Kebra Nagast

dom. For thy nobles cannot return to their houses and look upon their children, reason of the abundance of by wisdom and food which thou givest them, according to their desire, and they say, The table of Solomon is better for us than enjoying and gratifying ourselves in our own houses. And because of this I, through my fear, sought protection so that thou mightest not stablish him with thee, but mightest send him to me [back] in peace, without sickness and suffering, in love and in peace, that my heart might rejoice at having encountered thee.' And the King answered and said unto him, " Besides ' travailing with him and suckling him, what else hath a ? A daughter belongeth to the mother, and a boy to the father. God cursed Eve, ' 1 Bring forth children in anguish and with saying, sorrow of heart, and [after] thy bringing forth shall take with an oath He place thy return to thy husband and said, forth,' sworn, Bring having thy return to woman to do with a son ' ; ' thy husband [shall follow]. As for this my son, I will not give him to the Queen, but I will make him king over Israel. For this is my firstborn, the first of my race whom God hath given me." And then Solomon sent unto the young man evening and morning dainty meats, and apparel of honour, and " It is better gold and silver. And he said unto him, for thee to dwell here in our country with us, where the House of God is, and where the Tabernacle of the Law And the young of God is, and where God dwelleth." man his son sent a message unto him, saying, " Gold, and silver, and [rich] apparel are not wanting in our But I came hither in order to hear thy wiscountry. see thy face, and to salute thee, and to pay and to dom, to homage thy kingdom, and to make obeisance to thee, and then [I intended thee] to send me away to my mother and to my own country. For no man hateth 1 48 See Genesis iii, 16.