The King of the Snakes , then turning to the shepherd , said to him : ` What reward will you choose for saving my child ? ' ` Make me to know the language of beasts , ' answered the shepherd , ` that is all I desire . ' The king replied : ` Such knowledge would be of no benefit to you , for if I granted it to you and you told any one of it , you would immediately die ; ask me rather for whatever else you would most like to possess , and it shall be yours . ' But the shepherd answered him : ` Sir , if you wish to reward me for saving your daughter , grant me , I pray you , to know the language of beasts . I desire nothing else ' ; and he turned as if to depart . Then the king called him back , saying : ` If nothing else will satisfy you , open your mouth . ' The man obeyed , and the king spat into it , and said : ` Now spit into my mouth . ' The shepherd did as he was told , then the King of the Snakes spat again into the shepherd 's mouth . When they had spat into each other 's mouths three times , the king said : ` Now you know the language of beasts , go in peace ; but , if you value your life , beware lest you tell any one of it , else you will immediately die . ' So the shepherd set out for home , and on his way through the wood he heard and understood all that was said by the birds , and by every living creature . When he got back to his sheep he found the flock grazing peacefully , and as he was very tired he laid himself down by them to rest a little . Hardly had he done so when two ravens flew down and perched on a tree near by , and began to talk to each other in their own language : ` If that shepherd only knew that there is a vault full of gold and silver beneath where that lamb is lying , what would he not do ? ' When the shepherd heard these words he went straight to his master and told him , and the master at once took a waggon , and broke open the door of the vault , and they carried off the treasure . But instead of keeping it for himself , the master , who was an honourable man , gave it all up to the shepherd , saying : ` Take it , it is yours . The gods have given it to you . ' So the shepherd took the treasure and built himself a house . He married a wife , and they lived in great peace and happiness , and he was acknowledged to be the richest man , not only of his native village , but of all the country-side . He had flocks of sheep , and cattle , and horses without end , as well as beautiful clothes and jewels . One day , just before Christmas , he said to his wife : ` Prepare everything for a great feast , to-morrow we will take things with us to the farm that the shepherds there may make merry . ' The wife obeyed , and all was prepared as he desired .
Next day they both went to the farm , and XXXXX the evening the master said to the shepherds : ` Now come , all of you , eat , drink , and make merry .
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