How to Test an Armour

A craftsman earned his livelihood by creating armours for soldiers. One day, he fashioned a strong suit of armour and brought it to the king, hoping to receive a handsome price for it.

“Let me see how strong your armour is,” said the king. He placed the armour around a stone and struck it with an iron hammer, causing it to crack.

Disheartened by the outcome, the craftsman returned home. When his son, a soldier, heard about the incident, he decided to take another armour, also made by his father, to the king, offering to sell it to him.

The king intended to test this new armour by placing it around the stone once again. However, the soldier intervened, saying, “My Lord, the armour is meant for soldiers, not for stones. If you wish to test it, please do so while it is on my person.” He then donned the armour.

As the king unsheathed his sword and prepared to strike the soldier’s armour, the soldier quickly drew his own sword, ready to defend himself. The king grew annoyed but the soldier calmly responded, “Why, my lord, should the armour be used by someone who would willingly expose themselves to an enemy’s strike? Isn’t an armour meant for a soldier who knows how to protect himself?”

The king fell silent, reflecting on the soldier’s words. Ultimately, he paid the fair price for the armour and rewarded the clever soldier for his insight.