Je veux être peuple

Die Geschichte vom König, der sich verkleidet unters Volk mischt, fasst das deutsche Märchen servil und sadistisch, wüst erzählt sie Antonin Artaud in seinem „Héliogabale“ (1934), am kürzesten, kühlsten und klügsten jedoch George Garrett in „The Succession“ (1983):

There was a King of Scotland once, not long ago, who, it is said, used to wander among the people in disguises. To learn what they were thinking and saying and doing. Fat good it did him! No doubt he learned something. But whatever it was he carried it with him into an early grave. And like most other monarchs, wiser and less so, he managed to leave his kingdom somewhat worse than he had found it.