“Observe the most vibrant of colours! Profound purples, bubbling blues, ravenous reds, and gleaming golds!” both brothers shouted in unison.
Now, the emperor certainly did not observe the most vibrant of colours. He saw no purple; he saw no blue; and he saw no ravenous red or gleaming gold; all that the emperor saw was the reflection of his own nakedness.
“Of course, you surely see the finest outfit in the land?” urged the first Lesaew brother.
“Oh, brother – he must! Only the most POWERFUL of men can see it!” urged the second further.
Not wanting his empire to think of him as a powerless man, the emperor replied, “How splendid! How wonderfully splendid!”
He clapped his hands excitedly and shouted for two of his most trusted advisors:
“Geoffrey! Smith! Take me to the celebrations at once!”
Now, the emperor certainly did not observe the most vibrant of colours. He saw no purple; he saw no blue; and he saw no ravenous red or gleaming gold; all that the emperor saw was the reflection of his own nakedness.