OF RICHES.
187
TALE LI.
OF RICHES.
A king issued a proclamation, that whosoever would come to him should obtain all they asked. The noble and the rich, desired dukedoms, or counties, or knighthood; and some, treasures of silver and gold. But whatsoever they desired they had. Then came the poor and the simple and solicited a like boon. "Ye come tardily," said the king, "the noble and the rich have already been, and have carried away all I possess." This reply troubled them exceedingly; and the king, moved by their concern, said, "My friends, though I have given away all my temporal possessions, I have still the sovereign power; for no one required this. I appoint ye, therefore, to be their judges and masters." When this came to the
