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The Lady； or the Tiger？
by Frank R。 Stockton
In the very olden time there lived a semi…barbaric king； whose
ideas； though somewhat polished and sharpened by the
progressiveness of distant Latin neighbors； were still large；
florid； and untrammeled； as became the half of him which was
barbaric。 He was a man of exuberant fancy； and； withal； of an
authority so irresistible that； at his will； he turned his varied
fancies into facts。 He was greatly given to self…communing； and；
when he and himself agreed upon anything； the thing was done。
When every member of his domestic and political systems moved
smoothly in its appointed course； his nature was bland and genial；
but； whenever there was a little hitch； and some of his orbs got
out of their orbits； he was blander and more genial still； for
nothing pleased him so much as to make the crooked straight and
crush down uneven places。
Among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become
semified was that of the public arena； in which； by exhibitions of
manly and beastly valor； the minds of his subjects were refined
and cultured。
But even here the exuberant and barbaric fancy asserted itself
The arena of the king was built； not to give the people an
opportunity of hearing the rhapsodies of dying gladiators； nor to
enable them to view the inevitable conclusion of a conflict
between religious opinions and hungry jaws； but for purposes far
better adapted to widen and develop the mental energies of the
people。 This vast amphitheater； with its encircling galleries； its
mysterious vaults； and its unseen passages； was an agent of
poetic justice； in which crime was punished； or virtue rewarded；
by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance。
When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance
to interest the king； public notice was given that on an appointed
day the fate of the accused person would be decided in the king's
arena； a structure which well deserved its name； for； although its
form and plan were borrowed from afar； its purpose emanated
solely from the brain of this man； who； every barleycorn a king；
knew no tradition to which he owed more allegiance than pleased
his fancy； and who ingrafted on every adopted form of human
thought and action the rich growth of his barbaric idealism。
When all the people had assembled in the galleries； and the king；
surrounded by his court； sat high up on his throne of royal state
on one side of the arena； he gave a signal； a door beneath him
opened； and the accused subject stepped out into the
amphitheater。 Directly opposite him； on the other side of the
inclosed space； were two doors； exactly alike and side by side。 It
was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk
directly to these doors and open one of them。 He could open either
door he pleased； he was subject to no guidance or influence but
that of the aforementioned impartial and incorruptible chance。 If
he opened the one； there came out of it a hungry tiger； the
fiercest and most cruel that could be procured； which
immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as a
punishment for his guilt。 The moment that the case of the
criminal was thus decided； doleful iron bells were clanged； great
wails went up from the hired mourners posted on the outer rim of
*the arena； and the vast audience； with bowed heads and downcast
hearts； wended slowly their homeward way； mourning greatly
that one so young and fair； or so old and respected； should have
merited so dire a fate。
But； if the accused person opened the other door； there came forth
from it a lady； the most suitable to his years and station that his
majesty could select among his fair subjects； and to this lady he
was immediately married； as a reward of his innocence。 It
mattered not that he might already possess a wife and family； or
that his affections might be engaged upon an object of his own
selection； the king allowed no such subordinate arrangements to
interfere with his great scheme of retribution and reward。 The
exercises； as in the other instance； took place immediately； and
in the arena。 Another door opened beneath the king； and a priest；
followed by a band of choristers； and dancing maidens blowing
joyous airs on golden horns and treading an epithalamic measure；
advanced to where the pair stood； side by side； and the wedding
was promptly and cheerily solemnized。 Then the gay brass bells
rang forth their merry peals； the people shouted glad hurrahs； and
the innocent man； preceded by children strewing flowers on his
path； led his bride to his home。
This was the king's semi…barbaric method of administering
justice。 Its perfect fairness is obvious。 The criminal could not
know out of which door would come the lady； he opened either he
pleased； without having the slightest idea whether； in the next
instant； he was to be devoured or married。 On some occasions the
tiger came out of one door； and on some out of the other。 The
decisions of this tribunal were not only fair； they were positively
determinate： the accused person was instantly punished if he
found himself guilty； and； if innocent； he was rewarded on the
spot； whether he liked it or not。 There was no escape from the
judgments of the king's arena。
The institution was a very popular one。 When the people gathered
together on one of the great trial days； they never knew whether
they were to witness a bloody slaughter or a hilarious wedding。
This element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion
which it could not otherwise have attained。 Thus； the masses
were entertained and pleased； and the thinking part of the
community could bring no charge of unfairness against this plan；
for did not the accused person have the whole matter in his own
hands？
This semi…barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most
florid fancies； and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his
own。 As is usual in such cases； she was the apple of his eye； and
was loved by him above all humanity。 Among his courtiers was a
young man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station
common to the conventional heroes of romance who love royal
maidens。 This royal maiden was well satisfied with her lover； for
he was handsome and brave to a degree unsurpassed in all this
kingdom； and she loved him with an ardor that had enough of
barbarism in it to make it exceedingly warm and strong。 This love
affair moved on happily for many months； until one day the king
happened to discover its existence。 He did not hesitate nor waver
in regard to his duty in the premises。 The youth was immediately
cast into prison； and a day was appointed for his trial in the
king's arena。 This； of course； was an especially important
occasion； and his majesty； as well as all the people； was greatly
interested in the workings and development of this trial。 Never
before had such a case occurred； never before had a subject da