A parable of pride

At one time there lived a king whose kingdom had grown cold towards him. His pride told him that he was unjustly treated; but being a good man deep down he decided to take a tour of the countryside to begin again with his followers. The king took a year and then returned to his castle, feeling little benefit from his efforts. Unused to such journeys, the king also found that he had lost three of his crown jewels. His pride told him that such an error would be better left where it lay; but being a good man deep down he decided to post a ransom to anyone who could safely return even one crown jewel. “NOTICE,” it read, “Whoever shall return even one crown jewel to the king shall receive one wish and a county all his own.”

And the search was on. One crown jewel was found by a poor man. He, and his unruly retinue of relatives, made their way to the castle. “Look, king,” said the man, “I have brought back your precious jewel.” “I am grateful, son. What is now your wish?” The man asked, “I wish to receive a living whereby I may be provided for in my housing, food, and clothes for the rest of my life.” The wish was granted. The once poor man returned to his county with his crowd of cousins. The man grew fat, who seeing no need saw no responsibility. He became the source for borrowers and his house a center of idleness. His county began to deteriorate as those who stretched at a chance to gain without labor migrated there. The benevolence of the king was not wholly frustrated however since all those in the county, whether of pure heart or not, always took up the king’s cause at need.

Another crown jewel was found by an ascetic man. This man took a lonely path to the castle. “Look, king,” said the man, “You have regained what is your due.” “I am pleased, son. What is now your wish?” The man asked, “I wish not to receive anything from your hand, neither a county.” The wish was granted. The ascetic returned the way he came, which was no small feat, as word of his appearance at court spread. The talk of the kingdom was of how and why the man could be so noble. He was set in the worst struggle of his life, who felt satisfaction in his recognition and also dissatisfaction at any hint of popularity. The benevolence of the king was not wholly frustrated however since the extremity of the man brought about the temperance of many who otherwise would never have sought it.

The last crown jewel was found by a suffering addict. This man called on his closest friends to take him to the castle. “Look, king,” said the man, and here the man paused. His mind had not stopped fantasizing about his wish since he had happened upon the crown jewel. His flesh told him that this was his chance to satisfy himself; but being a good man deep down, he broke in the presence of the king and his friends. “Look, king,” said the man, “I freely give you back your crown jewel.” “I am humbled, son. What is now your wish?” “I wish that the authority of my county be given over to my friends and me, to take stewardship of it as we report to you alone.” The wish was granted. The former addict returned to his county and let the burden of responsibility replace that of want. As each friend could not take full credit for their position, neither could one place full blame at the feet of any of his peers. This county prospered for many, many generations and increased the wealth of its king a thousand-fold.