“I am the man,” said the lad.
“Then I am your brother,” said the glutton, and followed the lad.
Soon they met a man who was carrying the earth upon his shoulders.
“What a man!” exclaimed the lad.
“Man?” replied the carrier of the earth. “A man is he who has pierced the steel shield with the steel spear.”
“I am the man,” said the lad.
“Then I am your brother,” said the carrier of the earth, and he also followed the lad.
They soon met a man who was lying flat on the bank of the Euphrates, and drinking the river dry, but still crying, “I am thirsty! I am dry; more water, for heaven’s sake!”
“Aha! what a man,” exclaimed the lad, “the river Euphrates does not satisfy his thirst.”
“Man?” exclaimed the river-drinker, “a man is he who pierced the steel shield.”