Page:Writings of Oscar Wilde - Volume 03.djvu/38

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20 THE WRITINGS OF OSCAR WILDE.

were these men, and for what were they seeking?" "For rubies for a king's crown," answered one who stood behind him. And the young King started, and, turning round, he saw a man habited as a pilgrim and holding in his hand a mirror of silver. And he grew pale, and said: "For what king?" And the pilgrim answered: "Look in this mirror, and thou shalt see him." And he looked in the mirror, and, seeing his own face, he gave a great cry and woke, and the bright sunlight was streaming into the room, and from the trees of the garden and pleasaunce the birds were singing. And the Chamberlain and the high officers of State came in and made obeisance to him, and the pages brought him the robe of tissued gold, and set the crown and the sceptre before him. And the young King looked at them, and they were beautiful. More beautiful were they than aught that he had ever seen. But he remembered his dreams, and he said to his lords: "Take these things away, for I will not wear them."

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