The old preacher shook his head when Otto imparted this political
intelligence to him. A king, so long as he lived, was in his eyes
holy, let him be whatever sort of a man he might. The actions of a
king, according to his opinion, resembled the words of the Bible,
which man ought not to weigh; they should be taken as they were.
"All authority is from God!" said he. "The anointed one is holy;
God gives to him wisdom; he is a light to whom we must all look
up!"

"He is a man like ourselves!" answered Otto. "He is the first
magistrate of the land, and as such we owe him the highest
reverence and obedience. Birth, and not worth, gives him the high
post which he fills. He ought only to will that which is good; to
exercise justice. His duties are equally great with those of his
subjects."

"But more difficult, my son!" said the old man. "It is nothing, as
a flower, to adorn the garland; more difficult is it to be the hand
which weaves the garland. The ribbon must be tight as well as
gently tied; it must not cut into the stems, and yet it must not be
too loose. Yes, you young men talk according to your wisdom! Yes,
you are wise! quite as wise as the woman who kept a roasted chicken
for supper. She placed it upon a pewter plate upon the glowing
coals, and went out to attend to her affairs. When she returned the
plate was melted, and the chicken lay among the ashes. 'What a wise
cat I have!' said she; 'she has eaten I the plate and left the
chicken!' See, you talk just so, and regard things from the same
foolish point of view. Do not speak like the rest of them in the
city! 'Fear God, and honor the king!' We have nothing to argue with