"THE WISE KING"

Once there ruled in the distant city of Wirani a king who was both mighty
and wise. And he was feared for his might and loved for his wisdom. 

Now, in the heart of that city was a well, whose water was cool and
crystalline, from which all the inhabitants drank, even the king and his
courtiers; for there was no other well. 

One night when all were asleep, a witch entered the city, and poured
seven drops of strange liquid into the well, and said, "From this hour he
who drinks this water shall become mad." 

Next morning all the inhabitants, save the king and his lord chamberlain,
drank from the well and became mad, even as the witch had foretold. 

And during that day the people in the narrow streets and in the market
places did naught but whisper to one another, "The king is mad. Our king
and his lord chamberlain have lost their reason. Surely we cannot be
ruled by a mad king. We must dethrone him." 

That evening the king ordered a golden goblet to be filled from the well.
And when it was brought to him he drank deeply, and gave it to his lord
chamberlain to drink. And there was great rejoicing in that distant city of
Wirani, because its king and its lord chamberlain had regained their
reason.