The King and the Poet
Once upon a time, a wise poet lived in the magnificent city of Athens at the edge of an old forest where cool waters flowed. This elegant man named Menander had won a throne in the hearts of the people with the enchanting theatre plays he wrote and with his fine wit. One day the powerful King Demetrius, the conqueror of the neighbouring lands, entered this historic city with his army. The king with a harsh temper expected everyone to bow before him and to come out to meet him with excitement. A great crowd had gathered in the square of the city and had begun to greet the majesty of the king with anxious eyes. Menander, gliding through the crowd, came forward slowly in his silk clothes and with the scent of lavender that spread around. The extremely relaxed and elegant manners of the poet at once drew the attention of the proud king who sat on his throne.
King Demetrius looked this delicate looking man over and shouted with anger to the guards beside him. “Who is this proud man who comes right up before me and stands so sure of himself?” The guards said with trembling voices that he was the greatest and the most loved poet of the city. Paying no heed to the frowning brows of the king, Menander smiled calmly and bowed with respect before the throne. With a sweet tone of voice he said, “My great king, I thank you for bringing peace and order to our city.” The words that poured from the mouth of the poet were so fluent and full of meaning that everyone in the square fell into a deep silence. His poetic speech calmed the harsh winds of anger in the heart of the king all at once.
As Demetrius listened to the bright mind and the impressive speech of the poet, he began to feel a great admiration for him. He noticed that behind the outward look and the ornate clothes there lay a real talent and a deep wisdom. The eyes of the king, which had looked so hard, softened; he rose from his throne and shook the hand of the poet in friendship. From that day on the king always asked the ideas of the wise poet about the government and the art of the city. In this way the friendship of power and art brought peace and happiness to the streets of the city for long years. It is not their clothes but their minds and the fine behaviour they show that decide the real worth of people. A person is met by their clothes and honoured by their knowledge.