One or two men of valour had the courage to go and ask him the reason of this strange fact , but he only laughed and said nothing ; and the reason of the deadly enmity between his two eyes was a secret only known to the monarch himself . And all the while the emperor 's sons were growing up . And such sons ! All three like the morning stars in the sky ! Florea , the eldest , was so tall and broad-shouldered that no man in the kingdom could approach him . Costan , the second , was quite different . Small of stature , and slightly built , he had a strong arm and stronger wrist . Petru , the third and youngest , was tall and thin , more like a girl than a boy . He spoke very little , but laughed and sang , sang and laughed , from morning till night . He was very seldom serious , but then he had a way when he was thinking of stroking his hair over his forehead , which made him look old enough to sit in his father 's council ! ` You are grown up , Florea , ' said Petru one day to his eldest brother ; ` do go and ask father why one eye laughs and the other weeps . ' But Florea would not go . He had learnt by experience that this question always put the emperor in a rage . Petru next went to Costan , but did not succeed any better with him . ` Well , well , as everyone else is afraid , I suppose I must do it myself , ' observed Petru at length . No sooner said than done ; the boy went straight to his father and put his question . ` May you go blind ! ' exclaimed the emperor in wrath ; ` what business is it of yours ? ' and boxed Petru 's ears soundly . Petru returned to his brothers , and told them what had befallen him ; but not long after it struck him that his father 's left eye seemed to weep less , and the right to laugh more . '
I wonder if it has anything XXXXX do with my question , ' thought he .
after at between in like of over that to while