and then was declared dead.
The son born afterwards
received the name Hammadi-Hammadi,
which means Hammadi, son of Hammadi.
To the noise made by Hammadi, his wife and son,
the neighborhood awoke and spent the night in happiness,
for Hammadi's family commanded respect,
Hammadi-Hammadi and his mother being highly honorable.
Hammadi cried out all alone:
“Praised be the Eternal one who has made me happy
many times over, and has given me gold!
I have a son and a model wife.”
The next day Hammadi's return was celebrated.
The news of his arrival, and of his immense fortune
spread throughout the country, became a public matter.
built a house at the level of his wealth.
He took in the very ill from all around
and constructed a house to receive
the poor, the initiated, magicians,
astrologers, scholars of all types 112.
The years went by,
each year more pleasant than the previous.
Then the sovereign of the country died.
At the time of the burial, the assembly asked
Hammadi to direct the royal procession,
for the monarch had died “shortened,” 113
leaving no child to succeed him at the throne.
Hammadi was elevated to power.
Hammadi-Hammadi became crown prince.
Hammadi saw to it that all his people
ate all they wanted, and dressed well.
He brought scholars from all countries,
hoping to find an initiate

Notes (Lilyan Kesteloot)
112. Mbileejo, the sleight-of-the-hand magician, is the one who transforms things; silatigiijo (or silatigi) is the knower of very profound things; coorinkeejo (or coorinke) is a physiognomist while daggadaaja (or daggada) is a full magician. These are the four degrees of the hidden sciences. In addition, sukunyaajo or sukunya are encountered, a type of sorcerer of whom it is said, “everything he sees, he can do as well.” But the latter has not learned under a master; his virtues are natural gifts.
113. A “shortened” king is one without posterity, a very rare case; custom dictates nothing in this case, and the most worthy of the men of the village is elected.