by Charles Swan
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the emperor is Christ. The soldier is any sinner; the judge is a wise confessor. If the sinner confess the truth in such a manner as not even demons can object, he shall be saved—that is, if he confess and repent.
TALE LIX.
OF TOO MUCH PRIDE ; AND HOW THE PROUD ARE FREQUENTLY COMPELLED TO ENDURE SOME NOTABLE HUMILIATION.
WHEN Jovinian was emperor, he possessed very great power; and as he lay in bed reflecting upon the extent of his dominions, his heart was elated to an extraordinary degree. “Is there,” he impiously asked, “is there any other god than me ?” Amid such thoughts he fell asleep.
In the morning he reviewed his troops, and said, “My friends, after breakfast we will hunt.” Preparations being made accordingly, he set out with a large retinue. During the chase, the emperor felt such extreme oppression from the heat, that he believed his very existence depended upon a cold bath. As he anxiously looked around, he discovered a sheet of water at no great distance. “Remain here,” said he to his guard, “until I have refreshed myself in yonder stream.” Then spurring his steed, he rode hastily to the edge of the water. Alighting, he divested himself of his apparel, and experienced the greatest pleasure from its invigorating freshness and coolness. But whilst he was thus employed, a person similar to him in every respect—in countenance and gesture—arrayed himself unperceived in the emperor’s dress, and then mounting his horse, rode off to the attendants. The resemblance to the sovereign was such, that no doubt was entertained of the reality; and when the sport was over command was issued for their return to the palace.
Jovinian, however, having quitted the water, sought in every possible direction for his horse and clothes, and to his utter astonishment could find neither. Vexed beyond measure at the circumstance (for he was completely naked, and saw no one near to assist him), he began to reflect upon what course he should pursue. “Miserable man that I am,” said he, “to what a strait am I reduced! There is, I remember, a knight residing close by, whom I have promoted to a military post; I will go to him, and command his attendance and service, I will then ride on to the palace and strictly investigate the cause of this extraordinary conduct.” Jovinian proceeded, naked and ashamed, to the castle of the aforesaid knight, and beat loudly at the gate. The porter inquired the cause of the knocking. “Open the gate,” said the enraged emperor, “and you will see whom I am.” The gate was opened; and the porter, struck with the strange appearance he exhibited, replied, “In the name of all that is marvellous, what are you?” “I am,” said he, “Jovinian, your emperor; go to your lord, and command him from me to supply the wants of his sovereign. I have lost both horse and clothes.” “Thou liest, infamous ribald!” shouted the porter; “just before thy approach, the Emperor Jovinian, accompanied by the officers of his household, entered the palace. My lord both went and returned with him; and but even now sat with him at meat. But because thou hast called thyself the emperor, my lord shall know of thy presumption.” The porter entered, and related what had passed. Jovinian was introduced, but the knight retained not the slightest recollection of his master, although the emperor remembered him. “Who are you?” said the former, “and what is your name? ““I am the Emperor Jovinian,” rejoined he; “canst thou have forgotten me ? At such a time I promoted thee to a military command.” “Why, thou most audacious scoundrel,” said the knight, “darest thou call thyself the emperor? I rode with him myself to the palace, from whence I am this moment returned. But thy impudence shall not go without its reward. Flog him,” said he, turning to his servants, “flog him soundly, and drive him away.” This sentence was immediately executed, and the poor emperor, bursting into a convulsion of tears, exclaimed, “Oh, my God, is it possible that one whom I have so much honoured and exalted should do this? Not content with pretending ignorance of my person, he orders these merciless villains to abuse me! “He next thought within himself, “There is a certain duke, one of my privy councillors, to whom I will make known my calamity. At least, he will enable me to return decently to the palace.” To him, therefore, Jovinian proceeded, and the gate was opened at his knock. But the porter, beholding a naked man, exclaimed in the greatest amaze, “Friend, who are you, and why come you here in such a guise ?” He replied, “I am your emperor; I have accidentally lost my clothes and my horse, and I have come for succour to your lord. I beg you, therefore, to do me this errand to the duke.” The porter, more and more astonished, entered the hall, and communicated the strange intelligence which he had received. “Bring him in,” said the duke. He was brought in, but neither did he recognize the person of the emperor. “What art thou ? “he asked. “I am the emperor,” replied Jovinian, “and I have promoted thee to riches and honour, since I made thee a duke and one of my councillors.” “Poor mad wretch,” said the duke, “a short time since I returned from the palace, where I left the very emperor thou assumest to be. But since thou hast claimed such rank, thou shalt not escape unpunished. Carry him to prison, and feed him with bread and water.” The command was no sooner delivered than obeyed; and the following day his naked body was submitted to the lash, and he was again cast into the dungeon.
Thus afflicted, he gave himself up to the wretchedness of his untoward condition. In the agony of his heart, he said, “What shall I do ? Oh, what will be my destiny ? I am loaded with the coarsest contumely, and exposed to the malicious observation of my people. It were better to hasten immediately to my palace, and there discover myself—my servants will know me; and even if they do not my wife will know me !” Escaping, therefore, from his confinement, he approached the palace and beat upon the gate. “Who art thou?” said the porter. “It is strange,” replied the aggrieved emperor, “it is strange that thou shouldest not know me; thou, who hast served me so long! ““Served thee !” returned the porter indignantly, “thou liest abominably. I have served none but the emperor.” “Why,” said the other, “thou knowest that I am he. Yet, though you disregard my words, go, I implore you, to the empress; communicate what I will tell thee, and by these signs bid her send the imperial robes, of which some rogue has deprived me. The signs I tell thee of are known to none but to ourselves.” “In verity,” said the porter, “thou art mad: at this very moment my lord sits at table with the empress herself. Nevertheless, out of regard for thy singular merits, I will intimate thy declaration within; and rest assured, thou wilt presently find thyself most royally beaten.” The porter went accordingly, and related what he had heard. But the empress became very sorrowful, and said, “Oh, my lord, what am I to think ? The most hidden passages of our lives are revealed by an obscene fellow at the gate, and repeated to me by the porter, on the strength of which he declares himself the emperor and my espoused lord! “When the fictitious monarch was apprised of this, he commanded him to be brought in. He had no sooner entered than a large dog, which couched upon the hearth, and had been much cherished by him, flew at his throat, and, but for timely prevention, would have killed him. A falcon, also, seated upon her perch, no sooner beheld him, than she broke her jesses* and flew out of the hall. Then the pretended emperor, addressing those who stood about him, said, “My friends, hear what I will ask of yon ribald. Who are you ? and what do you want ?” “These questions,” said the suffering man, “are very strange. You know I am the emperor and master of this place.” The other, turning to the nobles who sat or stood at the table, continued, “Tell me, on your allegiance, which of us two is your lord and master?” “Your majesty asks us an easy thing,” replied they, “and need not to remind us of our allegiance. That obscene wretch we have never before seen. You alone are he, whom we have known from childhood; and we entreat that this fellow may be severely punished, as a warning to others how they give scope to their mad presumption.” Then turning to the empress, the usurper said, “Tell me, my lady, on the faith you have sworn, do you know this man who calls himself thy lord and emperor?” She answered, “My lord, how can you ask such a question ? Have I not known thee more than th
irty years, and borne thee many children ? Yet, at one thing I do admire. How can this fellow have acquired so intimate a knowledge of what has passed between us ?”
The pretended emperor made no reply, but addressing the real one, said, “Friend, how darest thou to call thyself emperor ? We sentence thee, for this unexampled impudence, to be drawn, without loss of time, at the tail of a horse. And if thou utterest the same words again, thou shalt be doomed to an ignominious death.” He then commanded his guards to see the sentence put in force, but to preserve his life. The unfortunate emperor was now almost distracted; and urged by his despair, wished vehemently for death. “Why was I born ?” he exclaimed. “My friends shun me; and my wife and children will not acknowledge me. But there is my confessor, still. To him will I go; perhaps he will recollect me, because he has often received my confessions.” He went accordingly, and knocked at the window of his cell. “Who is there ?” said the confessor. “The emperor Jovinian,” was the reply; “open the window, and I will speak to thee.” The window was opened; but no sooner had he looked out than he closed it again in great haste. “Depart from me,” said he, “accursed thing: thou art not the emperor, but the devil incarnate.” This completed the miseries of the persecuted man; and he tore his hair, and plucked up his beard by the roots. “Woe is me !” he cried, “for what strange doom am I reserved ? “At this crisis, the impious words which, in the arrogance of his heart, he had uttered, crossed his recollection. Immediately he beat again at the window of the confessor’s cell, and exclaimed, “For the love of Him who was suspended from the cross, hear my confession with the window closed.” The recluse said, “I will do this with pleasure;” and then Jovinian acquainted him with every particular of his past life; and principally how he had lifted himself up against his Maker, saying that he believed there was no other god but himself.
The confession made, and absolution given, the recluse opened the window, and directly knew him. “Blessed be the most high God,” said he, “now do I know thee. I have here a few garments : clothe thyself, and go to the palace. I trust that they also will recognize thee.” The emperor did as the confessor directed. The porter opened the gate, and made a low obeisance to him. “Dost thou know me ? “said he. “Very well, my lord!” replied the menial; “but I marvel that I did not observe you go out.” Entering the hall of his mansion, Jovinian was received by all with a profound reverence. The strange emperor was at that time in another apartment with the queen; and a certain knight came out of the chamber, looked narrowly at Jovinian, and returning to the supposed emperor, said, “My lord, there is one in the hall to whom everybody bends; he so much resembles you, that we know not which is the emperor.” Hearing this, the usurper said to the empress, “Go and see if you know him.” She went, and returned greatly surprised at what she saw. “Oh, my lord,” said she, “I declare to you that I know not whom to trust.” “Then,” returned he, “I will go and determine you.” When he had entered the hall, he took Jovinian by the hand and placed him near him. Addressing the assembly, he said, “By the oaths you have taken, declare which of us is your emperor.” The empress answered, “It is incumbent on me to speak first; but Heaven is my witness that I am unable to determine which is he.” And so said all. Then the feigned emperor spoke thus, “My friends, hearken! That man is your king and your lord. He exalted himself to the disparagement of his Maker; and God, therefore, scourged and hid him from your knowledge. I am the angel that watches over his soul, and I have guarded his kingdom while he was undergoing his penance. But his repentance removes the rod; he has now made ample satisfaction, and again let your obedience wait upon him. Commend yourselves to the protection of Heaven.” So saying, he disappeared. The emperor gave thanks to God, and lived happily, and finished his days in peace. (6)
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the emperor represents any one whom the pride and vanity of life wholly engross. The knight to whom Jovinian first applied is Reason; which ever disclaims the pomps and fooleries of life. The duke is conscience; the savage dog is the flesh, which alarms the falcon, that is, divine grace. The wife is the human soul; the clothes in which the emperor was at last arrayed are the virtues that befit the true sovereign, that is, the good Christian.
* Jesses are the leather straps with which a hawk was confined.
TALE LX.
OF AVARICE AND ITS SUBTLETY.
A CERTAIN king had an only daughter, remarkable for the beauty and dignity of her person. She was called Rosamond; and, at the early age of ten years, she proved so swift a runner, that she invariably attained the goal before her competitor. The king caused it to be proclaimed that whosoever should surpass his daughter in speed should marry her, and succeed to the throne: but in the event of a failure he should lose his head. And even with the heavy penalty before them, numbers permitted themselves to be buoyed up by the hope of success to attempt, and to perish in the attempt. But it happened that a poor man, called Abibas, inhabited that country, who thus communed with himself: “I am very poor, and of a base extraction; if I may overcome this lady and marry her, not only shall I be promoted myself, but all who are of my blood.” But wiser than the rest, he took the three following precautions. First, he framed a curious garland of roses, of which he had ascertained that the lady was devotedly fond. Then, he procured a zone of the finest silk, from a conviction that most damsels were partial to this sort of clothing. And, lastly, he bought a silken bag, in which he deposited a golden ball bearing the following inscription: “Whosoever plays with me shall never satiate of play.” These three things he placed in his bosom, and, knocked at the palace gate. The porter inquired his business; and he stated his wish in the usual form.
It happened that the princess herself stood at a window close by, and heard Abibas express his intention to run with her. Observing that he was poor, and his attire threadbare and rent, she despised him from her very heart, and said, “Lo! what poor wretch is this with whom I have to contend ?” However, she prepared to run; and everything being in readiness, they commenced the race. Abibas would have been left at a considerable distance; but taking the garland of roses from its repository, he skilfully threw it down before her, on which the maiden stooped, picked it up, and placed it on her head. Delighted with the odour and beauty of the flowers, she paused to examine it ; and Abibas took advantage of her forgetfulness and advanced rapidly towards the goal. This awoke her to a recollection of what was going forward, and crying aloud, “Never shall the daughter of a prince be united to this miserable clown,” she threw the garland from her into a deep well, and rushed onward like a whirlwind. In a few moments she overtook the youth, and extending her hand, struck him upon the shoulder, exclaiming, “Stop, foolish thing; hopest thou to marry a princess ?” Just as she was on the point of repassing him, he drew forth the silken girdle, and cast it at her feet. The temptation again proved too strong for her resolution, and she stooped to gather it. Overjoyed at the beauty of its texture, she must bind it round her waist; and whilst she did this, Abibas had recovered more ground than he had lost. As soon as the fair racer perceived the consequences of her folly, she burst into a flood of tears, and rending the zone asunder, hurried on. Having again overtaken her adversary, she seized him by the arm, striking him smartly at the same time: “Fool, thou shalt not marry me; “and immediately she ran faster than before. Abibas, when he saw this, waited until she was near the goal, and then threw at her feet the bag with the golden ball. It was impossible to forbear picking it up; and equally impossible not to open it and peep at its contents. She did so; but reading the inscription, “Who plays with me shall never satiate of playing,” she played so much and so long, that Abibas came first to the goal and married her.*
APPLICATION.
My beloved, the king is Christ; the daughter is the soul, and Abibas is the devil, who provides various seductions to draw us from the goal of heaven.
* “This is evidently a Gothic innovation of the classical tale of Atalanta. But it is not impossibl
e that an oriental apologue might have given rise to the Grecian fable.”—WARTON.
The story of Atalanta I consider to be the origin of many subsequent fables. Amongst these, the “Hare and the Tortoise” may be noticed.
TALE LXI.
OF REFLECTION.
THE Emperor Claudius had an only daughter who was incomparably beautiful. As he lay in bed, he reflected seriously upon the best mode of disposing of her. “If,” thought he, “I should marry her to a rich fool, it will occasion her death. But if I bestow her upon a wise man, although he be poor, his own wit will procure him riches.”†
