The Story about Painter III

There was a king who thought that he could paint very well. His pictures were bad, but the people who saw them were afraid of the king. They all said that they liked his pictures very much.

One day the king showed his pictures to a great painter who lived in his country and asked, "I want to know what you think of my pictures."

Do you like them? Am I a good painter or not?

The painter looked at the king's pictures and said, "My King, I think that your pictures are bad, and that you will never be a good painter."

The king was very angry and sent the painter to prison.

After two years, the king wanted to see the painter again.

"I was angry with you," he said, "because you did not like my pictures." Now forget all about it. You are a free man again, and I am your friend.

For many hours the king talked with the painter and even invited him to dinner.

After dinner, the king showed his new pictures to the painter and asked, "Well, how do you like them now?"

The painter did not say anything. He turned to the soldier who was standing near him and said, "Take me back to prison!"