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And the Hare answered him； and said： 'Surely thou hast given me
freedom； and what shall I give thee in return？'
And the Star…Child said to it； 'I am seeking for a piece of white
gold； nor can I anywhere find it； and if I bring it not to my
master he will beat me。'
'Come thou with me；' said the Hare； 'and I will lead thee to it；
for I know where it is hidden； and for what purpose。'
So the Star…Child went with the Hare； and lo！ in the cleft of a
great oak…tree he saw the piece of white gold that he was seeking。
And he was filled with joy； and seized it； and said to the Hare；
'The service that I did to thee thou hast rendered back again many
times over； and the kindness that I showed thee thou hast repaid a
hundred…fold。'
'Nay；' answered the Hare； 'but as thou dealt with me； so I did deal
with thee；' and it ran away swiftly； and the Star…Child went
towards the city。
Now at the gate of the city there was seated one who was a leper。
Over his face hung a cowl of grey linen； and through the eyelets
his eyes gleamed like red coals。 And when he saw the Star…Child
coming； he struck upon a wooden bowl； and clattered his bell； and
called out to him； and said； 'Give me a piece of money； or I must
die of hunger。 For they have thrust me out of the city； and there
is no one who has pity on me。'
'Alas！' cried the Star…Child； 'I have but one piece of money in my
wallet； and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me； for I
am his slave。'
But the leper entreated him； and prayed of him； till the Star…Child
had pity； and gave him the piece of white gold。
And when he came to the Magician's house； the Magician opened to
him； and brought him in； and said to him； 'Hast thou the piece of
white gold？' And the Star…Child answered； 'I have it not。' So the
Magician fell upon him； and beat him； and set before him an empty
trencher； and said； 'Eat；' and an empty cup； and said； 'Drink；' and
flung him again into the dungeon。
And on the morrow the Magician came to him； and said； 'If to…day
thou bringest me not the piece of yellow gold； I will surely keep
thee as my slave； and give thee three hundred stripes。'
So the Star…Child went to the wood； and all day long he searched
for the piece of yellow gold； but nowhere could he find it。 And at
sunset he sat him down and began to weep； and as he was weeping
there came to him the little Hare that he had rescued from the
trap；
And the Hare said to him； 'Why art thou weeping？ And what dost
thou seek in the wood？'
And the Star…Child answered； 'I am seeking for a piece of yellow
gold that is hidden here； and if I find it not my master will beat
me； and keep me as a slave。'
'Follow me；' cried the Hare； and it ran through the wood till it
came to a pool of water。 And at the bottom of the pool the piece
of yellow gold was lying。
'How shall I thank thee？' said the Star…Child； 'for lo！ this is the
second time that you have succoured me。'
'Nay； but thou hadst pity on me first；' said the Hare； and it ran
away swiftly。
And the Star…Child took the piece of yellow gold； and put it in his
wallet； and hurried to the city。 But the leper saw him coming； and
ran to meet him； and knelt down and cried； 'Give me a piece of
money or I shall die of hunger。'
And the Star…Child said to him； 'I have in my wallet but one piece
of yellow gold； and if I bring it not to my master he will beat me
and keep me as his slave。'
But the leper entreated him sore； so that the Star…Child had pity
on him； and gave him the piece of yellow gold。
And when he came to the Magician's house； the Magician opened to
him； and brought him in； and said to him； 'Hast thou the piece of
yellow gold？' And the Star…Child said to him； 'I have it not。' So
the Magician fell upon him； and beat him； and loaded him with
chains； and cast him again into the dungeon。
And on the morrow the Magician came to him； and said； 'If to…day
thou bringest me the piece of red gold I will set thee free； but if
thou bringest it not I will surely slay thee。'
So the Star…Child went to the wood； and all day long he searched
for the piece of red gold； but nowhere could he find it。 And at
evening he sat him down and wept； and as he was weeping there came
to him the little Hare。
And the Hare said to him； 'The piece of red gold that thou seekest
is in the cavern that is behind thee。 Therefore weep no more but
be glad。'
'How shall I reward thee？' cried the Star…Child； 'for lo！ this is
the third time thou hast succoured me。'
'Nay； but thou hadst pity on me first；' said the Hare； and it ran
away swiftly。
And the Star…Child entered the cavern； and in its farthest corner
he found the piece of red gold。 So he put it in his wallet； and
hurried to the city。 And the leper seeing him coming； stood in the
centre of the road； and cried out； and said to him； 'Give me the
piece of red money； or I must die；' and the Star…Child had pity on
him again； and gave him the piece of red gold； saying； 'Thy need is
greater than mine。' Yet was his heart heavy； for he knew what evil
fate awaited him。
But lo！ as he passed through the gate of the city； the guards bowed
down and made obeisance to him； saying； 'How beautiful is our
lord！' and a crowd of citizens followed him； and cried out； 'Surely
there is none so beautiful in the whole world！' so that the Star…
Child wept； and said to himself； 'They are mocking me； and making
light of my misery。' And so large was the concourse of the people；
that he lost the threads of his way； and found himself at last in a
great square； in which there was a palace of a King。
And the gate of the palace opened； and the priests and the high
officers of the city ran forth to meet him； and they abased
themselves before him； and said； 'Thou art our lord for whom we
have been waiting； and the son of our King。'
And the Star…Child answered them and said； 'I am no king's son； but
the child of a poor beggar…woman。 And how say ye that I am
beautiful； for I know that I am evil to look at？'
Then he； whose armour was inlaid with gilt flowers； and on whose
helmet crouched a lion that had wings； held up a shield； and cried；
'How saith my lord that he is not beautiful？'
And the Star…Child looked； and lo！ his face was even as it had
been； and his comeliness had come back to him； and he saw that in
his eyes which he had not seen there before。
And the priests and the high officers knelt down and said to him；
'It was prophesied of old that on this day should come he who was
to rule over us。 Therefore； let our lord take this crown and this
sceptre； and be in his justice and mercy our King over us。'
But he said to them； 'I am not worthy； for I have denied the mother
who bare me； nor may I rest till I have found her； and known her
forgiveness。 Therefore； let me go； for I must wander again over
the world； and may not tarry here； though ye bring me the crown and
the sceptre。' And as he spake he turned his face from them towards
the street that led to the gate of the city； and lo！ amongst the
crowd that pressed round the soldiers； he saw the beggar…woman who
was his mother； and at her side stood the leper； who had sat by the
road。
And a cry of joy broke from his lips； and he ran over； and kneeling
down he kissed the wounds on his mother's feet； and wet them with
his tears。 He bowed his head in the dust； and sobbing； as one
whose heart might break； he said to her： 'Mother； I denied thee in
the hour of my pride。 Accept me in the hour of my humility。
Mother； I gave thee hatred。 Do thou give me love。 Mother； I
rejected thee。 Receive thy child now。' But the beggar…woman
answered him not a word。
And he reached out his hands； and clasped the white feet of the
leper； and said to him： 'Thrice did I give thee of my mercy。 Bid
my mother speak to me once。' But the leper