Three Questions

It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right

time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to

listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what

was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything

he might undertake.

And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed

throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one

who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and

who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was

the most important thing to do.

And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his

questions differently.

In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right

time for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days,

months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only

thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time.

Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the

right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself be

absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was

going on, and then do what was most needful. Others, again, said

that however attentive the King might be to what was going on, it

was impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for

every action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, who

would help him to fix the proper time for everything.

But then again others said there were some things which could not

wait to be laid before a Council, but about which one had at once to

decide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decide

that, one must know beforehand what was going to happen. It is only

magicians who know that; and, therefore, in order to know the right

time for every action, one must consult magicians.

Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said,

the people the King most needed were his councillors; others, the

priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the

most necessary.

To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation:

some replied that the most important thing in the world was science.

Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was

religious worship.

All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them,

and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right

answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely

renowned for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received

none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before

reaching the hermit's cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving

his body-guard behind, went on alone.

When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front

of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging.

The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into

the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.

The King went up to him and said: "I have come to you, wise hermit,

to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the

right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and

to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest?

And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?"

The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat

on his hand and recommenced digging.

"You are tired," said the King, "let me take the spade and work

awhile for you."

"Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he

sat down on the ground.

When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his

questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out

his hand for the spade, and said:

"Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit."

But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One

hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees,

and the King at last stuck the spade into the ground, and said:

"I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can

give me none, tell me so, and I will return home."

"Here comes some one running," said the hermit, "let us see who it is."

The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the

wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood

was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell

fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit

unfastened the man's clothing. There was a large wound in his

stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with

his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood

would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the

bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound.

When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for

something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to

him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the

King, with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hut

and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes

and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the

work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also

fell asleep--so soundly that he slept all through the short summer

night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could

remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on

the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.

"Forgive me!" said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw

that the King was awake and was looking at him.

"I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for," said the King.

"You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who

swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother

and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the

hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day

passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find

you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and

wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had

you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved

my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your

most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!"

The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily,

and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him,

but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend

him, and promised to restore his property.

Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the

porch and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished

once more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermit

was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been

dug the day before.

The King approached him, and said:

"For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man."

"You have already been answered!" said the hermit, still crouching

on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.

"How answered? What do you mean?" asked the King.

"Do you not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied my

weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone

your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have

repented of not having stayed with me. So the most important time

was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important

man; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards

when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were

attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would

have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most

important man, and what you did for him was your most important

business. Remember then: there is only one time that is important--

Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when

we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are,

for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one

else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for

that purpose alone was man sent into this life!"

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