A powerful king sat in his kingdom. He lacked nothing in the way of possessions of all kinds, distinguished counselors, worldly honor and immeasurable wealth in gold and jewels. He placed great store in having men who were called philosophers, or very learned wise men, sit in his hall around him. With this as in many other things, he sought to build his fame since his pride was very great.
Then an event occurred that filled the whole kingdom with happiness. The queen bore a son. Surrounded by riches, he grew up as was seemly for a royal child: sweet, friendly, steady and ambitious — all manly senses without error or weakness.
When he was old enough that thought must be given to his education, it occurred one day as the king sat at his table that the wisest master in the hall stood and came before the throne.
“Sire,” he said, “you have a young son that all of your friends consider with happiness since we believe that he is given by God to sit on your throne after you with rich honor as is worthy of his birth. Therefore, I offer myself with all willingness to teach him and instruct him in the wisdom I have gained from books and my own experience so that his name will be even more famous and he will be wiser than other people.”
The king showed by his hesitancy that he did not greet the talk in a friendly manner as some had expected; instead, he took on a somewhat angry demeanor and said, “Good sir, what can you teach our son? Your wisdom is worth no more than the antics of wanderers and children’s games.”
The master answered, “If these words had not come from the mouth of a king, they would not be true; my wisdom has never been considered the pranks of children. Rather I have gathered such rich knowledge that it would be honorable for your son if he learned as much. Everyone will confirm that.”
The king replied angrily, “Go away from here. We will tell you what is required. Our son will remain untaught and not sit at your feet, or he will have a teaching master who will teach him unknown wisdom that of which you have never known.”
The master again responded, “If your son is a man he will possess manly intelligence, and when has one ever heard that a man should not be taught by another?” With that, he ended his talk and returned to his place. For a time, there was total silence, as the king was angry and so everyone remained quiet.
After a few days when the king again sat at his table, someone knocked at the door and asked to enter. When to doorkeeper answered, a man stood outside who appeared to be a wise man and who asked to be presented to the king. When the king gave his permission, the man entered and went before the throne.
He wore a white felt hat on his head so that his countenance could not quite be seen; he tugged in honor on the rim slightly before the king, greeted him and said, “Long may you live, Sire!” He then continued, “As you can see by my demeanor, oh Sire, I can be counted among the wise ones. As I have gotten word from you regarding your son’s teaching, and that your advisors appear somewhat arrogant I have sought you with the intention of putting my wisdom at your disposal.”
“It is my hope that that which I can teach him according to your wishes is unknown to every living person. Since I am old and quirky, I am not exposed to the noise of the world and many people. Let us build a house two miles from the city in the woods, and take enough provisions there for us to live a whole year so that from the day we go there no one will disturb us.” The king was very pleased with this speech and arranged for things to be arranged as quickly time allowed.
We now spring over the preparations and go to the time when the master and his student the king’s son have moved into the house. The master took the large chair as befitted him with the king’s son at his feet as a child of little stature. They sat speechless for the first day, the second and the third without a word said. To sum things up, throughout the whole year the king’s son served the master both early and late, sitting every day silently at his feet.
When the year was ended and a visit from the king was expected, the master said to the king’s son, “Tomorrow, my son, they will seek us out and take us to the king. He will ask about your teaching, and if you please, you can answer that you can say nothing of your teaching but that it has never been heard by another’s ear. Your father will ask further if you want to remain longer with me. But regarding this, I cannot give you any advice.”
It happened as just described. The next day they were called to the castle before the king. When he asked his son if he would like to visit the school longer, he answered with all friendliness that he would very much like to return. The two then were given provisions for another year.
We can now summarize, as the second year went from beginning to end just as the first. Once again, the king’s son decided to continue in solitude. The third year flowed with the same quiet and boredom; when it was ended and they expected to be summoned, the master said, “My son, for your silence, patience and faithfulness you will receive as reward that the manliness and steadfastness you have proven over three years will never be forgotten. It will be recorded in history books. In addition, it is proper that the expectations with which you have sat alone here will not be a mistake. Then you are worthy of the lesson that no wise man could give you.
“Know this now, who I am. My name is Mors — that means death — and I am not a man even though I appear to you to be. Moreover, after our parting which will soon occur, it will be a sign of your wisdom that it will be famous and spread through every land so that no man will be known as well as you. All people will want to see you although some who wish it will not achieve it.
“Now pay attention, dear son, to what in few words I will tell you although I have not spoken for a long time. It will be of use to you that when a man becomes sick in the city, go to him even if not called. He will be the only one who does not implore you to visit him. By this sick man and by all others to whom you come you will see me sitting, but take heed of where I am sitting.
“If I sit near the feet, you should say what will occur: the man will have a long but not severe illness and will again arise. If I am sitting at the side, the sickness is shorter but much more severe but he will recover in full good health. However, if I am sitting by his head, death is certain regardless if the suffering is long or short. This will be the cause of your fame: that you can predict what will happen so that they may prepare themselves and make the needed preparations.
“There is one more thing I want to teach you. If your friends become ill or if well known people who please you and whose friendship you seek or who want money or honor from you, take the bird known as caladrius and when you see that I am not sitting by the head, take the bird to the sick one and hold it before his face. This bird can suck the sickness into its own body. Then let the bird go; it knows its own nature, and flies with the sickness high into the air as close to the sun as possible. It blows the sickness out into the sunlight, which takes the sickness up and destroys it with the heat, and the bird is again healthy.
“After our meeting and talk, the character of this bird will become known through your words. People will take notice and note them with the bird’s name in books that people will call ‘Physiologus’”.
“My lesson for you, dear son, is now ended, as is our first meeting. But we will meet a second time and that meeting will not bring you happiness.” And so ended their talk.
The day came when both were called before the king. The king’s son gave the master a praiseful testament before the complete court, and from the king he reaped rich thanks and offers of gifts and honors. The master refused everything and asked for permission to leave.
The wisdom of the king’s son was of course at first not highly developed but after the some time passed, its reputation grew that the consensus of judgment was that his equal had not been born. At the same time, all lands were moved to seek him out and to take advantage of his wisdom because everything he told of happened as earlier predicted.
He also made trips afar to respected people to examine their sicknesses until his father died. Now that he had assumed the throne, his friends visited him, particularly those of his followers when they became ill as well as the land’s powerful, particularly when they thought it was useful to the welfare of their wealth.
Nevertheless, regardless of the gift he had been given he was not arrogant; rather, he was so self-effacing, friendly and considerate and so mild and tender with his subjects as was seemly for a king that every child was dear to him. That is the way of the world; one man’s praise makes ten friends.
His days passed in fame and happiness so that he himself enjoyed excellent health and the wealth of peace and he thrived until he was 100 years old, but he was still a sprightly man. He was tall, strong and knew how to care for his body. Nonetheless, a strong illness befell him, which caused his friends great concern. It struck him so that already after a short while there was little hope of his rescue.
One day as he lay in this condition, fainting overcame him and when it had passed, he opened his eyes and saw something that for him was very unpleasant. His old master had appeared with the wide-brimmed felt hat and sat close to his head. The king noticed right away that death was near, and said, “Master, why do you come here so quickly?”
“It must happen, my son,” he answered.
“I never thought then,” said the king, “as I sat quietly, a king’s child three long years at your feet, that you would deal against me so and tear me away from the fullness of happiness and kingly honor while I am still so sprightly and capable of ruling.”
“It is probably true, my son,” replied the master, “that you had to endure much. But you also received much, and now you must nevertheless go with me.”
When the king saw that there was no hope of delaying, he said, “There is so much that I would like from you; that you give me the time to pray an “Our Father” before we go.” The master said that this could be granted. The king spoke the first four verses of the prayer until he reached, “…and forgive us our debts… ”. When he was this far, he stopped and was quiet. The master waited a long time, but the king did not speak.
“Why are you not praying, my son?” he asked. “I am not praying because I do not wish to. You have nothing more to do here, then this time we must part. You granted me an “Our Father” and therefore, with the support of your promise, I will not pray until I have lived as long as my heart wishes. Then I will freely end my prayer without being called and threatened by you.” “You have fooled me with trickery, son,” the master replied, “so this time your will prevails.” He then left and the king’s health so improved that it appeared to everyone to be a miracle.
He lived honorably another 100 years, but by this time he was so bent from age, so frail and lame that it was a burden to live any longer. He called all of the great men of the land, and a powerful gathering came together. The king’s throne was put in place and the ruler of his men was led in. He arranged for the whole kingdom, for the royal honor and other matters, and gave his people good counsel and fatherly warnings to fear God and protect the laws of the land.
He then lay down in bed in the clear light of day, and instructed his clerics to prepare him for his last hours. As this was arranged with proper ceremony, he told his trusted friends everything that had occurred between him and his master, and then said, “Come now, my master, and hear as I close the prayer that you once granted me, for now I am ready.”
The master appeared immediately, and the king began, “…and forgive us our debts…” and at the same moment as he spoke the amen ending the prayer, he departed from this life and was mourned greatly even though he was very old.
And with that, this story ends.