‘Thou knowest.’
They bind his arms, they lead him to cut off his head. As he went, Baldpate said to himself, ‘They will cut off my head. If I tell, I shall be turned into stone. Come, bring me to the king; I have a couple of words to say to him.’ [[8]]
They brought him to the king.
‘Why have you brought him here?’
‘He has a couple of words to say to you.’
‘Say them, my lad.’
‘I, when I went to fetch the dervish’s daughter, I was sitting alone on the galleon; your son was eating, drinking with the maiden. One morning three birds came; they began talking: “O bird, O bird, what is it, O bird? The dervish’s daughter eats, drinks with the son of the king; she knows not what will befall her. And whoever hears it and tells will be turned into stone to his knees.” No one but I was there; I heard it.’
As soon as Baldpate had said it, he was turned into stone to his knees. The king, seeing he was turned into stone, said, ‘Prithee, my lad, say no more.’
‘But I will,’ Baldpate answered, and went on to tell of the gate; he was turned into stone to his back.
‘The third time the birds came and talked together again, and I heard (that was why I wished to sleep with them): “A seven-headed dragon will come forth; he will devour them.” And if you believe it not, look under the pillow.’