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Three Questions
It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time
to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to , and
whom to avoid, and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important
thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed throughout
his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one who would teach him
what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary
people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.
And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his questions
differently.
In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time for
every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years,
and must live strictly according to it. Only thus, said they, could everything
be done at its proper time. Others declared that it was impossible to decide
beforehand the right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself be
absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on,
and then do what was most needful. Others, again, said that however attentive
the King might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide
correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a Council of
wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything.
But then again others said there were some things which could not wait to
be laid before a Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to
undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand
what was going to happen. It is only magicians who know that; and, therefore, in
order to know the right time for every action, one must consult magicians.
Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the
people the King most needed were his councillors; others, the priests; others,
the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.
To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some
replied that the most important thing in the world was science. Others said it
was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was religious worship.
All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and
gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his
questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but
common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s
cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his bodyguard behind, went on
alone.
When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his
hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail
and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little
earth, he breathed heavily.
The King went up to him and said: “I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask
you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the
right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay
more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important and
need my first attention?”
The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat on his
hand and recommenced digging.
“You are tired,” said the King, “let me take the spade and work awhile for
you.”
“Thanks!” said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down
on the ground.
When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his questions.
The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the
spade, and said:
“Now rest awhile – and let me work a bit.”
But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour
passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at
last stuck the spade into the ground, and said:
“I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me
none, tell me so, and I will return home.”
“Here comes some one running,” said the hermit, “let us see who it is.”
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood.
The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from
under them. When he reached the King, he fellfainting on the ground moaning
feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large
wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with
his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop
flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm
blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound. When at last the bloodceased
flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought
fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become
cool.
So the King, with the hermit’s help, carried the wounded man into the hut
and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet;
but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he
crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep – so soundly that he slept
all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long
before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying
on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.
“Forgive me!” said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the
King was awake and was looking at him.
“I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,” said the
King.
“You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to
revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his
property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved to kill
you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out
from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized
me, and wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you
not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if
I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and
will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!”
The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to
have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would
send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore
his property.
Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch and
looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg an
answer to the questions he had put. The hermit was outside, on his knees, sowing
seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.
The King approached him, and said:
“For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man.”
“You have already been answered!” said the hermit still crouching on his
thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.
“How answered? What do you mean?” asked the King.
“Do you not see?” replied the hermit. “If you had not pitied my weakness
yesterday, and had not dug these beds for me, but had gone your way, that man
would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with
me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the
most important man; and to do me good was your most important business.
Afterwards, when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were
attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died
without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what
you did for him was your most important business. Remember then: there is only
one time that is important – Now! It is the most important time because it is
the only time when we have any power.
The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he
will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to
do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!” |
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发表于 2016-7-10 11:23:36