folly that I played thee this turn, even as I will shortly
convict of vanity those that prompted thy reproof.' Thus he
comforted his brother and sent him home with a gift.

"Then he ordered four wooden caskets to be made. Two of these he
covered over all with gold, and, placing dead men's mouldering
bones therein, secured them with golden clasps. The other two he
smeared over with pitch and tar, but filled them with costly
stones and precious pearls, and all manner of aromatic sweet
perfume. He bound them fast with cords of hair, and called for
the noblemen who had blamed him for his manner of accosting the
men by the wayside. Before them he set the four caskets, that
they might appraise the value of these and those. They decided
that the golden ones were of greatest value, for, peradventure,
they contained kingly diadems and girdles. But those, that were
be-smeared with pitch and tar, were cheap and of paltry worth,
said they. Then said the king to them, `I know that such is your
answer, for with the eyes of sense ye judge the objects of sense,
but so ought ye not to do, but ye should rather see with the
inner eye the hidden worthlessness or value.' Whereupon he
ordered the golden chests to be opened. And when they were
thrown open, they gave out a loathsome smell and presented a
hideous sight.

"Said the king, `Here is a figure of those who are clothed in
glory and honour, and make great display of power and glory, but
within is the stink of dead men's bones and works of iniquity.'
Next, he commanded the pitched and tarred caskets also to be
opened, and delighted the company with the beauty and sweet
savour of their stores. And he said unto them, `Know ye to whom