" From this last counsel neither can
extract any meaning; but it is explained on their road
home, for when they came to the bridge of that name they
meet a number of mules, and one of these animals being
restive its master forced it on with a stick. The advice
of Solomon, being now understood, is followed, with
complete success.
Among the innumerable tales current in Muhammedan
countries regarding the extraordinary sagacity of
Solomon is the following, which occurs in M. Rene
Basset's _Contes Populaires Berbers_ (Paris, 1887):
Complaint was made to Solomon that some one had stolen a
quantity of eggs. "I shall discover him," said Solomon.
And when the people were assembled in the mosque
(_sic_), he said: "An egg-thief has come in with you,
and he has got feathers on his head." The thief in great
fright raised his hand to his head, which Solomon
perceiving, he cried out: "There is the culprit--seize
him!" There are many variants of this story in Persian
and Indian collections, where a kazi, or judge, takes
the place of Solomon, and it had found its way into our
own jest-books early in the 16th century. Thus in _Tales
and Quicke Answeres_, a man has a goose stolen from him
and complains to the priest, who promises to find out
the thief.
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