Have you no word of comfort for us ?" "My son," answered Asti, "I have searched the future, but with all my skill it will open little of its secrets to my sight.

Yet I have learned something.

Great fortunes lie before you, and I believe that you and I shall meet again.

But to your beloved father bid farewell." At these words Rames turned his head aside to hide his tears, but Mermes bade him not to grieve, saying: "Great is the mystery of our fates, my son.

Some there be who tell us that we are but bubbles born of the stream to be swallowed up by the stream, clouds born of the sky to be swallowed up by the sky, the offspring of chance like the beasts and the birds, gnats that dance for an hour in the sunlight and are gone.