THE KING WITH NO CLOTHES
ONCE there was a king. He was a very foolish king; but he wanted everyone to
think he was wise. He had three enemies. These three men said, ‘Let us play a
trick on this foolish king!’ They made a plan.
They took a tailor to the king’s house, and they said to the king, ‘This tailor
is a very clever man. He will make you some beautiful clothes. The clothes are
very beautiful, but only wise people can see them.’
The king laughed and said, ‘I am wise. I shall see them. Let the tailor make some
beautiful clothes for me.’
So the tailor measured the king and went away. The next week he came back. He
had nothing in his hands, but he held out his hands to the king and said, ‘See
these beautiful clothes, sir!’.
The foolish king could see nothing, but he wanted everyone to think he was
wise. He said, ‘ Yes, they are very beautiful. Let me put them on.’
He took off all his clothes. The tailor touched the king’s head and said, ‘
There is the hat. It is just right, sir.’ Then he touched the king’s back and
arms, and said: ‘And here is the coat. Isn’t it beautiful?’ He touched the
king’s legs, and his feet, and each time he said, ‘ Aren’t the clothes
beautiful?’
And the foolish king said, ‘ Yes, they are.’
Then the king sent for his ministers. ‘Look at my new clothes,’ he said. ‘Only
wise people can see them. Aren’t they beautiful?’ The ministers wanted the king
to think that they were wise, too, and they said, ‘ Yes, sir, they are very
beautiful.’
The king went into the street. He saw some men, and said, ‘Look at my new
clothes. Only wise people can see them. Aren’t they beautiful?’ The men wanted
the king to think that they were wise, too, and they said, ‘Yes, sir, they are
very beautiful.’
Then a small boy came into the street. He looked at the king and he said to his
father, ‘ Why has the king got no clothes on?’ His father said, ‘ be quiet , my
son. You are only a foolish little boy. The king has beautiful new clothes on.’
The small boy said in a loud voice, ‘ I am not foolish. I am wise. I can see
that the king has no clothes on. You are the foolish one!’ ‘ .
And the king’s three enemies came and laughed and laughed at the king. ‘The
small boy is right,’ they said. ‘You have no clothes on.‘ You are the foolish
one!’ '