Invitation to English- "Thanks!" said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down
on t
THRE
do
ground.
When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his questions T hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and sa rev "Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit."
kne
But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed ar
Bu
and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at last stuck the fr
spade into the ground, and said: 1 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 and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound. 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. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet; but 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-so soundly that h slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was lon before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying o the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes./
"Forgive me!" said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the Kin was awake and was looking at him.
THREE QUESTIONS
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 evenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his property. I new 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, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I escaped rom them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to ill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as our most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!"
The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to ave gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his ervants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.
Glossary
frail
a holy person living alone
weak and thin
revived
threshold
got well again
doorstep
intently
executed
eagerly
punished by death
ambush
hiding
mink it out
1. Where did the King meet the hermit? How did the hermit receive the King?
2. How did the King help the hermit?
3. How did the King nurse the wounded stranger?
4. Why did the wounded person desire to serve the King as his most faithful slave?
Invitation to Eng
Warm Up
Du the permit answer the king's questions? Was the king satisfied with anews? Read the following unit of the text and note how the hermit ans
the king's questions The Text
Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch an kooked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg an answ to the questions he had put The hermit was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before. Introdu William
name
stories
chara
The King approached him, and said "For the last time. I pray you to answer my questions, wise man." "You have already been answered said the hermit still crouching on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him
"How answered? What do you mean?" asked the King "Do you not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday.
and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. 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 if you had not bound up his wounds 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! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else, and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!"
THINK IT OUT
1. How did the hermit answer the king's questions?
2 Was the king satisfied with the hermit's answers? Give a reasoned answer
Unit
War
CO
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