d, melting into tears, answered in his
simplicity, "O king, live for ever! Good and sound is the
determination that thou hast determined; for though the kingdom of
heaven be difficult to find, yet must a man seek it with all his might,
for it is written, 'He that seeketh shall find it.' The enjoyment of
the present life, though in seeming it give delight and sweetness, is
well thrust from us. At the very moment of its being it ceaseth to be,
and for our joy repayeth us with sorrow sevenfold. Its happiness and
its sorrow are more frail than a shadow, and, like the traces of a ship
passing over the sea, or of a bird flying through the air, quickly
disappear. But the hope of the life to come which the Christians preach
is certain, and as surety sure; howbeit in this world it hath
tribulation, whereas our pleasures now are short-lived, and in the
beyond they only win us correction and everlasting punishment without
release. For the pleasures of such life are temporary, but its pains
eternal; while the Christians' labours are temporary, but their
pleasure and gain immortal. Therefore well befall this good
determination of the king! for right good it is to exchange the
corruptible for the eternal."

The king heard these words and waxed exceeding wroth: nevertheless he
restrained his anger, and for the season let no word fall. But the
other, being shrewd and quick of wit, perceived that the king took his
word ill, and was craftily sounding him. So, on his coming home, he
fell into much grief and distress in his perplexity how to conciliate
the king and to escape the peril hanging over his own head. But as he
lay awake all the night long, there came to his remembrance the man
with the crushed foot; so he had him brought before him, and said, "I
remember thy saying that thou weft an healer of injured speech." "Yea,"
quoth he, "and if thou wilt I will give thee proof of my skill." The
senator answered and told him of his aforetime friendship with the
king, and of the confidence which he had enjoyed, and of the snare laid
for him in his late converse with the king; how he had given a good
answer, but the king had taken his words amiss, and by his change of
countenance betrayed the anger lurking within his heart.

The sick beggar-man considered and said, "Be it known unto thee, most
noble sir, that the king harboureth against thee the suspicion, that
thou wouldest usurp his kingdom, and he spake, as he spake, to sound
t