It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed thoughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him what was the right time for every action, who were the most necessary people and how he might know was the most important thing to do.

Learned men came to the King, but all answered his questions differently. In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time for every action one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months, and years, and must live strictly according to it.