ay saying, “Farewell sages.” And as he departed he laughed a patient laughter.
The two philosophers looked at each other in silence for a moment, and then they laughed also. And one of them said,“Well now, shall we not walk and seek together.”
Said a king to his wife, “Madame, you are not truly a queen. You are too vulgar and ungracious to be my mate.”
Said his wife,“Sir, you deem yourself king, but indeed you are only a poor soundling.”
Now these words angered the king, and he took his sceptre with his hand, and struck the queen upon her forehead with his golden sceptre.
At that moment the lord chamberlain entered, and he said, “Well, well, Majesty! That sceptre was fashioned by the greatest artist of the land. Alas! Some day you and the queen shall be forgotten, but this sceptre shall be kept, a thing of beauty from generation to generation. And now that you have drawn blood from her Majesty’s head, Sire, the sceptre shall be more considered and remembered.”