Once there ruled in the distant city of Wirani a king who 
was both mighty and wise. And he was feared for his might and 
loved for his wisdom.
 
Now, in the heart of that city was a well, whose water was 
cool and crystalline, from which all the inhabitants drank, even 
the king and his courtiers; for there was no other well.
 
One night when all were asleep, a witch entered the city, and 
poured seven drops of strange liquid into the well, and said, 
“From this hour he who drinks this water shall become mad.”

Next morning all the inhabitants, save the king and his lord
chamberlain, drank from the well and became mad, even as 
the witch had foretold.
 
And during that day the people in the narrow streets and in 
the market places did naught but whisper to one another, “The 
king is mad. Our king and his lord chamberlain have lost their 
reason. Surely we cannot be ruled by a mad king.  We must 
dethrone him.”
 
That evening the king ordered a golden goblet to be filled 
from the well. And when it was brought to him he drank deeply, 
and gave it to his lord chamberlain to drink.
 
And there was great rejoicing in that distant city of Wirani,
because its king and its lord chamberlain had regained their 
reason.