220
THE TWO KINGS.
‘There were once two kings, a just and an unjust. The latter’s country abounded in trees and fruits and herbs; but he let no merchant pass without robbing him of his goods and his merchandise, and the merchants endured this with patience, by reason of their gain from the fatness of the land in the means of life and its pleasantness, more by token that it was renowned for its richness in precious stones and jewels. Now the just king, who loved jewels, heard of this land and sent one of his subjects thither, giving him much money and bidding him buy jewels therewith from that country. So he went thither and it being told to the unjust king that a merchant was come to his realm, with much money to buy jewels withal, he sent for him and asked him whence and what he was and what was his errand. Quoth the merchant, “I am of such a country, and the king of the land gave me money and bade me buy therewith jewels from this country; so I obeyed him and came.” “Out on thee!” cried the unjust king. “Knowst thou not my fashion of dealing with the people of my realm and how each day I take their good? How then comest thou to my country? And behold, thou hast been a sojourner here since such a time!” “The money is not mine,” answered the stranger; “not a doit of it; nay, it is a trust in my hands, till I bring it[1] to its owner.” But the king said, “I will not let thee take thy livelihood of my country or go out therefrom, except thou ransom thyself with this money, all of it; Night dccccx.else shalt thou die.”
So the man said in himself, “I am fallen between two kings, and I know that the oppression of this one em-
- ↑ i.e. that which he was charged to buy with it.
