Hans Christian Andersens Fairy Tales | Page 4

old
man, opening his eyes very wide. "I cannot discover the least bit of thread on the looms."
However, he did not express his thoughts aloud.
The impostors requested him very courteously to be so good as to come nearer their
looms; and then asked him whether the design pleased him, and whether the colors were
not very beautiful; at the same time pointing to the empty frames. The poor old minister
looked and looked, he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very good reason,
viz: there was nothing there. "What!" thought he again. "Is it possible that I am a
simpleton? I have never thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am so. Can
it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, that must not be said either. I will never confess
that I could not see the stuff."
"Well, Sir Minister!" said one of the knaves, still pretending to work. "You do not say
whether the stuff pleases you."
"Oh, it is excellent!" replied the old minister, looking at the loom through his spectacles.
"This pattern, and the colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay, how very
beautiful I think them."
"We shall be much obliged to you," said the impostors, and then they named the different
colors and described the pattern of the pretended stuff. The old minister listened
attentively to their words, in order that he might repeat them to the Emperor; and then the
knaves asked for more silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete what they
had begun. However, they put all that was given them into their knapsacks; and continued
to work with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty looms.
The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to see how the men were getting on,
and to ascertain whether the cloth would soon be ready. It was just the same with this
gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed the looms on all sides, but could see nothing
at all but the empty frames.
"Does not the stuff appear as beautiful to you, as it did to my lord the minister?" asked
the impostors of the Emperor's second ambassador; at the same time making the same
gestures as before, and talking of the design and colors which were not there.
"I certainly am not stupid!" thought the messenger. "It must be, that I am not fit for my
good, profitable office! That is very odd; however, no one shall know anything about it."
And accordingly he praised the stuff he could not see, and declared that he was delighted
with both colors and patterns. "Indeed, please your Imperial Majesty," said he to his
sovereign when he returned, "the cloth which the weavers are preparing is extraordinarily

magnificent."
The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which the Emperor had ordered to be
woven at his own expense.
And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costly manufacture, while it was still in
the loom. Accompanied by a select number of officers of the court, among whom were
the two honest men who had already admired the cloth, he went to the crafty impostors,
who, as soon as they were aware of the Emperor's approach, went on working more
diligently than ever; although they still did not pass a single thread through the looms.
"Is not the work absolutely magnificent?" said the two officers of the crown, already
mentioned. "If your Majesty will only be pleased to look at it! What a splendid design!
What glorious colors!" and at the same time they pointed to the empty frames; for they
imagined that everyone else could see this exquisite piece of workmanship.
"How is this?" said the Emperor to himself. "I can see nothing! This is indeed a terrible
affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor? That would be the worst thing
that could happen--Oh! the cloth is charming," said he, aloud. "It has my complete
approbation." And he smiled most graciously, and looked closely at the empty looms; for
on no account would he say that he could not see what two of the officers of his court had
praised so much. All his retinue now strained their eyes, hoping to discover something on
the looms, but they could see no more than the others; nevertheless, they all exclaimed,
"Oh, how beautiful!" and advised his majesty to have some new clothes made from this
splendid material, for the approaching procession. "Magnificent! Charming! Excellent!"
resounded on all sides; and everyone was uncommonly gay. The Emperor shared in the
general satisfaction; and presented the impostors with the riband of an order of
knighthood, to be worn in their button-holes,