When Chimes Chime 

At noon, on the first of each month, the Singapore government has a test signal to ensure that the Public Warning System is functional. Practical purposes aside, it’s a soothing sound for me, and it feels magical, as though a little bit of pixie dust is being sprinkled all over Singapore. It makes my mind wander…

When the bells chime, I remember a poem by the English poet, John Donne, and a story.

Like in Donne’s poem – as none of us stand alone in the world, each human tragedy affects us all and each unjust act diminishes us as humans; so too an animal deserves justice, and the story below brings home this beautiful message.

Let me share the poem and the story.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

By John Donne (1572-1631)

 

No man is an island,

Entire of itself.

Each is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less.

As well as if a promontory were.

As well as if a manor of thine own

Or of thine friend’s were.

Each man’s death diminishes me,

For I am involved in mankind.

Therefore, send not to know.

For whom the bell tolls,

It tolls for thee.

 

The Bell of Atri

Atri is an ancient town in Italy. It is built half-way up the side of a steep hill. The King of Atri was a wise and kind ruler. He enjoyed roaming the streets in disguise because the people seemed mostly content and happy, but his astute ways did tell him that things could be better. 

One day, as he roamed the streets in disguise, he came upon a shipyard selling bric-a-brac that was salvaged from broken ships. He spotted a huge bell, and he bought it. It was a gorgeous bell made of brass. He had the bell polished, engraved “Atri” on it and hung the bell up in a tower in the marketplace.

 Word spread and the young and old gathered around the marketplace to look at the bell. A little girl said, “it looks as bright and cheerful as a sunflower!”

The people wondered why a bell was placed there, especially since a long rope that touched the ground was fastened to the bell. They then saw the King walk down the street. The people waited patiently to see what would happen next.

All those gathered waited to hear the King speak. When the King arrived, he stood by the foot of the tower, and said, “My dear people! This beautiful bell is your bell. Ring it in case of any need. If any of you is wronged at any time, you may come and ring the bell and the judges will come together at once, hear the case, and give justice. Rich, poor, old, and young alike may come and ring the bell.” 

It was called, “The Bell of Fairness”.

Many days, weeks, months, and years passed by since the bell was installed. The bell in the marketplace rang many times and the judges gathered. Wrongs were righted, ill-doers were punished; justice was meted out.

The people of Atri lived happily and peacefully because of that bell!

After years, the hempen rope was worn out. It became so short that only a very tall man could reach it. 

“This will not do.” said one of the judges. “If a child is wronged, it could not ring the bell to let us know.”

Orders were given to mend the rope or replace it with a new rope at once. The rope should touch the ground so that the smallest child could reach it. But no rope was found in all of Atri! They would have to get rope from across the mountains and it would be many days before it could be procured. What if some grave wrong happened before the rope was replaced? How would the judges know if the wronged person could not reach the frayed rope?

“I shall fix it.” said a man who witnessed it all.

He rushed into his garden that was nearby, and soon returned with a long grapevine. 

“This will do as a makeshift rope.” he said. He climbed up and fastened the vine to the rope. The slender vine, with its leaves and tendrils fresh upon it, trailed to the ground like a bride’s veil. 

“It is a wonderful rope, leave it as it is.” agreed the judges in unison. 

One sweltering afternoon, when the streets were bereft of people, a horse tottered into the marketplace. He was scrawny and emaciated and limped towards the tower. He saw the grapevine that hung from the Bell of Fairness. The leaves and tendrils were still fresh and green and would make a fine meal for the hungry horse.

He stretched his scrawny neck and bit into one of the tempting leaves. It was hard to break it from the vine. He tugged at it, and that gorgeous shiny bell above him rang, “Gadang! Gadang” All the people in Atri heard it and were startled!

The judges heard it too. They put on their robes and rushed through the streets with the hot sun beating down upon them. They wondered who could be out in this heat ringing the bell. When they neared the marketplace, they saw an old horse nibbling at the vine. 

They instantly recognized him as the miser’s steed. One cried out, “He has come to seek justice; his master has treated him disgracefully.”

“He pleads his case as well as any other man can.” said another. “He shall have justice.” quipped another. 

A crowd had gathered in the marketplace. When they saw the horse, everyone said that they had seen him wandering on the hills, unfed and uncared for. His master turned miser sat at home counting his bags of money.

The miser was summoned to the marketplace. The miser was once a brave knight. But as he grew older, he cared no more for anything but money. He sold everything and converted it to cash, and day by day all he did was count his money. He ignored his horse, starved him and left him shivering in the stable. Finally, one morning he turned him out to fend for himself.

After what seemed like a long discussion, the judges gave their verdict.

“This horse has served you well for many years. In your youth, you were a brave knight and rode through many lands and fought in many battles. Your friend through those times was this horse – a strong, dependable steed that served you well through many dangers. He has helped you gain your wealth. Therefore, we order that you shall buy him shelter and food, a green pasture where he may graze, and a warm stable to comfort him in his old age.”

The people cheered! 

The miser hung his head. He grieved his meanness. He lamented the reduction in his wealth. 

There was rejoicing as justice was upheld that day! The Bell of Atri stood tall and proud, glistening like gold!

 

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” – Haile Selassie

 

References: The Bell of Atri by James Baldwin