Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-01-24

But it was told them this fool was most per.
verse and insolent of men toward the prince
himself; and then, although the wonder
hardly ceased, it was full OF Indignation
against the unhappy wretch, and he was
loaded with every kind of scorn and abuse.
The proud King Robert seemed the only
blot and disgrace upon the island.
The fool had still hope, that when his
Holiness the Pope saw him, the maglcians
arts would be at an end for though he had
no religion at all, properly speaking, he had
retained something even Of a Superstition
faith in the highest worldly form of it. The
good pope, however, behcld him without the
least recognition: 50 did the emperor; and
when he found them both gazing with I'M
teigned admiration at the exalted beauty Of
his former altered self, and not with the old
faces of pretended good will and secret dis.
like, sense Of awe and humility for the
first time fell gently upon him. Instead Of
getting as far as possible from his compan-
ion, the ape. he approached him closer, part
~ from a feeling of absolute sympathy, and
desire to possess, if not one friend in the
world, at least an associate who was not an
enemy.
1t happened that day that it was the eve
of St. John, the same on which, two years
ago, Robert had heard and scorned the
Magnificent. Nespers were performed before
the pope and the two sovereigns the music
and the soft voices fell softer as they came
to the words, and Robert again heard, but
with far different, feelings, Dcposuh potentes
dc Scdc, ct crditdri humiicS /" He hath
put down the mighty from their seat, and
exalted the humble" Tears gushed into his
eyes, and, to the establishment of the court.
the late sullcn and brutal fool was seen with
his hands rcvcren'ly cIasped upon his bosom
in prayer, and the water pouring down his
face in floods Of penience. Something of
holier feeling than usual had turned all hearts
that day. The Kings own iavorie chaplain
had preached from the text which declares
charity TO be greater than faith or hope.
The emperor began TO think mankind really
his brothers. The pope wished that some
new council of the church would authorize
him to set up over the Jewish Ten Com
mandments, and, in more glorious letters,
the new, eiccenth, or great Christian COM
mandmcnt, "Behold, | give unto you a
nec commandment, LOVE ONE ANOTHER"
In short, Rome felt that day like angel-gov-
erncd Sicily.
When the service was over, and the SOW
ereigns had retired to their apartments, the
unknown King Roberts behavior was re-
ported to the unsupported King Angel, who
had seen it, but said nothing. The sacred
interlopcr announced his intention OF giving
the fool a trial in some better office, and he
T. 4 &
sc,i every other person. King Robert came
in his fools cap and bells, and stood hnmby
at distance before the strange great charila.
bic unknown, looking on the floor and blush.
ing. lie had the ape by the hand, who liac
long couricd hls goodwill, and who having
now obtained it, chung to his human irienC
in way, that, to a Roman, might hav,
seemed ridiculous, but TO the angel. was at
, tecting.
art lton still king 2 said the angel
putting the old question, but without TIN
word fool
Il am FOOL said King Robert, and NJ
king
f 'What woudst thou, Robert 2 returned
, the angel, in mild voice.
: King Robert rembled from head to foo,
and SAID, Even what thou wouldst, o might
, and good stranger, whom know not how t.
4 name, hardly to look att
4 The stranger laid his hand on the shoulde
$ Of King Robert, who felt an inrxpressbl
0 calm suddenly dillinSe itself over his Who'll
! being. He knelt down, and clasped hi
: hands to thank HIM.
G 'Not to me- in grave but sweet voice
r and knceling down by the side of Robert, h
# said, as if IN church,
!, Let MS pray
/, King Robert prayed, and the angel pray
/, ed, and after few moments the king locke
e up, and the angel was gone; and then til
II king knew that it was an angel indeed.
IS And his own likeness returned to Kin
Y Robert, but never an atom of ms pride an
e after blessed reign he died. disclosing lh
C history to his weeping mobiles, and reques,in
= that it might be recorded in the Slclian Al
d mails.