LESSON 13 THE PROUD KING

THE PROUD KING

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So he went to the gate, followed by his servants, and when the porter opened it there stood the proud king. The proud king knew the duke, but the duke saw only a bruised and beaten madman.

Do you not know me? cried the proud king. "I am your emperor. Only this morning you were hunting with me. I left you that I might bathe in the lake. While I was in the water, some wretch took my clothes and my horse, and I—I have been beaten by a base knight."

Put him in chains, said the duke to his servants. "It is not safe to have such a man free. Give him some straw to lie on, and some bread and water."

The duke turned away and went back to his hall, where his friends sat at table.

That was a strange thing, he said, "There was a madman at the gate. He must have been in the wood this morning, for he told me that I was hunting with the emperor, and so I was; and he told me that the emperor went apart to bathe in the lake, and so he did. But he said that someone stole the clothes and the horse of the emperor; yet the emperor rode back to us cool and fresh, clothed and on his horse. And he said that he was the emperor."

Then the guests fell to talking and laughing, and soon forgot the strange thing. But the proud king lay in a dark prison, far even from the servants of the duke. He lay on straw, and chains bound his feet.

What is this that has come upon me? he said. "Am I brought so low? Am I so changed that even the duke does not know me? At least there is one who will know me, let me wear what I may."

Then, by much labour, he loosed the chains that bound him, and fled in the night from the duke's prison. When the morning came, he stood at the door of his own palace. He stood there awhile; perhaps some one would open the door and let him in. But no one came, and the proud king lifted his hand and knocked; he knocked at the door of his own palace. The porter came at last and looked at him.

Who are you? he asked, "and what do you want?"

Do you not know me? cried the proud king. "I am your master. I am the king. I am the emperor. Let me pass," and he would have thrust him aside. But the porter was a strong man; he stood in the doorway, and would not let the proud king enter.

You my master! you the emperor! poor fool, look here! and he held the proud king by the arm while he pointed to a hall beyond. There sat the emperor on his throne, and by his side was the empress.

Let me go to her! she will know me, cried the proud king, and he tried to break away from the porter. The noise without was heard in the hall. The nobles came out, and last of all came the emperor and the empress. When the proud king saw these two, he could not speak. He was choked with rage and fear, and he knew not what.

You know me! at last he cried. "I am your lord and husband."

The empress shrank back.

Friends, said the man who stood by her, "what shall be done to this wretch?"

Kill him, said one. "Put his eyes out," said another. "Beat him," said a third.

Then they all hustled the proud king out of the palace court. Each one gave him a blow, and so he was thrust out, and the door was shut behind him.

The proud king fled, he knew not whither. He wished he were dead. By-and-by he came to the lake where he had bathed. He sat down on the shore. It was like a dream; but he knew he was awake, for he was cold, and hungry, and faint. Then he knelt on the ground, and beat his breast, and said:—

I am no emperor. I am no king. I am a poor, sinful man. Once I thought there was no one greater than I, on earth or in heaven. Now I know that I am nothing, and there is no one so poor and so mean. God forgive me for my pride!

As he said this, he saw, close by him, the clothes which he had once laid aside. Near at hand was his horse, eating the soft grass. The king put on his clothes; he mounted his horse and rode to the palace. As he drew near, the door opened and servants came forth. One held his horse, another helped him dismount. The porter bowed low.

THE PROUD KING HUMBLED

I marvel I did not see thee pass out, my lord, he said.

The king entered, and again saw the nobles in the great hall. There stood the empress also, and by her side was the man who called himself emperor. But the empress and the nobles did not look at him; they looked at the king, and came forward to meet him. This man also came forward, but he was clad in shining white, and not in the robes of the emperor. The king bowed his head before him.

I am thy angel, said the man. "Thou wert proud, and made thyself to be set on high; therefore thou hast been brought low. I have watched over thy kingdom. Now I give it back to thee, for thou art once again humble, and the humble only are fit to rule."

Then the angel disappeared. No one else heard his voice, and the nobles thought the king had bowed to them. So the king once more sat on the throne, and ruled wisely and humbly ever after.