Page:Writings of Oscar Wilde - Volume 03.djvu/45

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THE YOUNG KING. 23

And the young King plucked a spray of wild briar that was climbing over the balcony, and bent it, and made a circlet of it, and set it on his own head. "This shall be my crown, " he answered. And thus attired he passed out of his chamber into the Great Hall where the nobles were waiting for him. And the nobles made merry, and some of them cried out to him, "My lord, the people wait for their king, and thou showest them a beggar," and others were wrath and said, "He brings shame upon our state, and is unworthy to be our master." But he answered them not a word, but passed on, and went down the bright porphyry staircase, and out through the gates of bronze, and mounted upon his horse, and rode towards the cathedral, the little page running beside him. And the people laughed and said, "It is the King's fool who is riding by," and they mocked him. And he drew rein and said, "Nay, but I am the King. ' ' And he told them his three dreams. And a man came out of the crowd, and spake bitterly to him, and said, * ' Sir, knowest thou not

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