Many years ago, there was a land ruled by a wise and good King. The King had taught the people in his kingdom to respect what was good and to help one another in word and deed. The words integrity, honor, loyalty, and compassion were alive in this place. It was a land of harmony and plenty.
Also, in the land was the Great Knight. The Great Knight received his title from the King himself for his courage and strength in battle. The people spoke highly of him and even praised him to his face—recounting his great exploits in the King’s service.
Because of all this attention, the Great Knight’s thoughts become more and more boastful. He spent much of his time thinking of his successes and planning ways to make the people talk about him even more.
He began to share these thoughts with his squire. The squire listened respectfully, but each time said, “You have been greatly blessed by the King! All praise to the King!”
This angered the Great Knight. He took his stories to the village squares where the people listened intently and said, “How magnificent you are—so full of bravery and strength!” Then the Great Knight would hold his head high, laugh loudly, and boast of things he planned to do.
One day, as he approached the village square, he overheard one of the townspeople speaking of the heroic adventures of another knight—Sir Tremont. As he listened, the man ended his story with the words, “He may even be as brave as the Great Knight.”
The Great Knight’s heart sank. He did not go into the village that day, but returned home and sat all day with his thoughts. Toward evening he decided that the next day he must return to the square and prove to the people that he was indeed the Great Knight—and not by accident. “I must tell of my greatest victories,” he said to himself, “and perhaps even a few of Sir Tremont’s flaws,” he chuckled.
The next day he did just that—but he didn’t stop at only Sir Tremont’s flaws. He began to make fun of and tell embarrassing stories about all the other knights, as well. The townspeople laughed so hard at the stories that he continued them for some time.
Later on, the other knights heard about all this and were surprised and upset. They gather together to decide what they should do. Finally, having decided that the King must know, they set off as a group to the castle.
When the King heard what had happened, and had proved with other witnesses that it was so, he was grieved. He sent word to the Great Knight to come to him at once.
Immediately upon receiving the message, the Great Knight came to the King expecting to be given some great deed of valor to perform or some honor to receive as had happened so often before. But quickly his smile turned to a look of astonishment as the King removed from his armor the seal of the Great Knight.
“You have disgraced this land and my service,” said the King, “and you have hurt me deeply. You are no longer the Great Knight. Alas, there is no one in all the land to match your skill and bravery in battle, but you will not be called to my service until you can see the harm you have done. Now depart from here and study your heart.”
The Great Knight slinked away from the castle hiding his face in shame—but there was another feeling inside him, too…anger! “Does not the King remember who I am?” he railed, “and how I earned my title from him?! I have fought many battles and brought great victories for the King by my own hand. Does he not remember these? I have been better to him than all his other knights combined! He must be crazy to send me away like this. Just wait. As soon as the kingdom is attacked, he will call on me as before and restore me to his service. If he is lucky, perhaps I will accept his meager invitation—if he is lucky!”
Indeed, in a nearby country, an evil King was plotting to attack the good King’s land. The evil King brought together all the forces of his mighty army and marched against the good King.
The Great Knight heard of it and said to himself, “Now the King will come to me and beg me to return. Ha, ha! I shall make him worry for a time and then return in honor and lead the army to victory.” But no invitation came. Instead, the King gathered his faithful knights of lesser ability around him and told them that he would lead them into the battle. All the knights gave a mighty cheer and, with great excitement and determination, rode out to engage the enemy.
The battle was short. The good King’s knights, carefully following their lord’s directions, overpowered the evil King’s army and sent them scurrying back to their own country. Then they returned to the castle with great joy in their hearts! The celebration was long and loud!
The Great Knight heard it and decided to sneak up toward the castle to find out what had happened. He hid behind a corner and listened to the many conversations. One spoke of his own bravery that day and how he had killed more of the enemy than any other knight. Another said that the only reason the first was able to kill so many was because the second had fended off a whole group with his magnificent swordplay. The Great Knight was aghast when he heard one say that they really didn’t need the King with them—that the outcome had been certain because of their own abilities. But one conversation especially caught his ear. It was about him!—the Great Knight! The people were making fun of his disgrace and began to talk about the mistakes he had made over the years! First, it was just one man speaking, but then more joined in. “Why do they not talk about my great victory at Kinsman Hill or of my great skill with the javelin? My skills are many, yet they speak only of my weaknesses and my mistakes!”
The Great Knight was dumbfounded, and, hiding in the shadows, ran back to his room. How could he ever show his face in the land again!
His squire saw his great distress and gently approached him. “My lord,” began the squire, “you have many great skills and have received honor for them time and time again.”
“Why is it, then, that the people remember only my failures?” asked the Great Knight.
The squire paused for a long time—not sure he wanted to say what he knew was the truth. Finally, he looked up and spoke, “My lord, perhaps it is because they look up to you so.”
“Look up to me?” shouted the Great Knight. “How could they possibly talk about me in those ways if they looked up to me?”
“My lord,” replied the squire, “from your youth you have been respected by all the people—especially the young men who want to be warriors in service to the King. They have watched your every move and tried to be just like you. They purchase the same kind of sword they see you have, wear a crest on their helmets as you do, and practice the javelin throw to be just like you.”
“How is it, then, that they want to hurt me so with their words?” cried the Great Knight.
Again, the squire paused. Then, he spoke, “They speak these things, also, because they want to be just like you. Many times they have heard you speak of the other knights in the same way that they now speak about you. They are only doing what you taught them to do.”
“Could this be so?” gasped the Great Knight. “If it is true, then I have done a great disservice to the King and all the people. If this manner of speech spreads, everyone in the land will feel useless and miserable as I do and we will be like all the other lands—full of hatred, strife and evil! I must see the King at once and work to save the kingdom!”
The Great Knight raced to the castle to seek an audience with the King. When it was granted, he bowed low before his Sovereign and said, “My lord, I ask your forgiveness for my selfish and foolish acts. I have been pierced by the same spear I hurled and so have seen my grave mistake. If others follow my error, our great land will suffer terrible loss and inner pain. Sire, if you allow it, I will put myself at your disposal to correct what I have done.”
The King looked at the Great Knight for a long moment, then smiled broadly and said, “It is good to have you back. You are once again the Great Knight – but even greater than before, having learned this most important lesson. I accept you into my royal service to correct this grievous wrong and save the land. With the power I grant, you will succeed. Go now, and, at my bidding, rid the land of this evil.” With great joy and all the courage he was famous for, the Great Knight rode forth and, with great humility and powerful words, turned the people from the path of destruction…and the land was once again filled with harmony and plenty.