The
10th parable is to this effect: The citizens of a
certain great city had an ancient custom, to take a
stranger and obscure man, who knew nothing of the city's
laws and traditions, and to make him king with absolute
power for a year's space; then to rise against him all
unawares, while he, all thoughtless, was revelling and
squandering and deeming the kingdom his for ever; and
stripping off his royal robes, lead him naked in
procession through the city, and banish him to a
long-uninhabited and great island, where, worn down for
want of food and raiment, he bewailed this unexpected
change. Now, according to this custom, a man was chosen
whose mind was furnished with much understanding, who
was not led away by sudden prosperity, and was
thoughtful and earnest in soul as to how he should best
order his affairs. By close questioning, he learned from
a wise counsellor the citizens' custom, and the place of
exile, and was instructed how he might secure himself.
When he knew this, and that he must soon go to the
island and leave his acquired and alien kingdom to
others, he opened the treasures of which he had for the
time free and unrestricted use, and took an abundant
quantity of gold and silver and precious stones, and
giving them to some trusty servants sent them before him
to the island.
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