Dante's Heart
The Seven Sages of Rome
The Father Envious of His Son
And the Prophecy Fulfilled
“…A merchant had a son who was very learned, and he took his son with him
into his trade, and he did much sailing over the sea. One time he arrived
near an island, and two birds perched on a mast of the ship, and they sang
very well. The merchant said to his son, ‘I have been told that there are
some literary men who understand certain birds.’
"The son replied, ‘Don’t you understand what they are saying?’
"His father said he didn’t.
"The son said, ‘They are saying that I must be glorified in this world to such
a height that you will hold yourself satisfied if I allow you to wash my hands,
and my mother if she is able to hold the towel.’
"The father was moved to envy, and said to him, ‘You will never see that
day,’ and he took his son and threw him into the sea, and departed, believing
he was dead.
“As it was pleasing to God, the sea tossed the son back onto the island
safe and sound, and he was there two days without eating or drinking. He
understood the birds that said, ‘Do not move, for you will have aid.’ On the
third day a ship appeared, and he made signals to the captain of the ship.
And the captain pitied him and took him aboard. The captain began to ask
him what had happened, and the son said, ‘First give me something to eat,’
and when he had eaten he told in order the things that had happened to him.
"The captain of the ship did not have any sons: he thought of having one
and of wanting this young man for his adopted son, because the youth was
very handsome and was good at many things. The captain said to the youth,
‘As soon as we’re on the land, what do you think you will do?’
"The young man replied, ‘My wish is to do your pleasure always, because
you have freed me, and I will always be your servant.’
"The captain announced this to his wife, who was very pleased about it, and
she took the youth for her son, and that young man served them very well.
“At that time there was a king in their city who, when he went outside, had
three crows perch on his head, making great noise. Having endured this for
a long time, he considered it a disgrace, and he thought that it was because
of his sins that they perched on him. About this matter he had great infamy.
It came to such a point that he had it proclaimed through all his kingdom that
all his advisors and other wise men had to come to his court; and if any were
able to find remedy for this, he would give that man his daughter for a wife
with half his kingdom.
"Now this captain of the ship, who had taken the young man for his son, was
called for by certain wise men, and he took the young man with him. And
when the council was assembled, the king put forth the reason for which he
had called them together, to which none knew how to reply. Then the young
man said, ‘I want to give you my counsel,’ and he said, ‘Lord king, if I tell you
why this is happening to you, will you give me your daughter together with
what you have promised?’
"And the king said that he promised it to him.
"So the young man said, ‘These crows are three: a young one, an old one,
and a female. The female was the mate of the old crow; he chased her away
from himself during a time of famine, and the young male took her in...."
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The Father Envious of His Son
And the Prophecy Fulfilled
“…A merchant had a son who was very learned, and he took his son with him
into his trade, and he did much sailing over the sea. One time he arrived
near an island, and two birds perched on a mast of the ship, and they sang
very well. The merchant said to his son, ‘I have been told that there are
some literary men who understand certain birds.’
"The son replied, ‘Don’t you understand what they are saying?’
"His father said he didn’t.
"The son said, ‘They are saying that I must be glorified in this world to such
a height that you will hold yourself satisfied if I allow you to wash my hands,
and my mother if she is able to hold the towel.’
"The father was moved to envy, and said to him, ‘You will never see that
day,’ and he took his son and threw him into the sea, and departed, believing
he was dead.
“As it was pleasing to God, the sea tossed the son back onto the island
safe and sound, and he was there two days without eating or drinking. He
understood the birds that said, ‘Do not move, for you will have aid.’ On the
third day a ship appeared, and he made signals to the captain of the ship.
And the captain pitied him and took him aboard. The captain began to ask
him what had happened, and the son said, ‘First give me something to eat,’
and when he had eaten he told in order the things that had happened to him.
"The captain of the ship did not have any sons: he thought of having one
and of wanting this young man for his adopted son, because the youth was
very handsome and was good at many things. The captain said to the youth,
‘As soon as we’re on the land, what do you think you will do?’
"The young man replied, ‘My wish is to do your pleasure always, because
you have freed me, and I will always be your servant.’
"The captain announced this to his wife, who was very pleased about it, and
she took the youth for her son, and that young man served them very well.
“At that time there was a king in their city who, when he went outside, had
three crows perch on his head, making great noise. Having endured this for
a long time, he considered it a disgrace, and he thought that it was because
of his sins that they perched on him. About this matter he had great infamy.
It came to such a point that he had it proclaimed through all his kingdom that
all his advisors and other wise men had to come to his court; and if any were
able to find remedy for this, he would give that man his daughter for a wife
with half his kingdom.
"Now this captain of the ship, who had taken the young man for his son, was
called for by certain wise men, and he took the young man with him. And
when the council was assembled, the king put forth the reason for which he
had called them together, to which none knew how to reply. Then the young
man said, ‘I want to give you my counsel,’ and he said, ‘Lord king, if I tell you
why this is happening to you, will you give me your daughter together with
what you have promised?’
"And the king said that he promised it to him.
"So the young man said, ‘These crows are three: a young one, an old one,
and a female. The female was the mate of the old crow; he chased her away
from himself during a time of famine, and the young male took her in...."
Back Next Page
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