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The Knights and the Shield
From The Children's Encyclopaedia compiled and edited by Arthur Mee.
In the days of old a gallant horseman was riding along a lonely road.
Presently he came to a wide, open space, where he was attracted by a magnificent
statue, which stood facing the south. He had travelled the world over,
but never had he seen anything more imposing.
On the summit of a lofty pedestal stood a figure representing Victory.
Her sword was sheathed, her shield lay at her feet, and her brows were
entwined with a wreath of laurel.
" Ah," he exclaimed, " what a costly monument ! I declare
the shield is of solid gold ' "
He was so much taken up with wonder that he did not hear the approach
of another traveller from the opposite direction. He, too, stopped to
admire the statue. Great was his astonishment when he heard a voice exclaim,
" The shield is of solid gold," for from where he stood it was
clearly silver.
" What a strange mistake to make! " he thought. " I must
see this man who does not know gold from silver. Pardon me, my friend,"
he said, " but your eyes are playing you some trick; the shield is
not gold, but silver."
" How mean you, sir ? " returned the first knight. " Do
you dare to tell me that I don't know gold when I see it ? "
" I do not wish to tell you anything," exclaimed the second
knight; " but I know silver when I see it, and I declare that this
shield is silver and not gold." " It is gold, I say." "
Nonsense! " replied the other knight. " You insult me, sir,"
said the first knight angrily, " and I would have you know that I
listen not to such talk from any man."
" I never thought to cross swords with one who knew not gold from
silver; but if you will make a quarrel of it I am not the man to refuse
you," was the reply.
So the two men drew their swords and prepared to fight. Hardly had their
blades crossed, however, than they heard a voice calling:
" Oh, my good masters, be not hasty;
take care what you are about! "
The knights paused. They saw a girlish figure clad in white running toward
them. She placed herself between them, and asked as she looked at their
flushed faces:
" What is it you are about to do, good sirs ? For what cause is it
you are about to fight?"
" The cause for which we are about to fight is just," said one.
" Yon knight accuses me of having said what is not the truth."
" And he says no less of me," exclaimed the other. " Come,
stand out of our way, little maid. And you, sir, prepare."
" Stop! " said the maiden, in a voice so commanding that the
knights obeyed in spite of themselves.
" Say no more, maiden," said the first knight, " for men
of honour do not look at such matters with women's eyes. Gome," he
added to his enemy, " are you ready? " Once more the swords
clanged together;
once more the voice of the girl sounded bidding the combat cease.
" Stop, I tell you! " she cried. And the men could not but lower
their weapons. " Now, sir," she went on, " you who have
come up the north road, step in front of the statue and tell me what you
see."
The knight looked, and answered in a humble voice:
" I see, my lady, a golden shield." " And now, sir knight
from the south, do you step behind the statue and tell me truly what you
see."
The knight looked carefully, and answered humbly:
" I see a silver shield." " Even so," answered the
maiden;
" the shield is silver on one side and gold on the other. Thus both
of you are right, and both of you are wrong. Now tell me what you will
do."
" Our quarrel is at an end, "said the one, " for we were
both right."
" Yes," answered the maiden, " that is so. And now,"
she added, " let me see you shake hands and be friends."
The two knights laughed heartily as they did so. And the little maiden
suddenly changed into a tall and stately woman. She was so fair and so
queenly that the two knights fell at her feet.
" Go," she said, " and be my knights faithful and true—my
name is Peace." Even as she spoke her name she vanished. And the
two knights followed down the path, talking like old friends. There are
two sides to every question.
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