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.