Humanity’s Lovely Flowers

In a far away land there lived a prince who was extraordinarily good. So good, in fact, that even his very name attested to his goodness, for he was aptly called Prince Allgood. His kingdom was as breathtakingly beautiful as it was vast. Love drenched every dale while light blanketed every knoll, for love and light were the very essence of Prince Allgood.

Now the pure heart of the good prince did beat most steadily for the object of his affection, the lovely maiden with the beautiful name, Humanity. 

Now Humanity was indeed lovely, though perhaps not in the classical sense. Her features were simple. Her beauty was of a more earthy sort. While Humanity was casually aware of the existence of the prince, his love for her was wholly unrequited. For her passion was to tend to the flowers of her garden for which she cared most enthusiastically.

Now some of the faithful subjects of Prince Allgood’s kingdom knew well of the prince’s great love for the maiden. They found it altogether unimaginable that Humanity would not return his affection. The good Prince Allgood, for his part, was not in the least wise shaken, for he had fashioned his entire kingdom for the sheer delight of sharing it with Humanity and he was as patient as he was good. For now, he found great pleasure in Humanity’s tending of her garden for he himself was also quite fond of flowers.

Those faithful subjects who knew of the prince’s love for Humanity resolved that a plan was sorely needed. It was just not right that Humanity should pay more attention to things grown in the dirt, which are here today and gone tomorrow, than she should pay to the good Prince Allgood. He surely deserved her affection, they reasoned, for had he not sufficiently demonstrated his great love? Surely it was plain to see. 

One of the more intellectually gifted among them, who preferred to be called the Orator, spoke up, “Perhaps our fair maiden would benefit from an incentive.” the Orator declared. 

“An incentive?” the others asked. 

“Our prince,” the Orator continued, “is truly good, is he not?”

“Oh yes,” they all replied, “he is very good, indeed.” 

“And if he is good,” the Orator added, “is he not also just?”

The others thought for a moment, looking around at one another for confirmation, then slowly began to nod as they reasoned it out, “Yes, indeed, he is just.” they all agreed. 

“And justice,” the Orator continued, “surely demands a punishment for wrongdoing, does it not?”   

Again, the others looked around a bit before answering, because none of them wished to be out of step with the whole of them. “Yes,” they agreed, nodding, “that is only right and reasonable.”

Now the Orator’s voice raised to a crescendo, “And what greater wrongdoing could be done than to spurn the love of the good and just Prince Allgood?” It all seemed to make perfect sense to the others. 

The Orator lowered his voice now, to the point wherein the hearers had to lean in to perceive his summation, “Truly this is good news, is it not? That the justice of the prince, along with its commensurate punishment, could be avoided… blotted out entirely, dare I say, simply by young Humanity responding in kind and agreeing to give herself to Prince Allgood.”  

All the faithful subjects were of one mind on the matter. The plan was such good news, they concluded, that it would be christened among them heretofore as The Good News. 

So, they drew lots, and the favor fell on two of their finest who set off at once to deliver The Good News to the maiden Humanity.

She was found, of course, in her garden tending to her flowers. 

“Humanity,” the shorter of the two said, “we come bearing good news.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“Our good and loving Prince Allgood has such great affection for you that he has chosen you, above all others, to be his beloved bride.” he began.

“In addition,” the taller one offered, “he has crafted his entire kingdom to share it with you, should you choose to accept his proposal.” he paused for effect, before proceeding, “To accept his proposal, or to reject it, is of course, entirely yours to choose, because Prince Allgood honors your freedom of choice.” Humanity seemed to be taking it all in, they reasoned, though it was hard to tell if the good news was having its desired effect. 

“There is another part you should know.” the taller one continued, “Should you choose to reject Prince Allgood’s proposal he will have no alternative but to punish you.” 

“Severely.” the shorter one added.

“And endlessly.” the taller one piled on. “For while he is good, he is also just. Such justice, of course, demands vengeance for wrongdoing, and rejecting his great love is, most certainly, wrongdoing of the most egregious sort.”

“Well,” Humanity cleared her throat, “then my choice is clear, is it not? And my answer to his proposal, of course, requires no consternation.”

The faithful messengers were overjoyed that the good news had been so immediately embraced.

“Please tell the prince that I must decline his offer.”

“Decline his offer!?!” they exclaimed in unison. “Do you not understand the consequences?”

“I understand what you have told me, and if it is true, though I am not at all persuaded that it is, this can certainly not be called “good news”. This is…this is…well I don’t what exactly it is, but I do know that I would never betroth myself to such a one who could teeter so easily between love and vengeance.” And with that, Humanity abruptly returned her attention to her beloved flora.

The faithful duo departed the garden more than a bit befuddled. It had seemed like such a well-devised plan. How could the maiden not have understood?

Humanity said to herself out loud, “I will speak to the prince myself and see what of this so-called ‘good news’ is true, if indeed any of it is.”  So, she packed some bread and cheese in a basket, adorned with some lovely daffodils, of course, and set off for the day-long journey to the castle of Prince Allgood.

She was only halfway along when she encountered a cheerful man coming in the opposite direction. 

“What lovely daffodils!” the cheerful man exclaimed. 

She stopped, excited to meet another flower child. “Would you like to have some?” Humanity asked.

“Nothing could possibly make me happier.” the cheerful man declared, his entire face smiling.

This may be a good time to stop and eat, Humanity thought. “Would you care to share a small lunch?’ she asked.

“Oh, I was mistaken,” the man apologized.

“Mistaken?” 

“About nothing making me happier than the daffodils... Lunch with you…that would make me happier.” They both laughed out loud.

Humanity arranged the bread and cheese on a blanket, while the cheerful man produced a stash of fresh dates and a heaping quantity of pistachio nuts. The affair had suddenly turned into a proper picnic.

“And where are you headed this fine day,” the cheerful man enquired.

“I’m off to the castle to visit the prince,” Humanity said, with her chin raised up a notch.

“Oh,” the cheerful man looked surprised, “You know Prince Allgood then?”

“Know him? No, not exactly, but I have some questions for him.” 

“Do you have an appointment? He’s a very busy man, I seriously doubt you’ll get to see him without an appointment.”

That thought had not occurred to Humanity, and it made her chin drop down a notch and a half.

 “Not to worry,” the cheerful man declared, “I’ve just come from the castle. I’ll walk you back myself and we’ll see what can be done.”

“Really!?” Humanity asked excitedly. “You’ve met the prince then?”

“I know him quite well, actually.”

“Really!?! If I were to ask you some questions, then, could you tell me about him?”

“I could try.”

“Is he as good as they say he is?”

“You do know his name, right? Let’s just say ‘Allgood’ is a most befitting moniker.”

“And is his essence truly love and truly light, both at once?” 

“By grace,” the cheerful man answered, “both love and light are truly the very essence of his being.”

Humanity paused. All that is indeed good news, she thought. Humanity wasn’t sure she wanted to ask her next question, but after some time she blurted it out…“And what of his vengeance?” Humanity demanded, in the tone of a schoolmarm.

Unphased, the cheerful man replied, “Oh, his vengeance is mighty and his justice is true.” 

“But how can he… I mean, why would he…” Humanity was clearly disappointed and couldn’t find the words she wanted. 

“Please, allow me to continue, if I may.” the cheerful man requested. 

Without speaking, Humanity granted permission with a swish of her hand. 

“His vengeance is mighty,” the cheerful man continued, “against all things, real or imagined that would oppose or oppress the target of his affection. He stands in harsh judgment against anything that would hinder her from becoming everything she is destined to become. And he will love her no matter what. He will patiently wait for her love to return to him for as long as it takes, whether in this life or in the next, for even death cannot separate her from his enduring love and he is fully convinced that his love will eventually win her over entirely, even should it tarry a hundred years or a hundred millennia, because love never fails.”

Tears began to flow down Humanity’s cheeks. Now this is good news indeed, she thought. 

“And he loves you, Humanity, more than you can possibly imagine.”

“Wait!” Humanity declared, “How do you know my name? I haven’t told you.”

“I have known you, Humanity, since long before you were even conceived, and I loved you then as I love you now. When I learned that you were coming to see me today, I was so excited. I rushed out to meet you. I just couldn’t wait.”

“But…but…” Humanity stammered.

“I know.” he said softly.

“But I have so much to talk with you about.” Humanity asserted. “I don’t know where to begin.”

“Begin wherever you wish, my dear one, we will have all eternity to converse together.” Prince Allgood offered, “But first I have a question for you…” he set his chin on his thumb and gazed off to nowhere, as if gathering his thoughts. Then, after more than a moment, he asked, “Pink roses? Or red? Which is your favorite?”

“My favorite rose? That is your question for me? Well… red, certainly. And pink, of course. And white and yellow and orange and lavender and all the variations in between. I adore every last one of them!” Humanity proclaimed. 

The good prince beamed, like the cheerful man he was, “I’m not at all surprised,” he said, “my sentiments exactly.”