[ 00:00] There was once an emperor who loved nothing in the world so much as beautiful new clothes.
[ 00:09] While other rulers spent their mornings reviewing their armies, visiting their universities, or deciding the laws of the land, this emperor spent his hours in a room lined with mirrors, draped in silks of every color under the sun.
[ 00:27] He did not care for the theater, he did not care for rides in the forest, and he only cared for his soldiers if their uniforms happened to be of a particularly splendid shade of crimson or gold.
[ 00:41] This story comes to us from the cold, windswept shores of Denmark, written down nearly two centuries ago, in the year 1837, by a man named Hans Christian Anderson.
[ 00:55] He was a writer who looked at the grand, serious world of grownups and saw the funny, fragile truths underneath.
[ 01:04] Like many great tales, this one has been told in a thousand different ways across the generations, but the heart of it remains as bright and sharp as a needle.
[ 01:14] It is a story about the maps we draw in our minds, the things we pretend to see, and the quiet power of a single honest voice.
[ 01:24] In the grand capital of the emperor's kingdom, life was bustling, merry, and full of travelers.
[ 01:31] But no matter who arrived at the city gates, the talk of the town always returned to the palace and the ruler who lived within it.
[ 01:39] Most kings had a council chamber where they spent their days.
[ 01:43] In this empire, if a foreign ambassador arrived and asked to see the ruler, the servants would not say, the king is in council.
[ 01:50] Instead, they would bow politely and whisper, the emperor is in his wardrobe.
[ 01:57] He had a different coat for every single hour of the day.
[ 02:02] There was the morning coat of pale blue linen, stitched with silver threads that mimicked the morning dew.
[ 02:10] There was the midday coat of deep forest green, heavy with emerald buttons that caught the light like sunbeams filtering through leaves.
[ 02:20] There was the afternoon coat of plum-colored velvet, and the evening coat of midnight silk, so dark and rich it seemed to swallow the light of the candles.
[ 02:32] The emperor's wardrobe was not merely a room.
[ 02:36] It was a vast, labyrinthine hall of cedar chests, brass hangers, and velvet-lined drawers.
[ 02:44] A small army of tailors, button makers, weavers, and starchers worked day and night, just to ensure that the emperor never had to wear the same outfit twice in a single month.
[ 02:58] The emperor's obsession was a great boon to the city's merchants, but it was also a source of constant anxiety for his ministers.
[ 03:06] The treasury was always nearly empty, drained by the constant demand for rare dyes from the east, soft furs from the north, and delicate lace from the south.
[ 03:18] Yet, no one dared to suggest that the emperor might spend a little less on his collars and a little more on the city's crumbling bridges.
[ 03:27] To do so would be to risk his displeasure, and a displeased emperor was a very uncomfortable thing indeed.
[ 03:35] One sunny afternoon, two men arrived at the city gates.
[ 03:41] They carried no heavy chests of fabric, no looms, and no shears.
[ 03:47] They had only two small dusty bags and a great deal of confidence.
[ 03:54] They were swindlers, rogues who made their living not by the honest sweat of their brows, but by understanding the secret fears and vanities of other people.
[ 04:06] They had heard of the emperor who lived for fashion, and they had devised a plan so brilliant, so daring, and so utterly preposterous that it could only succeed in a court built on pretense.
[ 04:23] They put it about the city that they were weavers, but not ordinary weavers.
[ 04:29] They claimed to be master craftsmen from a distant, mysterious land, possessing a secret method for spinning a fabric of such exquisite beauty that nothing on earth could compare to it.
[ 04:43] When the rumors of these miraculous weavers reached the palace, the emperor's ears perked up.
[ 04:50] He was sitting in his wardrobe, trying to decide between a vest of saffron silk and one of primrose satin, and he found himself suddenly bored by both.
[ 05:02] "Weavers," the emperor murmured, his fingers trailing over a sleeve of embroidered pearls.
[ 05:10] "What could they possibly show me that I have not already seen?"
[ 05:14] "Ah, your majesty," said his chief valet, bowing so low his nose nearly touched his polished shoes.
[ 05:22] "They say the colors of their cloth are like the sunset itself, and the patterns are as intricate as the frost on a window pane.
[ 05:31] But that is not the most remarkable thing about it."
[ 05:35] "Oh?" the emperor asked, sitting up a little straighter.
[ 05:40] "And what is?"
[ 05:41] The valet lowered his voice as if sharing a state secret.
[ 05:47] "They say, your majesty, that this cloth has a wonderful magical property.
[ 05:54] It is entirely invisible to anyone who is either unfit for the office they hold, or who is hopelessly, unpardonably stupid."
[ 06:07] The emperor stared at the valet, his eyes, usually half-closed with boredom, went wide.
[ 06:16] "Invisible?" he whispered.
[ 06:20] "Completely invisible, sire, to the foolish and the incompetent.
[ 06:25] The looms appear entirely empty."
[ 06:29] The emperor's heart gave a little flutter of excitement.
[ 06:33] This was more than just a new suit of clothes.
[ 06:37] This was the ultimate tool of statecraft.
[ 06:41] "That is magnificent!" the emperor declared, clapping his hands together.
[ 06:47] "If I were to wear a suit made of that cloth, I could instantly tell which of my ministers are wise and which are fools.
[ 06:55] I would know who is fit for their post and who is merely drawing a salary they do not deserve.
[ 07:02] I must have this cloth woven for me at once!"
[ 07:07] He ordered his guards to bring the two weavers to the palace immediately.
[ 07:11] He gave them a grand workshop in the east wing, two large wooden looms, and a massive bag of gold coins to purchase the finest materials.
[ 07:21] The swindlers bowed, smiled their sweetest smiles, and promised to begin their work without a moment's delay.
[ 07:32] The two swindlers set up their workshop with great ceremony.
[ 07:38] They demanded the finest, most delicate silk threads, dyed in the brightest shades of scarlet, gold, and azure.
[ 07:47] They demanded reels of pure gold thread, so thin and fine that it looked like spun sunshine.
[ 07:56] The emperor, eager to see the work begin, ordered that they be given everything they asked for, without question.
[ 08:04] But the swindlers did not put the silk or the gold thread onto the looms.
[ 08:10] Instead, as soon as the palace doors were closed and they were left alone, they stuffed the precious materials into their own dusty bags.
[ 08:20] Then, they sat down at the empty wooden frames and began to work.
[ 08:26] To anyone watching through a keyhole, it was an extraordinary sight.
[ 08:31] The two men threw their arms back and forth, tossing imaginary shuttles through the empty air.
[ 08:38] They pressed their feet down on the treadles, making the wooden beams creak and clatter.
[ 08:43] They leaned forward, squinting as if tracing the delicate path of a thread that was thinner than a spider's silk.
[ 08:50] They worked with immense focus, their hands moving in perfect, rhythmic harmony, weaving nothing at all.
[ 08:59] In his private chambers, the emperor could think of nothing else.
[ 09:04] He paced back and forth across his thick rugs, his mind spinning faster than any wheel.
[ 09:11] He wanted desperately to know how the work was progressing, but a small, cold finger of doubt was poking at his heart.
[ 09:19] "Of course," the emperor thought to himself.
[ 09:22] "I am the emperor.
[ 09:24] I am wise and I am certainly fit for my job.
[ 09:28] There is no doubt about that.
[ 09:30] But still, perhaps it would be wise to send someone else first, just to see how it is going.
[ 09:38] A second opinion is always useful in matters of art."
[ 09:42] He decided to send his faithful old minister, Lord Bartholomew.
[ 09:49] Bartholomew was the oldest and most respected statesman in the entire court.
[ 09:54] He had served the emperor's father and his grandfather before him.
[ 09:59] He was known for his honesty, his quiet wisdom, and his devotion to the crown.
[ 01:06] "If anyone can see the cloth," the emperor reasoned.
[ 01:10] "It is Bartholomew.
[ 01:12] He is surely fit for his office, and no one could ever call him stupid."
[ 01:18] The emperor summoned the old minister and gave him his instructions.
[ 01:23] "Go to the weaver's workshop, my dear Bartholomew.
[ 01:26] See how the work is coming along.
[ 01:29] Observe the colors, the patterns, and the texture of the fabric.
[ 01:34] Then, return and tell me what you think."
[ 01:37] Lord Bartholomew bowed his gray head and set off down the long, echoing stone corridors of the palace.
[ 01:45] He was a practical man, not easily swayed by gossip or magic.
[ 01:50] But as he approached the heavy oak doors of the east wing, he felt a strange, unfamiliar tightness in his chest.
[ 02:00] He knocked gently and entered the room.
[ 02:03] The two swindlers were hard at work.
[ 02:07] The workshop was filled with the rhythmic clack, clack, clack of the looms.
[ 02:13] The sun streamed through the high windows, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air around the wooden frames.
[ 02:22] The swindlers did not look up immediately.
[ 02:24] They seemed entirely absorbed in their labor.
[ 02:29] Lord Bartholomew stepped closer.
[ 02:32] He adjusted his spectacles, pushing them up the bridge of his nose.
[ 02:37] He squinted.
[ 02:38] He blinked.
[ 02:40] He rubbed his eyes with his knuckles and looked again.
[ 02:45] There was nothing on the looms.
[ 02:49] The wooden frames were completely, utterly bare.
[ 02:53] The brass shuttles flew back and forth, but they carried no thread.
[ 02:59] The beams creaked, but they pressed down on nothing but empty air.
[ 03:05] The old minister felt a sudden icy wave of panic wash over him.
[ 03:11] His breath caught in his throat.
[ 03:14] "Heaven preserve us!" he thought, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.
[ 03:20] "I cannot see anything at all!
[ 03:22] Is it possible?
[ 03:23] Am I a fool?
[ 03:25] Am I unfit for my post?
[ 03:27] I, who have served the kingdom for 40 years?
[ 03:31] This is terrible!
[ 03:33] If anyone finds out, I will be ruined!
[ 03:35] I will be the laughing stock of the court!
[ 03:38] I cannot let anyone know that I see nothing!"
[ 03:42] One of the swindlers, a tall man with a sharp nose and twinkling eyes, stepped away from his loom.
[ 03:49] He smiled warmly at the old minister and gestured toward the empty wooden frame.
[ 03:55] "Ah, Lord Bartholomew," the swindler said, his voice dripping with false modesty.
[ 04:03] "We are honored by your visit.
[ 04:06] Please step closer.
[ 04:08] What do you think of the pattern?
[ 04:10] Is it not exquisite?
[ 04:13] Notice how the gold thread weaves through the scarlet, like veins of fire through a sunset sky."
[ 04:21] The second swindler, a short, stout man with a jolly face, joined him.
[ 04:26] He pointed to a completely empty space in the middle of the loom.
[ 04:32] "And look at this border, my lord.
[ 04:34] We have used a rare stitch we call the whisper knot.
[ 04:38] It is so delicate that it can scarcely be felt by human hands.
[ 04:43] Tell us, do you approve of the colors?"
[ 04:47] Lord Bartholomew stared at the empty space where the swindler's finger was pointing.
[ 04:53] He saw nothing but the rough grain of the wooden loom and the whitewashed wall behind it.
[ 04:59] But he knew what he had to do.
[ 05:02] He could not risk his reputation, his career, and his entire life's work.
[ 05:08] "Oh!" Bartholomew gasped, forcing a look of absolute wonder onto his face.
[ 05:14] "It is, it is beautiful!
[ 05:17] Truly, it is the most magnificent thing I have ever beheld!"
[ 05:22] He leaned in closer, pretending to examine a thread.
[ 05:26] "The pattern is remarkably original, and the colors, the way the scarlet blends with the gold, it is breathtaking!
[ 05:37] I shall tell the emperor immediately that I am highly pleased with your progress."
[ 05:43] "We are deeply grateful for your kind words," the tall swindler said, bowing.
[ 05:49] "To make the colors even brighter, we will require a few more reels of the gold thread, and perhaps another small purse of gold coins for the dye."
[ 05:59] "Of course, of course!" Bartholomew said quickly, his voice trembling slightly.
[ 06:07] "I will see to it myself."
[ 06:10] The old minister turned and walked out of the room, his knees feeling like jelly.
[ 06:16] He hurried back to the emperor's chambers, his mind racing to invent descriptions of things that did not exist.
[ 06:25] When he arrived, the emperor was waiting impatiently, surrounded by his valets.
[ 06:32] "Well," the emperor demanded, leaning forward.
[ 06:35] "What did you see, Bartholomew?
[ 06:37] Is it as wonderful as they say?"
[ 06:40] "Your majesty," Bartholomew said, bowing deeply to hide the sweat on his forehead.
[ 06:47] "It is beyond words.
[ 06:50] The pattern is of a symmetry so perfect it defies explanation.
[ 06:55] The colors are like the
finest jewels.
[ 06:59] I have never seen anything to equal it.
[ 07:02] It is a masterpiece."
[ 07:05] The emperor smiled, his heart swelling with pride.
[ 07:10] "Excellent," he murmured.
[ 07:12] "Excellent."
[ 07:13] A few days later, the emperor decided he needed another report.
[ 07:19] The rumors of the magical cloth were spreading through the city like wildfire, and everyone was talking about the incredible fabric that could test a person's mind and worth.
[ 07:32] This time, the emperor chose another highly respected official, Master Jeffrey, the royal treasurer.
[ 07:41] Jeffrey was a man of numbers, sharp-eyed, practical, and entirely devoted to the cold, hard facts of the treasury.
[ 07:51] He was not a man of imagination.
[ 07:54] If there was thread on those looms, Jeffrey would certainly see it, and he would be able to tell the emperor exactly how much it was worth.
[ 08:05] Master Jeffrey marched down the corridor with a firm, confident stride.
[ 08:10] He did not believe in magic, and he certainly did not believe in rumors.
[ 08:15] He was convinced that the old minister, Bartholomew, was simply getting old and sentimental.
[ 08:22] He pushed open the door to the workshop.
[ 08:26] The two swindlers were still at it, their hands moving with tireless grace, the empty looms clattering in the quiet room.
[ 08:36] "Ah, Master Jeffrey!" the short swindler cried, bowing.
[ 08:41] "The keeper of the king's gold!
[ 08:43] Come, come, look at the progress we have made!
[ 08:46] We have added the blue silk now.
[ 08:48] See how it contrasts with the gold!"
[ 08:53] Jeffrey stepped up to the loom.
[ 08:55] He adjusted his spectacles.
[ 08:58] He stared.
[ 09:01] He saw nothing.
[ 09:03] The loom was as bare as a winter branch.
[ 09:07] He looked at the other loom.
[ 09:09] Bare.
[ 09:10] He looked at the swindler's hands, which were carefully smoothing down an invisible sheet of fabric.
[ 09:16] Jeffrey felt a cold sweat break out on the back of his neck.
[ 09:21] "Am I stupid?" he thought, his mind spinning into a panic.
[ 09:27] "I can calculate the interest on 10,000 gold pieces in my head!
[ 09:33] I can balance the empire's books to the very last penny!
[ 09:38] Am I unfit for my office?
[ 09:41] If the emperor thinks I am a fool, he will take away the keys to the treasury!
[ 09:47] I will be cast out into the streets!"
[ 09:50] He swallowed hard, his throat dry.
[ 09:55] He looked at the swindlers, who were watching him with eager, expectant faces.
[ 10:01] "Is the blue not of a most heavenly shade?" the tall swindler asked, his voice soft and coaxing.
[ 10:09] "Yes, yes, indeed!" Jeffrey declared, his voice a little too loud, a little too high.
[ 10:16] "It is a marvelous blue, a royal blue!
[ 10:20] And the texture?
[ 10:22] Why, I can see from here how incredibly soft it must be!
[ 10:26] The weave is so tight, so perfect!
[ 10:30] It is a work of absolute genius!"
[ 10:34] "We are so glad you appreciate it," the short swindler said.
[ 10:39] "We are working day and night.
[ 10:41] We will need just a little more silk to finish the sleeves."
[ 10:45] "You shall have it!" Jeffrey promised.
[ 10:48] "I will authorize the release of the finest silk from the royal vaults immediately!"
[ 10:54] He backed out of the room, bowing, and ran to the emperor.
[ 10:59] "Your majesty," Jeffrey reported, his face pale, but his voice firm with false enthusiasm.
[ 11:07] "The cloth is a triumph!
[ 11:09] The blue silk they have introduced is like the sky on a summer evening.
[ 11:13] The gold thread shines like the sun.
[ 11:16] It is a sound investment, your majesty, a truly magnificent work."
[ 11:22] Now the entire city was talking of nothing but the wonderful cloth.
[ 11:28] Neighbors whispered to neighbors, and merchants gossiped in the market squares.
[ 11:33] Everyone was eager to know how stupid or unfit their friends and rivals might be.
[ 11:40] "Have you heard?" one citizen would say to another.
[ 11:44] "The emperor's new clothes are nearly finished.
[ 11:47] I wonder if the baker will be able to see them.
[ 11:51] I always suspected his bread was a bit light on the flour."
[ 11:55] "And what of the magistrate?" another would reply.
[ 11:59] "He seems a bit slow to me.
[ 12:01] We shall soon see if he is fit for his bench."
[ 12:05] The air in the city was thick with suspicion, fear, and a strange nervous excitement.
[ 12:13] Everyone was waiting for the moment when the truth would be revealed, yet everyone was terrified that they themselves would be the ones found wanting.
[ 12:24] At last, the emperor could bear the suspense no longer.
[ 12:29] He wanted to see the cloth while it was still on the loom.
[ 12:33] He gathered a select group of his finest courtiers, including the two honest ministers, Bartholomew and Jeffrey, who had already seen it.
[ 12:44] The emperor's heart beat fast as he led the procession down the long, cold corridor toward the east wing.
[ 12:51] He was surrounded by his most loyal subjects, all of them smiling, all of them whispering praises of the weavers, and all of them secretly trembling with a deep, private dread.
[ 13:06] The doors to the workshop were thrown open, and the emperor stepped inside.
[ 13:13] The room was bright with sunlight, and the sound of the looms was louder than ever.
[ 13:18] The two swindlers were working with furious energy, their arms flying, their fingers twitching as if tying invisible knots.
[ 13:28] "Behold, your majesty!" said the old minister, Bartholomew, pointing to the empty loom with a trembling finger.
[ 13:36] "Is it not beautiful?
[ 13:38] Look at the pattern!
[ 13:39] See how it catches the light!"
[ 13:42] "And the colors, sire!" Master Jeffrey chimed in, pointing to another empty spot.
[ 13:48] "The scarlet, the gold, the blue!
[ 13:51] It is exactly as we described, only far more splendid in the full light of day!"
[ 13:57] The two ministers looked at each other, each relieved that the other was also seeing the wonderful cloth, each reinforcing the other's lie.
[ 14:07] They turned to the emperor, expecting him to be delighted.
[ 14:12] The emperor stepped forward.
[ 14:14] He looked at the loom.
[ 14:16] He saw nothing.
[ 14:19] He blinked.
[ 14:20] He rubbed his eyes.
[ 14:21] He stepped closer, until his nose was nearly touching the wooden frame.
[ 14:26] He looked at the shuttle.
[ 14:28] He looked at the treadles.
[ 14:30] Nothing.
[ 14:31] Absolutely nothing.
[ 14:34] A terrible, suffocating silence seemed to fill the emperor's ears, though the looms were still clattering away.
[ 14:42] His blood ran cold.
[ 14:44] His knees felt weak beneath his heavy velvet robes.
[ 14:47] "What is this?" the emperor thought, his mind screaming in panic.
[ 14:54] "I see nothing at all!
[ 14:55] This is terrible!
[ 14:57] Am I a fool?
[ 14:59] Am I unfit to be emperor?
[ 15:02] If I cannot see the cloth, I have no right to the throne!
[ 15:07] My enemies will overthrow me!
[ 15:10] My people will laugh at me!
[ 15:12] I will be ruined, cast out, forgotten!"
[ 15:17] He looked at his courtiers.
[ 15:19] They were all staring at the empty looms, their faces masks of strained, eager interest.
[ 15:27] Not one of them showed a flicker of doubt.
[ 15:31] Every single one of them was nodding and smiling.
[ 15:36] The emperor knew he had to speak.
[ 15:39] He could not hesitate, even for a second.
[ 15:43] If he hesitated, they would know.
[ 15:47] "Oh, it is beautiful!" the emperor declared, his voice ringing out through the workshop, rich and confident.
[ 15:55] "It has my highest approval!
[ 15:58] I am completely satisfied!
[ 16:00] Indeed, I am enchanted!"
[ 16:05] He nodded with great dignity, looking at the empty loom as if he were admiring the most exquisite tapestry in the world.
[ 16:14] He could not admit that he saw nothing.
[ 16:17] To do so would be to destroy himself.
[ 16:21] The courtiers, hearing the emperor's praise, felt a great wave of relief.
[ 16:27] If the emperor saw it, then it must be there.
[ 16:31] And if they could not see it themselves, they certainly could not admit it now, when the emperor himself had just declared it a masterpiece.
[ 16:40] "Magnificent!" cried one nobleman.
[ 16:44] "Exquisite!" shouted another.
[ 16:46] "A triumph of the weaver's art!" declared a third.
[ 16:51] They all crowded around the empty looms, pointing and nodding, each trying to outdo the other in their praise.
[ 16:59] "Look at that delicate leaf pattern!
[ 17:01] And that silver border!
[ 17:03] It is like a dream!"
[ 17:05] The honest old minister and the sharp-eyed treasurer nodded in agreement, pleased that their lies had been so well received.
[ 17:15] The swindlers stood by, bowing and smiling, basking in the glory of their invisible creation.
[ 17:24] The tall swindler stepped forward and bowed to the emperor.
[ 17:29] "Your majesty, the cloth is now complete.
[ 17:33] We must now begin the work of cutting and sewing the suit.
[ 17:37] If it pleases your majesty, we will need to take your measurements once more, so that the fit may be absolutely perfect."
[ 17:45] "Yes, yes, of course!" the emperor said, quickly slipping off his heavy coat of plum-colored velvet.
[ 17:53] The swindlers took out a long, yellow measuring tape.
[ 17:57] They stretched it across the emperor's shoulders, around his waist, and down his legs, calling out imaginary numbers to each other.
[ 18:06] "32 inches of the finest gold border!" the short swindler called out.
[ 18:11] "And 40 inches of the scarlet silk for the mantle!" the tall one replied, writing nothing on a blank piece of paper.
[ 18:19] The courtiers watched in silent awe, admiring the professional skill of the weavers.
[ 18:25] The emperor stood in his undergarments, shivering slightly in the drafty room, but holding his chin high, determined to look every inch a ruler.
[ 18:36] "We will work through the night, your majesty," the tall swindler promised.
[ 18:41] "The suit will be ready for the grand procession tomorrow morning.
[ 18:45] You shall walk through the streets of your city, and your people will see you in the most magnificent array ever worn by a mortal king."
[ 18:54] "Splendid!" the emperor said, his voice tight.
[ 18:58] "I shall return to my chambers.
[ 19:01] See to it that the work is finished on time."
[ 19:06] He walked out of the room, his courtiers following closely behind him, all of them talking loudly about the beautiful patterns and the marvelous colors they had just seen.
[ 19:18] But behind the closed doors of the workshop, the two swindlers did not rest.
[ 19:24] They lit 16 large wax candles, placing them around the room so that the townspeople could see their silhouettes through the windows.
[ 19:33] They worked all through the night, pretending to take the cloth off the looms, cutting the air with giant iron shears, and sewing with needles that had no thread.
[ 19:45] They moved with great haste, their shadows dancing on the walls, creating the grand illusion of a workshop in the final hours of a masterpiece.
[ 19:57] The next morning, the sun rose bright and clear over the city.
[ 20:03] The streets were already packed with people, lined up along the cobblestones, waiting for the grand procession to begin.
[ 20:12] The air was filled with the smell of roasting chestnuts, the sound of trumpets, and the excited chatter of thousands of citizens, all eager to see the emperor's new clothes, and to see which of their neighbors would be revealed as fools.
[ 20:30] In the palace, the emperor's dressing room was a scene of frantic activity.
[ 20:35] The two swindlers arrived, carrying their arms high before them, as if they were holding a set of incredibly delicate, heavy garments.
[ 20:45] "Here are the trousers, your majesty!" the tall swindler said, presenting the empty air with a grand flourish.
[ 20:52] "And here is the coat!" the short one added, holding his hands up to the light.
[ 20:58] "And this," they both said, gesturing to a long, invisible stretch of space behind them, "is the magnificent mantle, with its long train that will sweep behind you like a cloud."
[ 21:11] The emperor stood in his finest undergarments, looking at the swindler's empty hands.
[ 21:17] His heart sank even lower than it had the day before, but he forced a bright, eager smile onto his face.
[ 21:25] "They are as light as a feather, are they not?" the tall swindler said, stepping closer.
[ 21:31] "That is the great beauty of this magic cloth, your majesty.
[ 21:35] One might almost think they had nothing on at all, but that is how you know it is of the finest quality."
[ 21:42] "Yes," the emperor whispered, his voice trembling slightly.
[ 21:47] "It is remarkably light."
[ 21:50] "If your majesty would be so kind as to step in front of the grand mirror," the short swindler said.
[ 21:58] "We will dress you now."
[ 22:00] The emperor walked over to the tall, gold-framed mirror that stood in the corner of the room.
[ 22:07] He stood before his own reflection, trying not to look at his bare legs and his pale shoulders.
[ 22:14] The swindlers went to work.
[ 22:17] They pretended to lift the trousers and help the emperor step into them.
[ 22:22] They pulled them up, zipped an invisible zipper, and buckled an invisible belt.
[ 22:28] They smoothed down the front of his thighs.
[ 22:31] "Do they feel comfortable, sire?" the tall swindler asked.
[ 22:35] "Oh, yes!
[ 22:36] A perfect fit!" the emperor lied, turning his body from side to side.
[ 22:42] Then they took the coat.
[ 22:44] They slid the emperor's arms into the empty sleeves.
[ 22:48] They buttoned invisible buttons down his chest, smoothed the collar, and adjusted the cuffs.
[ 22:55] Finally, they picked up the heavy mantle.
[ 22:58] They draped it over his shoulders and pretended to fasten it at his neck with a grand, invisible brooch of gold.
[ 23:07] "Behold!" the swindlers cried, stepping back and bowing.
[ 23:12] "The emperor of the new clothes!"
[ 23:15] The courtiers who were present in the room crowded around, their eyes wide with forced admiration.
[ 23:22] "Oh, your majesty!" one cried.
[ 23:25] "How beautifully it drapes!"
[ 23:28] "The pattern is even more splendid on your person than it was on the loom!" another declared.
[ 23:34] "What a magnificent suit!
[ 23:36] What a noble king!"
[ 23:39] The emperor turned slowly before the mirror.
[ 23:43] He looked at his reflection.
[ 23:45] He saw his own chest, his own arms, his own legs.
[ 23:51] He looked like a man who had forgotten to get dressed.
[ 23:56] But he looked at his courtiers' faces, and he saw only adoration and awe.
[ 24:04] He knew he could not stop now.
[ 24:07] The trumpets were already sounding in the courtyard below.
[ 24:12] "The canopy is waiting outside, your majesty," said the master of ceremonies, entering the room.
[ 24:19] "The procession is ready to begin."
[ 24:22] "Very well," the emperor said, taking a deep breath and pulling his shoulders back.
[ 24:29] "I am ready."
[ 24:32] The two chamberlains, whose job it was to carry the train of the emperor's mantle, stepped forward.
[ 24:39] They bent down toward the floor, their hands cupped as if they were picking up the edge of a heavy, luxurious fabric.
[ 24:48] They stood up, holding their hands high in the air, pretending to carry the train with the utmost care.
[ 24:56] They dared not let anyone think they could see nothing.
[ 25:01] The doors were thrown open, and the emperor marched out into the bright morning sun, walking beneath a grand canopy of silk and gold.
[ 25:11] The streets of the city were packed.
[ 25:14] People stood on balconies, leaned out of windows, and climbed onto the roofs of houses just to get a glimpse.
[ 25:22] As the emperor appeared, a great hush fell over the crowd, followed instantly by a roar of applause.
[ 25:30] "Oh, look at the emperor's new clothes!" the people shouted, their voices echoing off the stone walls.
[ 25:37] "How magnificent is his mantle!
[ 25:41] How beautifully the train sweeps behind him!
[ 25:45] The colors are unlike anything we have ever seen!"
[ 25:48] Every single person in the crowd was shouting, cheering, and clapping.
[ 25:55] Not one of them wanted to admit that they saw nothing but a man marching in his undergarments.
[ 26:02] To do so would be to admit to their neighbors, their friends, and their families that they were stupid, or unfit for their jobs, or unworthy of the city they lived in.
[ 26:14] And so, they cheered louder and louder, drowning out their own doubts with the sound of their own voices.
[ 26:24] The emperor marched on, his heart beating with a strange mixture of pride and terror.
[ 26:32] He looked at his people, and he saw them all smiling and pointing.
[ 26:37] He felt the cool morning breeze on his bare chest and his bare legs, but he held his chin high, his eyes fixed on the horizon, pretending with all his might that he was the most splendidly dressed king in the world.
[ 26:54] The procession wound its way through the grand avenues of the city, passing the market square, the great cathedral, and the guild halls.
[ 27:05] The cheers of the crowd grew louder and louder, a great wave of sound that seemed to carry the emperor along.
[ 27:14] Everyone was caught in the same grand dance, everyone playing their part in the great masquerade.
[ 27:24] But then, the procession turned onto a narrower street, where the crowd was packed tight against the wooden barriers.
[ 27:32] Near the front of the crowd stood a man with a small child sitting on his shoulders.
[ 27:38] The boy was no more than six years old, with bright, curious eyes and a face that had not yet learned how to wear a mask.
[ 27:49] As the emperor marched past, his bare legs pale in the morning light, the child squinted.
[ 27:56] He looked at the emperor, he looked at the canopy, he looked at the chamberlains holding their hands high in the air, carrying nothing at all.
[ 28:08] The child did not know about the magic cloth.
[ 28:11] He had not heard the rumors of the weavers, and he did not know that seeing nothing meant you were stupid or unfit for your job.
[ 28:20] He knew only what his eyes showed him.
[ 28:25] He leaned down and spoke into the quiet space between his father's ears, but his voice, clear and loud as a silver bell, carried over the noise of the crowd.
[ 28:37] "But he hasn't got anything on!" the child said.
[ 28:41] The father's heart stopped.
[ 28:44] He quickly clapped his hand over the boy's mouth, his face turning pale with terror.
[ 28:49] "Hush, child!" he whispered frantically.
[ 28:52] "Do not say such things!"
[ 28:55] But it was too late.
[ 28:57] The words had been spoken.
[ 28:59] They hung in the air, bright and sharp and undeniable.
[ 29:05] A woman standing next to them turned and looked at the boy.
[ 29:09] She looked at the emperor.
[ 29:12] "Did you hear what the child said?" she whispered to her husband.
[ 29:17] "He says the emperor has nothing on!"
[ 29:20] "He has nothing on?" the husband whispered to his neighbor.
[ 29:24] "A child says he has nothing on!"
[ 29:28] "The child is right!" another voice cried out from the crowd.
[ 29:33] "He hasn't got anything on at all!"
[ 29:36] The whisper spread like a ripple in a pond, traveling from person to person, from row to row, up to the balconies and onto the rooftops.
[ 29:47] The grand illusion, built with so much care, so much fear, and so much gold, began to crumble in an instant.
[ 29:56] "He has nothing on!" one man shouted.
[ 29:59] "He's in his underwear!" a woman laughed.
[ 30:03] "Look at his bare knees!" a boy yelled.
[ 30:06] Within moments, the entire city was screaming with laughter and shouting the truth at the top of their lungs.
[ 30:14] "He has nothing on!
[ 30:15] The emperor has nothing on at all!"
[ 30:19] The emperor heard them.
[ 30:20] He stopped for a fraction of a second, his heart freezing in his chest.
[ 30:26] He knew they were right.
[ 30:27] He knew with a sudden, terrible clarity that he had been tricked, that his ministers had lied, and that he had marched through his own city in his undergarments.
[ 30:38] The cold wind on his skin was not a magical weave.
[ 30:41] It was just the wind.
[ 30:43] But he was the emperor.
[ 30:45] He could not stop now.
[ 30:47] He could not run back to the palace and hide.
[ 30:50] The procession had to go on.
[ 30:52] He pulled his shoulders back even further.
[ 30:56] He held his head even higher, his face pale, but resolute.
[ 31:01] He marched on, stiffer and more dignified than ever before.
[ 31:07] And behind him, the two chamberlains, their faces red with embarrassment, but their hands held high, continued to carry the train that wasn't there, marching in perfect silent step with their king.
[ 31:23] The two swindlers, of course, were already gone.
[ 31:27] They had packed their dusty bags with the gold thread, the fine silk, and the heavy purses of gold coins, and they had slipped out of the city gates long before the procession had even begun.
[ 31:40] They had left behind only two empty wooden looms and a city that would never quite look at itself the same way again.
[ 31:50] As the laughter of the crowd fades into the distance, and the emperor finally reaches the safety of his palace doors, we are left with a quiet space to think.
[ 32:01] Why was it so hard for all those grownups, the wise old ministers, the sharp-eyed treasurer, the citizens, and even the emperor himself, to say the simple truth that was right in front of their eyes?
[ 32:16] Why did it take the voice of a single small child, who had nothing to lose and no reputation to save, to break the spell?
[ 32:25] It is a question about the stories we tell ourselves to fit in, and the courage it takes to stand alone and speak the truth, even when the whole world is pretending.
[ 32:36] It is a question to keep with you, to carry into your dreams, and to ponder when the world around you seems to be pointing at things that are not really there.