A certain king once went to a fair, and took with him a preceptor and his scholar. Standing in the market-place they perceived eight packages for sale. The scholar questioned his teacher respecting the first of them. “Pray,” said he, “what is the price of poverty? that is, of tribulation for the love of God?”
Preceptor. The kingdom of heaven.
Scholar. It is a great price indeed. Open the second package and let us see what it contains.
Preceptor. It contains meekness: Blessed are the meek.
Scholar. Meekness indeed is a very illustrious thing, and worthy of divine majesty. What is its price?
Preceptor. Neither gold nor silver will be taken; they are too contemptible. I demand earth for it; and nothing but earth will I receive.
Scholar. There is a spacious tract of uninhabited country between India and Great Britain. Take as much of it as you please.
Preceptor. No; this land is the land of the dying; the land which devours its inhabitants. Men die there. I demand the land of the living.
Scholar. I muse at what you say. All die, and would you alone be exempt? Would you live for ever? Behold, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. What is there in the third package?
Preceptor. Hunger and thirst.