Once upon a time, on the eve of his grand day, a gentle boy sat quietly in his room. On the morrow, he would wear a crown. Though only sixteen years of age, he had once lived in a humble cottage with a goatherd and his wife. He loved to run, sing, and watch the animals. Then, the old king summoned him, proclaiming, 'You are my grandson and shall be our new king.' The boy moved to a grand palace, where he beheld gleaming floors, soft lights, sweet flowers, and comfortable beds. He adored beautiful things, delighting in shimmering fabrics, tiny gems, smooth marble, and pretty pictures. He asked the finest artisans to sew a golden robe for his coronation. He desired a crown with red rubies and a scepter adorned with pearls. He thought, 'Tomorrow, I shall look like a true king.' He smiled and felt happy. At midnight, he fell asleep and began to dream. In his first dream, he found himself in a long, low room filled with the hum of looms. The air felt heavy and damp. Men and women bent over their work. Children sat on beams, lifting and dropping the heavy frames. Their faces looked weary. Their hands trembled from long hours. The young king asked a weaver, 'Who is your master?' The weaver replied, 'We must work many hours for little pay.'
"We are free to walk, but we are not free from care. We make fine cloth, but we cannot rest." The young king saw a thread of gold running through the cloth. "What are you making?" he asked. The weaver replied, "The robe for the young king." The boy awoke with a start. Moonlight streamed through the window. He felt uneasy. He fell asleep once more and had a second dream. He lay on the deck of a great ship. Many rowers moved the oars under the hot sun. A tall man counted with a pair of small scales. The ship reached a quiet bay and lowered a ladder into the sea. A young diver took a deep breath and went down. Bubbles rose. After a while, he surfaced holding a gleaming pearl. Each time he brought up a pearl, someone weighed it and placed it in a small pouch. The young king wanted to speak, but he could not. The sun was hot and the work was hard. At last, the diver brought up a pearl shaped like a round moon. He looked pale and very tired. The man with the scales smiled and said, "This pearl shall be for the young king's scepter." The boy awoke again. The dawn touched the sky with a gentle grey light. He felt even more uneasy.
He slept a third time and dreamed he was in a wild forest with bright birds and tall flowers. He came to a dry river where many people searched the earth. Some moved tools. Some sifted sand. Some climbed rocks. They were careful and quick. Their clothes were torn and their feet sore. They searched for red stones. The boy whispered, "What are they seeking?" Someone replied, "Rubies for the crown of a king." The boy looked into a silver mirror and saw his own face. He awoke with the warm light of morning. Soon the chamberlain and the pages entered with the golden robe, the crown with rubies, and the scepter of pearls. They were very beautiful. The young king touched the cloth and remembered the weary weavers. He looked at the pearls and remembered the exhausted diver. He saw the red rubies and remembered the people by the dry river. He said softly, "Take them away. I cannot wear them." The nobles thought he was jesting. He was not. He told them of his three dreams. Some laughed and said, "Dreams are just dreams. They do not matter. People will not know you are king without rich robes." The chamberlain pleaded, "Please wear the robe and crown so the people will recognize you."
The young king asked, "Will they not know me if I do not wear them?" The chamberlain said, "No, my lord." The boy remained silent. He said, "I shall go as I came." He opened a painted chest and put on his old leather tunic and coarse sheepskin cloak. He took up his simple wooden staff. A page asked, "Where is your crown?" The young king bent a soft wild briar into a circle and placed it upon his head. "This shall be my crown," he said. He walked to the Great Hall. Some nobles were upset. Some said, "He brings shame." Others said, "He is a fool." The young king said nothing. He descended the stairs, passed the bronze doors, and rode towards the cathedral. The people laughed and said, "The king's jester passes." The boy stopped and said, "I am the king," and he told them of his dreams. A man shouted, "A rich show gives work to the poor. Do not change this. What can you do to help us today?" The young king asked, "Are not rich and poor brothers?" The man replied, "We do not feel like brothers." Tears filled the boy's eyes. He rode on. His little page grew frightened and turned back. At the great door of the cathedral, the guards lowered their halberds and said, "Only the king may enter here."
"I am the king," said the boy, and he entered. The old bishop rose in wonder. "My son, where are your royal robes?" he asked. "With what crown shall I crown you, and what scepter shall I place in your hand?" The young king told him of the dreams. The bishop said gently, "Many hard things happen in the world. You cannot mend them all in a day. Wear the robe and crown. Let today be a day of joy." The boy walked past the bishop and knelt before the image of Christ. Tall candles gleamed. A soft blue curl of incense rose. The boy bowed his head and prayed silently. Outside, a great noise was heard, and nobles entered in bright armor and high plumes. They cried, "Where is this dreamer who dresses like a poor child?" The young king finished his prayer and rose. Sunlight streamed through the colored windows. The warm rays touched him and formed a new robe about him, lighter than air and brighter than gold. His wooden staff blossomed and small white lilies opened like stars. The gentle crown of thorns bloomed with tender red roses. The lilies were whiter than pearls, and their stems shone like silver.
The roses were redder than rubies, and their leaves shone like gold. A great silence filled the cathedral. Music swelled. Trumpets sounded. Singing filled the dome. The people knelt. The nobles sheathed their swords. The bishop's hands trembled. He whispered, "One greater has crowned you." The young king descended the high steps and passed through the people towards his home. No one dared look upon his face, for it was serene and bright as that of an angel. From that day, the young king loved beauty with a new heart. He chose kindly works for his people. He asked that the makers be paid fairly. He wished that beautiful things bring joy without causing harm. He wore simple clothes when he could, and when he wore fine clothes, he first asked how they were made. He listened to the poor and the rich. He remembered his dreams. He learned that a true king is known not by gold, but by kindness.
