S p i r i t ua l i t y S t u d i e s 5 - 2 Fa l l 2 0 1 9 7 5 Petr Pavlík Finally, fourth: The last thing you have to give away is your heart. Don’t worry about it.” By the time they reached the forest, it was evening. The knight took care of the horse and the hermit set a small fire. They sat on rocks, warming their feet, wet from the evening dew, and were well. There was nothing to say, the hermit stared silently into the fire, and the knight was thinking about his four hints. Suddenly there came harsh male voices from the woods behind them, and the knight’s horse began to flinch until it broke free. Several men in leather hats and high boots ran into the clearing. Before the knight and the hermit recovered, they stood tied to trees with a rag stuffed in their mouths. “That’s so you don’t think of screaming,” laughed one of the scoundrels. “So we’ve finally got him, our reward is sure,” rejoiced the one in the least ragged dress, pointing to the hermit. “Looks old, though. He shouldn’t be forty yet.” “That’s probably due to his adventurous life,” chuckled the other. “But the main thing is this cloak, you see the lining, and the stitched hole from the spear on his collar. It’s him.” “So, Knight, once again would you like to betray your robber brothers and send a king after them?” The real knight was twitching, tied to a neighbour tree, wishing to say that they accuse the hermit dressed in his clothes, and as for himself, he would gladly send the king at them again. But it was futile, the gag in his mouth held tight and to move with the handcuffs was impossible. “Then you’ll never succeed again, dear Knight, as you’re finished,” shouted the less ragged one, waving his knife in front of the hermit’s face and watching his face closely. The hermit looked at him with a mild, compassionate look, as if he had counted on everything in advance. happened. and sat down at his grave. He still couldn’t believe what had With tears in his eyes, he buried the hermit in his true robes buzzed and it became hot. perhaps he may hear his voice. It was in vain, only the flies dried them in the sun. He was also trying to call his horse; he washed his and the hermit’s clothes in the stream and damp ground, and carry the dirt out in his shield. Meanwhile, which was handy now. He could dig a grave with it in the what he could find from his belongings. He found his sword, tall grass and the surrounding bushes, he silently gathered The next morning he made his way to the fireplace. In the He thanked for being alive and fell in a deep sleep. he felt his hands, legs and ribs for anything broken. It wasn’t. head into the cool water, waiting to recover. Then, gradually, ended up lying in the moss by a small stream. He dipped his Meanwhile, the knight staggered through the trees until he to join him. and lay down comfortably by the fire. The others were happy brothers for our reward,” said the one in the better clothes, “And now let’s have a drink, guys! Tomorrow we go to them “Just run away before we think of adding you more.” a spear until they could no longer. They untied the knight from the tree and thrashed him with here that will do the job fine.” boot with undisclosed pleasure. “Look, there’s a spear lying dust his fur a little.” He laughed, kicking him with his high “As for this hermit,” he pointed at the knight, “we’ll at least king! he finally recognized it: For the face belonged to the white The hermit’s motionless face, facing the sky, was lifeless. now knight’s shield, now rolling by the hearth. The knight froze. spurted out into the distance, and one drop of it hit the through the hermit’s throat with a single long swing. Blood that’s enough!” shouted finally the scoundrel, slicing “Well, you don’t care, so we are nothing for you, so
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