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The Three Questions
By Ms. Bommagani Uma, B. Tech (CSE)- 20UP1A05B7
King John was the King of England. He did not like On the way he met his shepherd boy.
anyone else to look richer than himself. The Abbot The shepherd asked the Abbot, “Why are you
of Canterbury was rich. He was enjoying luxurious looking so sad, my master?" “My dear shepherd,
life. The King did not like the Abbot. He was in great the King has set three questions for me. I have to
anger. He sent his soldiers to bring the Abbot. The find answers to his satisfaction, or else die for
soldiers brought him before the King. The King plotting against the King. The questions are
asked, “Who is greater? The King or an Abbot? difficult. I have only three days more," replied the
Then how bold of you to enjoy much better than Abbot.
the king? You are plotting to become the King of The shepherd said, “My Lord, let me go in your
England. It is a crime. Therefore you must die. place. I shall meet the King. I shall answer the three
"The Abbot was greatly frightened. He said very questions to his satisfaction." Then he added,
humbly. “Your Majesty, I have never used others' “People say I look very much like you. Therefore
money for my use. Is it a crime to spend my own permit me to wear your dress. The king will not be
money for my needs?" “Yes," replied the King. Then able to find out."The Abbot agreed. Immediately
he added, “It is a crime to live grander than the the shepherd put on the Abbot's dress. He exactly
King." The Abbot trembled in fear. The King looked like the Abbot. He then went to meet the
continued. “But I shall give you a chance to get King. The King had not expected the Abbot so
pardon. Answer my three questions correctly to my soon. He was not able to find the difference. He
satisfaction." Then he gave out the three said, “I am happy, Abbot. You have kept your
questions. promises. Now are ready with the answers?" The
1. Tell me how much I am worth? shepherd in the Abbot's dress replied, “Yes, Your
Majesty. I shall try to answer to the best of my
2. How long will it take for me to go around the
ability.”
world?
The King asked, “What am I worth? I am the King of
3. What I am thinking now?
England." “Your Majesty," replied the shepherd,
The Abbot listened. His confusion and fear “according to the Bible, Jesus, the King of Heaven
increased rapidly. He could not speak. Finally he and Earth, was sold for thirty pence. Your worth Then he looks seriously at the shepherd. He said, The King was not at all angry. He started laughing.
begged for time to answer. Three weeks were must be one pence less. It should be twenty nine “Tell me quickly. What am I thinking now?" “Sire, And he laughed for a long time. Finally he said, “I
given. The Abbot left the palace in a dejected pence. "The King had a sense of humor. He started you are thinking I am the Abbot. But I am not the am pleased with your intelligence. I shall make you
mood. laughing. After some time, he gave out second Abbot. I am only his poor shepherd. I have come to the Abbot." But the shepherd said, “Your Majesty. I
On the way, he went into Oxford University and question. “How soon can I ride around the world?" ask pardon for the Abbot and for myself." Then he can not read and write. I can not become an
Cambridge University. He met great professors The shepherd said, “Your Majesty, you must rise quickly removed the Abbot's dress. Now he looked Abbot." The King said, “Then you shall receive a
and learned men. He asked them for answers to with the Sun, ride with it the whole night. In this like a shepherd. He knelt down before the King for pound a week as long as you live. Go home and tell
these three questions. They were not able to find way, you will be able to go round the world in pardon. the Abbot. I have forgiven him.
the suitable answers. He was returning home twenty four hours." Again the King had a merry
safely. laugh.
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