IV. Three young men served King Solomon. After
three years' apprenticeship, believing they had learned
nothing, they asked leave of departure from Solomon.
He offered them each 100 gold pieces or three wise maxims.
They took the 300 gold pieces, but the youngest returned
and Solomon taught him, “1) Start early on your journey
with the dawn and stop at nightfall. 2) Do not attempt
to cross a swollen river but wait until it subsides; and, 3) Do
not reveal thy secrets to any woman, not even thy wife.''
He then caught up his brothers but declined to tell them
what he had been taught. Towards evening, he stopped to
rest while they travelled on in the dark. He lit a fire and
- i55
slept but they were overtaken by snow and frozen to death.
Finding them dead the next morning he took their money
and then buried them. The snow melted and the river
overflowed and he waited. Two servants of Solomon with
horses laden with gold attempted to cross and were drowned.
The waters later subsided and he took the money and went
home where he bought land and built palaces. On being
asked by his wife, he refused to tell her anything about his
fortune. But at last he told her. One day she quarrelled
with him and shouted at him that after he had killed his
two brothers he wanted to kill her. Their widows then
brought him for trial before King Solomon who ordered
him to be killed. He, however, told the king who he was
and what had happened and the king recognised him and
set him free.
402. IV. Three young men served King Solomon. After
three years' apprenticeship, believing they had learned
nothing, they asked leave of departure from Solomon.
He offered them each 100 gold pieces or three wise maxims.
They took the 300 gold pieces, but the youngest returned
and Solomon taught him, “1) Start early on your journey
with the dawn and stop at nightfall. 2) Do not attempt
to cross a swollen river but wait until it subsides; and, 3) Do
not reveal thy secrets to any woman, not even thy wife.''
He then caught up his brothers but declined to tell them
what he had been taught. Towards evening, he stopped to
rest while they travelled on in the dark. He lit a fire and
- i55
slept but they were overtaken by snow and frozen to death.
Finding them dead the next morning he took their money
and then buried them. The snow melted and the river
overflowed and he waited. Two servants of Solomon with
horses laden with gold attempted to cross and were drowned.
The waters later subsided and he took the money and went
home where he bought land and built palaces. On being
asked by his wife, he refused to tell her anything about his
fortune. But at last he told her. One day she quarrelled
with him and shouted at him that after he had killed his
two brothers he wanted to kill her. Their widows then
brought him for trial before King Solomon who ordered
him to be killed. He, however, told the king who he was
and what had happened and the king recognised him and
set him free.
