Don Juan Manuel

Count Lucanor Don Juan Manuel

Book Excerpt: ...onio proceeded: --"There was in Cordova a Moorish king, named Alhaquima, who governed his kingdom well: he studied to act with honor to himself and justice to others; indeed, he did all that was required of good kings; not only in guarding their kingdoms, but in augmenting their territories, with the view that they might receive the praises of their people; and after death be remembered for their good deeds. Yet this king gave himself up to a life of luxury and enjoyment; vice and disorder reigning in his palace. Now it happened as they played before him on an instrument which the Moors liked very much, and which they called Albogon, that the king perceived that it did not sound as well as it ought, so he took the instrument and made a hole at the lower part of it, but in the same direction as the other holes; and since that time the Albogon has given a much better sound than before."Now although this cannot be considered but as an improvement, yet it was not an act suited to the dignity of aClose...