In the olden times a British prince set up a statue to the goddess
of Victory, at a point where four roads met. In her right hand she
held a spear, and her left rested upon a shield. The outside of this
shield was of gold, and the inside of silver, and on each side was an
inscription.
[Illustration: THE GOLD AND SILVER SHIELD]
It happened one day that two knights--one in black armor, the other in
white--arrived at the same time, but from opposite directions, at the
statue. As neither of them had seen it before, they stopped to examine
the beautiful workmanship and read the inscription.
“This golden shield,” said the Black Knight, after examining it for
some time,--”this golden shield--”
“Golden shield!” cried the White Knight, who was as closely observing
the other side; “why, if I have my eyes, it is silver.”
“Eyes you have, but they see not,” replied the Black Knight; “for if
ever I saw a golden shield in my life, this is one.”
“Oh, yes, it is so likely that any one would expose a golden shield on
the public road!” said the White Knight, with a sarcastic smile. “For
my part I wonder that even a silver one is not too strong a temptation
for some people who pass this way.”
The Black Knight could not bear the sarcastic smile with which this was
spoken, and the dispute grew so warm that it ended in a challenge.
The knights turned their horses, and rode back to have sufficient
space; then fixing their lances in their rests, they charged at each
other with the greatest fury. The shock was so violent, and the blows
on each side were so heavy, that they both fell to the ground, bleeding
and stunned.
In this condition a good Druid who was travelling that way found them.
He was a skilful physician, and had with him a balsam of wonderful
healing power. This he applied to their wounds, and when the knights
had recovered their senses, he began to inquire into the cause of their
quarrel.
“Why, this man,” cried the Black Knight, “will have it that yonder
shield is silver!”
“And he will have it that it is gold!” cried the White Knight.
“Ah,” said the Druid, with a sigh, “you are both in the right, and both
in the wrong. If either of you had taken time to look at both sides of
the shield, all this passion and bloodshed might have been avoided.
“However, there is a very good lesson to be learned from the evils that
have befallen you. In the future, never enter into any dispute till you
have fairly considered both sides of the question.”--SELECTED.