“Let me go to see her!” cried the unhappy king. “She will know me!” and he tried to break away. The noise was heard in the hall and the lord and ladies came out to see what was the matter. Now the emperor and the queen came out also and looked at the strange man who said he was the emperor. When the poor king saw his wife he called out:
“Do you not know me? I am your husband—I am the real emperor! These clothes are not mine, nor are those clothes his!” and the real king fell down on the ground in great distress, and began to tear the rags from his body.
“Out with him! Beat him! Put his eyes out!” they began to cry, and soon the poor king was thrust out of his own grounds and wandered on down the road. He came to the very spot on the banks of the lake where he had bathed. He was cold and hungry and very miserable. He knelt on the ground and beat his breast.
“I am no emperor—no real emperor—I am just a sinful proud man and do not deserve to be king. God forgive me for my pride!”
Then he looked round and behold! there were his real king’s clothes again. There was his own horse and the duke and all his attendants waiting for him. He put on his clothes and rode up to the palace where the queen met him and kissed him.
“Welcome home, my lord and husband!” said she.
There stood the man the king had seen in his place, but he was now dressed in white. Nobody saw him but the king. He said:
“I am the good angel of thy kingdom. Only the humble are fit to rule. I give thee thy place again,” and the man vanished. The king bowed very low, and afterwards was a just and humble ruler of his people.