_A real king is greater than his crown, and a real man is more than
his clothes._
The king had now time to think it all over. Here he was no king at
all, just because some one had stolen his clothes.
“Is that the only difference between a king and a beggar?” said he.
And he sat all night with his head between his knees thinking how
proud he had been.
Early in the morning he stood up and saw that the prison door was
open. He walked out and down the road and came to his own palace.
The porter did not know him and would not let him pass.
“But,” said the king, “I am your emperor; I am your master. Let me
pass!” The porter was a strong man and held the gate tight shut.
“The emperor indeed!” he replied. “Come here and I will show you
the emperor.” Then taking the king by the arm he led him to the
door of a great hall where there were many people together. He saw
an emperor seated on the throne and by his side was the queen.
“Let me go to see her!” cried the unhappy king. “She will know me!”
and he tried to break away. The noise was heard in the hall and
the lord and ladies came out to see what was the matter. Now the
emperor and the queen came out also and looked at the strange man
who said he was the emperor. When the poor king saw his wife he
called out:
“Do you not know me? I am your husband--I am the real emperor!
These clothes are not mine, nor are those clothes his!” and the
real king fell down on the ground in great distress, and began to
tear the rags from his body.
“Out with him! Beat him! Put his eyes out!” they began to cry, and
soon the poor king was thrust out of his own grounds and wandered
on down the road. He came to the very spot on the banks of the lake
where he had bathed. He was cold and hungry and very miserable. He
knelt on the ground and beat his breast.
“I am no emperor--no real emperor--I am just a sinful proud man and
do not deserve to be king. God forgive me for my pride!”
Then he looked round and behold! there were his real king’s clothes
again. There was his own horse and the duke and all his attendants
waiting for him. He put on his clothes and rode up to the palace
where the queen met him and kissed him.
“Welcome home, my lord and husband!” said she.
There stood the man the king had seen in his place, but he was now
dressed in white. Nobody saw him but the king. He said:
“I am the good angel of thy kingdom. Only the humble are fit to
rule. I give thee thy place again,” and the man vanished. The king
bowed very low, and afterwards was a just and humble ruler of his
people.