Wit & Wisdom
Roger Jenkins
storyteller
storyteller
© Roger Jenkins 2011 Made With Serif WebPlus.
© Roger Jenkins 2011 Made With Serif WebPlus.
Once there was a master thief – a very good thief but a very bad man. Greedy, mean, clever, dishonest - he had the face that he deserved. He was so famous - rather, infamous - that he was recognized everywhere that he went.
One day he got an invitation to a party at the palace. What a wonderful opportunity! If he stole just one thing from the palace he would be wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. He would never have to steal again!
Knowing he would be recognized, he went to a master mask maker, a great craftsman. He asked him make a mask that would conceal his identity, a mask with a face so lifelike, and honest and gentle that no one would suspect the wearer. The mask maker created a masterpiece. The mask was beautiful, the face handsome, gentle and honest.
On the day, the thief bathed in his golden tub (stolen.) He washed with fragrant soaps and expensive perfumes (stolen.) He dressed in his finest robes and slipped on his finest shoes. All stolen. He put on his mask and went to the palacel.
Why was he invited?
The Emperor's daughter was of marriageable age. She wanted to marry the most handsome, honest, generous and honest man in all the land. Many men came to ask for her hand but she found fault with every one. So The Emperor, wanting his daughter to be happy, invited every eligible male to the palace.
When the thief arrived he was astonished by all the beautiful things surrounding him. What should he steal first?
The minute that the princess saw the thief, she fell in love with him. His face was the most handsome and kind, generous and honest she had ever seen. She introduced herself and said she had been waiting for him for her entire life and she must marry him.
The thief was surprised. He never thought a princess would want to marry him! Thinking quickly, the thief convinced her that such an important decision needed careful consideration. He promised he would return in one year with his answer.
The thief left the palace, very confused. It wasn't until he got home that he realized that he hadn't even stolen anything!
Suddenly the thief thought : was this a trap? Perhaps the Emperor's men knew who he was and were secretly following him? Or perhaps they were watching him as the man the Princess wanted to marry.?
The thief stopped stealing and continued wearing his disguise so that he would not be found out. He decided that a man with a handsome, kind and honest face must also act that way. He started to behave gently, kindly and honestly. He started to treat the Elders courteously. When someone came collecting for the poor or orphaned children, he gave generously.
What started as a plan to fool the Emperor's men became a way of life. The thief gradually discovered that he was happier than he had ever been before.
When the year passed, the thief returned to the palace. He was sad for he knew he must tell the Princess the truth about himself. He knelt and confessed: he was nothing but a common, ugly thief. He was unworthy of her. The thief explained how the craftsman had made a wonderful mask to disguise him. The thief asked the princess to forgive him for his cruel deceit.
The Princess was angry. Before you leave, show me your true face, so that I may know what a thief looks like.
The thief took off the mask. The Princess was astonished. "Why did you have a mask made to look exactly like your face?"
The thief looked in a mirror. It was true! His face was exactly the same as the mask.
In the year of his pretending to be kind, gentle, generous and honest The thief had changed not just inside but outside as well. The thief had earned the face that he deserved and he – and the princess – got married to the person they truly deserved.