October 24, 2010
A certain Yoruba king,
Ajaka, had a favorite
wife of whom he was
very fond. But alas for
his hopes! She gave
birth to twins.
At that time it was the
universal custom to
destroy twins
immediately at birth,
and the mother with
them. But the king had
not the heart to put
this cruel law into
execution, and he
secretly charged one of
his nobles to conduct
the royal mother and
her babes to a remote
place where they might
live in safety.
Here the twin brothers
grew to manhood, and
loved one another
greatly. They were
inseparable, and neither
of them had any
pleasure except in the
company of the other.
When one brother
began to speak, the
other completed his
phrase, so harmonious
were their thoughts
and inclinations.
Their mother, before
she died, informed them
of their royal birth, and
from this moment they
spent the time vainly
regretting their exile,
and wishing that the
law of the country had
made it possible for
them to reign.
At last they received
the news that the king
their father was dead,
leaving no heir, and it
seemed to the brothers
that one of them ought
to go to the capital and
claim the throne. But
which?
To settle this point
they decided to cast
stones, and the one
who made the longer
throw should claim the
throne, and afterwards
send for his brother to
share in his splendor.
The lot fell on the
younger of the twins,
and he set off to the
capital, announced
himself as the Olofin's
[king's] son, and soon
became king with the
consent of all the
people. As soon as
possible he sent for his
brother, who
henceforth lived with
him in the palace and
was treated with honor
and distinction.
But alas! jealousy began
to overcome his
brotherly affection, and
one day as he walked
with the king by the
side of the river, he
pushed his brother
suddenly into the
water, where he was
drowned.
He then gave out in the
palace that his brother
was weary of kingship,
and had left the
country, desiring him to
reign in his stead.
The king had certainly
disappeared, and as no
suspicion fell on the
twin brother, he was
made king and so
realized his secret
ambition.
Some time later,
happening to pass by
the very spot where his
brother had been
drowned, he saw a fish
rise to the surface of
the water and begin to
sing:
Your brother
lies here,
Your brother
lies here.
The king was very much
afraid. He took up a
sharp stone and killed
the fish.
But another day when
he passed the spot,
attended by his nobles
and shielded by the
royal umbrella made of
the skins of rare
animals, the river itself
rose into waves and
sang:
Your brother
lies here,
Your brother
lies here.
In astonishment the
courtiers stopped to
listen. Their suspicions
were aroused, and when
they looked into the
water they found the
body of the king.
Thus the secret of his
disappearance was
disclosed, and the
wicked brother was
rejected in horror by his
people.
At this disgrace he took
poison and so died.
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royal king
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