“Many hundreds of years ago,” said the Bishop, “there lived a great King, very wise and splendid, who was loved by all his people. To please them he gave a great feast to celebrate his birthday. All the people put on their holiday clothes and came to the Palace garden, where they feasted and danced, wrestled, and took part in many sports. When the sun began to slope down towards the west, the trumpets blared forth, calling the people to come together in the wide space before the Palace, where the King would speak to his subjects, and where they would hail him with cheers and do him honour.
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“So a great crowd collected, and the King, in scarlet and ermine and gold, stepped forth upon the dais that had been decked with flowers and cloth of gold for his honour. And it was at this moment that a tramp of feet was heard, a champing of bits, the noise of people arriving from a journey. All heads were turned to see who was coming. Then two heralds, clad in green and gold, stepped forward and made low obeisance and delivered their message. They had come from a neighbouring Prince to wish the King all good fortune upon his birthday, and to bring him a gift. The gift, they said, was a white horse. It was the most beautiful horse that had ever been bred in the Prince’s country—perfect in every point.

“‘Bring it forth,’ cried the King, very pleased with the gift, for he loved horses.
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“The heralds bowed, withdrew, and all the people waited expectantly. The beat of hoofs sounded on the white marble pavement. A murmur of admiration broke from the waiting crowd like the roar of the sea. A beautiful white horse was being led forward, decked with green satin accoutrements and hangings, studded with jewels that sparkled in the sun. A golden bit was in his mouth, and a jewelled bridle about his stately head. His gilded hoofs dazzled the eyes of all beholders as he lifted his feet, stepping proudly forward to his royal master.

“But no sooner had he stepped on to the marble pavement than he stopped, trembling and rolling his eyes in terror. The groom coaxed him, and tried to lead him on, but every few yards he stopped, prancing restively, swerving away, drawing back. The people ceased to applaud; they even stilled their whispers of admiration, and held their breath. At last the beautiful animal reached the King’s throne. The King stood up, his eyes shining with pleasure at the present. He would have descended to the animal’s side, but the horse had begun to curvet and prance and shy away, as if from some unseen terror. In vain the groom patted his neck and spoke soothing words into his ear. The horse’s eyes were starting from his head as if he saw something beside him which filled him with fear. He was beginning to rear, and the Court looked on in dismay. Had the Prince sent a wild, unbroken horse as a gift to their King?
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“Then something strange happened. A little stable boy, who had come to the feast, stepped forward out of the crowd. Bowing low before the King, he said that he knew why the horse was afraid and would not stand before his Majesty.

“The King, who was always willing to hear the opinion of his very lowest vassal if it was worth hearing, gave orders that the royal groom should give the white horse into the charge of the little stable boy. Bow............