A certain King had three sons who were all equally dear to him, and he did not know which of them to appoint as his successor¹ after his own death. 

 

When the time came when he was about to die, he summoned² them to his bedside and said, "Dear children, I have been thinking of something which I will declare unto you; whichsoever of you is the laziest shall have the kingdom." 

 

The eldest³ said, "Then, father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle⁴（懒惰的） that if I lie down to rest, and a drop falls in my eye, I will not open it that I may sleep." 

 

The second said; "Father, the kingdom belongs to me, for I am so idle that when I am sitting by the fire warming myself, I would rather let my heel be burnt off than draw back my leg." 

 

The third said, "Father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle that if I were going to be hanged, and had the rope already round my neck, and any one put a sharp knife into my hand with which I might cut the rope, I would rather let myself be hanged than raise my hand to the rope." 

 

When the father heard that, he said, "Thou hast carried it the farthest, and shalt be King."

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