His hunger thus appeased, he made his way to the King’s palace, where he called out lustily to the porter in a tone of authority, “Open the gate for me!”
But the porter, when he saw what manner of man it was summoned him, would pay no heed to his words, but rather chid him and bid him be silent.
Then Shanggasba, when he found the porter would pay no heed to his words, but rather bid him be silent, blew a note on the great princely trumpet, which was only sounded for promulgating the King’s decrees.
This the King heard, who immediately sent for the porter, and inquired of him who had dared to sound the great princely trumpet. To whom the porter made answer,—
“Behold now, O King, there stands without at the gate a vagabond calling on me to admit him because he has a communication to make to the King.”
“The fellow is bold; let him be brought in,” replied the King. So they brought Shanggasba before the King’s majesty.
“What seekest thou of me?” inquired the King. And Shanggasba, nothing abashed, answered plainly—
“To sue for the hand of the Princess am I come, and to be the King’s son-in-law.”
The ministers of state, who stood round about the King, when they heard these words, were filled with indignation, and counselled the King that he should put him to death. But the King, tickled in his fancy with the man’s daring, answered,—
“Nay, let us not put him to death. He can do us no harm. A beggar may sue for a king’s daughter, and a king may choose a beggar’s daughter, out of that no harm can come,” and he ordered that he should be taken care of in the palace, and not let to go forth.