King were
called into the presence of the King who was a priest, where he sat
upon the high seat.

"Little I reck of gear," said the King who was a priest, "and little
of power. For we live here among the shadows of things, and the heart
is sick of seeing them. And we stay here in the wind like raiment
drying, and the heart is weary of the wind. But one thing I love, and
that is truth; and for one thing will I give my daughter, and that is
the trial stone. For in the light of that stone the seeming goes,
and the being shows, and all things besides are worthless. Therefore,
lads, if ye would wed my daughter, out foot, and bring me the stone of
touch, for that is the price of her."

"A word in your ear," said the younger son to his father. "I think we
do very well without this stone."

"A word in yours," said his father. "I am of your way of thinking; but
when the teeth are shut the tongue is at home." And he smiled to the
King that was a priest.

[Illustration: "'MAID,' QUOTH HE, 'I WOULD FAIN MARRY YOU.'"]

But the elder son got to his feet, and called the King that was a
priest by the name of father. "For whether I marry the maid or no, I
will call you by that word for the love of your wisdom; and even now
I will ride forth and search the world for the stone of touch." So he
said farewell and rode into the world.

"I think I will go, too," said the younger son, "if I can have your
leave. For my heart goes out to the maid."

"You will ride home with me," said his father.

So they rode home, and when they came to the dun, the King had his
son into his treasury. "Here," said he, "is the touchstone which shows
truth; for there is no truth but plain truth; and if you will look in
this, you will see yourself as you are."

And the younger son looked in it, and saw his face as it were the face
of a beardless youth, and he was well enough pleased; for the thing
was a piece of a mirror.

"Here is no such great thing to make a work about," said he; "but if
it will get me the maid, I shall never complain. But what a fool is my
brother to ride into the world, and the thing all the while at home."

So they rode back to the other dun, and showed the mirror to the King
that was a priest; and when he had looked in it, and seen himself
like a King, and his house like a King's house, and all things like
themselves, he cried out and blessed God. "For now I know," said
he, "there is no truth but the plain truth; and I am a K