The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 378 (Color Image)

0378	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

So MARCO POLO BooK I.

On seeing this they began to wonder what this might be

that the Child had given them, and what was the import

thereof. Now the signification was this : when they

presented their offerings, the Child had accepted all three,

and when they saw that they had said within themselves

that He was the True God, and the True King, and the

True Physician.' And what the gift of the stone implied

was that this Faith which had begun in them should

abide firm as a rock. For He well knew what was

in their thoughts. Howbeit, they had no under-

standing at all of this signification of the gift of the

stone ; so they cast it into a well. Then straight-

way a fire from Heaven descended into that well

wherein the stone had been cast.

And when the Three Kings beheld this marvel they

were sore amazed, and it greatly repented them that they

had cast away the stone ; for well they then perceived

that it had a great and holy meaning. So they took of

that fire, and carried it into their own country, and placed

it in a rich and beautiful church. And there the people

keep it continually burning, and worship it as a god, and

all the sacrifices they offer are kindled with that fire.

And if ever the fire becomes extinct they go to other

cities round about where the same faith is held, and

obtain of that fire from them, and carry it to the church.

And this is the reason why the people of this country

worship fire. They will often go ten days' journey to

get of that fire.2

Such then was the story told by the people of that

Castle to Messer Marco Polo ; they declared to him for

a truth that such was their history, and that one of the

three kings was of the city called SABA, and the second

of AVA, and the third of that very Castle where they still

worship fire, with the people of all the country round

about.'

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