“I am certainly not stupid！” thought the messenger. “It mustbe， that I am not fit for my good， profitable office！ That isvery odd； however， no one shall know anything about it.” Andaccordingly he praised the stuff he could not see， and declaredthat he was delighted with both colors and patterns. “Indeed，please your Imperial Majesty，” said he to his sovereign whenhe returned， “the cloth which the weavers are preparing isextraordinarily magnificent.”
The whole city was talking of the splendid cloth which theEmperor had ordered to be woven at his own expense.
And now the Emperor himself wished to see the costlymanufacture， while it was still in the loom. Accompanied by aselect number of officers of the court， among them whom werethe two honest men who had already admired the cloth， hewent to the crafty impostors， who， as soon as they were awareof the Emperor’s approach， went on working more diligentlythan ever； although they still did not pass a single threadthrough the looms.
“Is not the work absolutely magnificent？” said the twoofficers of the crown， already mentioned. “If your Majesty willonly be pleased to look at it！ What a splendid design！ Whatglorious colors！” and at the same time they pointed to theempty frames； for they imagined that everyone else could seethis exquisite piece of workmanship.
“How is this？” said the Emperor to himself. “I can seenothing！ This is indeed a terrible affair！ Am I a simpleton， oram I unfit to be an Emperor？ That would be the worst thingthat could happen—Oh！ the cloth is charming，” said he，aloud. “It has my complete approbation.” And he smiled mostgraciously， and looked closely at the empty looms； for on noaccount would he say that he could not see what two of theofficers of his court had praised so much. All his retinue nowstrained their eyes， hoping to discover something on the looms，but they could see no more than the others； nevertheless，they all exclaimed， “Oh， how beautiful！” and advised hismajesty to have some new clothes made from this splendidmaterial， for the approaching procession. “Magnificent！
Charming！ Excellent！” resounded on all sides； and everyonewas uncommonly gay. The Emperor shared in the generalsatisfaction； and presented the impostors with the riband of anorder of knighthood， to be worn in their button-holes， and thetitle of “Gentlemen Weavers.”
The rogues sat up the whole of the night before the day onwhich the procession was to take place， and had sixteen lightsburning， so that everyone might see how anxious they were tofinish the Emperor’s new suit. They pretended to roll the clothoff the looms； cut the air with their scissors； and sewed withneedles without any thread in them. “See！” cried they， at last.
“The Emperor’s new clothes are ready！”
And now the Emperor， with all the grandees of his court，came to the weavers； and the rogues raised their arms， as ifin the act of holding something up， saying， “Here are yourMajesty’s trousers！ Here is the scarf！ Here is the mantle！ Thewhole suit is as light as a cobweb； one might fancy one hasnothing at all on， when dressed in it； that， however， is the greatvirtue of this delicate cloth.”
“Yes indeed！” said all the courtiers， although not one of themcould see anything of this exquisite manufacture.
“If your Imperial Majesty will be graciously pleased to takeoff your clothes， we will fit on the new suit， in front of thelooking glass.”
The Emperor was accordingly undressed， and the roguespretended to array him in his new suit； the Emperor turninground， from side to side， before the looking glass.
“How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes， andhow well they fit！” everyone cried out. “What a design！ Whatcolors！ These are indeed royal robes！”
“The canopy which is to be borne over your Majesty， in theprocession， is waiting，” announced the chief master of theceremonies.
“I am quite ready，” answered the Emperor. “Do my newclothes fit well？” asked he， turning himself round againbefore the looking glass， in order that he might appear to beexamining his handsome suit.
The lords of the bedchamber， who were to carry his Majesty’strain felt about on the ground， as if they were lifting up theends of the mantle； and pretended to be carrying something；for they would by no means betray anything like simplicity， orunfitness for their office.
So now the Emperor walked under the high canopy in themidst of the procession， through the streets of his capital； andall the people standing by， and those at the windows， cried out，“Oh！ How beautiful are our Emperor’s new clothes！ What amagnificent train there is to the mantle； and how gracefullythe scarf hangs！” in short， no one would allow that he couldnot see these much-admired clothes； because， in doing so， hewould have declared himself either a simpleton or unfit for hisoffice. Certainly， none of the Emperor’s various suits， had evermade so great an impression， as these invisible ones.
“But the Emperor has nothing at all on！” said a little child.
“Listen to the voice of innocence！” exclaimed his father； andwhat the child had said was whispered from one to another.
“But he has nothing at all on！” at last cried out all thepeople. The Emperor was vexed， for he knew that the peoplewere right； but he thought the procession must go on！ And thelords of the bedchamber took greater pains than ever， to appearholding up a train， although， in reality， there was no train tohold.