The Washington times., 1916-10-30
Stories of.
Stories
KING ROBERT OF SICILY.
BY Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

- OBERT, King OF Sicily, was the
- proudest, most vainglorious
N monarch in all Europe. One
of his two brothers was Pope
Urban; and his other brother was
Valmond, Emperor of Germany. So
rich and so powerful was Robert that
he grudged allegiance to the Almighty
Himself.
One afternoon at the cathedral he
heard the priests chanting the Mag
nificat. When they reached the phrase,
"Deposuit potentes de sede. ct ex-
altavit humiles," he asked n eourtier
what the words meant. The courtier
translated:
He has thrust kings from their
thrones and hath exalted the humble"
80 tbs WELL" sneered the king, that
such seditious words are sung only by
priests and In the Latin tongue. There
is no power can push me from my
Finding the service tiresome he
leaned back in his chair and fell
asleep. When he awoke, darkness had
fallen. He was alone In the cathedral.
angry that he had thus been de-
serted by his retainers, the King rush.
ed to the door and began to hammer
and yell for some one to let him out.
The septor heard the racket and
opened the great doors. Robert, half
naked, in rags. wild-eyed and NUT
tering, darted past him into the street
and ran headlong through the dark
ness to the gateway of his own palace.
Thrusting the wondering servants
and guards aside he dashed into the
palace and to his state banquet hall.
There he halted. dumfounded. The
hall was full of courtiers, and in the
throne chair sat man who was his
own exact counterpart In looks and in
manner. and who wore royal robes OF
the King.
1t was an angel, sent from Heaven
to punish the blasphemous Robert
But all the courtlers believed IL was
the King. Robert. recovering from his
amusement. sprang forward. Loudly
I he shouted, 81 am the King!"
He denounced the angel as an i'm
postor, and called on his guards to
seize the presumptuous stranger. But
no one recognized Robert To the on
lockers he was merely some ragged
| and noisy mailman who had broken IN
| on their banquet.
They would have slain the intruder
but the angel interposed. lie said he
would employ the maniac as his court
Jester. So they had Robert decked ou,
in cap and bells and lodged in a straw
| floored cell. For companion and bed
fellow they gave him "A Jibbering ape
from the royal menagerie. For food nc
had kitchen scraps.
One day the angel asked him:
Art thou the Eing??"
And Robert fiercely declared:
II am the King"
The courtiers roared with laughter al
| the Jest. Several times. during the next
| three years the anger asked him the
| same question. And always Robert
yelled back at him the same furious
| reply.
Then. one Fasterdawn. In his cell
his spirit broke. He felt the holy in
fluence OF the season. and IL softenet
his stubborn pride. Weeping. he kneut
in the straw and prayed for pardon
for his sins and for help to lead q
| better life.
That day he was forced as usual tc
| attend the supposed King at roya
| mailman. then beckoned to him. mo-
tioning 20 the others to leave the room
| Robert stood meekly before the throne
/ chair
art thou the King?" gently asked
| the angel.
| Robert lowered his head. murmuring
Thou howest best!'
He begged TO be allowed to atone fo'
his sins by a lifetime of prayer II
some cloister. A great light OF Joy IL
lumined the angels face. Standing II
benedlction above the weeping Robert
he whispered:
81 am an angel. Thou art the King!
Robert looked up with wonderful
awe. lie was alone in the throne room
and was clad I'm his own royal raiment
as of old. The angel had vanished
When the courtiers stole back int
the room a little later they found KIM
Robert kneeling upon the floor. alb
sorbed in silent prayer.
Copyright 1857