Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 9, 1895 - Romances Volume II

IN WHICH THE PRINCE
humbly appears to me, if that Prince was to labour
on his throne, as I have laboured and wrought in my
farm, he would find both an increase and a blessing.'
' I believe with you, sir,' Otto said ; 'and yet the
parallel is inexact. For the farmer's life is natural
and simple ; but the prince's is both artificial and
complicated. It is easy to do right in the one, and
exceedingly difficult not to do wrong in the other.
If your crop is blighted, you can take off your
bonnet and say, " God's will be done " ; but if the
prince meets with a reverse, he may have to blame
himself for the attempt. And perhaps, if all the
kings in Europe were to confine themselves to
innocent amusement, the subjects would be the
better off.'
* Ay,' said the young man Fritz, ' you are in the
right of it there. That was a true word spoken.
And I see you are like me, a good patriot and an
enemy to princes.'
Otto was somewhat abashed at this deduction,
and he made haste to change his ground. 'But,'
said he, 'you surprise me by what you say of this
Prince Otto. I have heard him, I must own, more
favourably painted. I was told he was, in his heart,
a good fellow, and the enemy of no one but himself
' And so he is, sir,' said the girl, ' a very handsome,
pleasant prince ; and we know some who would shed
their blood for him.'
' O ! Kuno ! ' said Fritz. ' An ignoramus ! '
' Ay, Kuno, to be sure,' quavered the old farmer.
'■ Well, since this gentleman is a stranger to these
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