G
Gizmo
Guest
Many hundreds of years ago, in a far off land, there lived a powerful Emperor who had reigned over his lands well enough for many years and was loved by his subjects. But one thing was missing from his life, and so when he was told that his wife was finally to bear his first child the Emperor was overjoyed and called his First Minister to him.
"The thing that I have been waiting for so long has finally come true", the Emperor said, "and I want to mark the occasion with a great party across the whole of the country in celebration".
"But that would be very expensive, Lord"
"I care not - I want the people to share in my joy. See to it."
Over the next seven months the preparations for the greatest celebration ever to be held were made, and nowhere was made to look more spectacular than the capital itselfm which was wreathed in golden lights by the date of the party. And when news of the baby`s birth reached the streets the sky itself was set alight by a thousand fireworks, watched from his palace balcony by the Emperor himself, who was finally and truly happy as he held his young son in his arms.
But that night the baby`s condition worsended suddenly and not even the ministrations of best physicians and magicians in the land could not serve to help it, by morning the news was widespread that the baby had died, and the Emperor was distraught. His First Minister tended him in his chambers:
"The death of my son, so new to this world, has struck me a grievous blow - I am thankful that my wife has survived and can only hope that she will bear me another child in the future", the Emperor told them, "but I am not much cheered by that thought. The sadness I feel at the death of my son is made all the worse by how happy I was to have him. The pain of losing that happiness is too much and so I charge you, my trusted an loyal friend, to help me".
"Of course, Lord, your wish is my command. How may I help you in this dark hour?"
"I would like something to relieve me of this sadness I feel, and yet I worry that should I feel happy once more it will be taken away again. So, wise counsel of the ages, I want something that will make me feel happy when I am sad, but that will also make me sad when I am happy."
The First Minister thought for a moment, then sent for the Chancellor who hurried in to the chamber. When he was told of the Emperor`s request he bowed and replied,
"My Lord, with your permission I will build a huge glass building in which we can store all your wealth and riches. If we were to place it in the centre of the Gardens you would be able to look out from your balcony and see precisely how rich you were and how beautiful all that wealth was. But, you would also be reminded that money is useless on it`s own, and that it could never replace your lost son".
The Emperor thought for a moment,
"No, wealth alone will not make me happy, and the gardens are tended lovingly by my wife, I would not wish to destroy their tranquility with something as tawdry as a showcase for my money. Leave my sight this instant!"
The Minister then sent for the General of the Imperial Army, When he was told of the problem, the General immediately stood to attention,
"My Lord! It would be an honour to serve you. By your command I shall raise an army of hundred thousand men, equipped by the best weaponry this mighty empire can produce, and I shall lead them to victory against the neighbouring lands whose raiders plague our borders. This will raise your spirits once again, I am certain."
"But how would it make me feel sad when I am happy?" the Emperor asked.
The General thought for a moment, "The thought that the peoples who I had conquered in your name did not want to be under your divine rule, and that they were kept under control only by force of arms, would undoubtedly sadden such a wise and caring ruler as yourself, my Lord".
The Emperor pondered this, "No, I will not force my grief onto other people. You are dismissed, General".
The Minister then called for the Grand Wizard, who appeared in the centre of the room in a puff of smoke.
"I know of your wish, master, and I have already worked out the perfect solution", he waved his hand and a small bird appeared on his shoulder and started to sing, "This is a magical bird who will never die and never need feeding, it will follow you everywhere you go. When you are sad it will sing a tune that will cheer your very heart, sire, and yet when you are happy it will sing a different tune that will remind you of what you have lost".
"This is a good gift, Grand Wizard, but I cannot accept it. It would be cruel to charge a bird to follow me for the rest of eternity, and most of all I value the peace and quiet of my study which this bird would dsturb. You may go."
Finally the First Minister called the Imperial Jeweller, who came as soon as he could. The Minister explained what was required and the Jeweller thought for a while, then replied,
"My Lord, I will not flaunt your wealth, nor shall I crush nations nor am I a magician - I have not the power to do any of those things. I will craft you a simple ring, made only of the best Steel not of Gold nor Silver. It will bear no rubies, diamonds, nor emeralds. Only an inscription - one that will bring you joy in the midst of night, and sadness at the heights of jubilee. And that inscription will be, This Too, Shall Pass."
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David Sutcliffe
"The thing that I have been waiting for so long has finally come true", the Emperor said, "and I want to mark the occasion with a great party across the whole of the country in celebration".
"But that would be very expensive, Lord"
"I care not - I want the people to share in my joy. See to it."
Over the next seven months the preparations for the greatest celebration ever to be held were made, and nowhere was made to look more spectacular than the capital itselfm which was wreathed in golden lights by the date of the party. And when news of the baby`s birth reached the streets the sky itself was set alight by a thousand fireworks, watched from his palace balcony by the Emperor himself, who was finally and truly happy as he held his young son in his arms.
But that night the baby`s condition worsended suddenly and not even the ministrations of best physicians and magicians in the land could not serve to help it, by morning the news was widespread that the baby had died, and the Emperor was distraught. His First Minister tended him in his chambers:
"The death of my son, so new to this world, has struck me a grievous blow - I am thankful that my wife has survived and can only hope that she will bear me another child in the future", the Emperor told them, "but I am not much cheered by that thought. The sadness I feel at the death of my son is made all the worse by how happy I was to have him. The pain of losing that happiness is too much and so I charge you, my trusted an loyal friend, to help me".
"Of course, Lord, your wish is my command. How may I help you in this dark hour?"
"I would like something to relieve me of this sadness I feel, and yet I worry that should I feel happy once more it will be taken away again. So, wise counsel of the ages, I want something that will make me feel happy when I am sad, but that will also make me sad when I am happy."
The First Minister thought for a moment, then sent for the Chancellor who hurried in to the chamber. When he was told of the Emperor`s request he bowed and replied,
"My Lord, with your permission I will build a huge glass building in which we can store all your wealth and riches. If we were to place it in the centre of the Gardens you would be able to look out from your balcony and see precisely how rich you were and how beautiful all that wealth was. But, you would also be reminded that money is useless on it`s own, and that it could never replace your lost son".
The Emperor thought for a moment,
"No, wealth alone will not make me happy, and the gardens are tended lovingly by my wife, I would not wish to destroy their tranquility with something as tawdry as a showcase for my money. Leave my sight this instant!"
The Minister then sent for the General of the Imperial Army, When he was told of the problem, the General immediately stood to attention,
"My Lord! It would be an honour to serve you. By your command I shall raise an army of hundred thousand men, equipped by the best weaponry this mighty empire can produce, and I shall lead them to victory against the neighbouring lands whose raiders plague our borders. This will raise your spirits once again, I am certain."
"But how would it make me feel sad when I am happy?" the Emperor asked.
The General thought for a moment, "The thought that the peoples who I had conquered in your name did not want to be under your divine rule, and that they were kept under control only by force of arms, would undoubtedly sadden such a wise and caring ruler as yourself, my Lord".
The Emperor pondered this, "No, I will not force my grief onto other people. You are dismissed, General".
The Minister then called for the Grand Wizard, who appeared in the centre of the room in a puff of smoke.
"I know of your wish, master, and I have already worked out the perfect solution", he waved his hand and a small bird appeared on his shoulder and started to sing, "This is a magical bird who will never die and never need feeding, it will follow you everywhere you go. When you are sad it will sing a tune that will cheer your very heart, sire, and yet when you are happy it will sing a different tune that will remind you of what you have lost".
"This is a good gift, Grand Wizard, but I cannot accept it. It would be cruel to charge a bird to follow me for the rest of eternity, and most of all I value the peace and quiet of my study which this bird would dsturb. You may go."
Finally the First Minister called the Imperial Jeweller, who came as soon as he could. The Minister explained what was required and the Jeweller thought for a while, then replied,
"My Lord, I will not flaunt your wealth, nor shall I crush nations nor am I a magician - I have not the power to do any of those things. I will craft you a simple ring, made only of the best Steel not of Gold nor Silver. It will bear no rubies, diamonds, nor emeralds. Only an inscription - one that will bring you joy in the midst of night, and sadness at the heights of jubilee. And that inscription will be, This Too, Shall Pass."
-
David Sutcliffe
