THE KING'S MIRROR 91 



the air rejoice with beautiful songs in the newly made 

 treaty of (these lords] as in a coming festival. Their joy 

 is as great as if they have escaped great and terrible 

 dangers which might arise from the strife of these chief- 

 tains. Soon they build nests upon the earth and lead 

 birdlings forth from them, each after its kind. Thus they 

 increase their species and care for their young in the 

 summer that these may be able to find their own sus- 

 tenance in the winter following. Even the earth rejoices 

 in this peace-making, for as soon as the sun begins to 

 pour out its warming rays over the face of the earth, 

 the ice begins to thaw around the frozen grass roots; 

 soon fragrant and fair-hued herbs sprout forth, and the 

 earth shows that she finds gladness and festive joy in 

 the fresh beauty of her emerald robes. She gladly offers 

 to all her offspring the sustenance which she had to re- 

 fuse them earlier because of the dearth in winter. The 

 trees that stood with dripping branches and frozen roots 

 put forth green leaves, thus showing their joy that the 

 sorrow and distress of winter are past. 



Unclean and repulsive beasts display insight and un- 

 derstanding in their ability to determine the proper 

 time to increase their kind and to come out of their dens. 

 They also observe the season when it is necessary to flee 

 the cold and stormy distress of winter and seek shelter 

 under rocks, in large crags, or in the deep scar of the 

 landslide till the time to come forth is at hand. Wild 

 beasts that seek their food in woods or on the mountains 

 know well how to discern the seasons; for they bear the 

 begotten offspring while winter is most severe, so that 

 they may bring forth their young when the grass is 



