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When the soldier was well enough to go home , he thanked the farmer for what he had done , and promised that he would repay him for his kindness . But he did not mean to keep his promise . He did not tell King Philip about the man who had saved his life . He only said that there was a fine farm by the seashore , and that he would like very much to have it for his own . Would the king give it to him ? " Who owns the farm now ? " asked Philip . " Only a churlish farmer , who has never done anything for his country , " said the soldier . " Very well , then , " said Philip . " You have served me for a long time , and you shall have your wish . Go and take the farm for yourself . " And so the soldier made haste to drive the farmer from his house and home . He took the farm for his own . The poor farmer was stung to the heart by such treatment . He went boldly to the king , and told the whole story from beginning to end . King Philip was very angry when he learned that the man whom he had trusted had done so base a deed . He sent for the soldier in great haste ; and when he had come , he caused these words to be burned in his forehead : — " THE UNGRATEFUL GUEST . " Thus all the world was made to know of the mean act by which the soldier had tried to enrich himself ; and from that day until he died all men shunned and hated him . ALEXANDER AND BUCEPHALUS . One day King Philip bought a fine horse called Bucephalus . He was a noble animal , and the king paid a very high price for him . But he was wild and savage , and no man could mount him , or do anything at all with him . They tried to whip him , but that only made him worse . At last the king bade his servants take him away . " It is a pity to ruin so fine a horse as that , " said Alexander , the king's young son . " Those men do not know how to treat him . " " Perhaps you can do better than they , " said his father scornfully . " I know , " said Alexander , " that , if you would only give me leave to try , I could manage this horse better than any one else . " " And if you fail to do so , what then ? " asked Philip . " I will pay you the price of the horse , " said the lad . While everybody was laughing , Alexander ran up to Bucephalus , and turned his head toward the sun . He had noticed that the horse was afraid of his own shadow . He then spoke gently to the horse , and patted him with his hand . When he had quieted him a little , he made a quick spring , and leaped upon the horse's back . Everybody expected to see the boy killed outright . But he kept his place , and let the horse run as fast as he would . By and by , when Bucephalus had become tired , Alexander reined him in , and rode back to the place where his father was standing .
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