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Old Horse: An old, mistreated horse rang the bell by pulling on the grapevine attached to it, seeking justice against its cruel owner.
King’s Judgment: The king ruled that the miserly owner must take care of the horse properly, symbolizing the triumph of justice.
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- Roald Amundsen, Explorer
Atri's Justice Bell: A Tale of Righteousness from Italy
Nestled in the heart of Italy, the small town of Atri conceals a legendary tale of justice and mercy that resonates through the ages. This captivating narrative revolves around a magnificent bell, a symbol of righteousness that forever changed the course of the town's history. Its chimes were not mere sounds, but a call for justice, a voice for the voiceless. Intrigued? Prepare to journey through time and witness how the echo of a bell transformed a society, reinforcing the idea that no wrong shall go unpunished, and no creature, however humble, shall endure injustice.
The Origins of the Justice Bell
In the ancient town of Atri, nestled halfway up a steep hill in Italy, a significant historical event took place. This charming town, with its quaint marketplaces and cobblestone streets, was home to a unique symbol of justice - a large, beautiful bell. Purchased by the town's king, it was hung in a tower in the center of the marketplace. Every citizen, from the smallest child to the eldest elder, could ring the bell, thanks to a long rope that reached almost to the ground. This bell was more than just a piece of bronze; it was a beacon of justice for the people of Atri.
The King's Proclamation and the Bell's Purpose
While the bell itself was impressive, the purpose it served was even more noteworthy. The king, rather than ringing the bell himself, declared it to be the "Bell of Justice". He announced that any citizen who felt wronged could ring the bell to call the town's judges who would then hear their case and dispense justice. This bell was not a plaything or a mere decoration; it was a tool for the promotion of justice and equality, and it was available to all, regardless of their social status or wealth.
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Years of Justice Served by the Bell
True to its purpose, the bell served as a call to justice for many years. Each time the bell rang, a wrong was righted, a grievance was heard, and justice was served. Over time, the bell's rope became frayed and worn from constant use. It shortened until only a tall man could reach it, prompting concerns among the judges. They worried that a child who was wronged wouldn't be able to reach the rope and ring the bell. Their commitment to justice was so strong that they ordered a new rope to be attached to the bell, ensuring that it remained accessible to all.
The Need for a New Bell Rope and its Provision
As the decades passed, the bell of justice continued to ring out across Atri. Its toll echoed through the streets, calling the town's judges to assemble and dispense justice. The bell's rope, however, began to show the weight of the years. The hempen rope gradually wore thin, fraying at the end and becoming too short for the town's children to reach. The judges of Atri, concerned that a child wronged would be unable to summon them, ordered a new rope to be affixed to the bell.
Yet, there was no suitable rope to be found in Atri. The necessary length of rope would have to be brought from beyond the mountains, a journey that would consume many days. This left the town in a predicament - what if injustice occurred before the new rope arrived? A man of Atri, standing nearby, offered a solution. He returned quickly from his garden with a long grapevine, which he tied to the bell. The vine trailed to the ground, allowing even the smallest child to reach it. The judges agreed to this temporary fix, ensuring the bell remained accessible to all.
The Miser and his Neglected Steed
Away from the town center, on a hillside overlooking Atri, there lived a former knight. Once celebrated for his bravery, he had grown old and reclusive, his heart hardened by greed. He had sold off all his possessions, save for his horse. This noble steed, having served its master faithfully throughout the years, was now left neglected and starving in a bare stall. The miser saw no value in its upkeep, considering it a drain on his gold reserves. One day, he decided to abandon the horse, leaving it to fend for itself on the barren hillside.
The horse, once strong and noble, was now a pitiful sight. It roamed the dusty roads and rocky hillsides, scavenging for food and enduring the harsh treatment of those it encountered. The town's people watched as the former warhorse was reduced to a pathetic, starving creature, left to the mercy of the elements and the cruelty of others.
The Bell Rings for Justice: The Horse's Tale and the Miser's Judgment
One stifling afternoon, the horse wandered into the deserted market place. The vines hanging from the bell of justice provided a tempting meal for the starving horse. As it tugged at the vines, the bell began to ring, calling forth the judges and townspeople to the scene. The people of Atri were shocked to find the horse at the bell, effectively asking for justice.
The judges, seeing the emaciated state of the horse, declared that it had indeed been wronged. The miser was summoned and the judges declared their verdict. Half of the miser's fortune was to be used to provide for the horse, ensuring it had a comfortable stable and ample food for the rest of its days. The miser, forced to part with his beloved gold, hung his head in shame, while the people of Atri celebrated the victory of justice. The horse, the silent victim, had summoned the bell and justice had been served.
Conclusion
The tale of Atri's Justice Bell is a timeless testament to the triumph of justice and the enduring spirit of righteousness. The bell's resonating chimes, echoing through the ages, remind us that no cry for fairness, however faint or feeble, goes unheard. This narrative continues to reverberate in the heart of every Italian and beyond, affirming the inherent dignity of all creatures, and the inalienable right to just treatment. So, let us remember the horse and the miser, the vine and the bell, and let their story inspire a pursuit for justice in our own lives.
Atri is the name of a little town in Italy. It is a very old town, and is built halfway up the side of a steep hill.
A long time ago, the King of Atri bought a fine large bell, and had it hung up in a tower in the market place. A long rope that reached almost to the ground was fastened to the bell. The smallest child could ring the bell by pulling upon this rope.
"It is the bell of justice," said the king.
When at last everything was ready, the people of Atri had a great holiday. All the men and women and children came down to the market place to look at the bell of justice. It was a very pretty bell, and was, polished until it looked almost as bright and yellow as the sun.
"How we should like to hear it ring!" they said.
Then the king came down the street.
"Perhaps he will ring it," said the people; and everybody stood very still, and waited to see what he would do.
But he did not ring the bell. He did not even take the rope in his hands. When he came to the foot of the tower, he stopped, and raised his hand.
"My people," he said, "do you see this beautiful bell? It is your bell; but it must never be rung except in case of need. If any one of you is wronged at any time, he may come and ring the bell; and then the judges shall come together at once, and hear his case, and give him justice. Rich and poor, old and young, all alike may come; but no one must touch the rope unless he knows that he has been wronged."
Many years passed by after this. Many times did the bell in the market place ring out to call the judges together. Many wrongs were righted, many illdoers were punished. At last the hempen rope was almost worn out. The lower part of it was untwisted; some of the strands were broken; it became so short that only a tall man could reach it.
"This will never do," said the judges one day. "What if a child should be wronged? It could not ring the bell to let us know it."
They gave orders that a new rope should be put upon the bell at once,—a rope that should hang down to the ground, so that the smallest child could reach it. But there was not a rope to be found in all Atri. They would have to send across the mountains for one, and it would be many days before it could be brought. What if some great wrong should be done before it came? How could the judges know about it, if the injured one could not reach the old rope?
"Let me fix it for you," said a man who stood by.
He ran into his garden, which was not far away, and soon came back with a long grapevine in his hands.
"This will do for a rope," he said; and he climbed up, and fastened it to the bell. The slender vine, with its leaves and tendrils still upon it, trailed to the ground.
"Yes," said the judges, "it is a very good rope. Let it be as it is."
Now, on the hillside above the village, there lived a man who had once been a brave knight. In his youth he had ridden through many lands, and he had fought in many a battle. His best friend through all that time had been his horse,—a strong, noble steed that had borne him safe through many a danger.
But the knight, when he grew older, cared no more to ride into battle; he cared no more to do brave deeds; he thought of nothing but gold; he became a miser. At last he sold all that he had, except his horse, and went to live in a little hut on the hillside. Day after day he sat among his money bags, and planned how he might get more gold; and day after day his horse stood in his bare stall, halfstarved, and shivering with cold.
"What is the use of keeping that lazy steed?" said the miser to himself one morning. "Every week it costs me more to keep him than he is worth. I might sell him; but there is not a man that wants him. I cannot even give him away. I will turn him out to shift for himself, and pick grass by the roadside. If he starves to death, so much the better."
So the brave old horse was turned out to find what he could among the rocks on the barren hillside. Lame and sick, he strolled along the dusty roads, glad to find a blade of grass or a thistle. The boys threw stones at him, the dogs barked at him, and in all the world there was no one to pity him.
One hot afternoon, when no one was upon the street, the horse chanced to wander into the market place. Not a man nor child was there, for the heat of the sun had driven them all indoors. The gates were wide open; the poor beast could roam where he pleased. He saw the grapevine rope that hung from the bell of justice. The leaves and tendrils upon it were still fresh and green, for it had not been there long. What a fine dinner they would be for a starving horse!
He stretched his thin neck, and took one of the tempting morsels in his mouth. It was hard to break it from the vine. He pulled at it, and the great bell above him began to ring. All the people in Atri heard it. It seemed to say,—
"Some one has done me wrong!
Some one has done me wrong!
Oh! come and judge my case!
Oh! come and judge my case!
For I've been wronged!"
The judges heard it. They put on their robes, and went out through the hot streets to the market place. They wondered who it could be who would ring the bell at such a time. When they passed through the gate, they saw the old horse nibbling at the vine.
"Ha!" cried one, "it is the miser's steed. He has come to call for justice; for his master, as everybody knows, has treated him most shamefully."
"He pleads his cause as well as any dumb brute can," said another.
"And he shall have justice!" said the third.
Meanwhile a crowd of men and women and children had come into the market place, eager to learn what cause the judges were about to try. When they saw the horse, all stood still in wonder. Then every one was ready to tell how they had seen him wandering on the hills, unfed, uncared for, while his master sat at home counting his bags of gold.
"Go bring the miser before us," said the judges.
And when he came, they bade him stand and hear their judgment.
"This horse has served you well for many a year," they said. "He has saved you from many a peril. He has helped you gain your wealth. Therefore we order that one half of all your gold shall be set aside to buy him shelter and food, a green pasture where he may graze, and a warm stall to comfort him in his old age."
The miser hung his head, and grieved to lose his gold; but the people shouted with joy, and the horse was led away to his new stall and a dinner such as he had not had in many a day.
