The Greater Self

This came to pass. After the coronation of Nufsibaäl, King of Byblus, he

retired to his bed chamber--the very room which the three

hermit-magicians of the mountain had built for him. He took off his

crown and his royal raiment, and stood in the centre of the room

thinking of himself, now the all-powerful ruler of Byblus.

Suddenly he turned; and he saw stepping out of the silver mirror which

his mother had given him, a naked man.

The king was startled, and he cried out to the man, “What would you?”

And the naked man answered, “Naught but this: Why have they crowned you

king?”

And the king answered, “Because I am the noblest man in the land.”

Then the naked man said, “If you were still more noble, you would not be

king.”

And the king said, “Because I am the mightiest man in the land they

crowned me.”

And the naked man said, “If you were mightier yet, you would not be

king.”

Then the king said, “Because I am the wisest man they crowned me king.”

And the naked man said, “If you were still wiser you would not choose to

be king.”

Then the king fell to the floor and wept bitterly.

The naked man looked down upon him. Then he took up the crown and with

tenderness replaced it upon the king’s bent head.

And the naked man, gazing lovingly upon the king, entered into the

mirror.

And the king roused, and straightway he looked into the mirror. And he

saw there but himself crowned.