The Other Language

Three days after I was born, as I lay in my silken cradle, gazingwith astonished dismay on the new world round about me, my motherspoke to the wet-nurse, saying, "How does my child?"

And the wet-nurse answered, "He does well, Madame, I have fed himthree times; and never before have I seen a babe so young yet sogay."

And I was indignant; and I cried, "It is not true, mother; formy bed is hard, and the milk I have sucked is bitter to my mouth,and the odour of the breast is foul in my nostrils, and I am mostmiserable."

But my mother did not understand, nor did the nurse; for the languageI spoke was that of the world from which I came.

And on the twenty-first day of my life, as I was being christened,the priest said to my mother, "You should indeed by happy, Madame,that your son was born a Christian."

And I was surprised,--and I said to the priest, "Then your motherin Heaven should be unhappy, for you were not born a Christian."

But the priest too did not understand my language.

And after seven moons, one day a soothsayer looked at me, and hesaid to my mother, "Your son will be a statesman and a great leaderof men."

But I cried out,--"That is a false prophet; for I shall be amusician, and naught but a musician shall I be."

But even at that age my language was not understood--and great wasmy astonishment.

And after three and thirty years, during which my mother, and thenurse, and the priest have all died, (the shadow of God be upontheir spirits) the soothsayer still lives. And yesterday I met himnear the gates of the temple; and while we were talking togetherhe said, "I have always known you would become a great musician.Even in your infancy I prophesied and foretold your future."

And I believed him--for now I too have forgotten the language ofthat other world.