TheLadyOrTheTiger?

FrankStockton
Intheveryoldentimetherelivedasemibarbaricking,whoseideas,thoughsomewhatpolished
andsharpenedbytheprogressivenessofdistantLatinneighbors,werestilllarge,florid,and
untrammeled,asbecamethehalfofhimwhichwasbarbaric.Hewasamanofexuberantfancy,
and,withal,ofanauthoritysoirresistiblethat,athiswill,heturnedhisvariedfanciesintofacts.
Hewasgreatlygiventoselfcommuning,and,whenheandhimselfagreeduponanything,the
thingwasdone.Wheneverymemberofhisdomesticandpoliticalsystemsmovedsmoothlyin
itsappointedcourse,hisnaturewasblandandgenialbut,whenevertherewasalittlehitch,and
someofhisorbsgotoutoftheirorbits,hewasblanderandmoregenialstill,fornothingpleased
himsomuchastomakethecrookedstraightandcrushdownunevenplaces.

Amongtheborrowednotionsbywhichhisbarbarismhadbecomesemifiedwasthatof

thepublicarena,inwhich,byexhibitionsofmanlyandbeastlyvalor,themindsofhissubjects
wererefinedandcultured.

Butevenheretheexuberantandbarbaricfancyasserteditself.Thearenaoftheking

wasbuilt,nottogivethepeopleanopportunityofhearingtherhapsodiesofdyinggladiators,
nortoenablethemtoviewtheinevitableconclusionofaconflictbetweenreligiousopinionsand
hungryjaws,butforpurposesfarbetteradaptedtowidenanddevelopthementalenergiesof
thepeople.Thisvastamphitheater,withitsencirclinggalleries,itsmysteriousvaults,andits
unseenpassages,wasanagentofpoeticjustice,inwhichcrimewaspunished,orvirtue
rewarded,bythedecreesofanimpartialandincorruptiblechance.

Whenasubjectwasaccusedofacrimeofsufficientimportancetointeresttheking,

publicnoticewasgiventhatonanappointeddaythefateoftheaccusedpersonwouldbe
decidedintheking'sarena,astructurewhichwelldeserveditsname,for,althoughitsformand
planwereborrowedfromafar,itspurposeemanatedsolelyfromthebrainofthisman,who,
everybarleycornaking,knewnotraditiontowhichheowedmoreallegiancethanpleasedhis
fancy,andwhoengraftedoneveryadoptedformofhumanthoughtandactiontherichgrowthof
hisbarbaricidealism.
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Whenallthepeoplehadassembledinthegalleries,andtheking,surroundedbyhis

court,sathighuponhisthroneofroyalstateononesideofthearena,hegaveasignal,adoor
beneathhimopened,andtheaccusedsubjectsteppedoutintotheamphitheater.Directly
oppositehim,ontheothersideoftheenclosedspace,weretwodoors,exactlyalikeandsideby
side.Itwasthedutyandtheprivilegeofthepersonontrialtowalkdirectlytothesedoorsand
openoneofthem.Hecouldopeneitherdoorhepleasedhewassubjecttonoguidanceor
influencebutthatoftheaforementionedimpartialandincorruptiblechance.Ifheopenedthe
one,therecameoutofitahungrytiger,thefiercestandmostcruelthatcouldbeprocured,
whichimmediatelyspranguponhimandtorehimtopiecesasapunishmentforhisguilt.The
momentthatthecaseofthecriminalwasthusdecided,dolefulironbellswereclanged,great
wailswentupfromthehiredmournerspostedontheouterrimofthearena,andthevast
audience,withbowedheadsanddowncasthearts,wendedslowlytheirhomewardway,
mourninggreatlythatonesoyoungandfair,orsooldandrespected,shouldhavemeritedso
direafate.

But,iftheaccusedpersonopenedtheotherdoor,therecameforthfromitalady,the

mostsuitabletohisyearsandstationthathismajestycouldselectamonghisfairsubjects,and
tothisladyhewasimmediatelymarried,asarewardofhisinnocence.Itmatterednotthathe
mightalreadypossessawifeandfamily,orthathisaffectionsmightbeengageduponanobject
ofhisownselectionthekingallowednosuchsubordinatearrangementstointerferewithhis
greatschemeofretributionandreward.Theexercises,asintheotherinstance,tookplace
immediately,andinthearena.Anotherdooropenedbeneaththeking,andapriest,followedby
abandofchoristers,anddancingmaidensblowingjoyousairsongoldenhornsandtreadingan
epithalamicmeasure,advancedtowherethepairstood,sidebyside,andtheweddingwas
promptlyandcheerilysolemnized.Thenthegaybrassbellsrangforththeirmerrypeals,the
peopleshoutedgladhurrahs,andtheinnocentman,precededbychildrenstrewingflowerson
hispath,ledhisbridetohishome.
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Thiswastheking'ssemibarbaricmethodofadministeringjustice.Itsperfectfairnessis

obvious.Thecriminalcouldnotknowoutofwhichdoorwouldcometheladyheopenedeither

hepleased,withouthavingtheslightestideawhether,inthenextinstant,hewastobedevoured
ormarried.Onsomeoccasionsthetigercameoutofonedoor,andonsomeoutoftheother.
Thedecisionsofthistribunalwerenotonlyfair,theywerepositivelydeterminate:theaccused
personwasinstantlypunishedifhefoundhimselfguilty,and,ifinnocent,hewasrewardedon
thespot,whetherhelikeditornot.Therewasnoescapefromthejudgmentsoftheking's
arena.

Theinstitutionwasaverypopularone.Whenthepeoplegatheredtogetherononeofthe

greattrialdays,theyneverknewwhethertheyweretowitnessabloodyslaughterorahilarious
wedding.Thiselementofuncertaintylentaninteresttotheoccasionwhichitcouldnot
otherwisehaveattained.Thus,themasseswereentertainedandpleased,andthethinkingpart
ofthecommunitycouldbringnochargeofunfairnessagainstthisplan,fordidnottheaccused
personhavethewholematterinhisownhands?

Thissemibarbarickinghadadaughterasbloomingashismostfloridfancies,andwith

asoulasferventandimperiousashisown.Asisusualinsuchcases,shewastheappleofhis
eye,andwaslovedbyhimaboveallhumanity.Amonghiscourtierswasayoungmanofthat
finenessofbloodandlownessofstationcommontotheconventionalheroesofromancewho
loveroyalmaidens.Thisroyalmaidenwaswellsatisfiedwithherlover,forhewashandsome
andbravetoadegreeunsurpassedinallthiskingdom,andshelovedhimwithanardorthat
hadenoughofbarbarisminittomakeitexceedinglywarmandstrong.Thisloveaffairmoved
onhappilyformanymonths,untilonedaythekinghappenedtodiscoveritsexistence.Hedid
nothesitatenorwaverinregardtohisdutyinthepremises.Theyouthwasimmediatelycast
intoprison,andadaywasappointedforhistrialintheking'sarena.This,ofcourse,wasan
especiallyimportantoccasion,andhismajesty,aswellasallthepeople,wasgreatlyinterested
intheworkingsanddevelopmentofthistrial.Neverbeforehadsuchacaseoccurrednever
beforehadasubjectdaredtolovethedaughteroftheking.Inafteryearssuchthingsbecame
commonplaceenough,butthentheywereinnoslightdegreenovelandstartling.
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Thetigercagesofthekingdomweresearchedforthemostsavageandrelentless

beasts,fromwhichthefiercestmonstermightbeselectedforthearenaandtheranksof

maidenyouthandbeautythroughoutthelandwerecarefullysurveyedbycompetentjudgesin
orderthattheyoungmanmighthaveafittingbrideincasefatedidnotdetermineforhima
differentdestiny.Ofcourse,everybodyknewthatthedeedwithwhichtheaccusedwascharged
hadbeendone.Hehadlovedtheprincess,andneitherhe,she,noranyoneelse,thoughtof
denyingthefactbutthekingwouldnotthinkofallowinganyfactofthiskindtointerferewiththe
workingsofthetribunal,inwhichhetooksuchgreatdelightandsatisfaction.Nomatterhowthe
affairturnedout,theyouthwouldbedisposedof,andthekingwouldtakeanaestheticpleasure
inwatchingthecourseofevents,whichwoulddeterminewhetherornottheyoungmanhad
donewronginallowinghimselftolovetheprincess.

Theappointeddayarrived.Fromfarandnearthepeoplegathered,andthrongedthe

greatgalleriesofthearena,andcrowds,unabletogainadmittance,massedthemselvesagainst
itsoutsidewalls.Thekingandhiscourtwereintheirplaces,oppositethetwindoors,those
fatefulportals,soterribleintheirsimilarity.

Allwasready.Thesignalwasgiven.Adoorbeneaththeroyalpartyopened,andthe

loveroftheprincesswalkedintothearena.Tall,beautiful,fair,hisappearancewasgreetedwith
alowhumofadmirationandanxiety.Halftheaudiencehadnotknownsograndayouthhad
livedamongthem.Nowondertheprincesslovedhim!Whataterriblethingforhimtobethere!

Astheyouthadvancedintothearenaheturned,asthecustomwas,tobowtotheking,

buthedidnotthinkatallofthatroyalpersonage.Hiseyeswerefixedupontheprincess,who
sattotherightofherfather.Haditnotbeenforthemoietyofbarbarisminhernatureitis
probablethatladywouldnothavebeenthere,butherintenseandfervidsoulwouldnotallow
hertobeabsentonanoccasioninwhichshewassoterriblyinterested.Fromthemomentthat
thedecreehadgoneforththatherlovershoulddecidehisfateintheking'sarena,shehad
thoughtofnothing,nightorday,butthisgreateventandthevarioussubjectsconnectedwithit.
Possessedofmorepower,influence,andforceofcharacterthananyonewhohadeverbefore
beeninterestedinsuchacase,shehaddonewhatnootherpersonhaddoneshehad
possessedherselfofthesecretofthedoors.Sheknewinwhichofthetworooms,thatlay
behindthosedoors,stoodthecageofthetiger,withitsopenfront,andinwhichwaitedthelady.
Throughthesethickdoors,heavilycurtainedwithskinsontheinside,itwasimpossiblethatany
noiseorsuggestionshouldcomefromwithintothepersonwhoshouldapproachtoraisethe

latchofoneofthem.Butgold,andthepowerofawoman'swill,hadbroughtthesecrettothe
princess.
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Andnotonlydidsheknowinwhichroomstoodtheladyreadytoemerge,allblushing

andradiant,shouldherdoorbeopened,butsheknewwhotheladywas.Itwasoneofthe
fairestandloveliestofthedamselsofthecourtwhohadbeenselectedastherewardofthe
accusedyouth,shouldhebeprovedinnocentofthecrimeofaspiringtoonesofarabovehim
andtheprincesshatedher.Oftenhadsheseen,orimaginedthatshehadseen,thisfair
creaturethrowingglancesofadmirationuponthepersonofherlover,andsometimesshe
thoughttheseglanceswereperceived,andevenreturned.Nowandthenshehadseenthem
talkingtogetheritwasbutforamomentortwo,butmuchcanbesaidinabriefspaceitmay
havebeenonmostunimportanttopics,buthowcouldsheknowthat?Thegirlwaslovely,but
shehaddaredtoraisehereyestothelovedoneoftheprincessand,withalltheintensityofthe
savagebloodtransmittedtoherthroughlonglinesofwhollybarbaricancestors,shehatedthe
womanwhoblushedandtrembledbehindthatsilentdoor.

Whenherloverturnedandlookedather,andhiseyemethersasshesatthere,paler

andwhiterthananyoneinthevastoceanofanxiousfacesabouther,hesaw,bythatpowerof
quickperceptionwhichisgiventothosewhosesoulsareone,thatsheknewbehindwhichdoor
crouchedthetiger,andbehindwhichstoodthelady.Hehadexpectedhertoknowit.He
understoodhernature,andhissoulwasassuredthatshewouldneverrestuntilshehadmade
plaintoherselfthisthing,hiddentoallotherlookerson,eventotheking.Theonlyhopeforthe
youthinwhichtherewasanyelementofcertaintywasbaseduponthesuccessoftheprincess
indiscoveringthismysteryandthemomenthelookeduponher,hesawshehadsucceeded,
asinhissoulheknewshewouldsucceed.

Thenitwasthathisquickandanxiousglanceaskedthequestion:"Which?"Itwasas

plaintoherasifheshouteditfromwherehestood.Therewasnotaninstanttobelost.The
questionwasaskedinaflashitmustbeansweredinanother.
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Herrightarmlayonthecushionedparapetbeforeher.Sheraisedherhand,andmadea

slight,quickmovementtowardtheright.Noonebutherloversawher.Everyeyebuthiswas
fixedonthemaninthearena.

Heturned,andwithafirmandrapidstephewalkedacrosstheemptyspace.Every

heartstoppedbeating,everybreathwasheld,everyeyewasfixedimmovablyuponthatman.
Withouttheslightesthesitation,hewenttothedoorontheright,andopenedit.

Now,thepointofthestoryisthis:Didthetigercomeoutofthatdoor,ordidthelady?

Themorewereflectuponthisquestion,theharderitistoanswer.Itinvolvesastudyof

thehumanheartwhichleadsusthroughdeviousmazesofpassion,outofwhichitisdifficultto
findourway.Thinkofit,fairreader,notasifthedecisionofthequestiondependedupon
yourself,butuponthathotblooded,semibarbaricprincess,hersoulatawhiteheatbeneaththe
combinedfiresofdespairandjealousy.Shehadlosthim,butwhoshouldhavehim?

Howoften,inherwakinghoursandinherdreams,hadshestartedinwildhorror,and

coveredherfacewithherhandsasshethoughtofherloveropeningthedoorontheotherside
ofwhichwaitedthecruelfangsofthetiger!

Buthowmuchoftenerhadsheseenhimattheotherdoor!Howinhergrievousreveries

hadshegnashedherteeth,andtornherhair,whenshesawhisstartofrapturousdelightashe
openedthedoorofthelady!Howhersoulhadburnedinagonywhenshehadseenhimrushto
meetthatwoman,withherflushingcheekandsparklingeyeoftriumphwhenshehadseenhim
leadherforth,hiswholeframekindledwiththejoyofrecoveredlifewhenshehadheardthe
gladshoutsfromthemultitude,andthewildringingofthehappybellswhenshehadseenthe
priest,withhisjoyousfollowers,advancetothecouple,andmakethemmanandwifebefore
herveryeyesandwhenshehadseenthemwalkawaytogetherupontheirpathofflowers,
followedbythetremendousshoutsofthehilariousmultitude,inwhichheronedespairingshriek
waslostanddrowned!
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Woulditnotbebetterforhimtodieatonce,andgotowaitforherintheblessedregions

ofsemibarbaricfuturity?

Andyet,thatawfultiger,thoseshrieks,thatblood!

Herdecisionhadbeenindicatedinaninstant,butithadbeenmadeafterdaysand

nightsofanguisheddeliberation.Shehadknownshewouldbeasked,shehaddecidedwhat
shewouldanswer,and,withouttheslightesthesitation,shehadmovedherhandtotheright.

Thequestionofherdecisionisonenottobelightlyconsidered,anditisnotformeto

presumetosetmyselfupastheonepersonabletoanswerit.AndsoIleaveitwithallofyou:
Whichcameoutoftheopeneddoorthelady,orthetiger?