HOW A JONGLEUR LAMENTED BEFORE ALEXANDER THE CONDUCT OF A KNIGHT, TO
WHOM HE HAD MADE A GIFT ON CONDITION THAT THE KNIGHT SHOULD GIVE HIM
WHATSOEVER ALEXANDER MIGHT PRESENT HIM WITH [4]
When Alexander was before the city of Gaza, with a vast besieging
train, a noble knight escaped from prison. And being poorly provided in
raiment and accoutrement, he set forth to see Alexander who lavished
his gifts more prodigally than other lords.
As the knight walked along his way, he fell in with a gentleman of the
court [5] who asked him whither he was going. The knight replied: I am
going to Alexander to request some gifts from him, so that I may return
with honour to my country. Then the man of the court said, what is it
that you want, for I will give it to you, provided that you give me
what Alexander may present you with. The knight made answer: give me a
horse to ride and a beast of burden and such things and money as will
suffice for me to make return to my own country. The jongleur gave him
these, and they went on in company together to Alexander, who having
fought a desperate action before the city of Gaza, had left the
battlefield and was being relieved of his armour in a tent.
The knight and the jongleur came forward. The knight made his request
to Alexander humbly and graciously. Alexander made no sign, nor did he
give any reply. The knight left the man of the court and set out on the
road to return to his own country.
He had not gone very far, however, when the citizens of Gaza brought
the keys of the city to Alexander, submitting themselves entirely to
him as their lord.
Alexander then turned to his barons and said: where is he who asked a
gift of me? Then they sent for the knight who had asked the king for a
gift. The knight came before the king, who said to him: take, noble
knight, the keys of the city of Gaza which most willingly I give you.
The knight replied: Sire, do not give me a city. I beg you rather to
give me gold or silver or other things as it may please you.
Then Alexander smiled, and ordered that the knight should be given two
thousand silver marks. [6] And this was set down for the smallest gift
which Alexander ever made. The knight took the marks and handed them to
the jongleur. The latter came before Alexander, and with great
insistence asked that he should be heard, and so much he argued that he
had the knight arrested.
And he shaped his argument before Alexander in this wise: Sire, I found
this man on the road and asked him whither he was going and why, and he
told me he was going to Alexander to ask a gift. I made a pact with
him, giving him what he desired on condition that he should give me
whatsoever Alexander should make him a present of. Therefore he has
broken the pact, for he refused the noble city of Gaza, and took the
marks. Therefore, before your excellency, I ask that you heed my
request and order him to make up the difference between the value of
the city and the marks.
The knight spoke, and first of all he confessed that the pact had been
so, and then he said: just Sire, he who asks me this is a jongleur, and
a jongleur’s heart may not aspire to the lordship of a city. He was
thinking of silver and of gold, and such was his desire. I have fully
satisfied his intention. Therefore, I beg your lordship to see to my
deliverance as may please your wise counsel.
Alexander and his barons set free the knight, and complimented him on
his wisdom. [7]
V
HOW A KING COMMITTED A REPLY TO A YOUNG SON OF HIS WHO HAD TO BEAR IT
TO THE AMBASSADORS OF GREECE
There was a king in the parts of Egypt who had a first-born son who
would wear the crown after him. The father began from the son’s very
earliest years to give him instruction at the hands of wise men of
mature age, and never had it happened to the boy to know the games and
follies of childhood.
It chanced one day that his father committed to him an answer for the
ambassadors of Greece.
The youth stood in the place of discourse to make answer to the
ambassadors, and the weather was unsettled and rainy. The boy turned
his eyes to one of the palace windows, and perceived some lads
gathering the rain water into little troughs and making mud pies.
The youth, on seeing this, left the platform, and running quickly down
the palace stairs, went and joined the other lads who were gathering up
the water, and took part in the game. The barons and knights followed
him quickly, and brought him back to the palace. They closed the
window, and the youth gave an answer such as was satisfactory to the
ambassadors. [8]
After the council, the people went away. The father summoned
philosophers and men of learning, and laid the point before them.
Some of the sages reputed it to be a matter of the lad’s nature; others
suggested it portended a weakness of spirit; some went so far as to
hint it betokened an infirmity of the mind.
Thus one gave one opinion, and another another, according to their art
and science.
But one philosopher said: tell me how the youth has been brought up.
And they told him the lad had been brought up with sages and men of
ripe age, with nothing of childishness in them.
Then the wise man answered: do not marvel if nature asks for what she
has lost, for it is right for childhood to play, as it is right for age
to reflect.