Spider King and the Astrologer
Louis XI (1423-1483), the great Spider King of France, had a weak-
ness for astrology. He kepta court astrologer whom he admired, until one
day the man predicted that a lady of the court would die within eight days.
When the prophecycame true, Louis was terrified, thinking that either the
man had murdered the woman to prove his accuracy or that he was so
versed in his science that his powers threatened Louis himself. In either
case he had to be killed.
One evening Louis summoned the astrologer to his room, high in the
castle. Before the man arrived, the king told his servants that when he gave the signal theywere to pick the astrologer up, carry him to the window,
and hurl him to the ground, hundreds of feet below.
The astrologersoon arrived, but before giving the signal, Louis de-
cided to ask him one last question: “You claim to understand astrology and
to know the fate of others,so tell me what your fate will be and how long
you have to live.”
“I shall die just three days before Your Majesty," the astrologer replied.
The kings signalwas never given. The man’s life was spared. The Spider
King not only protected his astrologer for as longas he was alive, he lav-
ished him with gifts and had him tended by the finest court doctors.
ness for astrology. He kepta court astrologer whom he admired, until one
day the man predicted that a lady of the court would die within eight days.
When the prophecycame true, Louis was terrified, thinking that either the
man had murdered the woman to prove his accuracy or that he was so
versed in his science that his powers threatened Louis himself. In either
case he had to be killed.
One evening Louis summoned the astrologer to his room, high in the
castle. Before the man arrived, the king told his servants that when he gave the signal theywere to pick the astrologer up, carry him to the window,
and hurl him to the ground, hundreds of feet below.
The astrologersoon arrived, but before giving the signal, Louis de-
cided to ask him one last question: “You claim to understand astrology and
to know the fate of others,so tell me what your fate will be and how long
you have to live.”
“I shall die just three days before Your Majesty," the astrologer replied.
The kings signalwas never given. The man’s life was spared. The Spider
King not only protected his astrologer for as longas he was alive, he lav-
ished him with gifts and had him tended by the finest court doctors.
31-35, F
