有一次，一位梦想家从沙漠来到伟大的舍里阿城；他的全部家当，就是身穿的衣裳和手中的一根木棒。
走在街上，他对眼前的殿堂、尖塔、宫殿，既敬畏又惊叹，舍里阿城好不富丽堂皇！他不时拉住行人，询问城市的情况，但他和行人彼此都听不懂对方的语言。
时值中午，他在一家大饭店门前停下。饭店用金黄色的大理石砌成，人们从门口进进出出，无人阻拦。
”这一定是座圣殿！”他一边自言自语，一边走了进去。到里面后他惊奇地发现，眼前竟是一间华美的大厅，成双结对的男女们围坐在一张张桌边，他们边吃边喝，还在欣赏音乐。
梦想家心想：”不，这不是在拜神，一定是王子在设宴招待民众，庆祝某个大典。”
这时，一位男子——梦想家当他是王子的仆人——走了过来，请他坐下，并端来了肉肴、葡萄酒，还有精美的点心。
梦想家美餐了一顿，然后起身告辞。走到门口，他被一位衣着考究的大个男人拦住。
”这准是王子本人了。”他心想，便朝大个子鞠了一躬，以示感谢。
大个子用城里的语言说道：”先生，您用了晚餐还没有付款呢。”
梦想家不懂，又真诚地感谢了一次。
大个子仔细地打量着他，看出这是个异乡人，这副衣衫褴褛的样子，肯定是付不起餐费的主了。于是他去一下掌，又喊了一声，当下就走来四个巡捕。他们听完大个子的讲述，就一边两人，把梦想家夹在中间带走了。梦想家见这几个人衣着气派、威风凛凛，眼里更添了几分喜色。
他想：”他们都是上等人物啊！”
他们走着走着，一直走进法院大门。
只见大堂前方的正座上端坐着一人，美髯长须，装束威严，梦想家估量他便是国王，不禁为有幸面晤国王而大喜。
巡捕们向威严端坐的法官控告了梦想家。法官当下指定两位律师，一位代表原告，一位替这异乡人辩护。两位律师先后站起发言，阐述了各自的辩护词。梦想家呢，还只当他俩在致欢迎辞。对国王和王子的盛情款待，他心里无比感激。
判决宣布了：判罚被告胸挂书有罪名的木枷，骑着秃马在全城示众，并由号手、鼓手各一名在前开道。判决立刻执行。
身骑秃马的梦想家在号手、鼓手的开道下游街示众。城里的居民闻得喧声，纷纷涌上街头，一见眼前的情形个个笑将起来，孩童们则跟在梦想家后面招摇过市。梦想家早已乐不可支，眉飞色舞地赏阅着人群。他以为，胸前的木枷代表国王的祝福，骑马示众乃是一种殊荣。
忽然，他在马上看见了一位来自沙漠的熟人，于是高兴地朝他大呼：
”朋友！朋友！这是什么地方？这座遂心如意的城市叫什么？你知道吗，他们在王宫里为一个陌生客摆宴，王子亲自作陪，国王在他胸前挂上福匾，还让这人间天堂倾城迎接——这是哪一个慷慨的民族呀？”
沙漠里来的熟人没有作答，只是微笑着，还轻轻摇了摇头。游街的队伍继续前行。
梦想家的头高昂着，眼里闪烁着喜悦的光芒。
附原文：
God’s Fool
Once there came from the desert to the great city of Sharia a man who was a dreamer, and he had naught but his garment and staff. And as he walked through the streets he gazed with awe and wonder at the temples and towers and palaces, for the city of Sharia was of surpassing beauty. And he spoke often to the passers-by, questioning them about their city – but they understood not his language, nor he their language.
At the noon hour he stopped before a vast inn. It was built of yellow marble, and people were going in and coming out unhindered.
”This must be a shrine,’ he said to himself, and he too went in. But what was his surprise to find himself in a hall of great splendour and a large company of men and women seated about many tables. They were eating and drinking and listening to the musicians. ‘Nay,’ said the dreamer, ‘This is no worshipping. It must be a feast given by the prince to the people, in celebration of a great event.’
At that moment a man, whom he took to be the slave of the prince, approached him, and bade him be seated. And he was served with meat and wine and most excellent sweets.
When he was satisfied, the dreamer rose to depart. At the door he was stopped by a large man magnificently arrayed.
‘Surely this is the prince himself,’ said the dreamer in his heart, and he bowed to him and thanked him.
Then the large man said in the language of the city: ‘Sir, you have not paid for your dinner.’ And the dreamer did not understand, and again thanked him heartily.
Then the large man bethought him, and he looked more closely upon the dreamer. And he saw that he was a stranger, clad in but a poor garment, and that indeed he had not wherewith to pay for his meal. Then the large man clapped his hands and called – and there came four watchmen of the city. And they listened to the large man.
Then they took the dreamer between them, and they were two on each side of him. And the dreamer noted the ceremoniousness of their dress and of their manner and he looked upon them with delight. ‘These,’ said he, ‘are men of distinction.’
And they walked all together until they came to the House of Judgement and they entered. The dreamer saw before him, seated upon a throne, a venerable man with flowing beard, robed majestically. And he thought he was the king. And he rejoiced to be brought before him.
Now the watchmen related to the judge, who was the venerable man, the charge against the dreamer, and the judge appointed two advocates, one to present the charge and the other to defend the stranger. And the advocates rose, the one after the other, and delivered each his argument. And the dreamer thought himself to be listening to addresses of welcome, and his heart filled with gratitude to the king and the prince for all that was done for him.
Then sentence was passed upon the dreamer, that upon a tablet about his neck his crime should be written, and that he should ride through the city on a naked horse, with a trumpeter and a drummer before him. And the sentence was carried out forthwith.
Now as the dreamer rode through the city upon the naked horse, with the trumpeter and the drummer before him, the inhabitants of the city came running forth at the sound of the noise, and when they saw him they laughed one and all, and the children ran after him in companies from street to street. And the dreamer’s heart was filled with ecstasy, and his eyes shone upon them. For to him the tablet was a sign of the king’s blessing and the procession was in his honour.
Now as he rode, he saw among the crowd a man who was from the desert like himself and his heart swelled with joy, and he cried out to him with a shout:
‘Friend! Friend! Where are we? What city of the heart’s desire is this? What race of lavish hosts, who feast the chance guest in their palaces, whose princes companion him, whose kings hangs a token upon his breast and opens to him the hospitality of a city descended from heaven?’
And he who was also of the desert replied not. He only smiled and slightly shook his head. And the procession passed on. And the dreamer’s face was uplifted and his eyes were overflowing with light.
