It made him laugh, and he scoffed at the people and called them cowards and old women.

Then he turned and saw the tight-rope, and said foolish people were daily wasting their money to see a clumsy and ignorant varlet degrade that beautiful art; now they should see the work of a master.

With that he made a spring into the air and lit firm on his feet on the rope.

Then he hopped the whole length of it back and forth on one foot, with his hands clasped over his eyes; and next he began to throw somersaults, both backward and forward, and threw twenty-seven.
The people murmured, for the astrologer was old, and always before had been halting of movement and at times even lame, but he was nimble enough now and went on with his antics in the liveliest manner.

Finally he sprang lightly down and walked away, and passed up the road and around the corner and disappeared.