by Sarah Novakall is ruled by my commands!”
The advisers nodded
enthusiastically. “Take my royal
throne to the seashore, please,”
the king continued. “To the edge
of the water.”
“At once, my king!” the
advisers exclaimed. They jostled
and elbowed each other in their
haste to pick up Cnut’s throne
and carry it out to the shore.
Here Cnut seated himself. The
waves splashed at his feet, fell
back, and rushed forward again.
Each time the water flowed a
little closer.
“Would you say that the tide is
coming in?” Cnut asked his
advisers. They agreed. “But I
don’t want my feet to get wet,”
Cnut said. “So I will command
the rising waters of the tide to
stop!”
Cnut held out his hands to the
sea and proclaimed, “Waves! I
command you! Cease!” The
water began to flow over his toes.
“Tides of the sea! Stop! I am all-
powerful! Nothing can resist my
command!” Now the waves were
lapping over the hem of his robe.
“Water, halt!” Cnut shouted.
“Obey me at once!” A big wave
splashed over his knees.
King Cnut laughed. “You see, I
am not so powerful as you tell
me I am.” The advisers looked
sheepish. “No one can command
the forces of nature. And kings
are better served by truth than by
flattery!”A
12th-century English chronicler named Henry of
Huntingdon included this story about King Cnut in his
Historia Anglorum, or “History of the English People.”
Henry’s source for this tale is not known for sure.
Historians think he probably created it from his own imagination.
Many versions of the story have been told for centuries.“Truly, King Cnut, you are the greatest ruler of this land!” said
one of Cnut’s advisers. The king raised one eyebrow.
“Indeed, King Cnut, you are the most powerful king who ever
lived!” said another. The king looked thoughtful.
“Yes, King Cnut, your commands rule the entire world!” said a
third. The king smiled and said, “Follow me, then! We will see howTALES
IT IS!
King Cnut’s
Commands
—a legend from medieval England