242 RAJA DONAN. 



But these astrologers were inwardly hostile to the King, and 

 they said to themselves " if we declare that the prince will be 

 fortunate, the King will get rid of him ; we had better say that 

 there will be a curse upon him." Having resolved on this, 

 they threw off their wrappings. 



Then the King asked them the result of their divination, 

 and with much apparent hesitation the traitorous astrologers 

 delivered the false opinion they had resolved on. The infant, 

 they said, would be a prince, but he would be possessed by 

 every kind of evil influence, and any kampong or town in 

 which he lived would come to harm. The King, on hearing 

 this, remained silent and seemed to be deep in thought, and 

 the false prophets took their leave. 



Next day the King summoned a single old astrologer, and 

 called upon him to prognosticate the future of the unborn 

 prince. The old man was blind and deaf and infirm, and, when 

 all the preparations for the ceremony of divination had been 

 made, he made his way slowly with great difficulty into the 

 hall where it was to take place. He was furious at having 

 been sent for, and swore roundly at the Raja (behind his back) 

 lor the trouble he was put to. Some maids of honour over- 

 heard the expressions used, and teased the old man by pretend- 

 ing that they would go off and tell the Raja, and great amuse- 

 ment was caused when the terrified old man seized the end of 

 the robe of one of his tormentors and vowed that he would 

 marry her and so reward her, if she would not tell the King 

 what he had said. They all laughed so loud that the King 

 came out. Seeing the old astrologer, he called upon him at 

 once to commence his divinations, which accordingly went on 

 from sunset to daybreak. At the conclusion of the ceremony, 

 the old astrologer announced that the infant would be a prince, 

 that the prince would be gifted with every kind of fortunate 

 quality, and that, if he reached the age -of seven years, the king- 

 dom would attain an unheard-of degree of prosperity, while 

 the people would be peaceful and successful. "This is alto- 

 gether different," said the King, "from the prognostication 

 pronounced by the seven brethren." " I," answered the old 

 man, "am blind and deaf and of failing memory, but in all 

 that concerns the prince, your Highness may rely on what I 



