fallen-in faces, and pale as death. Now the king knew that it
was by buffetings of the body and by the sweats of the monastic
life that they had thus wasted their miserable flesh. So, seeing
them, he leapt anon from his chariot, fell on the ground, and did
obeisance. Then rising, he embraced and greeted them tenderly.
But his noblemen and counsellors took offence thereat, deeming
that their sovran had disgraced his kingly honour. But not
daring to reprove him to the face, they bade the king's own
brother tell the king not thus to insult the majesty of his
crown. When he had told the king thereof, and had upbraided him
for his untimely humility, the king gave his brother an answer
which he failed to understand.

"It was the custom of that king, whenever he sentenced anyone to
death, to send a herald to his door, with a trumpet reserved for
that purpose, and at the sound of this trumpet all understood
that that man was liable to the penalty of death. So when
evening was come, the king sent the death-trumpet to sound at his
brother's door; who, when he heard its blast, despaired of his
life, and all night long set his house in order. At day-break,
robed in black and garments of mourning, with wife and children,
he went to the palace gate, weeping and lamenting. The king
fetched him in, and seeing him in tears, said, `O fool, and slow
of understanding, how didst thou, who hast had such dread of the
herald of thy peer and brother (against whom thy conscience doth
not accuse thee of having committed any trespass) blame me for my
humility in greeting the heralds of my God, when they warned me,
in gentler tones than those of the trumpet, of my death and
fearful meeting with that Master against whom I know that I have
often grievously offended? Lo! then, it was in reproof of thy