Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/226

 222 FAMILIAR COLLOQUIES. off that had performed so small a service), not considering that there is a great difference between doing a thing sincerely and doing it craftily, approached the king with the like gesture; and he offering himself to him, he made a show of taking something of his garment, which he presently threw away. But when the king was urgent upon him, seeming unwilling to tell what it was, mimicking abundance of modesty, he at last told him it was a flea. The king perceiving the fraud, says to him, What, do you make a dog of me ? and orders him to be taken away, and instead of forty crowns orders him forty stripes. Ph. I hear it is no good jesting with kings; for as lions will sometimes stand still to be stroked, are lions again when they please, and kill their playfellow, just so princes play with men. But I will tell you a story not much unlike yours, not to go off from Louis, who used to take a pleasure in tricking tricksters. He had received a present often thousand crowns from some place, and as often as the courtiers know the king has gotten any fresh money, all the officers are presently upon the hunt to catch some part of it. This Louis knew very well: this money being poured out upon a table, he, to raise all their expectations, thus bespeaks them, What say you, am not I a very rich king 1 Where shall I bestow all this money ? It was presented to me, and I think it is meet I should make presents of it again. Where are all my friends to whom I am indebted for their good ser- vices ? Now let them come before this money is gone. At that word a great many came running ; everybody hoped to get some of it. The king taking notice of one that looked very wishfully upon it, and as if he would devour it with his eyes, turning to him, says, Well, friend, what have you to say ? He informed the king that he had for a long time very faithfully kept the king's hawks, and been at a great expense thereby. One told him one thing, another another, every one setting out his service to the best advantage, and ever and anon lying into the bargain. The king heard them all very patiently, and approved of what they said. This consultation held a long time, that he might tease them the more, by keeping them betwixt hope and despair. Among the rest stood the great chancellor, for the king had ordered him to be sent for too; he, being wiser than the rest, says never a word of his own good services, but was only a spectator of the comedy. At length the king turning toward him, says, Well, what says my chancellor to the matter ? He is the only man that asks nothing, and says never a word of his good services. I, says the chancellor, have received more already from your royal bounty than I have deserved. I am so far from craving more, that 1 am not desirous of anything so much as to behave myself worthy of the royal bounty I have received. Then, says the king, you are the only man of them all that does not want money. Says the chancellor, I must thank your bounty that I do not. Then he turns to the others and says, I am the most magni- ficent prince in the world, that have such a wealthy chancellor. This more inflamed all their expectations that the money would be distri- buted among them, since, he desired none of it. When the king had played upon them after this manner a pretty while, he made the chancellor take it all up and carry it home ; then turning to the rest, who now looked a little dull upon it, says he, You must stay till the next opportunity.