Page:Little Ellie and Other Tales (1850).djvu/63

Rh The king gazed on his gold, and on his gorgeous palaces; and then, like many other people, he thought, “What a great king am I! but I must have still more, much more. No power must be called equal to, and certainly none shall be greater than mine!”

So he began at once to make war upon all his neighbors, and he conquered them all. He had the vanquished princes fastened to his chariot by chains of gold when he drove through the streets; and when he sat at table, they had to lie at his feet, and at the feet of his courtiers, and pick up the crumbs that were thrown to them.

Now the king had his image set up in the public squares and royal palaces: yes, he even wanted it to stand in the churches before the altar of the Lord; but the priests said, “O King, thou art great, but God is greater: we dare not do this.”

“Well, then,” said the wicked king, “I will overcome Him also!”

And in the pride and folly of his heart, he had a beautiful ship built, which could sail