The Emperor And The Mandarin

The favorite horse of the Chinese emperor Tsi having died through negligence on the part of the master of the horse, the emperor in his rage would have run that functionary through with his sword. Mandarin Yentsi, however, parried the blow, saying:

"Sire, this man is not yet convicted of he crime for which he deserves to die."

"Well, then, tell him what it is."

"Listen, you scoundrel," said the minster, "to an enumeration of the crimes which you have committed. First, you have allowed a horse to perish which the emperor has intrusted to your safe keeping. Moreover, it is owing to you that our sovereign became so exasperated that he was on the point of killing you with his own hand. Lastly, it is your fault that he was about to disgrace himself in the eyes of everybody by killing a man for a horse."

"Let him go," interrupted the emperor, who understood the lesson. "I pardon him."