“Well, well, Babbalanja, I grant it all. Go on.”
“On high authority, we are told that in times past the fall of certain nations in Mardi was prophesied of seers.”
“Most true, my lord,” said Mohi; “it is all down in the chronicles.”
“Ha! ha!” cried Media. “Go on, philosopher.”
Continued Babbalanja, “Previous to the time assigned to their fulfillment, those prophecies were bruited through Mardi; hence, previous to the time assigned to their fulfillment, full knowledge of them may have come to the nations concerned. Now, my lord, was it possible for those nations, thus forwarned, so to conduct their affairs, as at, the prophesied time, to prove false the events revealed to be in store for them?”
“However that may be,” said Mohi, “certain it is, those events did assuredly come to pass:—Compare the ruins of Babbelona with book ninth, chapter tenth, of the chronicles. Yea, yea, the owl inhabits where the seers predicted; the jackals yell in the tombs of the kings.”
“Go on, Babbalanja,” said Media. “Of course those nations could not have resisted their doom. Go on, then: vault over your premises.”
“If it be, then, my lord, that—”
“My very worshipful lord,” interposed Mohi, “is not our philosopher getting off soundings; and may it not be impious to meddle with these things?”
“Were it so, old man, he should have known it. The king of Odo is something more than you mortals.”