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4   Honor

The Travelers and the Bandit King

1A party of Travelers were attacked on a remote stretch of road by fierce bandits killing all, except two men.
2Of the two survivors, one man was known to always speak the truth and the other to speak nothing but lies.
3One of the robbers, who had raised himself to be King, commanded them to be brought before him.
4He ordered that all the bandits stand to attention in a long row on his right hand and on his left in front of a great throne.
5After these preparations the captured men were brought before him and the Bandit King greeted them saying:
6Verily, your life hangs in the balance of the question I ask you thus: that what sort of a king I be to you, O strangers?
7Before the lying Traveler could speak, the truthful Traveler replied: Alas! You be a murderer and a tyrant.
8For no amount of ceremony or pageantry can hide the truth that you are without right or Rule of Law.
9Behold, all men must die. And if it be my time now to die, then I die with a clear conscience and in honor to heaven.
10Upon hearing these words, the Bandit King replied: As you have neither pledged your alliance nor pleaded for your life, you shall be executed.
11Yet as you have spoken the truth, I shall grant you a swift and honorable death.
12Thus, the man who always spoke the truth was led away to his fate.
13The lying Traveler then spoke and said: Oh great and noble King! In thee I see the model of authority,
14And your men as worthy companions of an army to be feared by all nations.
15I pledge myself to your service and humbly petition for your mercy.
16Upon hearing these words, the Bandit King replied: As you did pledge your alliance and pleaded for your life, you will be spared.
17But as you lied and showed such weakness of character, you are not fit even to be known as a bandit,
18And so I shall chain you as if a lowly dog. For better you had died a noble death than the thousand torments of a scoundrel.