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The False Prince and the True |
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The king had just awakened from his midday sleep, for it was
summer, and everyone rose early and rested from twelve to three,
as they do in hot countries. He had dressed himself in cool white
clothes, and was passing through the hall on his way to the
council chamber, when a number of young nobles suddenly appeared
before him, and one amongst them stepped forward and spoke.
'Sire, this morning we were all playing tennis in the court, the
prince and this gentleman with the rest, when there broke out
some dispute about the game. The prince lost his temper, and said
many insulting things to the other, who was playing against him,
till at length the gentleman whom you see there struck him
violently in the face, so that the blood ran from his mouth and
nose. We were all so horrified at the sight, that we should most
likely have killed the man then and there, for daring to lay
hands on the prince, had not his grandfather the duke stepped
between and commanded us to lay the affair before you.'
The king had listened attentively to the story, and when it was
ended he said:
'I suppose the prince had no arms with him, or else he would have
used them?'
'Yes, sire, he had arms; he always carries a dagger in his belt.
But when he saw the blood pouring from his face, he went to a
corner of the court and began to cry, which was the strangest
thing of all.'
On hearing this the king walked to the window and stood for a few
minutes with his back to the room, where the company of young men
remained silent. Then he came back, his face white and stern.
'I tell you,' he said, 'and it is the solemn truth, that I would
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Fairytales 
