At last he said to Treasure: "Merchant, I have rested happily for a long time in your house.Now I wish to go to my own country.Peace be with you!" And in spite of urging from the merchant, Farsight took his leave, and started with no companion except his own courage.He went through many countries and at last reached the Anga country.And scouts who had been sent by King Glory-banner saw him before he reached the city.When the king learned of it, he went himself out of the city to meet him, for he had been terribly grieved by the separation.He drew near, embraced and greeted the counsellor and took him, all worn and dusty with the weary journey, into an inner room.
And as soon as the counsellor was refreshed, the king said: "Counsellor, why did you leave us? How could you bring yourself to do soharsh and loveless a thing? But after all, who can understand the strange workings of stern necessity? To think that you should decide all at once to wander off on a pilgrimage! Well, tell me what countries you visited, and what new things you saw."Then the counsellor told him the whole story truthfully and in order, the journey to Golden Island and the fairy who rose singing from the sea, her wonderful beauty and the magic tree.
But the king immediately fell in love so hopelessly that his kingdom and his life seemed worthless to him without her.He took the counsellor aside and said: "Counsellor, I simply must see her.Remember that I shall die if I do not.I bow to my fate.I will take the journey which you took.You must not refuse me nor accompany me.I shall go alone and in disguise.You must rule the kingdom, and not dispute my words.Swear to do it on your life."So he spoke, and would not listen to advice, but dismissed the counsellor.Then Farsight was unhappy though a great festival was made for him.How can a good counsellor be happy when his master devotes himself to a vice?
The next night King Glory-banner threw the burden of government on that excellent counsellor, assumed the dress of a hermit, and left his city.And as he travelled, he saw a monk named Grass, who said when the king bowed before him as a holy man: "My son, if you sail with a merchant named Fortune, you will obtain the maiden you desire.Go on fearlessly."So the king bowed again and went on rejoicing.After crossing rivers and mountains he came to the ocean.And on the shore he met at once the merchant Fortune whom the monk had mentioned, bound for Golden Island.And when the merchant saw the king's appearance and his signet ring, he bowed low, took him on the ship, and set sail.
When the ship reached the middle of the sea, the maiden suddenly arose, sitting in the branches of the magic tree.And as the king gazed eagerly at her, she sang as before to her lute:
Whatever seed of fate is sown The fruit appears--'tis strange! Whatever deed a man has done,Not God himself can change.
Whatever, how, for whom, and whereTis fated so to be,That thing,just so, for him, and thereMust happen fatally.
This song she sang, hinting at what was to happen.And the king gazed at her smitten by love, and could not move.Then he cried: "O Sea, in hiding her, you deceive those who think they have your treasures.Honour and glory to you! I seek your protection.Grant me my desire!" And as the king prayed, the maiden sank with the tree.Then the king jumped after her into the sea.
The good merchant Fortune thought he was lost and was ready to die of grief.But he was comforted by a voice from heaven which said: "Do nothing rash.There is no danger when he sinks in the sea.For he is the king Glory-banner, disguised as a hermit.He came here for the sake of the maiden; she was his wife in a former life.And he will win her and return to his kingdom in the Anga country." So the merchant sailed on to complete his business.
But King Glory-banner sank in the sea, and all at once he saw a heavenly city.He looked in amazement at the balconies with their splendid jewelled pillars, their walls bright with gold, and the network of pearls in their windows.And he saw gardens with pools that had stairways of various gems, and magic trees that yielded all desires.But rich as it was, the city was deserted.
He entered house after house, but did not find the maiden anywhere.Then he climbed a high balcony built of gems, opened a door, and entered.And there he saw her all alone, lying on a jewelled couch, and clad in splendid garments.He eagerly raised her face to see if it was really she, and saw that it was indeed the maiden he sought.At the sight of her he had the strange feeling of the traveller in a desert in summer at the sight of a river.
