“One day Solomon asked an indiscreet question of an evil Jinn subject to
him. The spirit replied that he could not obtain the information required
without the aid of Solomon’s seal. The king thoughtlessly lent it, and
immediately found himself supplanted by the Jinn. Reduced to beggary, he
wandered through the world repeating, ‘I, the preacher, was king over
Israel in Jerusalem.’ The constant repetition of this sentence attracted
attention; the disguised demon took alarm and fled, and Solomon regained
his throne.”
Finally the Jews or Arabs introduced the story to Western Europe, where it
soon became popular. In the _Gesta Romanorum_, a collection of moral tales
made by the monks in the fourteenth century, the Emperor Jovinian takes
the place of Solomon, and the story is thus told:--
“When Jovinian was emperor, he possessed very great powers; and as he lay
in bed reflecting upon the extent of his dominions, his heart was elated
to an extraordinary degree. ‘Is there,’ he impiously asked, ‘any other god
than me?’ Amid such thoughts he fell asleep.
“In the morning he reviewed his troops, and said, ‘My friends, after
breakfast we will hunt.’ Preparations being made accordingly, he set out
with a large retinue. During the chase the emperor felt such extreme
oppression from the heat, that he believed his very existence depended
upon a cold bath. As he anxiously looked round, he discovered a sheet of
water at no great distance. ‘Remain here,’ said he to his guard, ‘until I
have refreshed myself in yonder stream.’ Then, spurring his steed, he rode
hastily to the edge of the water. Alighting, he divested himself of his
apparel, and experienced the greatest pleasure from its invigorating
freshness and coolness. But whilst he was thus employed a person similar
to him in every respect arrayed himself unperceived in the emperor’s
dress, and then mounting his horse, rode to the attendants. The
resemblance to the sovereign was such, that no doubt was entertained of
the reality; and straightway command was issued for their return to the
palace.
“Jovinian, however, having quitted the water sought in every possible
direction for his clothes, but could find neither them nor the horse.
Vexed beyond measure at the circumstance, for he was completely naked, he
began to reflect upon what course he should pursue. ‘There is, I remember,
a knight residing close by; I will go to him and command his attendance
and service. I will then ride to the palace, and strictly investigate the
cause of this extraordinary conduct. Some shall smart for it.’
“Jovinian proceeded naked and ashamed to the castle of the aforesaid
knight, and beat loudly at the gate. ‘Open the gate,’ shouted the enraged
emperor, as the porter inquired leisurely the cause of the knocking, ‘you
will soon see who I am.’ The gate was opened, and the porter, struck with
the strange appearance of the man before him, exclaimed, ‘In the name of
all that is marvellous, what are you?’ ‘I am,’ replied he, ‘Jovinian, your
emperor. Go to your lord and command him to supply the wants of his
sovereign. I have lost both horse and clothes.’
“‘Infamous ribald!’ shouted the porter, ‘just before thy approach, the
emperor, accompanied by his suite, entered the palace. My lord both went
and returned with him. But he shall hear of thy presumption.’ And he
hurried off to communicate with his master. The knight came and inspected
the naked man. ‘What is your name?’ he asked roughly.
“‘I am Jovinian, who promoted thee to a military command.’
“‘Audacious scoundrel!’ said the knight, ‘dost thou dare to call thyself
the emperor? I have but just returned from the palace, whither I have
accompanied him. Flog the rascal,’ he ordered, turning to his servants:
‘flog him soundly, and drive him away.’
“The sentence was immediately executed, and Jovinian, bruised and furious,
rushed away to the castle of a duke whom he had loaded with favours. ‘He
will remember me,’ was his hope. Arrived at the castle, he made the same
assertion.
“‘Poor mad wretch!’ said the duke, ‘a short time since, I returned from
the palace, where I left the very emperor thou assumest to be. But,
ignorant whether thou art more fool or knave, we will administer such a
remedy as will suit both. Carry him to prison, and feed him with bread and
water.’ The command was no sooner delivered than obeyed; and the following
day Jovinian’s naked body was submitted to the lash, and again cast into
the dungeon. In the agony of his heart, the poor king said, ‘What shall I
do? I am exposed to the coarsest contumely, and the mockery of the people.
I will hasten to the palace and discover myself to my wife,--she will
surely know me.’
“Escaping therefore from his confinement, he approached the imperial
residence. ‘Who art thou?’ asked the porter.
“‘It is strange,’ replied the aggrieved emperor, ‘that thou shouldest
forget one thou hast served so long.’
“‘Served _thee_!’ returned the porter indignantly; ‘I have served none but
the emperor.’
“‘Why!’ said the other, ‘though thou recognisest me not, yet I am he. Go
to the empress; communicate what I shall tell thee, and by these signs,
bid her send the imperial robes, of which some rogue has deprived me.’
After some demur, the porter obeyed; and orders were issued for the
admission of the mad fellow without.
“The false emperor and the empress were seated in the midst of their
nobles. As the true Jovinian entered, a large dog, which crouched on the
hearth, and had been much cherished by him, flew at his throat, and but
for timely intervention would have killed him. A falcon also, seated on
her perch, no sooner saw him than she broke her jesses, and flew out of
the hall. Then the pretended emperor, addressing those who stood about
him, said: ‘My friends, hear what I will ask of yon ribald. Who are you?
And what do you want?’
“‘These questions,’ said the suffering man, ‘are very strange. You know I
am the emperor, and master of this place.’
“The other, turning to the nobles who stood by, continued, ‘Tell me, on
your allegiance, which of us two is your lord?’
“They drew their swords in reply, and asked leave to punish the impostor
with death.
“Then, turning to the empress, he asked, ‘Tell me, my lady, on the faith
you have sworn, do you know this man who calls himself thy lord and
emperor?’
“She answered, ‘How can you ask such a question? Have I not known thee
more than thirty years, and borne thee many children?’
“Hearing this the unfortunate monarch rushed, full of despair, from the
court. ‘Why was I born?’ he exclaimed. ‘My friends shun me; my wife and
children will not acknowledge me. I will seek my confessor. He may
remember me.’ To him he went accordingly, and knocked at the window of his
cell.
“‘Who is there?’ asked the priest.
“‘The Emperor Jovinian,’ was the reply; ‘open the window that I may speak
with thee.’ The window was opened; but no sooner had the confessor looked
out than he closed it again in great haste.
“‘Depart,’ said he, ‘accursed creature! Thou art not the emperor, but the
devil incarnate.’
“This completed the miseries of the persecuted man. ‘Woe is me,’ he cried,
‘for what strange doom am I reserved?’
“At this crisis, the impious words which in the arrogance of his heart he
had uttered, crossed his recollection. Immediately he beat again at the
window of the confessor.
“‘Who is there?’ asked the priest.
“‘A penitent,’ answered the emperor.
“The window was opened. ‘What is your majesty pleased to require?’ asked
the confessor, recognising him at once. Then he made his confession, and
received of the old father a few clothes to cover his nakedness, and by
the priest’s advice returned to the palace. The soldiers presented arms to
him, the porter opened immediately, the dog fawned on him, the falcon flew
to him, and his wife rushed to embrace him. Then the feigned emperor
spoke:--‘My friends, hearken! That man is your king. He exalted himself,
to the disparagement of his Maker, and God has punished him. But
repentance has removed the rod.’ So saying, he disappeared. The emperor
gave thanks to God, and lived happily, and finished his days in peace.”
The same story, with some alterations, is told of Robert of Sicily. An old
poem or metrical romance on the subject is given by Warton; and on it
Longfellow has founded his poem.
Robert of Sicily, brother of Pope Urbane
And Valmond, Emperor of Allemaine,
Apparelled in magnificent attire,
With retinue of many a knight and squire,
On St. John’s eve, at vespers, proudly sat
And heard the priests chant the Magnificat.
And, as he listened, o’er and o’er again
Repeated, like a burden or refrain,
He caught the words: ‘Deposuit potentes
De sede, et exaltavit humiles.’
He inquired of a clerk the meaning of these words; and, having heard the
explanation, was mightily offended:--
‘’Tis well that such seditious words are sung
Only by priests, and in the Latin tongue;
For, unto priests and people be it known,
There is no power can push me from my throne.’
And, leaning back, he yawned, and fell asleep,
Lulled by the chant monotonous and deep.
When he awoke he was alone in the church. An angel had assumed his
likeness, and had swept out of the minster with the court. The story then
runs in the same line as that of Jovinian. Robert is unrecognised, and is
at last received into the palace as court fool. At the end of three years
there arrived an embassy from Valmond, the emperor, requesting Robert to
join him on Maundy Thursday, at Rome, whither he proposed to go on a visit
to his brother Urban. The angel welcomed the ambassadors, and departed in
their company to the Holy City. We place side by side the Old English
metrical description of Robert’s appearance, as he accompanied the false
emperor, with the modern poet’s rendering: