Once Upon A Time there was once a happy king. Great or small, maid or man,
every one was happy in his kingdom, everyone was joyful and glad.
Once this monarch saw a vision. In his dream there hung from the ceiling in
his house a fox suspended by the tail. He awoke, he could not see what the
dream signified. He assembled his
viziers, but they also could not divine what this dream presaged.
Then he said: Assemble all my kingdom together, perhaps some one may
interpret it.' On the third day all the people of his kingdom assembled in the
king's palace. Among others came a poor peasant.
In one place he had to travel along a footpath. The path on both sides was
shut in by rocky mountains. When the peasant arrived there, he saw a serpent
lying on the path, stretching its neck and putting out its tongue.
When the peasant went near, the serpent called out: 'Good day, where art
thou going, peasant?' The peasant told what was the matter. The serpent said:
'Do not fear him, give me thy word that what the king gives, thou wilt
share with me, and I will
teach thee.'
The peasant rejoiced, gave his word, and swore, saying: 'I will bring thee
all that the king presents to me if thou wilt aid me in this matter.'
The serpent said: 'I shall divide it in halves, half will be thine; when
thou seest the king, say: "The fox meant this, that in the kingdom there
is cunning, hypocrisy, and treachery."'
The peasant went, he approached the king, and told even what the serpent
had taught. The king was very much pleased, and gave great presents. The
peasant did not return by that way, so
that he might not share with the serpent, but went by another path.
Some time passed by, the king saw another vision: in his dream a naked
sword hung suspended from the roof. The king this time sent a man quickly for
the peasant, and asked him to come.
The peasant was very uneasy in mind. There was nothing for it, the peasant
went by the same footpath as before.
He came to that place where he saw the serpent before, but now he saw the
serpent there no more. He cried out: 'O serpent, come here one moment, I need
thee.'
He ceased not until the serpent came. It said: 'What dost thou want? what
distresses thee?' The
peasant answered: 'Thus and thus is the matter, and I should like some
aid.' The serpent replied: 'Go, tell the king that the naked sword means
war--now enemies are intriguing within and without; he must prepare for battle
and attack.'
The peasant thanked the serpent and went. He came and told the king even as
the serpent had commanded. The king was pleased, he began to prepare for war,
and gave the peasant great
presents. Now the peasant went by that path where the serpent was waiting. The
serpent said: 'Now give me the half thou hast promised.'
The peasant replied: 'Half, certainly not! I shall give thee a black stone
and a burning cinder.' He drew out his sword and pursued it. The serpent
retreated into a hole, but the peasant followed it, and cut off its tail with
his sword.
Some time passed, and the king again saw a vision. In this vision a slain
sheep was hanging from the roof. The king sent a man quickly for the peasant.
The peasant was now very much
afraid. And he said: 'How can I approach the king?' Formerly the serpent
had taught him, but now it could no longer do this; for its goodness he had
wounded it with the sword.Nevertheless, he went by that footpath. When he came
to the place where the serpent had been, he cried out: 'O serpent, come here
one moment, I want to ask thee something.'
The serpent came. The man told his grief. The serpent said: 'If thou givest
me half of what the king gives thee, I shall tell thee.'
He promised and swore. The serpent said: 'This is a sign that now
everywhere peace falls on all, the people are become like quiet, gentle sheep.'
The peasant thanked it, and went his way. When he came to the king, he
spoke as the serpent had instructed him. The king was exceedingly pleased, and
gave him greater presents. The peasant returned by the way where the serpent
was waiting. He came to the serpent, divided everything he had received from
the king, and said: 'Thou hast been patient with me, and now I will give thee even
what was given me before by the king.'
He humbly asked
forgiveness for his former offences. The serpent said: 'Be not grieved nor
troubled; it certainly was not thy fault. The first time, when all the people
were entirely deceitful, and there was treachery and hypocrisy in the land,
thou too wert a deceiver, for, in spite of thy promise, thou wentest home by
another way. The second time, when there was war everywhere, quarrels and
assassination, thou, too, didst quarrel with me, and cut off my tail. But now,
when peace and love have fallen on all, thou bringest the gifts, and sharest
all with me. Go, brother, may the peace of God rest with thee! I do not want
thy wealth.' And the serpent went away and cast itself into its hole.
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