The Emperor with Goat’s Ears

Once upon a time, there was a great and powerful emperor, but unlike any other emperor, he had ears like a goat. Of course he was very embarrassed about his large, hairy ears. Every morning, a barber came to the palace to shave the emperor, and every morning the emperor questioned the barber.

“Do you notice anything strange about me?” he asked. Nervously, each barber always replied, “Sir, you have goat’s ears.” Sadly, each barber was always put to death.

Eventually there were no more barbers left in the city. The Master of the Company of Barbers called one of his apprentices.

“Peter, you must go and shave the emperor,” he said.

When he arrived at the palace, Peter was taken to the emperor’s bedroom. Carefully he began to spread lather on the emperor’s chin.

“Boy, do you notice anything strange about me?” asked the emperor.

“Nothing, Sir,” replied Peter.

The emperor was delighted. He gave Peter twelve pieces of gold and said, “You must come every day to shave me.”

Every morning Peter went to shave the emperor and was paid twelve pieces of gold. Everything seemed wonderful, but the secret of the emperor’s ears began to bother Peter. It was like a pain in his tummy. He longed to tell somebody.

The Master of the Company of Barbers noticed that Peter had something on his mind.

“What is troubling you, Peter?” he asked.

“I know something nobody else knows, but I can never tell anyone,” admitted Peter.

The Master was a wise man and suggested, “Go to a field outside the city. Dig a hole and whisper your secret three times into the hole. Then put all the earth back into the hole and come home. You will feel much better.”

Peter did as he was told. He dug a hole.

“The emperor has goat’s ears,” he whispered three times. Straightaway he felt better. Carefully he put the earth back into the hole and skipped home.

Soon an elder tree began to grow in the hole. One day some shepherds noticed the tree. One of them cut a stem from it to make a flute. But when the shepherd lifted the flute to his lips and began to play, not a note came out. Instead the flute sang, “The emperor has goat’s ears.”

Before long the whole town had heard of the magical flute and what it had sung. When the news reached the emperor, he sent for Peter immediately.

“What have you told people about me?” demanded the emperor.

“Nothing, your Majesty,” Peter swore. But the emperor didn’t believe him and drew his sword. Terrified, Peter immediately confessed what he had done.

“Fetch my chariot,” ordered the emperor. The emperor and Peter rode out of the city, followed by all the courtiers.

When they reached the place where the elder grew, they found only one stem left on the tree. The emperor ordered a servant to cut it down and make a flute. Then he ordered his chamberlain to play it. As the chamberlain blew, the flute sang, “The emperor has goat’s ears.”

Peter shook with fear. The emperor thought for a moment.

“I will spare your life because you didn’t tell a living person my secret,” he decided. “You told the earth and the earth gave away the secret. However, I don’t think I want you to be my barber anymore.”

Peter left the city and become a barber in another country, just in case the emperor changed his mind.