`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that bound you?'
`It was my master,' said the prisoner. `I thought I could outdo everybody in the
world in wealth and power, and I amassed in my own treasure-hose the money due
to my king. When sleep overcame me I lay upon the bad that was for my lord, and
on waking up I found I was a prisoner in my own treasure-house.'
`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that wrought this unbreakable chain?'
`It was I,' said the prisoner, `who forged this chain very carefully. I thought
my invincible power would hold the world captive leaving me in a freedom
undisturbed. Thus night and day I worked at the chain with huge fires and cruel
hard strokes. When at last the work was done and the links were complete and
unbreakable, I found that it held me in its grip.'
