Page:Writings of Oscar Wilde - Volume 03.djvu/46

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24 THE WRITINGS OF OSCAR WILDE.


that out of the luxury of the rich cometh the life of the poor? By your pomp we are nurtured, and your vices give us bread. To toil for a hard master is bitter, but to have no master to toil for is more bitter still. Thinkest thou that the ravens will feed us? And what cure hast thou for these things? Wilt thou say to the buyer, ' Thou shalt buy for so much, ' and to the seller, 'Thou shalt sell at this price?' I trow not. Therefore go back to thy Palace and put on thy purple and fine linen. What hast thou to do with us, and what we suffer?" "Are not the rich and the poor brothers?" asked the young King. "Aye," answered the man, "and the name of the rich brother is Cain." And the young King's eyes filled with tears, and he rode on through the murmurs of the people, and the little page grew afraid and left him. And when he reached the great portal of the cathedral, the soldiers thrust their halberts out and said, "What dost thou seek here ? None enters by this door but the King." And his face flushed with anger, and he said

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