The Sword of Peritus
[This story was inspired by the expression "double edged sword" and the "Sword of Damocles," an ancient parable popularized by the Roman philosopher Cicero in his 45 B.C. book “Tusculanae disputationes.”]
A brash young man named Tenaci strode into the courtyard of a famous swordsman named Peritus and proclaimed, "You are old and have not yet designated an heir to your school! You will teach me how to wield a sword and become a powerful warrior. It will not take long as I am already an expert swordsman. I will be the heir to your school!"
Peritus looked long and hard at Tenaci, sizing him up, but the expression on his face revealed he was not impressed by what he saw in the noisy youth before him.
"Expert, are you?" queried Peritus. "Very well, let's see your metal." Gesturing across the courtyard to a table that displayed an impressive array of many types of swords, Peritus instructed Tenaci, "Chose one to your liking and teach me a lesson."
Tenaci strode confidently to the table and scanned the choices like a hungry gladiator at an Emperor's feast. In short order, he selected a hefty broadsword. Examining it closely, he marveled at the craftsmanship that must have gone into it's creation. Holding the sword in the ready position, Tenaci approach Peritus.
"Ah, you have chosen a powerful sword, indeed. That is 'Vindicta,' the sword of revenge!'"
The two faced each other for a tense moment, Tenaci in full battle posture and Peritus standing as if he were waiting for foot traffic to pass before crossing a road. Like a bolt of lightning, Tenaci made his move. As he lifted Vindicta above his head and prepared for a mighty blow, Tenaci cried out in surprise and pain and let the sword drop from his grasp. What strange magic had switched the sword end-for-end in his hands? No longer was he tightly griping the hilt, but the blade!
"Perhaps not the blade for you. Please, chose another," offered Peritus.
Tenaci walked over the the table and examined his choices more closely. Peering back at Peritus with a suspicious eye, Tenaci chose a much lighter sword. The hilt looked the same as his previous choice, but the blade was thinner and flexible. Again, he marveled at the craftsmanship. The balance in this blade was remarkable.
"Interesting choice," said Peritus. "That is 'Invidia,' the sword of envy.'"
Again, the two faced each other as before, Tenaci in full battle posture and Peritus casually waiting. Maneuvering into position, Tenaci prepared for a whip strike across Peritus' face. Faster than an eye can blink, he made his move. But again, before he scarcely began to swing Invidia, Tenaci cried out in pain and released his grip on the sword which sailed harmlessly across the courtyard, clattering to rest at the main gate. As with Vindicta, Invidia had switched end-for-end while in his grasp.
"Chose another?", suggested Peritus.
Looking down at his bleeding hands, "I think not," replied Tenaci. "Your table is full of tricky swords."
"Here, then, is your first lesson. You know much less than you think you do," stated Peritus. "And for your second, look at the table once again and tell me what you see in this collection of swords that is common to all of them."
Tenaci stood before the table for many hours. Scrutinizing every detail, but the blades were all different - length, thickness, weight, edge, shape. He could discern no common element. As the sun set, the waning rays of light struck the table in a way that illuminated a simple inlay of gold and silver on the hilt of each sword. Only then did Tenaci see that every hilt was identical.
"I see the common element!", exclaimed Tenaci.
"That handle goes by many names," explained Peritus. "'Misericordia', 'Gratia', 'Remissio', to name a few. Compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness. It isn't the blade you hold. You hold the handle and the handle holds the blade. Unlike all the other swords in the world, these are honest and virtuous. If your heart if filled with revenge or anger or hate, then the weapon transforms so that you are holding the end that matches your wishes."
"I don’t see the sense in that," snorted Tenaci. "What good is such a weapon? If I am angry or vengeful or afraid or feel the need to deliver justice, then those blades should serve me! If the blade turns on me than I'm the only one hurt! If I can only use a sword with forgiveness or compassion in my heart, why would I ever draw such a sword?"
As he turned to leave, Peritus nodded to Tenaci and said, "Lesson three."
Image credit: Richard Westall - own photograph of painting, Ackland Museum, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3437614