A mighty king fell ill with a strange sickness and melancholy, and no longer knew what he loved or desired in this world. The great king began to wither away, and the court dignitaries and advisors were concerned and tried to figure out how to cure him of this affliction that struck both the poor and the wealthy. After lengthy deliberations among physicians and astrologers, a remedy was prescribed: the king would recover the moment he put on a shirt of a happy man. Many emissary groups set out into the world in search of a happy man. The envoys walked through villages and towns, visited estates and huts, and wherever they found a man who did not appear frightened, scowling, or sorrowful, they asked him if he was a happy man. Yet, they always received a negative answer – everyone in this world had been struck by something that made them feel unhappy – be it the lack of offspring, the loss of family to illness, poverty, fear for their wealth, loneliness, or living with people they did not love. Or maybe it was because he loved people who didn’t live with him… After the envoys had searched everything and were returning to the capital tired and puzzled, they heard someone merrily singing. They asked him about the reason for his happiness. “I have no reason,” the man replied, “I sing simply because I am happy.” Upon hearing this, the king’s envoys burst into applause and rushed towards the man to quickly take off his shirt. But there! The joyful man had no shirt.
Selected by: Vesna Bosnar
From the book: Vesna Krmpotić, The Shirt of the Happy Man