Andersen's Fairy Tales
Hans Christian Andersen
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THE EMPEROR'S NEW
CLOTHES
Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so
excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his
money in dress. He did not trouble himself in the least
about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the
theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then
afforded him for displaying his new clothes. He had a
different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any other
king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, 'he is sitting in
council,' it was always said of him, 'The Emperor is sitting
in his wardrobe.'
Time passed merrily in the large town which was his
capital; strangers arrived every day at the court. One day,
two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their
appearance. They gave out that they knew how to weave
stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns,
the clothes manufactured from which should have the
wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone
who was unfit for the office he held, or who was
extraordinarily simple in character.
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'These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!' thought the
Emperor. 'Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what
men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be
able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! This stuff
must be woven for me immediately.' And he caused large
sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order
that they might begin their work directly.
So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and
affected to work very busily, though in reality they did
nothing at all. They asked for the most delicate silk and
the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks;
and then continued their pretended work at the empty
looms until late at night.
'I should like to know how the weavers are getting on
with my cloth,' said the Emperor to himself, after some
little time had elapsed; he was, however, rather
embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or
one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the
