'Give the sign, your Majesty,' said the Crow, starting up, and I will despatch this audacious bird.'
'Sir,' said the Goose, 'be calm! and Sire, deign to listen—
'Tis no Council where no Sage is—'tis no Sage that fears not Law;
'Tis no Law which Truth confirms not—'tis no Truth which Fear can awe.'
An ambassador must speak unthreatened—
'Though base be the Herald, nor hinder nor let,
For the mouth of a king is he;
The sword may be whet, and the battle set,
But the word of his message is free.'
Thereat the Rajah and Night-cloud resumed their composure; and the Parrot took his departure, escorted by the Minister, and presented with complimentary gifts of gold and jewels. On reaching the palace of Jewel-plume, the King demanded his tidings, and inquired of the country he had visited.
'War must be prepared, may it please you,' said the Parrot: 'the country is a country of Paradise.'
'Prepare for war, then!' said the King.
'We must not enter on it in the face of destiny,' interposed the Vulture-Minister, whose title was 'Far-sight.'
'Let the Astrologer then discover a favorable conjuncture for the expedition, and let my forces be reviewed meantime,' said the King.