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!"
Hi AtlasWept,
i would like to ask for permission to copy and post this story
on my blog and facebook.
