had fastened round the royal neck, he perceived woven thereon,
"Whatever you do, do wisely, and think of the consequences." The
inscription startled the tonsor, and he said to himself, "I am to-day
hired to destroy this man. If I do it, my end will be ignominious; I
shall be condemned to the most shameful death. Therefore, whatsoever I
do, it is good to consider the end, as the writing testifies." These
cogitations disturbed the barber so much that his hand trembled, and the
razor fell to the ground. The emperor, seeing this, inquired the cause.

"Oh, my lord," said the barber, "have mercy upon me: I was hired this
day to destroy you; but accidentally, or rather by the will of God, I
read the inscription on the towel, 'Whatever you do, do wisely, and
think of the consequences.' Whereby, considering that, of a surety, the
consequence would be my own destruction, my hand trembled so much, that
I lost all command over it."

"Well," thought the emperor, "this first maxim hath assuredly saved my
life: in a good hour was it purchased. My friend," said he to the
barber, "on condition that you be faithful hereafter, I pardon you."

The noblemen who had conspired against the emperor, finding that their
project had failed, consulted with one another what they were to do
next.

"On such a day," said one, "he journeys to a particular city; we will
hide ourselves in a bypath, through which, in all probability, he will
pass, and so kill him."

The counsel was approved.

The king, as had been expected, prepared to set out; and riding on till
he came to a cross-way, much less circuitous than the high road, his
knights said, "My lord, it will be better for you to go this way, than
to pass along the broad road; it is considerably nearer."

The king pondered the matter within himself. "The second maxim," thought
he, "admonishes me never to forsake the highway for a byway. I will
adhere to that maxim."

Then turning to his soldiers, "I shall not quit the public road; but
you, if it please you, may proceed by that path, and prepare for my
approach." Accordingly a number of them went; and the ambush, imagining
that the king rode in their company, fell upon them and put the greater
part to the sword. When the news reached the king, he secretly
exclaimed, "My second maxim hath also saved my life."

Seeing, therefore, that by cunning they were unable to slay their lord,
the conspirators again took counsel, and it was observed, that o