Page:Peregrinaggio di tre giovani figliuoli del re di Serendippo.djvu/17

 When it comes to pass that the Lord God will call you back to Him, then I will take charge and command, and following the wise and sacred remembrances of you, and as far as I can, I will strive, for fear of His Divine Majesty, to rule and administer it in justice.

The king was very comforted by this response of his prudent son and he was happy that this first test had let him know that the wise and modest prince possessed the necessary virtues. But for the time being he concealed the contentment of his heart, and dismissed his son; and wanting to have the same experience with the other two, he called the second son to him right away. And using for him the same words as for the first one he received the following answer, "Sire, may your reign be long and happy, and may Our Lord grant you the age of Noah. Please, do me the favor by telling me how the ant coming from a tiny dwelling could possibly rule and govern a kingdom? For what else am I but a weak and tiny ant? How could I accept the administration of such a kingdom? Then, should my brother, your eldest son, who is alive and healthy, not rightfully be your successor?”

The prompt and wise response from the second son satisfied the king immensely, and he thanked the Lord God humbly and with a pious heart for having made him the father of such a worthy son.