I will continue the story of the prince who heard a merchant saying to his son that he has ‘a friend and a half, so he wanted to know what the merchant meant. Accordingly the merchant asked him to declare “The merchant will be executed next Friday in town”, so the prince agreed and ordered to issue that declaration.
Next day, while the prince was at his palace, a merchant’s friend asked to speak to the prince. When he met the prince, he said “My prince, the merchant is my friend and I ‘m ready to give half of my wealth, if you forgive him and prevent his execution”. The prince was silent for few moments then said “Half of your wealth is not enough, the merchant will be executed tomorrow”, then with no hesitation whatsoever he said “Then, my lord, I will give all my wealth for saving him from death”. The prince looked thoroughly at him then responded “Your money won’t help him. He will be executed next Friday”. The friend said nothing and was so desperate then told his merchant friend “I tried to redeem you, my friend, with all my money, but to no avail; have I done what friendship requires me?” .The merchant responded “Yes, you had, thank you”. Then the friend went home. After a while, another friend came to the prince’s palace impulsively. When he saw the prince, he knelt down saying” I came in haste to your palace to tell you that my friend hasn’t done the crime, but it was me who did it. He is innocent, I swear, he did nothing wrong”. The prince cast a curious glance at him then said “OK, then you will be executed instead of the merchant”, the friend responded with no hesitation “Yes, I am the criminal and I will be executed instead of him”. The prince ordered to get the execution place prepared. When the friend had arrived, the prince asked him if he wanted to back down, but the friend refused and insisted on his being the criminal and that his friend was innocent .At that moment, the merchant hugged his true friend and said to the prince “Now, my lord, you know what I mean by ‘a friend and a half’?!. A half- friend would redeem you by money, if he even could do that, but the friend will never cease to give all what he owns even if it is his soul!!.”
That symbolic story shows the true meaning of friendship that we always wish to get. Definitely, some people understand the true meaning of friendship and love that does not seek her own, but puts the other first. If God gifted you by those loving people, you can consider it a great treasure. The wise king said “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.“
Anba Ermiah, General Bishop& President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
