“Wisdom confers happiness,” replied Sembobitis. “I will try it,” said Balthasar. “But let us depart at once for Ethiopia.” And as he had lost all he loved he resolved to consecrate himself to wisdom and to become a mage. If this decision gave him no especial pleasure it at least restored to him something of tranquillity. Every evening, seated on the terrace of his palace in company with the sage Sembobitis and Menkera the eunuch, he gazed at the palm-trees standing motionless against the horizon, or watched the crocodiles by the light of the moon float down the Nile like trunks of trees.
“One never wearies of admiring the beauties of Nature,” said Sembobitis.
“Doubtless,” said Balthasar, “but there are other things in Nature more beautiful even than palm-trees and crocodiles.”
This he said thinking of Balkis. But Sembobitis, who was old, said:
“There is of course the phenomenon of the rising of the Nile which I have explained. Man is created to understand.”
“He is created to love,” replied Balthasar sighing. “There are things which cannot be explained.”
“And what may those be?” asked Sembobitis.
“A woman’s treason,” the king replied.
Balthasar, however, having decided to become a mage, had a tower built from the summit of which might be discerned many kingdoms and the infinite spaces of Heaven. The tower was constructed of brick and rose high above all other towers. It took no less than two years to build, and Balthasar expended in its construction the entire treasure of the king, his father. Every night he climbed to the top of this tower and there he studied the heavens under the guidance of the sage Sembobitis.
“The constellations of the heavens disclose our destiny,” said Sembobitis.