Light Only Where Light Is
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Warum kommst du, da wir Licht haben? fragte der goldene König. – Ihr wißt, daß ich das Dunkle nicht erleuchten darf. – Endigt sich mein Reich? fragte der silberne König. – Spät oder nie, versetzte der Alte.
Why do you come, since we have light? asked the golden king. You know that I may not illuminate the dark. Does my realm end? asked the silver king. Late or never, replied the old man.
The golden and silver kings question the newcomer, who explains the limit of his lamp.
<p>The golden king's question has an edge: why come, since we have light? The old man's answer states the single rule that governs his lamp through the whole tale. Ihr wißt, you know, he begins, as if repeating an old law: he may bring no light into the dark. The silver king then asks whether his realm will end, and receives spät oder nie, late or never.</p><p>The undercurrent is the strange manners of this light. It refuses to force its way into what is closed; it can only add to what is already open. The concrete detail is that soothing double answer, late or never, which reassures the silver king while telling him nothing. The old man measures out exactly as much as each question can hold.</p>
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