The Most Precious Thing in the World A Dutch Legend
Told by Aaron Shepard
Printed in Cricket, Nov. 1993, and Australia’s School Magazine, Feb. 1997
The old sea captain was not sure he had heard right. “What did you say, my Lady?”
The Lady stopped pacing about her parlor and looked at the captain in annoyance. Many were the merchants rich and proud in this great port city of Stavoren. But this woman, called by everyone “the Lady of Stavoren,” was richest and proudest of them all.
“I said I want to hire you and your ship to bring me the most precious thing in the world.”
“But what is the most precious thing?” asked the captain. “And where do I find it?”
“If I knew,” said the Lady coldly, “I would already have obtained it. I ask you to discover and bring it to me. I will make sure you have ample gold to buy it, whatever it turns out to be.”
“Forgive me, my Lady,” said the captain, “but I still don’t understand.”
The Lady sat facing him. “Look around you, Captain. Have you seen a more magnificent mansion?”
“Never, my Lady.”
“I spared no expense to build it, and I have filled it with the most costly items from all the ports visited by my ships. Yet whatever I do, my rival merchants find a way to copy me.
“I must show them once and for all that I am their better. That is why you must bring me the most precious thing in the world. I’ve chosen you for the job because it needs someone of your experience. Of course, I will pay you handsomely.”
“Thank you, my Lady. I will do my best.”
“You had better, dear Captain. If you fail, you and your ship will never find work in Stavoren again.”
The next day, the captain sailed from Stavoren, in search of the most precious thing in the world.
Months passed. Everyone in Stavoren knew of the captain’s quest. Wherever the Lady went, she heard people guessing what the most precious thing would be.
“A pearl as big as an egg,” said one.
“No, a magnificent gown,” said another.
“No, a marvelous statue,” said still another.
The Lady was delighted at the stir she was causing. “And how they will envy me,” she said to herself, “when they see what the captain brings!”
At long last, the captain’s ship was sighted entering the harbor. The people of Stavoren streamed to the dock. When the Lady arrived, dressed in her finest, they made way for her.
The captain’s ship was just docking. “My Lady,” he called, “I have brought what you desired! The most precious thing in the world!”
“What is it, Captain?” called back the Lady, barely able to hold in her excitement.
“I visited many ports in many lands,” said the captain. “I saw many wonderful things. None could I say was the most precious of all. But at last, in the city of Danzig, I came across it. Then I laughed at myself! I should have known it from the first!”
“But what is it?” said the Lady impatiently.
“Wheat!” cried the captain. “My ship is filled with wheat!”
“Wheat?” said the Lady. Her face grew white. Behind her, she heard murmurs from the crowd, and laughing. “Did you say wheat?”
“Yes, my Lady,” said the captain joyously. “What could be more precious, more valuable, than wheat? Without our daily bread, what good are all the treasures of the world?”
The Lady was silent for a moment, listening to the whispers and snickers of the crowd. “And this wheat is all mine, is it not? To do with as I like?”
“Of course, my Lady,” said the captain.
“Then,” said the Lady, “pour it into the harbor.”
“What?” said the captain. Now his own face was white.
“Pour it into the harbor! Every grain of it!”
Murmurs of horror and approval both rose up behind her.
“My Lady,” said the captain, “please consider what you say. There is wheat enough here to feed a city! If you have no use for it, then give it to the poor and hungry. After all, you too may someday be in need!”
“I?” shrieked the Lady. “In need?”
She plucked from her finger a ruby ring and held it high. “This ring will return to my hand before I am ever in need!”
With all her might, she flung it far into the harbor.
Printed in Cricket, Nov. 1993, and Australia’s School Magazine, Feb. 1997
The old sea captain was not sure he had heard right. “What did you say, my Lady?”
The Lady stopped pacing about her parlor and looked at the captain in annoyance. Many were the merchants rich and proud in this great port city of Stavoren. But this woman, called by everyone “the Lady of Stavoren,” was richest and proudest of them all.
“I said I want to hire you and your ship to bring me the most precious thing in the world.”
“But what is the most precious thing?” asked the captain. “And where do I find it?”
“If I knew,” said the Lady coldly, “I would already have obtained it. I ask you to discover and bring it to me. I will make sure you have ample gold to buy it, whatever it turns out to be.”
“Forgive me, my Lady,” said the captain, “but I still don’t understand.”
The Lady sat facing him. “Look around you, Captain. Have you seen a more magnificent mansion?”
“Never, my Lady.”
“I spared no expense to build it, and I have filled it with the most costly items from all the ports visited by my ships. Yet whatever I do, my rival merchants find a way to copy me.
“I must show them once and for all that I am their better. That is why you must bring me the most precious thing in the world. I’ve chosen you for the job because it needs someone of your experience. Of course, I will pay you handsomely.”
“Thank you, my Lady. I will do my best.”
“You had better, dear Captain. If you fail, you and your ship will never find work in Stavoren again.”
The next day, the captain sailed from Stavoren, in search of the most precious thing in the world.
Months passed. Everyone in Stavoren knew of the captain’s quest. Wherever the Lady went, she heard people guessing what the most precious thing would be.
“A pearl as big as an egg,” said one.
“No, a magnificent gown,” said another.
“No, a marvelous statue,” said still another.
The Lady was delighted at the stir she was causing. “And how they will envy me,” she said to herself, “when they see what the captain brings!”
At long last, the captain’s ship was sighted entering the harbor. The people of Stavoren streamed to the dock. When the Lady arrived, dressed in her finest, they made way for her.
The captain’s ship was just docking. “My Lady,” he called, “I have brought what you desired! The most precious thing in the world!”
“What is it, Captain?” called back the Lady, barely able to hold in her excitement.
“I visited many ports in many lands,” said the captain. “I saw many wonderful things. None could I say was the most precious of all. But at last, in the city of Danzig, I came across it. Then I laughed at myself! I should have known it from the first!”
“But what is it?” said the Lady impatiently.
“Wheat!” cried the captain. “My ship is filled with wheat!”
“Wheat?” said the Lady. Her face grew white. Behind her, she heard murmurs from the crowd, and laughing. “Did you say wheat?”
“Yes, my Lady,” said the captain joyously. “What could be more precious, more valuable, than wheat? Without our daily bread, what good are all the treasures of the world?”
The Lady was silent for a moment, listening to the whispers and snickers of the crowd. “And this wheat is all mine, is it not? To do with as I like?”
“Of course, my Lady,” said the captain.
“Then,” said the Lady, “pour it into the harbor.”
“What?” said the captain. Now his own face was white.
“Pour it into the harbor! Every grain of it!”
Murmurs of horror and approval both rose up behind her.
“My Lady,” said the captain, “please consider what you say. There is wheat enough here to feed a city! If you have no use for it, then give it to the poor and hungry. After all, you too may someday be in need!”
“I?” shrieked the Lady. “In need?”
She plucked from her finger a ruby ring and held it high. “This ring will return to my hand before I am ever in need!”
With all her might, she flung it far into the harbor.
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