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kingdom should not pass away from his line； had had the lad sent
for； and； in the presence of the Council； had acknowledged him as
his heir。
And it seems that from the very first moment of his recognition he
had shown signs of that strange passion for beauty that was
destined to have so great an influence over his life。 Those who
accompanied him to the suite of rooms set apart for his service；
often spoke of the cry of pleasure that broke from his lips when he
saw the delicate raiment and rich jewels that had been prepared for
him； and of the almost fierce joy with which he flung aside his
rough leathern tunic and coarse sheepskin cloak。 He missed；
indeed； at times the fine freedom of his forest life； and was
always apt to chafe at the tedious Court ceremonies that occupied
so much of each day； but the wonderful palace … JOYEUSE； as they
called it … of which he now found himself lord； seemed to him to be
a new world fresh…fashioned for his delight； and as soon as he
could escape from the council…board or audience…chamber； he would
run down the great staircase； with its lions of gilt bronze and its
steps of bright porphyry； and wander from room to room； and from
corridor to corridor； like one who was seeking to find in beauty an
anodyne from pain； a sort of restoration from sickness。
Upon these journeys of discovery； as he would call them … and；
indeed； they were to him real voyages through a marvellous land； he
would sometimes be accompanied by the slim； fair…haired Court
pages； with their floating mantles； and gay fluttering ribands； but
more often he would be alone； feeling through a certain quick
instinct； which was almost a divination； that the secrets of art
are best learned in secret； and that Beauty； like Wisdom； loves the
lonely worshipper。
Many curious stories were related about him at this period。 It was
said that a stout Burgo…master； who had come to deliver a florid
oratorical address on behalf of the citizens of the town； had
caught sight of him kneeling in real adoration before a great
picture that had just been brought from Venice； and that seemed to
herald the worship of some new gods。 On another occasion he had
been missed for several hours； and after a lengthened search had
been discovered in a little chamber in one of the northern turrets
of the palace gazing； as one in a trance； at a Greek gem carved
with the figure of Adonis。 He had been seen； so the tale ran；
pressing his warm lips to the marble brow of an antique statue that
had been discovered in the bed of the river on the occasion of the
building of the stone bridge； and was inscribed with the name of
the Bithynian slave of Hadrian。 He had passed a whole night in
noting the effect of the moonlight on a silver image of Endymion。
All rare and costly materials had certainly a great fascination for
him； and in his eagerness to procure them he had sent away many
merchants； some to traffic for amber with the rough fisher…folk of
the north seas； some to Egypt to look for that curious green
turquoise which is found only in the tombs of kings； and is said to
possess magical properties； some to Persia for silken carpets and
painted pottery； and others to India to buy gauze and stained
ivory； moonstones and bracelets of jade； sandal…wood and blue
enamel and shawls of fine wool。
But what had occupied him most was the robe he was to wear at his
coronation； the robe of tissued gold； and the ruby…studded crown；
and the sceptre with its rows and rings of pearls。 Indeed； it was
of this that he was thinking to…night； as he lay back on his
luxurious couch； watching the great pinewood log that was burning
itself out on the open hearth。 The designs； which were from the
hands of the most famous artists of the time； had been submitted to
him many months before； and he had given orders that the artificers
were to toil night and day to carry them out； and that the whole
world was to be searched for jewels that would be worthy of their
work。 He saw himself in fancy standing at the high altar of the
cathedral in the fair raiment of a King； and a smile played and
lingered about his boyish lips； and lit up with a bright lustre his
dark woodland eyes。
After some time he rose from his seat； and leaning against the
carved penthouse of the chimney； looked round at the dimly…lit
room。 The walls were hung with rich tapestries representing the
Triumph of Beauty。 A large press； inlaid with agate and lapis…
lazuli； filled one corner； and facing the window stood a curiously
wrought cabinet with lacquer panels of powdered and mosaiced gold；
on which were placed some delicate goblets of Venetian glass； and a
cup of dark…veined onyx。 Pale poppies were broidered on the silk
coverlet of the bed； as though they had fallen from the tired hands
of sleep； and tall reeds of fluted ivory bare up the velvet canopy；
from which great tufts of ostrich plumes sprang； like white foam；
to the pallid silver of the fretted ceiling。 A laughing Narcissus
in green bronze held a polished mirror above its head。 On the
table stood a flat bowl of amethyst。
Outside he could see the huge dome of the cathedral； looming like a
bubble over the shadowy houses； and the weary sentinels pacing up
and down on the misty terrace by the river。 Far away； in an
orchard； a nightingale was singing。 A faint perfume of jasmine
came through the open window。 He brushed his brown curls back from
his forehead； and taking up a lute； let his fingers stray across
the cords。 His heavy eyelids drooped； and a strange languor came
over him。 Never before had he felt so keenly； or with such
exquisite joy； the magic and the mystery of beautiful things。
When midnight sounded from the clock…tower he touched a bell； and
his pages entered and disrobed him with much ceremony； pouring
rose…water over his hands； and strewing flowers on his pillow。 A
few moments after that they had left the room； he fell asleep。
And as he slept he dreamed a dream； and this was his dream。
He thought that he was standing in a long； low attic； amidst the
whir and clatter of many looms。 The meagre daylight peered in
through the grated windows； and showed him the gaunt figures of the
weavers bending over their cases。 Pale； sickly…looking children
were crouched on the huge crossbeams。 As the shuttles dashed
through the warp they lifted up the heavy battens； and when the
shuttles stopped they let the battens fall and pressed the threads
together。 Their faces were pinched with famine； and their thin
hands shook and trembled。 Some haggard women were seated at a
table sewing。 A horrible odour filled the place。 The air was foul
and heavy； and the walls dripped and streamed with damp。
The young King went over to one of the weavers； and stood by him
and watched him。
And the weaver looked at him angrily； and said； 'Why art thou
watching me？ Art thou a spy set on us by our master？'
'Who is thy master？' asked the young King。
'Our master！' cried the weaver； bitterly。 'He is a man like
myself。 Indeed； there is but this difference between us … that he
wears fine clothes while I go in rags； and that while I am weak
from hunger he suffers not a little from overfeeding。'
'The land is free；' said the young King； 'and thou art no man's
slave。'
'In war；' answered the weaver； 'the strong make slaves of the weak；
and in peace the rich make slaves of the poor。 We must work to
live； and they give us such mean wages that we die。 We toil for
them all day long； and they heap up gold in their coffers； and our
children fade away before their time； and the faces of those we
love become hard and evil。 We tread out the grapes； and another
drinks the wine。 We sow the corn； and our own board is empty。 We
have chains； though no eye beholds them； and are slaves； though men
call us free。'
'Is it so with all？' he asked；
'It is so with all；' answered the weaver； 'with the young as well
as with the old； with the women as well as with the men； with the
little children as well as with those who are stricken in years。
The merchants grind us down； and we must needs do their bidding。
The priest rides by and tells his beads； and no man has care of us。
Through our sunless lanes creeps Poverty with her hungry eyes； and
Sin with his sodden face follows close behind her。 Misery wakes us
in the morning； and Shame sits with us at night。 But what are
these things to thee？ Thou art not one of us。 Thy face is too
happy。' And he turned away scowling； and threw the shuttle across
the loom； and the young King saw that it was threaded with a thread
of gold。
And a great terror seized upon him； and he said to the weaver；
'What robe is this that thou art weaving？'
'It is the robe for the coronation of the young King；' he answered；
'what is that to thee？'
And the young King gave a loud cry and woke；