It once
occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time
to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen
to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was
the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he
might undertake. And this thought having occurred to him, he had it
proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward
to anyone who would teach him what was the right time for every
action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might
know what was the most important thing to do. And learned men came
to the King, but they all answered his questions
differently.
In reply
to the first question, some said that to know the right time for
every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months
and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, said
they, could everything be done at its proper time. Others declared
that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for
every action; but that, not letting oneself be absorbed in idle
pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on, and
then do what was most needful. Others, again, said that however
attentive the King might be to what was going on, it was impossible
for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action,
but that he should have a Council of wise men, who would help him
to fix the proper time for everything. But then again others said
there were some things which could not wait to be laid before a
Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to
undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know
beforehand what was going to happen. It is only magicians who know
that; and, therefore, in order to know the right time for every
action, one must consult magicians.
Equally
various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the
people the King most needed were his counselors; others, the
priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the
most necessary.
To the
third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some
replied that the most important thing in the world was science.
Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was
religious worship.
All the
answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and
gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right
answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely
renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit
lived in a wood which he never left, and he received none but
common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching
the hermit's cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his
body-guard behind, went on alone.
When the
King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his
hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The
hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into
the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily. The King
went up to him and said: "I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask
you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right
thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to
whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And,
what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?"
The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat
on his hand and recommenced digging.
"You are
tired," said the King, "let me take the spade and work awhile for
you." "Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King,
he sat down on the ground. When he had dug two beds, the King
stopped and repeated his questions. The hermit again gave no
answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and said:
"Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit." But the King did not give
him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another.
The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at last stuck
the spade into the ground, and said: "I came to you, wise man, for
an answer to my questions. If you can give me none, tell me so, and
I will return home."
"Here
comes someone running," said the hermit, "let us see who it is."
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of
the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and
blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he
fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit
unfastened the man's clothing. There was a large wound in his
stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with
his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood
would not stop flowing and the King again and again removed the
bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and re-bandaged the
wound.
When at
last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for
something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to
him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the
King, with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hut
and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes
and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the
work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also
fell asleep--so soundly that he slept all through the short summer
night.
When he
awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he
was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing
intently at him with shining eyes. "Forgive me!" said the bearded
man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was
looking at him.
"I do not
know you and have nothing to forgive you for." said the King. "You
do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore
to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and
seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit,
and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and
you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find you, and I
came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I
escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not
dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life.
Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most
faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive
me!"
The King
was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to
have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said
he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and
promised to restore his property.
Having
taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch
and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once
more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermit was
outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug
the day before. The King approached him, and said: "For the last
time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man." "You have
already been answered!" said the hermit, still crouching on his
thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.
"Answered how? What do you mean?" asked the King.
"Do you
not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied my weakness
yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your
way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented
of not having stayed with me. So the most important time was when
you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to
do me good was your most important business. Afterwards when that
man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending
to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died
without having made peace with you. So he was the most important
man, and what you did for him was your most important business.
Remember then: there is only one time that is important--Now! It is
the most important time because it is the only time when we have
any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no
man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else: and
the most important affair is to do him good, because for that
purpose alone was man sent into this life!"
