It was reported to us that your powers could not attain unto their full strength until the morrow; but--" "Your Majesty thinks the report may have been a lie?
It _was_ a lie." That made an immense effect; up went appealing hands everywhere, and the king was assailed with a storm of supplications that I might be bought off at any price, and the calamity stayed.
The king was eager to comply.

He said: "Name any terms, reverend sir, even to the halving of my kingdom; but banish this calamity, spare the sun!" My fortune was made.

I would have taken him up in a minute, but I couldn't stop an eclipse; the thing was out of the question.

So I asked time to consider.

The king said: "How long--ah, how long, good sir?
Be merciful; look, it groweth darker, moment by moment.