Solomon 163
thou wilt return to God, and subdue thy pride, I, too, will return." The king realized his transgression.
On one occasion he strayed into the valley of the ants in the course of his wanderings. He heard one ant order all the others to withdraw, to avoid being crushed by the armies of Solomon. The king halted and summoned the ant that had spoken. She told him that she was the queen of the ants, and she gave her reasons for the order of withdrawal. Solomon wanted to put a question to the ant queen, but she refused to answer unless the king took her up and placed her on his hand. He acquiesced, and then he put his question : " Is there any one greater than I am in all the world ? " — " Yes/' said the ant.
Solomon: "Who?"
Ant : " I am."
Solomon : " How is that possible ? "
Ant : " Were I not greater than thou, God would not have led thee hither to put me on thy hand."
Exasperated, Solomon threw her to the ground, and said : " Thou knowest who I am ? I am Solomon, the son of David."
Not at all intimidated, the ant reminded the king of his earthly origin, and admonished him to humility, and the king went off abashed.
Next he came to a magnificent building, into which he sought to enter in vain ; he could find no door leading into it. After long search the demons came upon an eagle seven hundred years old, and he, unable to give them any informa- tion, sent him to his nine hundred years old brother, whose eyrie was higher than his own, and who would probably be
