The Emperor’s New Clothes

Once upon a time, there lived an Emperor who was very vain about his appearance. He loved to wear new clothes and wasted all his time and money on them. He was not bothered about being a good ruler and looking after his people or the army or anything else. Most of his time was spent dressing himself up and admiring himself in a mirror!

Many people came to the kingdom and to the capital city to see the wonderful sights there. One day, a pair of fantastic weavers also came there. They were very special weavers. They wove the most exquisite cloth with colours and designs that were unmatched anywhere in the world! But their special clothes could only be seen by extremely clever people. Those who were dull and stupid would never be able to see the clothes.
The Emperor heard of these extraordinary weavers and the fabric they were said to make. “Now this,” he thought, “is exactly what I want! If I wear clothes made of this fantastic fabric, only the clever people will see it. Then I will be able to tell the clever ones and the stupid ones apart!”

He summoned the weavers to his palace. They came and explained all about their fabric to the Emperor. He gave them a large bag of gold and asked them what they needed to make the fabric. “The finest silk, Your Majesty,” they said, “and gold and silver thread, a place to work and a loom.”
Everything they asked for was given to them and attendants were placed there to serve them. The two men began to work. News of the Emperor’s orders spread all over the kingdom and people were agog with curiosity. They waited to see what would be the result after the clothes were made.

The servants spoke in hushed voices so that the weavers at work might not be disturbed. The looms rattled day after day but whenever the servants looked in, all they saw was the empty loom!
No one dared to say that they could see nothing on the loom. They were afraid they would be thought stupid. So, they whispered to one another that the cloth was fabulous! The design was exquisite! They had never seen anything like it!
Days and weeks and a few months went by. Finally, the weavers announced that the fabric was ready. They said they would soon have the cloth made up into a wonderful suit of clothes for the Emperor. They took scissors and needles and fine threads and spent days cutting and stitching the fabric.

The suit was done! It was wrapped up with the utmost care in a treasure box and carried to the Emperor’s dressing room. The weavers opened the treasure box and held up the clothes for the Emperor to view.
“See the jacket, Your Majesty!” said one of the weavers, holding up an imaginary jacket. “The embroidery on it is exquisite. The shirt is silky and smooth and the waistcoat is like a jewel on it. And the trousers will be a perfect fit,” said one of the weavers admiringly.

“Sir, there is a cloak that will flow from your shoulders regally too!” said the other, Here it is. You will look so magnificent in this!”
The Emperor looked and looked. ‘Oh, heavens!’ he thought, ‘I can’t see a thing! Does that mean that even the smallest servant in the palace is smarter than I am?’
He stood dumbfounded for a while, wondering what to say, not daring to admit that he could see nothing. Then he said, very softly, “Er…. the dress is truly splendid! The fabric is so ….er…..delicate. Thank you!”
He stood in front of the mirror while they put the clothes on him. The trousers, the shirt, the waistcoat, the jacket and the cloak were worn. Then they stood back and walked all round the Emperor adjusting the dress and admiring him.
The Emperor gave them another bag of gold and said that they would be known as the Imperial Weavers! The two fellows bowed low and thanked the Emperor, before they took their leave. The Emperor looked into the mirror doubtfully and nervously.

The Emperor had arranged a procession to celebrate and show off his new clothes. There was a huge crowd waiting outside the palace, eager to see the Emperor in the splendid dress. The courtiers and the attendants, the servants and the soldiers were all waiting.
An attendant held up the hem of his imaginary cloak as the Emperor nervously stepped out of the room and went down the corridors and halls and then out into the street.
A great cheer went up as the people saw him coming out. Everyone hurried to comment on the dress, afraid of being thought stupid. “Wonderful dress!” “Ah, what an exquisite fabric!” “Look at the design!” “What fine embroidery!”

And then a small voice sounded, loud and clear, “But he’s not wearing anything!” There was a sudden hush and then suppressed laughter and whispers began as the crowd dissolved in laughter! The Emperor turned around and walked with great dignity back into his palace.

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