Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/94



The oppression  of  the  poor  and  helpless  is  a sin  so grievous  that  it  even  cries  to  Heaven  for  vengeance. In the  year  1278  Rudolph  of  Hapsburg,  the  German emperor, was  at  war  with  Ottocar,  the  king  of  Bohemia. He defeated  him  in  a pitched  battle  near Jedenspengen. At that  time,  in  consequence  of  the great heat  that  prevailed,  all  the  springs  were  dried up; the Emperor  Rudolph  suffered  extremely  from thirst, and  no  water  could  be  got  for  him. Then two horse-soldiers  rode  to  a distance  in  search  of water  for  their  emperor. At length  they  came  upon a party of  reapers  who  were  taking  their  midday meal, with  a large  pitcher  of  water  beside  them. The imperial  soldiers  begged  for  the  water,  but  the harvest-men would  not  give  it  to  them,  for  it  was scarce and  they  were  very  thirsty. Then the  soldiers drew their  swords  and  threatened  to  put  the  reapers to death  if  they  refused  to  give  it  up. Trembling with alarm,  the  men  reluctantly  yielded,  and  the horsemen rode  away  in  triumph  with  the  pitcher of water. Joyfully they  carried  it  to  the  emperor, and told  him  how  they  had  obtained  it. The monarch was  just  raising  the  pitcher  to  his  parched lips when  he  heard  the  story; immediately  he  set it down,  saying: “ I will  not  quench  my  thirst  with water of  which  the  poor  have  been  robbed. Go and take what  belongs  to  the  poor  back  to  them.”  The soldiers were  obliged  to  obey  their  royal  master’s behest, and  restore  to  the  reapers  the  water  of  which