IN LEGEND AND HISTORY 



87 



slept until midday. While he was asleep 

 a swallow lit upon his head and gave a 

 loud cry, then flew round and round over 

 the bed, all the time keeping up a very 

 strange noise. Alexander was so exhausted 

 by fatigue that it was some time before he 

 awoke, but finally aroused by the noise, he 

 struck the swallow with his hand. The bird 

 instead of flying away insisted upon lighting 

 upon his head, nor would she leave until the 

 king was fully awakened. Alexander then 



