The Boy Who Learned the Speech of Birds and Became King

A pious couple were childless for a long time. The man went to the cemetry and prayed on the tombs of pious men. Demons came out and promised him a son on condition that he had him circumcised there by them. The man agreed. On the way home he lost his way and the same demons appeared and promised to lead him

home on condition that he left the child for with them seven years to be educated. He agreed. At the end of the seven years, they asked him to leave the child one year longer that they might teach him the language of the birds and animals. At the end of the eighth year, the father took the son home. On the way they passed a brook of water, where two birds were crying. The boy laughed and wept. Asked the reason by his father, he said that the birds foretold that he would be a king and his father would wash his hands and feet. The father was annoyed and threw him into the river. The child was found by a fuller and brought up by him. At that time two birds covered with dust used to throw themselves each day into the food of the King, and no one was able to explain the reason. The Jews were asked for an explanation within seven days under penalty of death. The master of the young man told the king that the latter would answer. The birds told him that they were the souls of two Jews who had been murdered by the king's servants; there had been no redress and their wives had remained uncertain of their fate. On the king's asking who the murderers were, the two birds placed themselves on the heads of the murderers and the culprits were punished. The young man afterwards became king, and was renowned for his wisdom. Meanwhile the mother of the young man had asked her husband where the child was. When told that he was dead, she asked where his tomb was. They quarrelled and came to the wise king. He sent all the servants away, his parents alone remaining. Then a jug and basin were brought, and the father washed the King's hands before the meal. He afterwards made himself known to the father, and told him his story. [Another variant above No. 335.]