In former years there was a king in Egypt named Snefru, who ruled in Memphis.

And it came to pass that he dreamed, and in his dream his teeth fell out of his mouth.

And he sent for the soothsayers and told them the dream.

The first interpreter answered: 'Woe unto thee, O king, all thy kinsmen shall die before thee!' Then was Snefru wroth, caused this messenger of evil to be scourged, and sent for a second interpreter.

He answered: 'O king, live for ever, thy life shall be longer than the life of thy kinsmen and the men of thy house!' Then the king smiled and gave presents unto this interpreter, for though the interpretations were one, yet he had understood to clothe his message in a web of fair and pleasant words.