The Emperor's new suit
by Hans Christian Andersen
Many years ago lived an Emperor, who thought so much of new clothes
that he spent all his money to obtain them; his only ambition was to be
always well dressed. He did not care for his soldiers or for the people.
He only wanted to show off a new suit of clothes. He had a coat for
every hour of the day.
One day two swindlers came to the city; they made people believe that
they were weavers, and said they could manufacture the finest cloth to
be imagined. Their colours and patterns, they said, were not only
exceptionally beautiful but the clothes made of their material possessed
the wonderful quality of identifying men who were stupid.
"That must be wonderful cloth," thought the emperor. "If I were to be
dressed in a suit made of this cloth I should be able to find out which
men in my empire were unfit for their places, and I could distinguish
the clever from the stupid. I must have this cloth woven for me without
delay." And he gave a large sum of money to the swindlers, in advance,
that they should set to work without any loss of time.
They set up two looms and pretended to be very hard at work, but they
did nothing whatever on the looms. They asked for the finest silk and
the most precious gold-cloth; all they got they did away with, and
worked at the empty looms till late at night.
"I should very much like to know how they are getting on with the
cloth," thought the Emperor.
"I shall send my honest old minister to the weavers," thought the
Emperor. " The good old minister went into the room where the swindlers
sat before the empty looms. "Heaven preserve us!" he thought, and opened
his eyes wide, "I cannot see anything at all," but he did not say so.
The poor old minister tried his very best, but he could see nothing, for
there was nothing to be seen. "Oh dear," he thought, "can I be so
stupid? I should never have thought so, and nobody must know it! Is it
possible that I am not fit for my office? No, no, I cannot say that I
was unable to see the cloth."
"Oh, it is very pretty, exceedingly beautiful," replied the old
minister looking through his glasses. "We are pleased to hear that,"
said the two weavers, and described to him the colours and explained the
curious pattern. The old minister listened attentively, that he might
relate to the Emperor what they said; and so he did. Now the swindlers
asked for more money, silk and gold-cloth, which they required for
weaving. They kept everything for themselves, and not a thread came near
the loom, but they continued, as hitherto, to work at the empty looms.
Soon afterwards the Emperor sent another honest courtier. Like the old
minister, he looked and looked but could see nothing, "Is it not a
beautiful piece of cloth?" asked the two swindlers, showing and
explaining the magnificent pattern, which, however, did not exist.
"I am not stupid," said the man. "It is, therefore, my good
appointment for which I am not fit. It is very strange, but I must not
let any one know it;" and he praised the cloth, which he did not see,
and expressed his joy at the beautiful colours and the fine pattern. "It
is very excellent," he said to the Emperor. Everybody in the whole town
talked about the precious cloth. At last the Emperor wished to see it
himself, while it was still on the loom. With a number of courtiers,
including the two who had already been there, he went to the two clever
swindlers, who now worked as hard as they could, but without using any
thread. "Is it not magnificent?" said the two old statesmen who had been
there before.
"What is this?" thought the Emperor, "I do not see anything at all.
That is terrible! Am I stupid? Am I unfit to be Emperor? That would
indeed be the most dreadful thing that could happen to me."
"Really," he said, turning to the weavers, "your cloth has our most
gracious approval;" and nodding contentedly he looked at the empty loom,
for he did not like to say that he saw nothing. All his attendants, who
were with him, looked and looked, and although they could not see
anything more than the others, they said, like the Emperor, "It is very
beautiful." And all advised him to wear the new magnificent clothes at a
great procession which was soon to take place. "It is magnificent,
beautiful, excellent," one heard them say; everybody seemed to be
delighted, and the emperor appointed the two swindlers "Imperial Court
weavers."
The Emperor and all his barons came to the hall; the swindlers held
their arms up as if they held something in their hands and said: "These
are the trousers!" "This is the coat!" and "Here is the cloak!" and so
on. "They are all as light as a cobweb, and one must feel as if one had
nothing at all upon the body; but that is just the beauty of them."
"Indeed!" said all the courtiers; but they could not see anything, for
there was nothing to be seen. "Does it please your Majesty now to
graciously undress," said the swindlers, "that we may assist your
Majesty in putting on the new suit before the large looking-glass?" The
Emperor undressed, and the swindlers pretended to put the new suit upon
him, one piece after another; and the Emperor looked at himself in the
glass from every side.
"How well they look! How well they fit!" said all. "What a beautiful
pattern! What fine colours! That is a magnificent suit of clothes!" The
master of the ceremonies announced that the bearers of the canopy, which
was to be carried in the procession, were ready. "I am ready," said the
Emperor. "Does not my suit fit me marvellously?" Then he turned once
more to the looking-glass, that people should think he admired his
garments.
The Emperor marched in the procession under the beautiful canopy, and
all who saw him in the street and out of the windows exclaimed: "Indeed,
the Emperor's new suit is incomparable!"But he has nothing on at all,"
said a little child at last.. "Good heavens! listen to the voice of an
innocent child," said the father, and one whispered to the other what
the child had said. "But he has nothing on at all," cried at last all
the people. That made a deep impression upon the Emperor, for it seemed
to him that they were right; but he thought to himself, "Now I must bear
up to the end." And the chamberlains walked with still greater dignity,
as if they carried the train which did not exist!
- Internet
|