'Where have you been all this time?' he
asked, directly he could speak, and she told him that she had been
caught in a forest fire, and had been rescued from the flames by the
shepherd. The King of the Snakes, then turning to the shepherd,
said to him: 'What reward will you choose for saving my child?'

'Make me to know the language of beasts,' answered the shepherd,
'that is all I desire.'

The king replied: 'Such knowledge would be of no benefit to you,
for if I granted it to you and you told any one of it, you would
immediately die; ask me rather for whatever else you would most
like to possess, and it shall be yours.'

But the shepherd answered him: 'Sir, if you wish to reward me for
saving your daughter, grant me, I pray you, to know the language
of beasts. I desire nothing else'; and he turned as if to depart.