Alexander the Great, in his travels amidst the deserts and barren lands, came at last to a river which flowed between two verdant shores. The surface of the water was quite smooth, and not the slightest breeze was perceptible. It was the picture of contentment and silently seemed to say: Behold here the seat of peace and quietness. Thousands of happy thoughts this beautiful scenery might have produced in a contemplating mind; but what could have soothed Alexander, who was full of ambitious plans, whose ear had become accustomed to the clashing of arms, and the groans of the dying warrior? Alexander continued his journey, but he soon felt exhausted, and was obliged to seek for rest. He fixed his tent on the shores of a river, drank some water thereof, which seemed to him very refreshing, being of a sweet and agreeable taste, and even spread a sweet fragrance all over the place. “Surely,”said he,”this river, enjoying such peculiar advantages, must take its source in a country rich in blessings. Let us find out whence it springeth.” Following thus for some time the shores of the river, he at length arrived at the gates of paradise. These were closed, and he knocked, demanding in his usual peremptory manner to be admitted at once.
” Thou canst not have admission here,” a voice from within called unto him; “this is the gate of the Master.” ” I am the Master, Lord of the whole earth,” replied the impatient monarch. ” I am Alexander the conqueror. What! do you hesitate to admit me?
” No”, he was answered, ” here no conqueror is known but he who conquers his passions; the just only are allowed to enter here.”
Alexander tried hard to get admittance, but neither threats nor entreaties had any effect. He then said to the keeper who held watch at the gates of paradise: “You know that I am a great king, who has received the homage of many nations; if you really refuse to admit me, give me at least some kind of a keepsake, in order that I may surprise the world in showing that I have been as far as this, the place which no mere mortal ever reaches.”
“Here, silly man,” replied the keeper, ” here I give you something which can heal all sorrows. Moreover, one glance at it will teach you wisdom, such as you have never thought to be master of ! Now, go your way.”
Alexander took hastily what was given him and then returned to his tent. But how astonished was he, when perceiving that his present was nothing but part of a human skull! “This, then, is the nice keepsake,” he said, “which they offer to a king and a hero like me! This, then, is the fruit of all my labor, all the dangers and troubles I have hitherto undergone!” Enraged, and disappointed in his hopes, he threw away the miserable portion of the mortal integument.
” Great king,” said a wise man, who noticed the act, ” do not despise this present, however insignificant it may appear in your eyes; it possesses, nevertheless, extraordinary qualities, of which you may soon convince yourself by weighing it with gold or silver.” Alexander said he would like to try, and, ordering a pair of scales, placed the skull in one and gold in the other. He was immediately surprised to find the one containing the skull going down. More gold was fetched, and the more they put on the scale, the more it went up. ” It is extraordinary,” said Alexander, ” that such a small portion of matter should out weigh so much gold. Is there no counter- balance to be had, in order to produce an equilibrium?
” Certainly,” said the wise man, ” very little will suffice.” Whereupon he took a small portion of earth and covered the bone with it, which caused the scale in which it lay to rise immediately. ” This is certainly very singular! ” Alexander now exclaimed, ” Could you not explain to me this remarkable phenomenon?” “Great king,”replied the wiseman, ” this fragment of bone is the part in which the human eye is enclosed, and, although in its extent limited, it is nevertheless unlimited in its desires; the more it has, the more it wants; neither gold nor silver, nor any earthly possession, is able to satiate its wishes. But being once in the grave and covered with earth, there it finds a limit for all its eager desires.”