'That sounds very useful,' said the king. 'And now, Simon the sixth, tell me your trade.'
分页标题#e#
'Sire, it is so simple I am almost ashamed to mention it. If my brother hits any creature I catch it quicker than any dog can. If it falls into the water I pick it up out of the greatest depths, and if it is in a dark forest I can find it even at midnight.'
The king was much pleased with the trades and talk of the six brothers, and said: 'Thank you, good people; your father did well to teach you all these things. Now follow me to the town, as I want to see what you can do. I need such people as you about me; but when harvest time comes I will send you home with royal presents.'
The brothers bowed and said: 'As the king wills.' Suddenly the king remembered that he had not questioned the seventh Simon, so he turned to him and said: 'Why are you silent? What is your handicraft?'
And the seventh Simon answered: 'I have no handicraft, O king; I have learnt nothing. I could not manage it. And if I do know how to do anything it is not what might properly be called a real trade it is rather a sort of performance; but it is one which no one not the king himself must watch me doing, and I doubt whether this performance of mine would please your Majesty.'
'Come, come,' cried the king; 'I will have no excuses, what is this trade?'
'First, sire, give me your royal word that you will not kill me when I have told you. Then you shall hear.'
【Story of the Seven Simons】相关文章:
★ The Sparrow with the Slit Tongue
★ 英美文化差异二
★ The man who wanted to live forever
最新
2016-11-11
2016-11-02
2016-11-01
2016-11-01
2016-11-01
2016-10-28