מעשה ו - מעשה ממלך ענו

Story 6OfA Humble KingA tale. There was once a king who had a wise man. The king said to the wise man, "inasmuch as there is a king whose seal states that he is a great man of might, and a man of truth, and a humble person (in other words, a truthful person who does not hold of himself): Mighty - I know that he is a great man of might, for his country is surrounded by the expanse of the sea, and on the sea is stationed a navy on warships with cannons and they do not allow anyone to approach, and inwards from the sea there is a great mire (a place where one drowns) surrounding the country, through which there is only one narrow path, wide enough for only one person to pass; there too, cannons are positioned, so that if someone comes to attack, the cannons are fired, so it is impossible to set foot there.

"But his signing himself as being a man of truth and humble - this I do not know, and I want you to bring me this king's portrait." For the king had all the portraits of all the kings, but the portrait of that king (who signs himself in such a fashion as mentioned) was not found by any king, for he is concealed from people, since he sits under a baldachin [veiling canopy], and he's far from his countrymen.

The wise man went to that country. He came to the realization that he must come to know the essence of the country (in other words, the "thing" of the country; how the country works). And how can he find out the country's essence? - By way of the country's jests. Because when one needs to know [the essence of] something, one must know its jesting. For there are many types of jesting: there is one who really wants to smite the other with his words , and when the other takes notice he says to him, "I am joshing!" as in the verse, "Like one who wearies himself shooting firebrands.. and says, 'I was only joshing'. [Proverbs 26:18-19]," and so there is someone who really means a jest but still harms the other with his words. Thus there are several kinds of jesting.

Now, among the countries, there is a country that includes all countries (i.e. this country is the principle and the rule for all countries), and in that country there is a city which includes all the cities of that whole country that includes all the countries. And in the city is a house that includes all the houses of the entire city that embodies all cities of the country that includes all countries. And there in the house is a person who includes the entire house which includes etc.. And there, there is someone who makes all the wise cracks and jesting of the entire country.

So the wise man took a lot of money with him and went there. He saw them making all types of wisecracks and joking. He understood from the jests that the country is full of falsehood, through and through. For he saw them making fun of how people are cheated in business, and how he goes to the municitrat (city court) and there it is utter falsehood and they take bribery there; and he goes to the sand [state court]; and there as well it is utter falsehood. And they were all making fun and jest, enacting all these things. The wise man understood from this jesting that the country is full of lies and deceit, lacking any truth whatsoever.

So he went and did some commerce in the country and allowed himself to be cheated in the exchange, and went and brought suit before the court. They were all full of falsehood and bribes. Today he gave them a bribe; the next day they didn't recognize him.

So he went to a higher court, and there too it was full of falsehood. Until he came before the senate (supreme court), and there too it is falsehood with bribery throughout. Until he came to the king himself.

When he came to the king he spoke up and said, "Over whom are you king? The entire country is thoroughly full of falsehood, from beginning to end, and there's no truth in it whatsoever." And he began to tell over all the falsehood of the country.