W. Thou hast not said untruly. The king and his subjects are controlled by the same principle. They are of selfishness. The king loves what he wants, and loves it so well that he denies his subjects even a morsel of his control. However much they may thirst for his power, he loves himself so much better than he does them, that he is constrained to refuse them what he enjoys. This refusal is resistance of others’ wish, and when their wish is disregarded, when his subjects are denied what they need, it is no wonder that kings tremble. They know that the power of many, enlisted in a just cause, is stronger than the few, in an unjust oppression. Hence, they tremble with fear, and feel compelled, through fear, to control by force what they can not by reason. They are in a state of suspense every moment, not knowing whose head may be required, nor whose castle may be assaulted by secret works of ruin in their midst. The mind wondered, when we surveyed the interior of the king’s palace. There were the earnings of the poor, and the industry of millions, profusely lavished in every apartment. Gold and silver were worked into almost all the furniture, and the tables were literally covered with riches of wonderful magnificence. “All for what?” said I. “Because he is king,” responded William. “Because he is a tyrant,” I replied. W. Why must he be a tyrant? T. Because he suffers the poor to go naked, and the hungry to starve. W. Is that tyranny? T. That is oppression, and oppression is tyranny. W. The tyrant will answer thee, and say, thou receivest thy wages, and, when thou askest more, thou art oppressive. T. But he will not say, the wages are equal to the necessity? W. No: but he will say thou didst consent to work for what thou hast agreed; and when thou askest more for thy service than what he stipulated to pay thee, thou art oppressive in thy demands. T. He will not say, that he is not oppressive when he controls the price of labor, and makes his servants work for a consideration inadequate to supply their wants? W. No: but he will say, their misfortune is not his fault. T. Then he will not utter a truth. The misfortune of one is the fault of many, and most wrongs are the fault of all. W. True. And when the king can see that his luxury is others’ poverty, and others’ poverty a wrong for which he is responsible, he will not be a king, but only an equal. The wilderness shall blossom, and the fig tree shall bear much fruit, when the mind of the king shall be converted to the clear sunlight of glory, that shines on the outer walls of this castle.