CHILD [takes the toy].—Dear nurse, what a beautiful peacock!
FIRST ATTENDANT [looking at the child. In great distress].—Alas! alas! I do not see the amulet on his wrist.
KING.—Don't distress yourself. Here it is. It fell off while he was struggling with the young lion. [Stoops to pick it up.
BOTH ATTENDANTS.—Hold! hold! Touch it not, for your life. How marvellous! He has actually taken it up without the slightest hesitation.[Both raise their hands to their breasts and look at each other in astonishment.
KING.—Why did you try to prevent my touching it?
FIRST ATTENDANT.—Listen, great Monarch. This amulet, known as "The Invincible," was given to the boy by the divine son of Maríchi, soon after his birth, when the natal ceremony was performed. Its peculiar virtue is, that when it falls on the ground, no one excepting the father or mother of the child can touch it unhurt.
KING.—And suppose another person touches it?
FIRST ATTENDANT.—Then it instantly becomes a serpent, and bites him.
KING.—Have you ever witnessed the transformation with your own eyes?
BOTH ATTENDANTS.—Over and over again.