Should my brother build you a ship , then let me embark in it . If we should be pursued by an enemy I can seize our boat by the prow and sink it to the bottom of the sea . When the enemy has sailed off , I can draw it up to the top again . ' ` That is very clever of you , ' answered the king ; ` and what does Simon the fifth do ? ' ` My work , your Majesty , is mere smith 's work . Order me to build a smithy and I will make you a cross-bow , but from which neither the eagle in the sky nor the wild beast in the forest is safe . The bolt hits whatever the eye sees . ' ` That sounds very useful , ' said the king . ` And now , Simon the sixth , tell me your trade . ' ` 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 XXXXX mine would please your Majesty . '
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