The Tenth Ring (7)

"So, I explored this Bhumi Svatantra," the Moon added, "And I came to know that in another side of this land, long ago, around a thousand years ago, there was a legend about the Mystical Ten Rings, which the Nine Rings would granting longevity, except immortality, and powers and wealth, to his owner, and the Tenth Ring, could reveal to the wearer, something he has never seen before.

It is said, a mighty Lion, discovered by chance, the Mystical Ten Rings. He established his clan, conquering the Kingdom of Svatantra. He reigned and was titled as Prabhu Kusam Mukha, for he never smiled. The King's power, expanded, and he claimed to be an Emperor. Wherever the Emperor was, he had with him, his right-hand man, Gadha, the Hawk, a loyal knight and obedient to the Emperor. And instead of choosing the capable, he tend to trust the Eunuchs, those whom actually, spoiled the manners of the Empire. These Eunuchs, came from the four clans, the snakes; the wolves; the foxes; and the mice. The honest Gadha, tried to get rid of these eunuchs, but failed because they were cunning, even more powerful.

One night, in his bed, the Emperor, having not worn the Tenth Ring since the first time he found it, slowly put it on. The Emperor looked surprised and his face was pale. That night, he saw something, he had never seen before.

Next day, the Emperor issued a proclamation to all the beasts, and promised a royal reward to the one whose son, should be deemed the handsomest.

A mother monkey came with the rest and presented, with all a mother’s tenderness, a flat-nosed, hairless, ill-featured young Monkey as a candidate for the promised reward. A general laugh saluted her on the presentation of her son. She resolutely said, 'I know not whether the Emperor will allot the prize to my son, but this I do know, that he is at least in the eyes of me, his mother, the dearest, handsomest, and most beautiful of all. And one day, he will be an Emperor.' Indeed, a mother love, is blind.

Time passed, the animals had forgotten the event. And on the bank of a river, sat a monkey, whom his mother brought before the Emperor, was contemplating, and came to a conclusion, 'I have to reform the time! I've got to visit foreign climes, where men in distant regions, roaming, to bring home, politer manners.'

Instantly, he left, but instead of going through time and space, his footsteps, carried him out of the forest, and came to a city. The poor monkey was caught, and he was sold to a lady who lost his husband in a war. The Lady dressed the monkey in medieval-era costumes, including the curly, white-haired wig and clothes, like those worn in George Washington's painting.

Day by day, the monkey became a circus spectacle, and became the mistress's favourite. At length, bored with the situation, the monkey jumped up and down, twirling the lady's knots and cracked her fan. The lady kicked the monkey out of his house, who ran, as far as he could, delivering him back to the Forest. A pack of monkeys, passed by, recognized him, and said, 'Where have you been? Wow great! Look at your clothes!' while holding the hairy sylvans round him. Some astonished at his strut and dress. Some praise his sleeve and his dapper periwig. Soon, the story of the Amazing Monkey, became viral.

Meanwhile, the Emperor and his righteous right-hand man, Gadha, were hunting in the forest. Since morning until noon, they had not found the prey, they then rest in a cave. A snake, stalking the two, who was opening their supplies. With his sharp instincts, the lion growled. An Echo from a distant cave, re-growled, articulately grave. The Emperor surprised, at first, thought to think that it was another lion, 'Whose voice is that which growls at mine?' his Highness asked. The echo replied, 'Mine!' 'You,' the Lion snapped, 'Who art thou?' Echo as stern cried, 'Who art thou?' 'Know I’m a lion, hear and tremble!' replied the Enperor. Cried Echo, 'Tremble!'

'Come forth,' the Lion was getting angry, 'Show thyself!' Laconic Echo answered, 'Elf!' 'Elf, dost thou call me, vile pretender?' Echo as loud replied, 'Pretender!' At this, as jealous of his reign, he growled in rage, but the echo growled again. He became irritated, his anger was foaming up, to find the rival of his throne, who durst with him dispute the crown.

Gadha, who listened all the while, addressed the monarch with a smile. 'O the one whom I esteemed, most humbly I make bold, though truth may not be always told, that this very phantom that thou hear, that so alarms thy royal ear, is not a rival of thy throne, the voice and fears are all thyne.'

Suddenly, there was a sound of rocks crackling, the Emperor, who was starting to calm down, asked, 'Was it, an echo as well?' Gadha, aware of the danger, replied, 'No, Your majesty, that's for sure, a scout!' Immediately he stood up, and shouted, 'You who are hiding there, come out!' The snake, enraged by the Hawk's challenge, immediately came out of his hiding place. Seeing this, the Emperor panicked, immediately pounced on the snake, but missed because the grovelling reptile, dodged. The enraged Snake turned on him, and giving him a mortal sting, thus addressed the expiring hero of the forest, 'Die, imperious tyrant! And let thy example show that no strength or power is sufficient at all times to screen a despot from destruction, but that even reptiles, when provoked, may be the cause of his annihilation.' Not yet finished with his words, his life was released by Gadha's beak and sturdy grip.

In his last breath, the Emperor handed a ring to Gadha, 'Keep this, and take my body home for burial as befits an Emperor. After that, go into seclusion, and give later this tenth ring, to the seekers of justice, wait for them!' Gadha asked, 'What about the other nine rings?' For the time being, the Emperor's answer,  we'll put it off until near the end of this story.

Condolences poured in from across the forest. The Lion was death, leaving no heir, and after the funeral, the Eunuchs, started looking for the Emperor's Rings. They found nine rings on the Emperor's bed. The snake, with his deadly venom deceitfulness, the wolf with his greed, the fox with his cunning, and the mouse, with the desire to steal, rushed at the ring. The struggle was inevitable, and in the end, each got two rings, except the snake, got three, who then said, 'I am your leader, for I have three rings!'

Afterwards, they then discussed who deserved to be the new Emperor. And after a grueling argument, they came to a view that they, could not to be the chosen one. They had to find one, to become an Emperor, that they could control. The mouse gave information, 'I know the one!' Another asked, "Who is he?' The rat replied, 'It is he who the beasts know as the Amazing Monkey!' Then they finalized their plan.

In early hours, a Commission set up by the Eunuchs, announced, the so-called Emperor Election Threshold, 'In viewing etc etc... Considering etc etc... Decided, that the terms and conditions for the becoming an Emperor, that the candidates must find the Emperor's Nine Rings.'

On the appointed day, none of the animals came forward, because they could not find the Emperor's nine rings. At the great meeting of the Animals, pretending not to know the monkey, the snake asked him to dance. On this, he did so well, with a thousand funny capers and grimaces, that the Animals were carried entirely off their feet with enthusiasm. The Snake made an inquiry, 'Have you found the Nine Rings?' Confidently, the monkey replied, 'Those rings, I've handed over to you, three of them?' The Snake immediately replied, 'That's right!' while showing three rings. 'The other rings, I've handed over to the Fox, the Wolf and the Rat, two each!' The three designated animals instantly exclaimed, 'That's right!' while showing their respective rings. Then, someone shouted, 'Let's choose the monkey as our new Emperor!' In other corner, chimed in, 'Yes, he deserves to be our Emperor!' Another, suddenly shouted, 'Yes, choose him!' Still others, shouted, 'Long live monkey, the new Emperor!' and then and there, elected him their new Emperor. The Seniors, who should be wise to see the situation, were also amazed, some even said, 'Although he is not a lion, but I fell in love with him!' But the birds did not vote for the Monkey and was much disgusted with the Animals for electing so unworthy a ruler.

On the day of Coronation, the New Emperor, with the black tail behind depending, his powdered back, like hoary frost, proudly delivered his speech, 'I come to make this nation better. Weigh your own worth, support your place, to be the next in rank to human race. In cities long I passed my days, conversed with men, and learned their ways. I saw their dress and their courtly manners. Reform your state, and copy me. If you want to develop your manners, deal with flattery. Conceal it with your scorn and hate. use your friend as your private ends. If necessary, lie a lot, do not tell the truth, because the truth is bitter. Don't use your brain, use your knee, the important thing is, all flattery, flows. Be brave to embrace all forms of pretense. And you will be tested, so follow my words. You shall grow like the man of polite.' The audience, all standing, applauded, in awe.  Backstage, the fox whispered to the snake, 'What a concept speech I made!' The snake hissed, 'Yes, the content, shows who made it!'

The Commission announced that the animals had to make an oath of allegiance to the new Emperor. All animals, did, except the birds. By diplomacy, they said that, because most had taken an oath of allegiance, it was enough. After all, they want to fly freely, without any attachments. All agreed. And on the same day, as a tribute to the Seniors, they were sworn in, there were those who became advisers to the Emperor, ambassadors, or other positions, 

or facilities to develop their business, and some even got a share of a land. At firts, the animals had not realized, that all this was about something, which later, they described as the finger heart gesture, a trend that was popularized by Korean Oppa. The thumb and index finger of one hand are crossed to form a heart shape: an invisible heart is implied above it, then the two fingers, repeatedly rubbed, just like the "Pay Me" gesture.

Days passed, the animals who hoped for good developments during the reign of the new Emperor, felt many setbacks. Prices of goods are getting high and daily necessities are getting scarce,  such as cooking oil, soybeans and sugar. However, what they saw, contrary with the official reports And day by day, the condition was getting heavier. But the Emperor and his eunuchs, lived on revelry and lavish horses. And one by one, those who shouted in support of the Emperor, became important officials. The seniors, who were supposed to be giving advice, remained silent, for they were comfortable with their respective positions.

In the market, a merchant shouted, 'The Emperor deserves a prize of Cendol!' Feeling fed up with the existing situation, let alone responding, the buyers who passed by, put a brick in front of him, one by one, till it cover the merchant's face. Another trader, asked a buyer, 'What's this of action meant for?' 'The buyer replied, 'Cendol is green, and we offer a red bricks, meaning, instead of giving five stars, even one star, the answer is 'Big No!'

In fact, it was the birds who noticed that there were irregularities in the selection. Before the Coronotaion, they prepared a bit meat as a trap, and one of their members, hurrying to the future Emperor, told him, he had found a rich treasure, which he had not touched because it belonged by right to his majesty, the Monkey. The greedy Monkey followed the bird to the trap. As soon as he saw the meat, he grasped eagerly for it, only to find himself held fast in the trap. The Birds stood off and laughed, 'You pretend to be our Emperor, but cannot even take care of yourself! The true leader proves himself by his qualities.'  From then on, the birds called him 'Prabhu Chari Mukha,' and later, the birds learned that the Emperor had a hobby, collecting barbie dolls, and they called him, 'Prabhu Muchi Khari.'

Moreover, the birds wondered about the Emperor's ring, why only nine instead of ten? Finally, with great difficulty, they searched for Gadha, in exile on a mountain. At first, Gadha didn't want to meet them, but when one of them accidentally said, 'We want to seek Justice!' So, Gadha turned to them and told them what was really happened.

He also showed the tenth ring, and let each of his guests, wear it. After everyone saw something what they had never seen, Gadha said, 'Before his death, the Emperor handed this ring to me and told about the nine rings, 'Those nine rings, is a falsehood. It was a fake, I had it made by the side of the road, a metal ring plated with gold, and it had no power whatsoever. All the stories about their powers, were my own creations. I told about it to the eunuchs and they spread the lies.'

Then Gadha said, 'What you saw and experienced, like a story in the traditional Irish Drinking song, the Drunken Scotsman. Listen,

Well a Scotsman clad in kilt, left a bar one evening fair

And one could tell, by how he walked, that he'd drunk more than his share

He stumbled round, until he could no longer keep his feet

Then he stumbled off into the grass, to sleep beside the street

About that time, two young and lovely girls just happened by

And one says to the other, with a twinkle in her eye

'See yon sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built,

I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt!'

They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman, quiet as could be

Lifted up his kilt about an inch, so they could see

And there behold, for them to view, beneath his Scottish skirt

Was nothing more than God had graced him with, upon his birth

They marveled for a moment, then one said 'We must be gone!

Let's leave a present for our friend, before we move along!'

As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow

Around the bonnie star, the Scot's kilt did lift and show

Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled toward the trees

Behind a bush, he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees

And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes.
'O lad, I don't know where you been, but I see, you won first prize!'
Ring ding diddle diddle i de o ring di diddly i o

"Unfortunately," said the Moon, "I have to take my leave and go. But let me tell you about the seekers of justice, the Birds. They relentlessly echoed that the Nine Rings threshold, was unfair and should be abolished. They realize this, that what they have seen and experienced so far, is nothing but a mere Monkey Circus Show. And Allah knows best."

Citations & References :

- 'Umar S. Al Ashqar, The World of the Noble Angels, translated by Nasreddin Al-Khattab, IIPH

- 'Umar S. Al Ashqar, The World of the Jinn and Devils, translated by Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo, IIPH

- Thomas Bewick, Bewick's Select Fables, Bickers & Sons

- Samuel Croxall, D.D., Fables of Aesop and Others, Simon Probasco

- Capt. Anas Abdul-Hameed Al-Qoz, Men and The Universe - Reflections of Ibn Al-Qayyem, Darussalam

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