A KING'S LESSON [3]
I take in my hand a sword or a spear, or were it only a hedge-stake, and bid others do the like, and forth would we go; and since we would be so many, and with nought to lose save a miserable life, we would do battle and prevail, and make an end of the craft of kings and of lords and of usurers, and there should be but one craft in the world, to wit, to work merrily for ourselves and to live merrily thereby.'"
Said the captain: "This then is thy sermon. Who will heed it if thou preach it?"
Said the King: "They who will take the mad king and put him in a king's madhouse, therefore do I forbear to preach it. Yet it SHALL be preached."
"And not heeded," said the captain, "save by those who head and hang the setters forth of new things that are good for the world.
Our trade is safe for many an many a generation."
And therewith they came to the King's palace, and they ate and drank and slept and the world went on its ways.
End
Said the captain: "This then is thy sermon. Who will heed it if thou preach it?"
Said the King: "They who will take the mad king and put him in a king's madhouse, therefore do I forbear to preach it. Yet it SHALL be preached."
"And not heeded," said the captain, "save by those who head and hang the setters forth of new things that are good for the world.
Our trade is safe for many an many a generation."
And therewith they came to the King's palace, and they ate and drank and slept and the world went on its ways.
End