Solomon was king of Israel almost three thousand years ago. He was famous for his wisdom. When the queen of Sheba came from Arabia to visit King Solomon at his place in Jerusalem, he proved once again how wise e was.
The queen of Sheba had heard of the famous king. She came to Jerusalem to test him.
The king queen had brought many treasures from her kingdom. Her workmen had made things that no one had ever seen before. She brought a golden bird which could fly and speak and animals so real that no one could believe they were made by human hands.
Then as the wise king gazed in wonder at these treasures, the queen called her attendants. She ordered them to bring two vases of flowers and put them in front of the throne.
``O Solomon, wisest of men,’’ said the queen, ``here are two bouquets. One bouquet is made from living flowers, the other one is a copy which my craftsmen have made from enamel and jewels. Wise king, tell me which is which?’’
King Solomon looked at the queen. He knew that this was test of his wisdom. If he failed, the world would laugh at him.
He smiled at the queen and thanked her for the wonderful gifts. Then he looked at the flowers. There were lilies and roses, and sweet-smelling jasmine. Dew seemed to tremble on the petals of both the bouquets. He could not tell which flowers were real.
Then he looked more carefully. Oh! He saw a wilted brown leaf. He raised his head and was about to raise his hand. Then he looked at the other flowers, and saw a wilted brown leaf among them too.
The king sat in silence, thinking and wondering how to tell the difference. It was the last day of spring. Beyond the courtyard the king could hear the bees in his garden.
Suddenly he smiled.
``Open the windows,’’ he said to one of is attendants. When the windows were open, he waited and the queen and all the court waited with him.
After a while a bee entered and flew towards the throne and the flowers before it. Solomon smiled. The bee was not fooled by the great work of the craftsmen. It flew straight to the real flowers. Solomon raised his hand pointed to the real bouquet.