And so, half wild with grief and despair, Cedric wandered forth into the world; and after great suffering, the birds took pity upon him, and gave him advice—that he should seek Caradrion.
“‘Caradrion?’ cried Cedric, starting up, ‘Speak swiftly, ere too late, where dwelleth he?’ ‘Ah, that I know not,’ spake the little voice, ‘Yet keep thy courage, seek thou out the stork, The ancient stork that saw from earliest days, Sitting in primal contemplation lost, Sphinx-like, seraphic, and oracular, Watching the strange procession of men’s dreams.’”
But the stork was cruel and would not heed him, and led Cedric a weary chase through themarshes and the brakes. But Cedric pursued, and finally seized the bird by the throat, and forced the secret from him—
“‘Fare southward still, Fronting the sun’s
