blossoms hung from a tall stem and in its first year it gave a thousand
seeds. Each year Amor planted more flowers and each year they grew
taller and more wonderful and blossomed a longer time. When the summer
wind blew it shook out clouds of delicate fragrance which sometimes
floated down the mountain until the wretched dwellers in King Mordreth's
land forgot their quarrels and misery and even lifted their heavy heads
to inhale it and ask each other what was being done upon the mountain.
Each year King Amor gathered the seeds and stored them in an unused
tower of his castle.

Taller and stronger he grew and each day wiser and more beautiful. Each
plant, each weed, each four-footed thing, each wind, each star of heaven
taught him its wonders and its wisdom. His eyes were so marvelous in
their straight-glanced splendor that when he looked at a man they seemed
to read his soul and command its truth to answer him. He was so powerful
that he could break an iron bar in two pieces with his hands.

When he was twenty years old the Ancient One took him up on the
battlements, and giving him a strong glass told him to look down upon
the capital city on the plain and see what was being done there.

"I see many people gathered in crowds," Amor said, when he had looked
for a few moments. "I see bright colors and waving pennants and
triumphal arches. It is as if some great ceremony were being prepared
for."

"The people are making ready for your coronation," said the Ancient One.
"To-morrow you will be led in state down the mountain and acclaimed
King. It was to fit you to reign over your kingdom that I taught you to
know all the wonders of the world and have shown you that no thing is