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king's raiment？'
'They will not know thee； my lord；' cried the Chamberlain。
'I had thought that there had been men who were kinglike；' he
answered； 'but it may be as thou sayest。 And yet I will not wear
this robe； nor will I be crowned with this crown； but even as I
came to the palace so will I go forth from it。'
And he bade them all leave him； save one page whom he kept as his
companion； a lad a year younger than himself。 Him he kept for his
service； and when he had bathed himself in clear water； he opened a
great painted chest； and from it he took the leathern tunic and
rough sheepskin cloak that he had worn when he had watched on the
hillside the shaggy goats of the goatherd。 These he put on； and in
his hand he took his rude shepherd's staff。
And the little page opened his big blue eyes in wonder； and said
smiling to him； 'My lord； I see thy robe and thy sceptre； but where
is thy crown？'
And the young King plucked a spray of wild briar that was climbing
over the balcony； and bent it； and made a circlet of it； and set it
on his own head。
'This shall he my crown；' he answered。
And thus attired he passed out of his chamber into the Great Hall；
where the nobles were waiting for him。
And the nobles made merry； and some of them cried out to him； 'My
lord； the people wait for their king； and thou showest them a
beggar；' and others were wroth and said； 'He brings shame upon our
state； and is unworthy to be our master。' But he answered them not
a word； but passed on； and went down the bright porphyry staircase；
and out through the gates of bronze； and mounted upon his horse；
and rode towards the cathedral； the little page running beside him。
And the people laughed and said； 'It is the King's fool who is
riding by；' and they mocked him。
And he drew rein and said； 'Nay； but I am the King。' And he told
them his three dreams。
And a man came out of the crowd and spake bitterly to him； and
said； 'Sir； knowest thou not that out of the luxury of the rich
cometh the life of the poor？ By your pomp we are nurtured； and
your vices give us bread。 To toil for a hard master is bitter； but
to have no master to toil for is more bitter still。 Thinkest thou
that the ravens will feed us？ And what cure hast thou for these
things？ Wilt thou say to the buyer； 〃Thou shalt buy for so much；〃
and to the seller； 〃Thou shalt sell at this price〃？ I trow not。
Therefore go back to thy Palace and put on thy purple and fine
linen。 What hast thou to do with us； and what we suffer？'
'Are not the rich and the poor brothers？' asked the young King。
'Ay；' answered the man； 'and the name of the rich brother is Cain。'
And the young King's eyes filled with tears； and he rode on through
the murmurs of the people； and the little page grew afraid and left
him。
And when he reached the great portal of the cathedral； the soldiers
thrust their halberts out and said； 'What dost thou seek here？
None enters by this door but the King。'
And his face flushed with anger； and he said to them； 'I am the
King；' and waved their halberts aside and passed in。
And when the old Bishop saw him coming in his goatherd's dress； he
rose up in wonder from his throne； and went to meet him； and said
to him； 'My son； is this a king's apparel？ And with what crown
shall I crown thee； and what sceptre shall I place in thy hand？
Surely this should be to thee a day of joy； and not a day of
abasement。'
'Shall Joy wear what Grief has fashioned？' said the young King。
And he told him his three dreams。
And when the Bishop had heard them he knit his brows； and said； 'My
son； I am an old man； and in the winter of my days； and I know that
many evil things are done in the wide world。 The fierce robbers
come down from the mountains； and carry off the little children；
and sell them to the Moors。 The lions lie in wait for the
caravans； and leap upon the camels。 The wild boar roots up the
corn in the valley； and the foxes gnaw the vines upon the hill。
The pirates lay waste the sea…coast and burn the ships of the
fishermen； and take their nets from them。 In the salt…marshes live
the lepers； they have houses of wattled reeds； and none may come
nigh them。 The beggars wander through the cities； and eat their
food with the dogs。 Canst thou make these things not to be？ Wilt
thou take the leper for thy bedfellow； and set the beggar at thy
board？ Shall the lion do thy bidding； and the wild boar obey thee？
Is not He who made misery wiser than thou art？ Wherefore I praise
thee not for this that thou hast done； but I bid thee ride back to
the Palace and make thy face glad； and put on the raiment that
beseemeth a king； and with the crown of gold I will crown thee； and
the sceptre of pearl will I place in thy hand。 And as for thy
dreams； think no more of them。 The burden of this world is too
great for one man to bear； and the world's sorrow too heavy for one
heart to suffer。'
'Sayest thou that in this house？' said the young King； and he
strode past the Bishop； and climbed up the steps of the altar； and
stood before the image of Christ。
He stood before the image of Christ； and on his right hand and on
his left were the marvellous vessels of gold； the chalice with the
yellow wine； and the vial with the holy oil。 He knelt before the
image of Christ； and the great candles burned brightly by the
jewelled shrine； and the smoke of the incense curled in thin blue
wreaths through the dome。 He bowed his head in prayer； and the
priests in their stiff copes crept away from the altar。
And suddenly a wild tumult came from the street outside； and in
entered the nobles with drawn swords and nodding plumes； and
shields of polished steel。 'Where is this dreamer of dreams？' they
cried。 'Where is this King who is apparelled like a beggar … this
boy who brings shame upon our state？ Surely we will slay him； for
he is unworthy to rule over us。'
And the young King bowed his head again； and prayed； and when he
had finished his prayer he rose up； and turning round he looked at
them sadly。
And lo！ through the painted windows came the sunlight streaming
upon him； and the sun…beams wove round him a tissued robe that was
fairer than the robe that had been fashioned for his pleasure。 The
dead staff blossomed； and bare lilies that were whiter than pearls。
The dry thorn blossomed； and bare roses that were redder than
rubies。 Whiter than fine pearls were the lilies； and their stems
were of bright silver。 Redder than male rubies were the roses； and
their leaves were of beaten gold。
He stood there in the raiment of a king； and the gates of the
jewelled shrine flew open； and from the crystal of the many…rayed
monstrance shone a marvellous and mystical light。 He stood there
in a king's raiment； and the Glory of God filled the place； and the
saints in their carven niches seemed to move。 In the fair raiment
of a king he stood before them； and the organ pealed out its music；
and the trumpeters blew upon their trumpets； and the singing boys
sang。
And the people fell upon their knees in awe； and the nobles
sheathed their swords and did homage； and the Bishop's face grew
pale； and his hands trembled。 'A greater than I hath crowned
thee；' he cried； and he knelt before him。
And the young King came down from the high altar； and passed home
through the midst of the people。 But no man dared look upon his
face； for it was like the face of an angel。
星孩
THE STAR…CHILD
＇TO MISS MARGOT TENNANT … MRS。 ASQUITH＇
Once upon a time two poor Woodcutters were making their way home
through a great pine…forest。 It was winter； and a night of bitter
cold。 The snow lay thick upon the ground； and upon the branches of
the trees： the frost kept snapping the little twigs on either side
of them； as they passed： and when they came to the Mountain…
Torrent