"I," said one of them; "but how shall I take him back?"
"Carry him back after you have stuffed his ears with wool so that he shall
not hear the angels worshipping the Lord."
They had arrived at a certain place, the child heard the angels worshipping
the Lord, and did as they did. His guide released him and he remained three
days without awaking. When he came to himself, he took up his journey and
found a mother-dog which slept while her little ones barked, although yet
unborn. He proceeded and met next an ass attacked by a swarm of flies.
Further on he saw two trees, on one perched a blue bird. Afterward it flew
upon the other tree and began to sing. He found next a fountain of which
the bottom was of silver, the vault of gold and the waters white. He went
on and met a man who had been standing for three days without saying a
word. Finally he arrived at a village protected by God, but which no one
entered. He met a wise man and said to him:
"I want to ask you some questions."
"What do you wish to ask me?"
"I found a mother-dog which was asleep while her little ones were barking,
although yet unborn."
The sage answered, "It is the good of the world that the old man should
keep silence because he is ashamed to speak."
"I saw an ass attacked by a swarm of flies."
"It is Pjoudj and Madjoudj of God (Gog and Magog) and the Antichrist."
"I met two trees, a blue bird perched on one, then flew upon the other and
began to sing."
"It is the picture of the man who has two wives. When he speaks to one the
other gets angry."
"I saw a fountain of which the bottom was of silver, the vault of gold, and
the waters white."
"It is the fountain of life; he who drinks of it shall not die."
"I found a man who was praying. I stayed three days and he did not speak."
"It is he who never prayed upon the earth and is now making amends."
"Send me to my parents," concluded the child.
The old man saw a light cloud and said to it, "Take this human creature to
Egypt." And the cloud bore him to his parents.
* * * * *