king and his friends passed through the city with great protocol. As they approached the outer walls and prepared to exit the city, the king saw a one-eyed man who, instead of moving to the side, continued walking without any concern.  “What?!”, the king exclaimed, “This is a very bad omen. Does this cursed person not know he must move to the side when the king is travelling? This one-eyed man has obstructed my path and became a gravely ill omen for me.” The king turned to his guards and bellowed, “I command you to tie this man to these pillars; he will remain there until we return. We shall then decide how to punish him.” The guards complied immediately and tied the one-eyed man to nearby pillars.

Leaving behind trails of dust, the king and his friends sped off to the forest. However, the bad omen spoken about by the king did not have any affect, as he was very successful in his endeavour, managing to hunt his favourite animals and birds. The king was overjoyed and did not miss once; he killed whatever he set his eyes upon. After his minister had finished counting the animals and birds they successfully hunted, he remarked, “Your hunt was very prosperous today. You showed great aim and accuracy!” The king’s friends also praised and congratulated him. Eventually, night began to set in, and the king returned to the city. They found the one-eyed man in the same place they left him, tied to a pillar.

A cart was attached to the king’s horse, which carried all the hunted animals. The king and his friends would occasionally look back at it and gleam with happiness. As they passed by, the one-eyed man saw the cart of animals and shouted, “Tell me, king! Who is an ill omen between us, you or I?” The king’s guards drew their swords in anger, but the king waved his hand, commanding them to refrain. The man fearlessly addressed the king again, “Tell me, O king! Who is an ill-omen, you or I? I saw you, and you tied me up in the sun all day. You saw me, and ended