The king sat surrounded by his counsellors when Fable appeared. The Northern Crown adorned his head. He held the lily in his left hand, the balance in his right. The eagle and the lion sat at his feet. "Monarch," said Fable, bending reverently before him, "Hail to thine eternal throne! Joyful news for thy wounded heart! An early return of wisdom! Awakening to eternal peace! Rest to the restless love! Glorification of the heart! Life to antiquity and form to the future!" The king touched her open forehead with the lily, "Whatever thou demandest shall be granted thee." "Three times shall I petition, and when I come the fourth time, Love will be before the door. Now give me the lyre." "Eridanus," cried the king, "bring the lyre hither." Eridanus streamed forth murmuring from his concealment, and Fable snatched the lyre from his boiling flood. Fable played a few prophetic strains. She sipped from the cup which the king ordered to be handed her, and hastened away with many thanks. She glided with a sweet, elastic motion over the icy sea, drawing joyful music from the strings. The ice resounded melodiously beneath her step. She fancied the voices of the rocks of sorrow were the voices of her children seeking her, and she answered in a thousand echoes. Fable soon reached the shore. She met her mother who appeared wasted and pale; she had grown thin and sad, and her noble features revealed the traces of a hopeless sorrow and of touching constancy. "What has happened to thee, dear mother?" asked Fable; "thou seemest to me entirely changed; I should not know thee except by internal signs. I hoped once more to refresh myself at thy breast; I have pined after thee for a long time." Ginnistan caressed her tenderly, and became calm and serene. "I thought from the first," said she, "that the scribe would not take thee captive. It refreshes me to see thee. Poor and pinched are my affairs now; but I console myself with hoping that it will soon end. Perhaps I am about to have a moment of rest. Eros is near; and when he sees thee and thou speakest with him, he may tarry some time. In the mean time come to my bosom. I will give thee what I have."