Music Welcome to Snewscast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us on Snewscast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Orange Blossoms. Tonight we'll read the second half, too. The Princess of Babylon found in the Strange Storybook by Mrs. Lang, published in 1913. The first half aired last week. This story first aired way back in 2020. The story is taken from a lesser known philosophical tale by Voltaire, written in 1768. Voltaire was a French enlightenment writer, philosopher, sadder, sadirist, and historian. Famous for his wit and social critiques, he was an advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. In the first episode, the king holds a competition of the world's rulers who were interested in marrying his daughter, the princess. The games would be impossibly difficult. A handsome and magical stranger appears out of seeming thin air to win the games. However, he is suddenly called away to care to matters at home. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. Let us go then. replied the young stranger, then turning to the king he added, Dane Sire, to permit the princess to accept the bird which I am leaving behind me. They are both of them unique. He bowed to the king, and to the spectators, and went down the marble steps to where his unicorn was waiting. But not before the royal attendant had obtained the information desired by Bellas, and learned that the dying dying Okmar was an old shepherd much respected in the neighborhood of his home. Nothing could equal the surprise of Bellis and his daughter on hearing this news. In fact, the king refused to believe it and desired the royal attendant to ride after the stranger at once, and find out more about him. But the unicorns went like the wind, and no traces could be seen of them, even from the platform of the highest towers. Although the royal attendant had taken care that his words should be overheard by nobody but the king and the princess, it somehow the news that the man who had fulfilled all the oracle's conditions was only a shepherd's son, speedily leaked out. For a long while, no one talked of anything else, as is the way of courts and other places, and it was generally held that it was a bad joke of the attendance, who ought to have known better. One of the ladies in waiting, when so far, as as to explain that the word shepherd might actually mean a king because kings were set to guard their flocks, but she found no one to agree with her. As to Formosante, she never said anything at all, but sat silently, stroking her bird. King Bellis did not know what to do, and as always happened on these occasions he summoned his counsel, though he never paid any attention to what they said, or would have said, had not known it to be useless. He talked to them for some time, and at length decided that he would at once go and consult the Oracle as to his best course, and return to tell them the result. When he entered the Council chamber after a very short absence, he looked puzzled and crestfallen. The Oracle declares that my daughter will never be married till she has traveled all over the world," said he. But how can a princess of Babylon, who never has stepped beyond the bounds of the park, travel over the world. It's absurd, indeed. If it were not sacrilege to utter such things at an oracle, I should say it was impertinent. Really, the oracle has not a spark of common sense. And the council was of opinion that it certainly had not.

Although there was no triumphant bridegroom to grace the feast commanded by King Bellas, it was held as arranged in the great hall where the turning roof painted with stars, you to feel as if you were dining under the sky. Everything was on a scale of splendor, never before seen in Babylon during the thirty thousand years of its existence. But perhaps the feast could hardly be considered a success. For the guests neither spoke nor ate, so absorbed were they in watching the incomparable manner in which the bird flew about from one to another, bearing the choicest dishes in his beak.

At least the only people who did speak were the king of Scythia and the princess Al-Di-A, the cousin of Formosante, and scarcely less beautiful than she. to him, Al-D.A. confided that it was she who, by law, should have been queen of Babylon, but that on the death of her grandfather, his younger son had usurped her father's rights. However, she added, in answer to a question put by the King of Scythia, I prefer Scythia with you to Babylon's crown without you. There never was any mistaking what LDA meant. But I will avenge your father, cried the King, in two days from now you shall fly with me back to Scythia, and when I return, it will be at the head of 300,000 men, and so it was settled. Everyone was glad to go to bed early, after the fatigues of the day, and all slept soundly, except for Mosonte. She had carried the bird with her, and placed him on an orange tree which stood on a silver tub in her room, and bid in him goodnight. tired as she was, she could not close her eyes. For the scenes she had witnessed

in the arena past one by one before her. At length, she could bear it no longer. He will never come back. Never. She cried, sobbing. Yes, he will, princess, answer the bird from the orange tree, who, that has one seen you, could live without seeing you again. Formosante was so astonished to hear the bird speak, and in the very best child ran, that she ceased weeping and drew the curtains. Are you a magician, or one of the gods in the shape of a bird? Ashy. Oh, if you were more than man, send him back to me. I am only the bird I seem," answered the voice, but I was born in the days when birds and beasts of all sorts talked familiarly with men. I held my peace before the court because I feared they would take me for a magician. But how old are you?" she inquired in amazement. 27,900 years and six months replied the bird. the same age as the change that takes place in the heavens, known as the procession of the equinoxes, but there are many creatures now existing on the Earth far older than I. It is about 22,000 years since I learned Chaltrain. I have always had a taste for it. But in this part of the world, the other animals gave up speaking when men formed the habit of eating them. I never knew they did speak, replied the princess, deeply interested, in spite of her woes. Not know that they spoke? Why? The earliest fables all begin with the words once upon a time when beast talked. But that is a long time ago. Of course, many women still talk to their dogs, but the dogs determined not to answer them. They were so angry at being forced by whips to go and hunt their brothers. There are besides many stories which allude to conversations with horses, and their drivers still speak to them, as you know, but so very rudely that the horses which once loved men now hate the whole race. Missante nodded her head. She had sometimes been shocked at the language of the Babylonian chariot's tears. The land where dwells my master continued the bird. Is perhaps the only one in the world where animals are treated with proper respect and where, therefore, they consent to live happily with man. And where is that? As the princess eagerly? It is in the country of the Ganger Eats, beyond the Ganges, that Amazon, my master, was born. He is no king. Indeed, I hardly think he would condescend to be one. And, like his countrymen, he is a shepherd. But you must not suppose him to be one of the shepherds, such as those you know, whose sheep are usually far better dressed than themselves. The shepherds of the Gangeryates own immense flocks, for it is considered one of the blackest crimes to kill a sheep, And their wool, as finest silk, As sought all over the east. The soil is so rich, The corn and fruits grow for the asking, While diamonds can be chipped from every rock. They have no army and need for one. For a hundred unicorns can put to flight the largest host that ever was assembled. And now, Princess, if you are to travel us the Oracle desires, will you not give me the happiness of guiding you, Thither? Oh, I really I answered the princess. The sun was already rising when the king entered his daughter's room, and after receiving the respectful greetings of the bird, sat down on her bed. He did not seem quite at his ease, but at length he informed her that has greatly to his sorrow, the Oracle had decreed, she was to go on a journey before her marriage. He had arranged for her to make a pilgrimage to Aerobe the Blessed, and company with numerous attendants. To the princess, who had never been beyond either the Euphrates or the Tigris, the thought of a journey was enchanting. She could not sit still, and wandered out into the gardens with her bird upon her shoulder. The bird, for his part, was scarcely less happy than she, and flew from tree to tree in an ecstasy of delight. Unluckily, the king of Egypt was strolling about the gardens likewise, shooting with bow and arrows at everything within his reach. He was the worst marksman on the banks of the Nile, and though he never by any chance hit what he aimed at, he was nonetheless dangerous for that, as he usually hit something else. In this way, a stray shot pierced the heart of the flying bird, who fell, all bloody, into the arms of the princess. Burn my body, whispered the bird, and see that you bear my ashes to air be the blast, to the east of the town of Aiden, spread them out in the sun, on a bed of cinnamon and clothes. So saying he breathed his last sigh, leaving for Mosonte fainting from grief. On seeing his daughter's condition, King Bellas was filled with anger against the king of Egypt, and not knowing if the death of the bird might not be a bad omen, hurried as usual to consult the Oracle. For answer, the voice to which he looked for guidance declared, mixture of everything, living death, loss and gain, infidelity and constancy, disasters and happiness. Neither he nor his counsel could make any sense of it, but he was satisfied with having done his duty. Form a santae, meanwhile, had burned the body of the bird as he had desired and put his ashes in a golden vase from which he never parted. Her next step was to order the strange beasts brought by the king of Egypt to be put to death and the mummies thrown into the river, and if she could have thrown their master after them, she would have received some consolation. When the Egyptian monarch heard how she had treated his offering, he was deeply offended, and retired to Egypt to collect an army of 300,000 men, with which to return and avenge the insult. The King of India promised to do likewise, and the King of Sithya, who had ridden off early that morning with Princess Aldiay, might be expected back about the same time with another army of equal size to regain his wife's lost inheritance. Alice won the King of Babylon awoke the following morning he found the palace quite empty. This he would not have minded, for he was tired of feasting, but his fury was great at the news that the Princess Al-Diè had vanished also. Without losing a moment he called together his counsel and consulted his oracle, but he only could extract the following words, which have since become famous throughout the world. If you don't marry your daughters, they will marry themselves. Now when the Egyptian kingitted the court of Babylon, he left some spies behind him, with orders to let him know the road taken by the princess to reach Arabic the Blessed. Therefore, when after three days traveling, she stopped at her rest house for a little repose. She beheld to her dismay, the king of Egypt following her. And worse than that, in a few minutes he had placed guards before every door, so that it was useless for her to attempt to escape him. For small though her experience of the world might be, Formosante was well aware that the Pharaoh's vanity had been deeply wounded by his failure in the matter of the bow, and she knew she could expect no mercy. Therefore, on receiving the King's message that he craved an interview with her, the princess saw that her only chance lay in cunning, and as soon as he began to speak to her, she knew she had guessed rightly. He addressed her very roughly and told her that she was in his power, that he intended to marry her that evening after supper, and that it was useless for her to object, as he had now got the upper hand. Formosante pretended to be quite overcome by his kindness, and assured him that in secret he had been the lover she had always preferred, although she was afraid to say so. And she added, with her head hanging down modestly, that she would sup with him that evening with all the pleasure in life, and hoped he would deign to invite his grand omelnaire also, as he had appeared to her in Babylon to be a man full of wisdom and learning. Further, that she had with her some of the rare and precious wine of Shiraz, which she trusted, she might be permitted to bring for her Majesty's use. So well did she act that the Pharaoh was completely deceived, and when the hour for supper arrived, he sat down to the table with his wounded vanity soothed and his good temper restored. Anyone acquainted with the ways of princesses will not need to be told that Formosante not only drug the wine set aside for the King and

the Almener, but also the bottles which her maid distributed amongst the guards. The powder had been given her long ago by a magician in Babylon, with directions how to use it. If he said you wish it to take effect at once, put in two pinches.

If in an hour, one, if in the next morning, a quarter of a pinch. Remember what I tell you. Some day, your life may depend on it. For reasons of her own, for Mousante thought it better, to get through part of the supper before the king and his gas became unconscious. The Pharaoh was just then well pleased with himself and everyone else, and after paying her compliments on her beauty which grew more ardent as time wore on, begged permission to give her a kiss. Certainly your majesty answered the princess, though it was the last thing she desired. But as she bent her forehead towards him, the drug did its work. The king fell back heavily on his chair. The all-menor sat sideways and sank to the ground.

And a The king fell back heavily on his chair. The all-men are sat sideways and sank to the ground, and a black bird, which unnoticed by all, had been perched in a corner, flew out through the window. Then the princess rose calmly from her seat, summoned her maid, and mounting two horses which were saddled in readiness, they rode straight to Arah be the blessed. As soon as she and her maid Eirla be held the town of Aiden, lying before them, they got down and prepared, as the bird had bitten them, his funeral pyre of cinnamon and cloves. But what was the surprise of the princess when, on scattering of the ashes and the little pyre, a flame suddenly broke forth? In the midst of the fire, an. And out of the egg came her bird, more brilliant and beautiful than ever. Take me to the country of the Canter Eads," she gasped when she was able to speak and let us find Amazon. Fortunately for the princess, the bird was able to satisfy her. Two of my best friends among the Griffins, he said, live not far from here. A pigeon shall start at once with a message, and they can be with us by night. And so they were. And the princess and Eerla did not lose a moment in mounting a small car which was attached to them, and in setting out for the land of the Ganger Eats. I wished to speak to Amazon, cried the Phoenix as soon as the Griffins halted before his house, and it was as well that the bird was there. For between joy and hope and fatigue, the princess's heart was fluttering to such a degree that she could have said nothing. Amazand replied the man whose crook betokened him to be a shepherd also. He went away three hours ago. Ah, that was what I feared. exclaim the Phoenix, while the princess sank back upon her cushions, nearly fainting with disappointment. Those three hours you passed in the rest house may have caused you the happiness of your life,

but I will try if anything can be done to repair the mischief. We must see his mother at once. He added, and for Masante, with hopes bringing a new within her, followed him into a large room, where the air was filled with song, which proceeded from the throats not only of a thousand different birds but of shepherds and chepherdises. The voices seemed to chime in with the melancholy of the princess, who rose, trembling, as the mother of Amazon appeared. "'Ahh, give him back to me,' she cried, for his sake I have quitted the most brilliant court in the world, and have braved all kinds of dangers. I have escaped the snares of the King of Egypt, and now I find he has fled from me.' Princess answered the lady. Did you not happen to notice while you were at supper with the King of Egypt, a blackbird flying about the room? Oh, now that you say so, I do recollect one. Rejoin the Princess. And I remember that when the King bent forward to give me a kiss, the bird disappeared through the window with the cry of anguish. You are right to last," replied the lady, and from that moment all troubles can be dated. That black bird had been sent by my son to bring him news of your health, as he meant as soon as the burial ceremonies for your father had been completed, to return and throw himself at your feet. For when a ganger read is in love, he is in love, but as soon as he was told, how happy you seemed, above all, as soon as he heard, of you ready to accept the kiss of the monarch who had killed the Phoenix, despair filled his heart. And that in the very moment in which he had learned that he was your cousin, and that therefore the King of Babylon might be induced to listen to his suit. My cousin, but how? Never mind that now. He is your cousin, but I feared he would never survive the news of the kiss which you had given to the King of Egypt. Oh, my aunt, if you could only understand, cried the princess, ringing her hands. I dared not excite the King's suspicions,

or I should have never escaped. I swear by the ashes and the soul of the Phoenix which were then in my pocket. Tell her, bird of wisdom, that what I say is true. It is, it is.

Exclaim the Phoenix eagerly.

But now what we have to do is go in search of Amazon. It is, it is. Exclaim the Phoenix eagerly.

But now what we have to do is go in search of Amazon. I will dispatch unicorns in all directions, and I hope before many hours to be able to tell you where he is. The Phoenix was as good as his word. With length, one of the unicorns learned that Amazon was in China. Without losing a moment, they set out and arrived, traveling through the air, in the short space of eight days, but only to find that they had again missed him by a few hours. The Emperor would gladly have kept Formosante to show her the wonders of his country, but as soon as he heard her story and how all this misery had its root in a kiss, given out of pure fidelity, he saw that the one thing he could do for the princess was to discover for her the road which Amazon had taken. From that day began a series of journeys such as no Babylon-ish princess had ever gone through during the thirty thousand years of the monarchy. There was not a kingdom either in Asia or in

Europe that Formosante did not visit, and in spite of the fact that she had no room in her mind for any thought except the finding of Amazon, who had invariably left but a few hours before she was forced to pick up some new ideas on the way. Strange things she saw, which her father, King Bellis, would never have believed to exist. A country in which the young king had made an agreement with his subjects that the farmer and the The noble might set side by side and make their own laws.

Another kingdom in which one man had power to prevent any law from being passed by the rest of the assembly. A third in which the will of one queen had changed the face of the world as if by magic, though perhaps, if the princess had returned for a second visit, she might not have felt so certain that the changes would last. Once it was only a thick fog off an island called Albion, which prevented her vessel from meeting the one containing Amazon. But at length, they both found themselves in a province bordering on the Mediterranean, where Formosante, driven to despair by a rumor that Amazon was faithless to her, was looking out for a ship that might take her to Babylon. As usual, she trusted the Phoenix to make all her arrangements, and the people in whose house she was living, having overheard the birds speaking to her at once imagined she She was a witch and locked her in her maid, Irla, in their rooms. They would have seized the Phoenix also, but at the sound of the key being turned, he quickly flew out of the window and started in search of Amazon. these long months of wandering, the bird and its

master met on the road which runs from north to south, and at first their joy was such that even the princess was forgotten but not for long. And for Mousante, where is she? A prisoner alas on suspicion of being a witch, and you know what that means, answered the Phoenix with tears in his eyes. as I did know. And for an instant was frozen with horror as the vision flashed across his mind of Formosante. Then he aroused himself and gave the Phoenix the mortars. In two hours, help came, and Amazon was kneeling at the feet of the Princess.

So, united at last, we will leave them.