The Most Precious Thing
Sailors on their voyages often point to a spot along the coast of Holland, declaring, “There lies beneath the waters a city that was once known as Stavoren. Hundreds of years ago, it was a beautiful city.” If you ask them how the city sank, they tell you this story:
The Rise of Richberta
In the city of Stavoren, many merchants engaged in trade with distant lands and islands. Among them was Richberta, a young heiress who inherited untold wealth and a well-organized business after her father’s death. She grew richer by the day, spending lavishly on the costliest gems, exquisite clothing, and rare items. Her palatial mansion became the greatest attraction in the city, and she frequently hosted extravagant banquets for merchant-princes who visited, delighting in their envy and jealousy. Indeed, no other merchant could boast such grandeur.
The Encounter with the Old Man
One day, an old man sent word that he wished to see Richberta. Initially, she dismissed his request, questioning why she should waste her time on such an ordinary individual. However, her servant informed her that the old man had traveled extensively and had heard tales of her wealth from various merchants. Intrigued by the opportunity for praise, Richberta ordered the servant to bring him to her.
After a detailed tour of her mansion, Richberta eagerly asked, “Are you satisfied with what you saw? There are more chambers if you have patience.” But the old man did not touch the lavish spread of food laid out for him. Instead, he spoke of once-magnificent cities now deserted and castles reduced to haunted ruins. Frustrated, Richberta interrupted, demanding to know if her collection of precious items had impressed him.
The Quest for the Most Precious Thing
To her shock, the old man said, “No.” This blunt response angered her, and she demanded to know why her treasures failed to impress him. The old man replied that her collection lacked the most precious thing. Unable to tolerate his insolence, Richberta ordered her servants to throw him out, but he left quietly, leaving her troubled by his words.
Richberta began questioning those knowledgeable about wealth but found no satisfying answers. Driven by curiosity, she commanded the chief captain of her fleet to search the world for what could be more precious than all that she possessed. The captain set sail with three ships in different directions while he headed forth with his own ship stocked for a long voyage.
The Captain’s Discovery
However, disaster struck after three weeks at sea when the ship encountered a violent storm, and much of the food had to be discarded to keep the ship afloat. Once the storm passed, they found that the remaining food had spoiled. Soon, hunger set in, and one crew member died. Desperate, the captain exclaimed, “I would give anything for a loaf of bread!” Luckily, they soon sighted an island, where the islanders supplied them with food. The captain realized, “I have found the answer: bread is the most precious thing.”
On the island, he gathered hundreds of bags of high-quality wheat and returned to Stavoren, eager to share his find with Richberta. But when he presented the wheat, she was furious, declaring, “You want to pass off simple wheat as the most precious thing?” She commanded her servants to throw the wheat into the sea, disregarding the captain’s explanations of its true value.
The Downfall of Stavoren
That night, as Richberta’s three ships returned to shore, they crashed into the hidden mound of wheat and sank. Soon, other ships followed, leading to rumors that Stavoren was now a cursed city. Merchants began avoiding it, and over five years, the city’s glory faded. With her wealth decimated, Richberta found no sympathy from the townspeople. In her final days, she was seen begging for a loaf of bread, having realized too late the true value of what she had lost. When a gigantic tidal wave eventually struck, the city slipped beneath the waters, a tragic end to once-great Stavoren.