Summary The White Bull

1 summary

1.1 chapter 1
1.2 chapter 2
1.3 chapter 3
1.4 chapter 4
1.5 chapter 5
1.6 chapter 6
1.7 chapter 7
1.8 chapter 8
1.9 chapter 9
1.10 chapter 10
1.11 chapter 11

summary
chapter 1

how princess amasidia met bull

the story takes place in ancient egypt princess amasidia, daughter king amasis, walking along pelusium way in company of old mambres, king appointed in charge of household. saddened love has been missing 7 years , king has forbidden him. no 1 in kingdom speak name. while walking along pelusium way encounters many majestic creatures 1 beautiful white bull has ever seen. bull sees princess tries run towards peculiar old lady tries restrain bull. bull reaches princess amasidia, throws himself ground weeping , kissing feet. princess sees offers purchase bull , bull seems want princess, yet bull cannot speak. seeing amasidia wants bull, mambres goes old women try persuade sell bull.

chapter 2

how wise mambres, former sorcerer pharaohs, recognized old woman, , how recognized him

as mambres tries persuade old lady sell bull, states bull not hers sell, rest of animals see there. speak of how met 700 years ago when mambres traveling syria egypt. old lady noble pythoness of endor. old woman states though old friends, cannot satisfy curiosity bull. amasidia goes talk woman buying bull, yet old lady still refuses. lady says welcome see bull , feed him likings never leave watch of other animals , old lady. argue , amasidia asks if escape not able restrain him, old lady says if that, magical serpent might give bull venomous bite. day turns night amasidia knows has return home , leave bull.

chapter 3

how fair amasidia held secret converse handsome serpent

the next day amasidia , mambres talking , decide bull majestic creature , start devising plan speak serpent. mambres sets meeting between princess , serpent, , informs secret serpent must flatter him. speak of past presence god, , serpent informs princess has power on him, same power have on others. serpent agrees tell amasidia tale of white bull. bull used king fell in love dreams slept. wanting remember them hired magi retell him dreams , interpret them him. magi failed , king had them hanged. 7 years ago jew interpreted dream, , king turned ox now. upon hearing ox lost love faints, , mambres rushes over, thinking dead.

chapter 4

how wanted sacrifice ox , exorcize princess

the bull saw princess s ladies rushing , did same dragging old lady. no 1 wake princess till bull arrived. princess abruptly awoke. showered bull kisses , of princess s ladies bewildered. ladies rushed homes , told different stories hear. talk of gossip king took wind of story. upon hearing story filled anger , sentenced daughter locked in chamber. mambres knowing bull princess s love had keep secret because man nabuchad 1 had dethroned amasis 7 years prior. king had hired jew perform metamorphoses. mambres informs princess metamorphoses can changed 1 of ox.

chapter 5

how wise mambres acted wisely

mambres tries trick old lady giving ox him may hide him in 1 of country s stables. mambres devised plan appoint white bull new bull god apis, , sent 4 magical animals, raven, she-ass, dog, , dove deliver letter high priest of memphis, priests come , worship new bull. used tests see of animals trustworthy, , passed raven, left displeased. mambres sent 3 servants follow animals.

chapter 6

how mambres met 3 prophets , gave them dinner

upon talking servants, revealed 3 prophets, daniel, ezekiel, , jeremiah. invited them along old lady , bull great dinner. white bull unable take part in feast animal , identity unknown them. sat angered prophet had imprisoned him, daniel, , old lady got enjoy feast while lay in grass hungry. dinner continued , prophets, mambres, , old lady feasted , drank wine, telling stories. prophets , mambres walked along nile talking night. white bull seeing , opportunity strike enemies took , charging towards prophets master of things transformed them magpies not harmed.

chapter 7

the king of tanis arrives. daughter , bull sacrificed.

as king arrived yelled out saying bull needed tied , thrown out nile whale of jonas eat him, having placed spell on daughter. mambres knowing raven had told king everything, had serpent go amasidia , reassure okay. mambres told king bull needed stay alive until suitor had been found bull god apis. king agreed , gave mambres 1 week find replacement. old lady had departed spirits try , scare king not sacrificing bull, nabuchad did not remember in morning.

chapter 8

how serpent told stories princess, comfort her

the serpent told stories amasidia calm her, telling times when cured serpent bites displaying himself on end of stick. told other inspirational stories , in order night might not filled grief.

chapter 9

how serpent brought no comfort

the princess remarked serpent stories saying did nothing bore her. needed stories did not resemble dreams. continued tell plausible stories, not entertained. after 1 tale of love not refrain , yelled name of lover, nebuchadnezzar!. ladies yelled name, , raven went inform king, still offense utter name. amasis enraged again , sent 12 of evilest men gather daughter.

chapter 10

how wanted cut off princess s head, , how did not cut off

as brought princess amasis, re-informed how uttering name condemned death. told father carry out penalty, first allow bewail virginity. granted wish , said tomorrow both , bull killed. priests arriving due letter, , crowds joined reaches of kingdom, chanting our ox dead , done, ll find ourselves better one.

chapter 11

how princess married ox

the king surprised spectacle, , did not carry out killing of bull. priests had arrived in time worship nebuchad new apis. mambres told king should first untie ox , worship him, , king obliged. amasis went kill daughter if didn t sentenced hell. while preparing killing, amasidia shouted love nebuchad. upon becoming new bull god nebuchad gained ability speak , shouted amasidia love till death. after bull regained human form in front of large crowd. nebuchad said, rather amasidia s lover god. nebuchadnezzar, king of kings. nebuchad married amasidia on spot , showed mercy new father-in-law , let him keep kingdom of tanis. bestowed foundations dove, she-ass, dog, whale, 3 magpies, , raven., showing whole world pardon conquer. old lady received fat pension. created custom passed on kings, can pardoned after recognizing error of ways.