So when he had spoken the two brothers embraced and bade each other good-bye and went on their ways; nor did they meet again till many a year had come and gone.
The elder brother rode to the king's court just as he had said he would; and as time went on he won great honor there and was made one of the king's counselors.
And the younger brother built himself a blacksmith's shop by the side of a road and worked there merrily from early morn till the stars shone at night. He was called the Mighty Blacksmith because of his strength, and the Honest Blacksmith because he charged no more than his work was worth, and the Master Blacksmith because no other smith in the countryside could shoe a horse so well and speedily as he. And he was envious of nobody, for always as he worked his hammer seemed to sing to him:
"Cling, clang, cling! Cling, clang, cling!
He who does his very best,
Is fit to serve the king."
Now in those days news came to the king of the country where the two brothers lived that the duke of the next kingdom had made threats against him, and against his people; and there was great excitement in the land.
Some of the king's counselors wanted him to gather his armies and march at once into the duke's kingdom.
"If we do not make war upon him, he will make war upon us," they said.
But some of the king's counselors loved peace, and among these was the elder brother, in whom the king had great trust.
"Let me, I pray you, ride to the duke's castle," he said to the king, "that we may learn from his own lips if he is friend or foe, for much is told that is not true; and it is easier to begin a fight than it is to end one."
The king was well pleased with all the elder brother said, and bade him go.