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Three Questions
It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew
the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to
listen to, and whom to avoid, and, above all, if he always knew what was the
most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.
Many learned men came to the King, but they all answered
his questions differently.
All the answers being different, the King agreed with none
of them and decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.
The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted and he
received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before
reaching the hermit's cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his bodyguard
behind, went on alone.
When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground
in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging.
The King went up to him and said: 'I have come to you, wise
hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right
thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I,
therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most
important and need my first attention?'
The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He
just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.
'You are tired,' said the King, 'let me take the spade and
work awhile for you.'
'Thanks!' said the hermit, and sat down on the ground.
The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at
last stuck the spade into the ground, and said:
'I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If
you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home.'
'Here comes some one running,' said the hermit, 'let us see
who it is.'
The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running
out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood
was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the
ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man's clothing.
There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and
bandaged it with his handkerchief. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the
man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and
gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King,
with the hermit's help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the
bed. The King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he
crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep. When he awoke in the
morning, the strange bearded man lying on the bed was gazing intently at him
with shining eyes.
'Forgive me!' said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he
saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.
'I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,'
said the King.
'You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of
yours who swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and
seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved
to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I
came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard. I escaped
from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. Now, if I
live, I will serve you as your most faithful slave.
The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so
easily, and promised to restore his property.
Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out
into the porch and looked around for the hermit. The hermit was outside, on his
knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.
The King approached him, and said:
'For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise
man.'
'Do you not see,' replied the hermit. 'If you had not
pitied my weakness yesterday, that man would have attacked you. So the most
important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important
man; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards, when that
man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for
he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most
important man, and what you did for him was your most important business.
Remember then: there is only one time that is important -- Now!
by Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy
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