[Artemisia] A Story for Artemisia

[LadyPDC at aol.com]

After following and participating in the many recent discussions, I was 
reminded of a story I learned many years ago at my grandmother's knee and have 
tried to remember ever since in times when life or any activity seemed unfair.  It 
seemed right to share it with the rest of you.  (and yes, it was because of 
this story that part of my SCA name exists)

*************
Long ago and far away (because that is how any good tale should start) there 
lived a great philosopher whose advise was sought far and wide by all from 
peasants to kings.  

Every few years, this wise man would choose to take on a student, but only if 
he could find a worthy applicant.

It came to pass that an announcement went out that the wise man was ready to 
train another student and invited all who felt themselves worthy to present 
themselves to him on an appointed date.  On that date, three young men presented 
themselves at his gate and were admitted.

They were shown into a garden where they found the wise man sitting among his 
flowers.  As the three stepped forward, each intent on showing himself to be 
the most worthy, the wise man held up his hand.  "We will not discuss your 
worth today", he said, "but rather, I would give you each a rose from my garden 
and ask that you return tomorrow to tell me what you have learned about life 
from the flower".  He gave them each a rose and bid them leave, but return on 
the morrow at the same time.

At the appointed hour on the following day, the three young men again entered 
the garden and sat with the wise man.  He spoke saying "Tell me what you 
learned of life from your roses".

The first man said "As we were leaving, I clutched my rose tightly and my 
hand was pricked by one of the thorns.  From this I learned that life is filled 
with pain, that pain can be hidden even in a thing of beauty.  We must learn to 
live with the pain, for that is the only way to get through life."

The second man said "I held my rose closely all the way to my lodgings.  When 
I got there, I saw that there was a clump of dirt attached to the roots which 
had smeared itself all over my best garments.  From this I learned that even 
the best things have some soiled areas and that, if we are not careful, these 
soiled areas will attach themselves to us.  We must take care in our lives 
that we not be besmirched by the dirt which others may fling at us."

The third mad said, "As I rushed out of here, intent on learning all I could 
of the value in what you had given me, I tripped and fell in the street.  The 
rose flew from my hands and was picked up by a street urchin who would not 
give it back to me unless I gave him some coins.  I did so and then rushed to my 
home to protect the rose until I could return here.  I knew that you would not 
give us anything so simple as a rose unless there were great value attached 
to it, so I protected it and hid it until I could return it to you even though 
it cost me some coins and a sleepless night to do so.  I believe that you 
wanted us to learn that we must protect things of high value lest they be taken 
from us, as happened when I was careless and lost mine momentarily to the street 
urchin."

All three young men waited hopefully as the wise man considered them.  Then 
he plucked another rose from his garden.

He carefully removed all of the thorns and gave them to the first young man, 
then he removed the dirt about the roots and put it in the second man's hand.  
He reached into his pocket and removed a few pennies which he placed in the 
third man's hand.  Then he spoke to all of them.

You each now have the only thing you noticed about your rose.  You may leave 
here with that which you sought and found.  I will remain here with what I 
find in the rose, a straight strong stem which bends but does not break, leaves 
whose intricate patterns might defy mathematicians in their intricacy yet whose 
formations are a thing of beauty in themselves, petals soft as velvet yet 
strong enough to protect the treasures within, a scent which pleases both the 
nose of an old man and the seeking of a young bee both of which ensure the 
survival of the rose through the generations.  All of these will I keep for they are 
what I expected in the rose and therefore what I found.  You expected to find 
either flaws or monetary value, and that is what you found."

"Take with you this lesson, what you expect in life is what you will find, no 
more and no less.  I will take no student this year, perhaps by next year one 
of you will have learned to look for more in life and will return to try 
again"  So saying, he arose and, taking his thornless clean rose, retired to his 
home.

********************

I think that there are times when any of us find too many thorns or two much 
dirt.  Also times when we put too much of the wrong kind of value on acts or 
things.  I know that when that happens to me, I try to remember the story of 
the rose and take a moment to step back and look for the things of beauty I have 
been missing in my tunnel vision focus on the thorns.  

Lady Constance de la Rose
Baron of Loch Salann
Kingdom of Artemisia


"Never say a thing's impossible,
For chances are you'll rue it.
Because some fool who doesn't know,
Will come along and do it."
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