But soon, in spite of the golden canopy over his head, Hafiz began to feel the terrible heat of the rays of the sun, and soon he noticed that the soldiers and servants were weary, that his horse drooped, and that he, Hafiz, was overcome, and he said angrily: "What! Is there something stronger in the world than a King?" And, almost without knowing it, he again sang his song more boldly than the first time: "Ah me! Ah me! If Hafiz only the Sun could be!" And the Voice answered: "Be thou the Sun." And Hafiz became the Sun, and shone down upon the Earth, but, because he did not know how to shine very wisely, he shone very fiercely, so that the crops dried up, and folk grew sick and died. And then there arose from the East a little cloud which slipped between Hafiz and the Earth, so that he could no longer shine down upon it, and he said: "Is there something stronger in the world than the Sun?" "Ah me! Ah me! If Hafiz only the Cloud could be!" "Be thou the Cloud. And Hafiz became the Cloud, and rained down water upon the Earth, but, because he did not know how to do so wisely, there fell so much rain that all the little rivulets became great rivers, and all the great rivers overflowed their banks, and carried everything before them in swift torrent--all except one great rock which stood unmoved. And Hafiz said: "Is there something stronger than the Cloud?" "Ah me! Ah me! If Hafiz only the Rock could be!" And the Voice said: "Be thou the Rock." And Hafiz became the Rock, and the Cloud disappeared and the waters went down. And Hafiz the Rock, saw coming towards him a man--he could not see the face. As the man approached he suddenly raised a hammer and struck Hafiz, so that he felt it through all his stony body. And Hafiz said: "Is there something stronger in the world than the Rock? "Ah me! Ah me! If Hafiz only that Man might be!" And the Voice said: "Be thou---Thyself." And Hafiz seized the hammer and said: "The Sun was stronger than the King, the Cloud was stronger than the sun, the Rock was stronger then the Cloud, but I, Hafiz, was stronger than all." Adapted and arranged by the Author. TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH. (From the Russian) Long long ago there lived a King who was such a mighty monarch that whenever he sneezed everyone in the whole country had to say, "To your good health!" Everyone said it except the Shepherd with the bright blue eyes, and he would not say it. The King heard of this and was very angry, and sent for the Shepherd to appear before him. The Shepherd came and stood before the throne, where the King sat looking very grand and powerful. But however grand or powerful he might be, the Shepherd did not feel a bit afraid of him. "Say at once 'To my good health'!" cried the King.