Then said the far-seeing and experienced minister whom the King had transformed into the altar,—
“As Naran-Chatun continues to sit in her place and to utter no sound in answer to the word of the high King who has come so far to visit us, even I, though I be an unsouled object, will venture to reply, asking him that he will again open to us the treasures of story.”
At these words Naran-Dâkinî cast a meaning glance upon her altar, but spoke not.
Then opened the magnanimous King again the treasures of story.
The Voice-charmer[9].
“Long ages ago two were travelling through a mountainous country, a man and his wife. And behold as they journeyed there reached them from the other side of a rock a voice of such surpassing sweetness that the two stood still to listen, the man and his wife; and not they only, but their very beasts pricked up their ears erect to drink in the sound.
“Then spoke the woman,—
“‘A man with a voice so melodious must be a man goodly to see. Shall we not stop and find him out?’”
“But the saying pleased not her husband, nor was he minded that she should see who it was that sang so sweetly; therefore he answered her,—
“‘Wherefore should we search him out; is it not enough that we hear his voice?’