Portal logo
PEARLS
49
that no man had seen the like. And the Brah­man, when he saw it, said: "Herein are the tears of Heaven which fell into the sea, con­gealed and have become a gem which is beyond price." And he named it "Pearl," and carried it to the King. Then the King, after he had heard the story of it, sent for the chief man of them that worked in gold and commanded him that he make for the pearl a setting most precious, and when it was done, he gave it to the Prince, his son, saying: "Above all things let this be first among the jewels of Travancore forever." And the Prince, when he looked upon it said, "The beauty of it is like the brightness of her eyes when they veiled themselves before my passion," and he prized it more than all the diamonds and rubies in his treasure house.