A WANDERING MINSTREL once composed a magical song that made everyone who heard it glad. No matter how many cares weighed them down, this song made them forget them. No matter how miserable their lives, all those who listened to this song felt happy again. But the happiness, of course, only lasted as long as the song. As soon as the song ceased, everyone’s cares returned.
The minstrel wandered around from country to country, singing his magical song, and bringing happiness to people for as long as he sang it. One day, however, he sang it at the court of an evil old king, who made all his subjects as miserable as he was himself. Well, the moment the minstrel began to sing his magical song, it was as if a shadow had been lifted from the entire court. Everyone forgot the injustices and humiliations that were daily heaped upon them by the evil old king, and felt a happiness that they had forgotten existed. Even the old king himself started to smile at those around him, and for the first time in years he felt peace in his shrivelled old heart.
As soon as the song stopped, however, the deepest gloom returned to the palace.
The minstrel bowed and began to take his leave of the company, but the evil old king stopped him.
‘Play that song again!’ commanded the king.
‘Excuse me, Your Majesty,’ replied the minstrel. ‘Nothing would give me greater pleasure, but I have a rule that I only play my songs once – lest I outstay my welcome.’
‘I order you to play that song again,’ said the king. ‘Otherwise I will have you thrown into prison.’
So there was nothing for it – the minstrel had to play the song once more, and once more the gloom lifted from the palace, and everyone felt happy.
When he had finished, the minstrel once again began to take his leave, but again the old king stopped him.
‘Keep singing!’ he ordered. ‘I will tell you when you may stop.’
So the poor minstrel was forced to go on singing the magical song that made everyone happy, over and over again, until everyone started to grow sleepy. Heads nodded and fell onto the tables, and finally the old king himself fell asleep over his plate.
Then the minstrel tried to leave once more, but the guards barred his way.
‘The king has not said you can stop singing yet,’ they said, and they showed him the sharp blades of their swords.
So, once again, the minstrel had to sing the magical song, over and over again, and carry on – even though weary himself – until everyone in the palace had fallen asleep. Then he tried to steal out of the great hall.
But, as luck would have it, just as he was closing the door behind him, the old king awoke.
‘Come back!’ roared the king. ‘I never want to feel miserable again! You must carry on playing that magical song for me, day and night!’ And he appointed guards to stand by the minstrel to see that he did.
And so the wandering minstrel was compelled to remain in the palace, continually singing his magical song that made everyone feel happy.
But the minstrel did not feel happy himself. ‘I cannot carry on singing this song over and over again,’ he said to himself. ‘I must stop to eat… besides, my voice will grow hoarse.’
But day and night the guards stood over him, and he had no choice but to go on singing.
Well, this went on for three days and three nights. On the fourth day, a string on his harp broke.
‘I cannot play the song any more,’ the minstrel said to the king. ‘I don’t have all the notes.’
‘Carry on!’ ordered the king.
On the fifth day, the minstrel’s voice went hoarse, so that he could only croak, and all the magic went from the song.
‘Your Majesty!’ gasped the poor minstrel. ‘Now surely you will let me stop.’
‘Play on!’ growled the king.
So the poor minstrel had to play on – even though he could no longer play the right notes nor sing the song, and everyone grew heartily sick of the dreadful noise he was making. Yet still the king would by no means allow him to stop.
In the end, the minstrel could stand it no longer. He flung his harp at the king’s head, and it struck him right on the temple, so that he fell down dead. As soon as he did, of course, the guards drew their swords and cut down the unfortunate minstrel, and the magical song was lost for ever.
So it was that the song that brought happiness ended up bringing misery – all through one man’s greed.
