“Go on, how can you speak to that ragged beggar?”
But she would not hear him. She took the ring, and read thereon her own and her husband’s names. Her heart was greatly troubled by the sight of the ring, but she controlled her feelings and said nothing. As soon as they returned to the palace she told the king, her father, that she had recognised her husband’s ring on the hand of the beggar who sat by the side of the garden. “So please send for him,” said she, “that we may find out how the ring came into his hands.”
Then the king sent his servants to find the beggar, and they brought him to the palace. And the king asked him whence he came, and how he got that ring. Then he could no longer restrain himself, but told them how he had been thrown overboard by the treacherous minister, and spent fifteen days and nights on the naked rock, and how he had been saved.
“You see now how God and my right-dealing have brought me back to my parents and my wife.”
When they heard that they could hardly speak, so rejoiced were they. Then the king summoned the father and mother, and related what had happened to their son.
The servants quickly brought him fine new garments, and bathed and clothed him. Then for many days there were great rejoicings, not only in the palace, but also in all the city, and he was crowned as king. The minister was seized by the king’s order, and given up to the king’s son-in-law, that he might punish him after [[45]]his own will. But the young king would not permit him to be put to death, but forgave him, on condition that he left the kingdom instantly.
A few days after the old man who had saved the young king came, bringing with him his written promise. The young king took the paper and, reading it, said:
“My old man, sit down. To-day I am king, but if I were a beggar I would fulfil my word, and acknowledge my signature. Therefore we will divide all that I have.”
So he took out the book and began to divide the cities.
“This is for me—that is for you.” So saying, he wrote all on a chart, till all was divided between them, from the greatest city to the poorest barrack.