What is his
worth?(c)
By Michael Casey
“What is his
worth?” asked the King.
“He is a she my Lord,” replied the servant as he removed the hat to reveal a woman’s
face.
“How long
has she been dead?” asked the King.
“Her body is
still warm, sire, ” replied the servant.
“But what is
her worth, she was just a woman.” continued the King.
“ She
suckled you when you were born, as your
mother the Queen was dry,” replied the servant.
“I don’t
remember that,” replied the King.
“ It
was her who taught you to read, it was
her who taught you Latin and the sciences.”
“So she was
of some service,” mused the King.
“ She hid you when the castle was besieged, she
dressed you as a little girl, she saved your young life,” continued the servant.
“So she was
of some service,” mused the King.
“She ate the
poison that was meant for you,” continued the servant.
“So she was
of some service,” muttered the King.
“She cared for
the King, your father in his last years, when his mind was gone, it was her who
helped him keep his dignity,” the servant said.
“So she was
of some service,” muttered the King.
“She held
your mother’s hand, the Queen’s hand,
during her dying days, while you were
away at war.” the servant added.
“So she was
of some service,” spoke the King.
“She saved
your son and heir, when he refused to come into this world naturally, it was she who cut him out. It was she who saved
you wife, the Queen too. It was she.”
“So she was
of some service,” spoke the King
“It was she
who taught your son and heir how to read, it was she who taught him Latin and
the Sciences,” continued the servant.
“So she was
of some service,” spoke the King.
“I was she
who saved your daughter’s life, the
Princess’s life when she fell in the river,” continued the servant.
“So she was
of some service,” spoke the King.
“She did many
more services for you Sire, too many too recount,” said the servant
The King
looked down at the crumpled figure of
the old woman before him, all these
things this little woman, this mere woman had done. Now the memories came back
to him. “What was his worth” he had asked. But now, but now he
knew, this little old woman, crumpled up
in death had been a good and faithful
servant. And he, and he, he had not had the eyes to see.
The King
kneelt down and kissed her still warm cheek.
“Let he be
buried in a place of honour, for I know her worth”
No comments:
Post a Comment