
In this thoughtful tale a sovereign stands on his palace terrace, gazing over a glittering sea, wrestling with the age‑old question of what it means to wield temporal power. The narrator weaves grand reflections on creation, the fleeting nature of human empires, and the relentless force of the natural world that ultimately outlasts even the most ambitious dynasties. As the king watches yachts slice the water and the scent of violets drifts on the breeze, his mind drifts from idle contemplation to a restless yearning for purpose.
The story follows his inner struggle as he confronts the paradox of authority—whether to bend to the immutable laws of the universe or to defy them in pursuit of lasting legacy. Through vivid descriptions of the sea’s shifting light and the subtle perfume of gardens, the narrative invites listeners to explore the tension between material ambition and a deeper, perhaps spiritual, fulfillment. Early in his journey, the monarch’s choices set the stage for a confrontation that will test the limits of his power and his understanding of destiny.
Language
en
Duration
~19 hours (1131K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Text file produced by Charles Adarondo and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team HTML file produced by David Widger
Release date
2004-11-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1855–1924
A Victorian bestseller with a flair for the mystical and dramatic, this once wildly popular novelist captivated huge audiences from the 1880s into the early 20th century. Her books mixed romance, spirituality, and social criticism in a way that won devoted readers even as critics often pushed back.
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