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son of thine； for thou art a beggar； and ugly； and in rags。
Therefore get thee hence； and let me see thy foul face no more。'
'Nay； but thou art indeed my little son； whom I bare in the
forest；' she cried； and she fell on her knees； and held out her
arms to him。 'The robbers stole thee from me； and left thee to
die；' she murmured； 'but I recognised thee when I saw thee； and the
signs also have I recognised； the cloak of golden tissue and the
amber chain。 Therefore I pray thee come with me； for over the
whole world have I wandered in search of thee。 Come with me； my
son； for I have need of thy love。'
But the Star…Child stirred not from his place； but shut the doors
of his heart against her； nor was there any sound heard save the
sound of the woman weeping for pain。
And at last he spoke to her； and his voice was hard and bitter。
'If in very truth thou art my mother；' he said； 'it had been better
hadst thou stayed away； and not come here to bring me to shame；
seeing that I thought I was the child of some Star； and not a
beggar's child； as thou tellest me that I am。 Therefore get thee
hence； and let me see thee no more。'
'Alas！ my son；' she cried； 'wilt thou not kiss me before I go？ For
I have suffered much to find thee。'
'Nay；' said the Star…Child； 'but thou art too foul to look at； and
rather would I kiss the adder or the toad than thee。'
So the woman rose up； and went away into the forest weeping
bitterly； and when the Star…Child saw that she had gone； he was
glad； and ran back to his playmates that he might play with them。
But when they beheld him coming； they mocked him and said； 'Why；
thou art as foul as the toad； and as loathsome as the adder。 Get
thee hence； for we will not suffer thee to play with us；' and they
drave him out of the garden。
And the Star…Child frowned and said to himself； 'What is this that
they say to me？ I will go to the well of water and look into it；
and it shall tell me of my beauty。'
So he went to the well of water and looked into it； and lo！ his
face was as the face of a toad； and his body was sealed like an
adder。 And he flung himself down on the grass and wept； and said
to himself； 'Surely this has come upon me by reason of my sin。 For
I have denied my mother； and driven her away； and been proud； and
cruel to her。 Wherefore I will go and seek her through the whole
world； nor will I rest till I have found her。'
And there came to him the little daughter of the Woodcutter； and
she put her hand upon his shoulder and said； 'What doth it matter
if thou hast lost thy comeliness？ Stay with us； and I will not
mock at thee。'
And he said to her； 'Nay； but I have been cruel to my mother； and
as a punishment has this evil been sent to me。 Wherefore I must go
hence； and wander through the world till I find her； and she give
me her forgiveness。'
So he ran away into the forest and called out to his mother to come
to him； but there was no answer。 All day long he called to her；
and； when the sun set he lay down to sleep on a bed of leaves； and
the birds and the animals fled from him； for they remembered his
cruelty； and he was alone save for the toad that watched him； and
the slow adder that crawled past。
And in the morning he rose up； and plucked some bitter berries from
the trees and ate them； and took his way through the great wood；
weeping sorely。 And of everything that he met he made inquiry if
perchance they had seen his mother。
He said to the Mole； 'Thou canst go beneath the earth。 Tell me； is
my mother there？'
And the Mole answered； 'Thou hast blinded mine eyes。 How should I
know？'
He said to the Linnet； 'Thou canst fly over the tops of the tall
trees； and canst see the whole world。 Tell me； canst thou see my
mother？'
And the Linnet answered； 'Thou hast clipt my wings for thy
pleasure。 How should I fly？'
And to the little Squirrel who lived in the fir…tree； and was
lonely； he said； 'Where is my mother？'
And the Squirrel answered； 'Thou hast slain mine。 Dost thou seek
to slay thine also？'
And the Star…Child wept and bowed his head； and prayed forgiveness
of God's things； and went on through the forest； seeking for the
beggar…woman。 And on the third day he came to the other side of
the forest and went down into the plain。
And when he passed through the villages the children mocked him；
and threw stones at him； and the carlots would not suffer him even
to sleep in the byres lest he might bring mildew on the stored
corn； so foul was he to look at； and their hired men drave him
away； and there was none who had pity on him。 Nor could he hear
anywhere of the beggar…woman who was his mother； though for the
space of three years he wandered over the world； and often seemed
to see her on the road in front of him； and would call to her； and
run after her till the sharp flints made his feet to bleed。 But
overtake her he could not； and those who dwelt by the way did ever
deny that they had seen her； or any like to her； and they made
sport of his sorrow。
For the space of three years he wandered over the world； and in the
world there was neither love nor loving…kindness nor charity for
him； but it was even such a world as he had made for himself in the
days of his great pride。
And one evening he came to the gate of a strong…walled city that
stood by a river； and； weary and footsore though he was； he made to
enter in。 But the soldiers who stood on guard dropped their
halberts across the entrance； and said roughly to him； 'What is thy
business in the city？'
'I am seeking for my mother；' he answered； 'and I pray ye to suffer
me to pass； for it may be that she is in this city。'
But they mocked at him； and one of them wagged a black beard； and
set down his shield and cried； 'Of a truth； thy mother will not be
merry when she sees thee； for thou art more ill…favoured than the
toad of the marsh； or the adder that crawls in the fen。 Get thee
gone。 Get thee gone。 Thy mother dwells not in this city。'
And another； who held a yellow banner in his hand； said to him；
'Who is thy mother； and wherefore art thou seeking for her？'
And he answered； 'My mother is a beggar even as I am； and I have
treated her evilly； and I pray ye to suffer me to pass that she may
give me her forgiveness； if it be that she tarrieth in this city。'
But they would not； and pricked him with their spears。
And； as he turned away weeping； one whose armour was inlaid with
gilt flowers； and on whose helmet couched a lion that had wings；
came up and made inquiry of the soldiers who it was who had sought
entrance。 And they said to him； 'It is a beggar and the child of a
beggar； and we have driven him away。'
'Nay；' he cried； laughing； 'but we will sell the foul thing for a
slave； and his price shall be the price of a bowl of sweet wine。'
And an old and evil…visaged man who was passing by