InthegreatchurchatRoskilde,Denmark,thereisshownalargewhetstone,whichwassenttothecelebratedQueenMargaretbyAlbert,KingofSweden,inthe14thcentury,intimatingthatsheshoulduseittosharpenherneedlesinsteadofusingasceptre.Thequeenrepliedthatshewouldapplyittotheedgesofhersoldiers'swords.
Shewasasgoodasherword.In1389,shefoughtAlbertinapitchedbattle,andtookhimprisoner.Sheputuponhisheadafool'scap,andrepaidhimforhisinsultsinotherways.Shethenlockedhimupinastrongprisoncell.Aftersixyears'imprisonment,Albertwasreleasedonveryhardconditions.
丹麥羅斯基勒大教堂今天展出的一塊大磨刀石,是十四世紀瑞典國王阿伯特送給著名女王瑪格麗特的,意思是她不應使用國王權杖,而應用磨刀石磨針。瑪格麗特回答說,她會用那磨刀石磨利將士劍鋒。
瑪格麗特沒有食言。一三八九年,她和阿伯特會戰,俘虜了他,給他戴上小丑的帽子,並用其他方式報復所受侮辱,然後把他關進牢固的囚室,過了六年,阿伯特才在非常嚴苛的條件下獲釋。
【附注】Tobeasgoodasone'sword即「信守諾言」,例如:Heisalwaysasgoodashisword(他向來言而有信)。留意asgoodas往往解作「幾乎」或「等於」,不一定是「和……一樣好」,例如:(1)Iamasgoodasbroke(我幾乎一文不名)。(2)Theworkisasgoodasfinished(工作幾乎做完了)。