'I said it at the first,' replied the Minister. 'I knew King Silver-sides for a just King, upon whom it was ill to wage battle. How say the Scriptures?—
'Seven foemen of all foemen, very hard to vanquish be:
The Truth-teller, the Just-dweller, and the man from passion free,
Subtle, self-sustained, and counting frequent well-won victories,
And the man of many kinsmen—keep the peace with such as these.'
The Swan-king has friends and kinsmen, my Liege:—
'And the man with many kinsmen answers with them all attacks;
As the bambu, in the bambus safely sheltered, scorns the axe.'
'My counsel then is that peace be concluded with him,' said the Vulture.
'All this King Silver-sides and his Minister the Goose heard attentively from the Crane.
'Go again!' said the Goose to Long-bill, 'and bring us news of how the Vulture's advice is received.'
'Minister!' began the King, upon the departure of the Crane, 'tell me as to this peace, who are they with whom it should not be concluded?'
'They be twenty, namely——'
'Tarry not to name them,' said the King; 'and what be the qualities of a good ally?'