for my humility in greeting the heralds of my God, when they warned
me, in gentler tones than those of the trumpet, of my death and fearful
meeting with that Master against whom I know that I have often
grievously offended? Lo! then, it was in reproof of thy folly that I
played thee this turn, even as I will shortly convict of vanity those
that prompted thy reproof.' Thus he comforted his brother and sent him
home with a gift.

"Then he ordered four wooden caskets to be made. Two of these he
covered over all with gold, and, placing dead men's mouldering bones
therein, secured them with golden clasps. The other two he smeared
over with pitch and tar, but filled them with costly stones and
precious pearls, and all manner of aromatic sweet perfume. He bound
them fast with cords of hair, and called for the noblemen who had
blamed him for his manner of accosting the men by the wayside. Before
them he set the four caskets, that they might appraise the value of
these and those. They decided that the golden ones were of greatest
value, for, peradventure, they contained kingly diadems and girdles.
But those, that were be-smeared with pitch and tar, were cheap and of
paltry worth, said they. Then said the king to them, 'I know that such
is your answer, for with the eyes of sense ye judge the objects of
sense, but so ought ye not to do, but ye should rather see with the
inner eye the hidden worthlessness or value.' Whereupon he ordered the
golden chests to be opened. And when they were thrown open, they gave
out a loathsome smell and presented a hideous sight.

"Said the king, 'Here is a figure of those who are clothed in glory and
honour, and make great display of power and glory, but within is the
stink of dead men's bones and works of iniquity.' Next, he commanded
the pitched and tarred caskets also to be opened, and delighted the
company with the beauty and sweet savour of their stores. And he said
unto them, 'Know ye to whom these are like? They are like those lowly
men, clad in vile apparel, whose outward form alone ye beheld, and
deemed it outrageous that I bowed down to do them obeisance. But
through the eyes of my mind I perceived the value and exceeding beauty
of their souls, and was glorified by their touch, and I counted them
more honourable than any chaplet or royal purple.' Thus he shamed his
courtiers, and taught them not to be deceived by outward appearances,
but to give heed to the things of the s