Kebra Nagast

house." And the Queen laughed anything that is in my " and said unto him, Being a wise man why dost thou Shall I steal anything, or shall I carry speak as a fool ? out of the house of the King that which the King hath not given to me ? Do not imagine that I have come hither through love of riches. Moreover, my own kingdom is as wealthy as thine, and there is nothing which I wish for that I lack. quest of thy wisdom." Assuredly I have only come in " And he said unto If thou her, wouldst make me swear, swear thou to me, for a swearing is meet for both [of us], so that neither of us may be unjustly treated. And if thou wilt not make me swear And she said unto him, I will not make thee swear." " Swear to me that thou wilt not take me by force, and I on my part will swear not to take by force thy pos" and he swore to her and made her swear. sessions ; And the King went up on his bed on the one side [of the chamber], and the servants made ready for her a bed on the other side. And Solomon said unto a young " manservant, Wash out the bowl and set in it a vessel of water whilst the Queen is looking on, and shut the doors And Solomon spake to the servant which the Queen did not undertongue as the he did and stand, King commanded, and went and had not as yet fallen asleep, but he And the King slept. be to asleep, and he was watching the only pretended Queen intently. Now the house of Solomon the King was illumined as by day, for in his wisdom he had made shining pearls which were like unto the sun, and moon, and stars [and had set them] in the roof of his house. and go and sleep." in another And the Queen slept a little. And when she woke up her mouth was dry with thirst, for the food which Solomon had given her in his wisdom had made her her mouth thirsty, and she was very thirsty indeed, and and she moved her lips and sucked with her was dry mouth and found no moisture. And she determined to drink the water which she had seen, and she looked ; 34