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thee gone； and e here no more。
nay； answered death； but till thou hast given me a grain of corn
i will not go。
but avarice shut her hand； and clenched her teeth。 i will not
give thee anything； she muttered。
and death laughed； and took up a black stone； and threw it into the
forest； and out of a thicket of wild hemlock came fever in a robe
of flame。 she passed through the multitude； and touched them； and
each man that she touched died。 the grass withered beneath her
feet as she walked。
and avarice shuddered； and put ashes on her head。 thou art
cruel； she cried； thou art cruel。 there is famine in the walled
cities of india； and the cisterns of samarcand have run dry。 there
is famine in the walled cities of egypt； and the locusts have e
up from the desert。 the nile has not overflowed its banks； and the
priests have cursed isis and osiris。 get thee gone to those who
need thee； and leave me my servants。
nay； answered death； but till thou hast given me a grain of corn
i will not go。
i will not give thee anything； said avarice。
and death laughed again； and he whistled through his fingers； and a
woman came flying through the air。 plague was written upon her
forehead； and a crowd of lean vultures wheeled round her。 she
covered the valley with her wings； and no man was left alive。
and avarice fled shrieking through the forest； and death leaped
upon his red horse and galloped away； and his galloping was faster
than the wind。
and out of the slime at the bottom of the valley crept dragons and
horrible things with scales； and the jackals came trotting along
the sand； sniffing up the air with their nostrils。
and the young king wept； and said： who were these men； and for
what were they seeking？
for rubies for a kings crown； answered one who stood behind him。
and the young king started； and； turning round； he saw a man
habited as a pilgrim and holding in his hand a mirror of silver。
and he grew pale； and said： for what king？
and the pilgrim answered： look in this mirror； and thou shalt see
him。
and he looked in the mirror； and； seeing his own face； he gave a
great cry and woke； and the bright sunlight was streaming into the
room； and from the trees of the garden and pleasaunce the birds
were singing。
and the chamberlain and the high officers of state came in and made
obeisance to him； and the pages brought him the robe of tissued
gold； and set the crown and the sceptre before him。
and the young king looked at them； and they were beautiful。 more
beautiful were they than aught that he had ever seen。 but he
remembered his dreams； and he said to his lords： take these
things away； for i will not wear them。
and the courtiers were amazed； and some of them laughed； for they
thought that he was jesting。
but he spake sternly to them again； and said： take these things
away； and hide them from me。 though it be the day of my
coronation； i will not wear them。 for on the loom of sorrow； and
by the white hands of pain； has this my robe been woven。 there is
blood in the heart of the ruby； and death in the heart of the
pearl。 and he told them his three dreams。
and when the courtiers heard them they looked at each other and
whispered； saying： surely he is mad； for what is a dream but a
dream； and a vision but a vision？ they are not real things that
one should heed them。 and what have we to do with the lives of
those who toil for us？ shall a man not eat bread till he has seen
the sower； nor drink wine till he has talked with the vinedresser？
and the chamberlain spake to the young king； and said； my lord； i
pray thee set aside these black thoughts of thine； and put on this
fair robe； and set this crown upon thy head。 for how shall the
people know that thou art a king； if thou hast not a kings
raiment？
and the young king looked at him。 is it so； indeed？ he
questioned。 will they not know me for a king if i have not a
kings 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
panion； 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 shepherds 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 kings 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
eth the life of the poor？ by your pomp we are nurtured； and
your vices give us bread。 to to