“One box contains a key,” said the king, “to unlock your chains; and if you find the key you are free. But the other box contains a dagger for your heart, if you fail.”
And the Jester opened both boxes, successfully finding (that is, not failing to find) the key. Of course, the King could declare “you know what I meant to say” and kill him anyway but that does change the intended moral somewhat.
And the Jester opened both boxes, successfully finding (that is, not failing to find) the key. Of course, the King could declare “you know what I meant to say” and kill him anyway but that does change the intended moral somewhat.
Well, I’m certainly not going to object to that moral.
… and was first set free from his chains, and then stabbed through the heart with the dagger.
Nope. The dagger is only if he fails to find the key, NOT if he succeeds in finding the dagger.