nothing to lament in growing old."

The red flash passed over Morven's brow; but he bent humbly--

"O king, what if I could give thee back thy youth? What if I
could restore to thee the vigor which distinguished thee above
the sons of men, when the warriors of Alrich fell like grass
before thy sword?"

Then the king uplifted his dull eyes, and he said:

"What meanest thou, son of Osslah? Surely I hear much of thy
great wisdom, and how thou speakest nightly with the stars. Can
the gods of the night give unto thee the secret to make the old
young?"

"Tempt them not by doubt," said Morven, reverently. "All things
are possible to the rulers of the dark hour; and, lo! the star
that loves thy servant spake to him at the dead of night, and
said, 'Arise, and go unto the king; and tell him that the stars
honor the tribe of Oestrich, and remember how the king bent his
bow against the Sons of Alrich; wherefore, look thou under the
stone that lies to the right of thy dwelling--even beside the
pine-tree, and thou shalt see a vessel of clay, and in the
vessel thou wilt find a sweet liquid, that shall make the king
thy master forget his age forever.'

"Therefore, my lord, when the morning rose I went forth, and
looked under the stone, and behold the vessel of clay; and I
have brought it hither to my lord, the king."