"Papa," exclaimed the prince, "I know what no one here knows. I can tell where
each bird, from the Eagle to the Quail, can most readily find water, on what each
of them lives, and how many eggs it lays; and I can count up the wants of every
bird, without missing one. Here is the certificate my tutor gave me. It was not for
nothing that the birds used to say that I could pick the stars out of the sky. When
you have made up your mind to transfer the kingdom to me, I will immediately
begin to teach the beasts how to make nests."
On this the king and all his beasts howled aloud; the members of the council
hung their heads; and, too late, the Lion perceived that the young Lion had
learned nothing of what was wanted, that he was acquainted with birds only, not
knowing anything of the nature of beasts, although he was destined to rule over
them, and that he was destitute of that which is most requisite in kings—the
knowledge of the wants of their own people and the interests of their own
country.
The Pebble and the Diamond
A Diamond, which some one had lost, lay for some time on the high road. At
last it happened that a merchant picked it up. By him it was offered to the king,
who bought it, had it set in gold, and made it one of the ornaments of the royal
crown. Having heard of this, a Pebble began to make a fuss. The brilliant fate of
the Diamond fascinated it; and, one day, seeing a Moujik passing, it besought
him thus:
"Do me a kindness, fellow-countryman, and take me with you to the capital.
Why should I go on suffering here in rain and mud, while our Diamond is, men
say, in honour there? I don't understand why it has been treated with such
respect. Side by side with me here it lay so many years; it is just such a stone as I
am—my close companion. Do take me! How can one tell? If I am seen there, I
too, perhaps, may be found worthy of being turned to account."
The Moujik took the stone into his lumbering cart, and conveyed it to the city.
Our stone tumbled into the cart, thinking that it would soon be sitting by the side
of the Diamond. But a quite different fate befell it. It really was turned to
account, but only to mend a hole in the road.