Then the Czar asked the second Simeon—
“And you, my friend, what art will you learn?”
“Your majesty,” said he, “I do not wish to learn any business or trade, but when my brother has finished the column, I will stand on the top of it, look around into all the countries, and let you know what is passing in each of them.”
The Czar perceived that there was no need to teach this lad anything, since he was so clever already.
Then he said to the third Simeon—
“What business or what art will you learn?”
“Your majesty,” said he, “I do not wish to learn either handiwork or art, but if my eldest brother will make me an axe, I will build a ship in an instant.”
“Such a man do I want,” said the Czar. “You, too, have nothing to learn.”
“And you,” said the Czar to the fourth Simeon, “what handiwork or what art do you wish to learn?”
“Your majesty,” said he, “I do not wish to learn anything, but, when my brother has finished his ship, and it is attacked by the enemy, I will seize it by the prow, carry it to the underground kingdom, and, when the enemy is gone, I will put it again on the sea.”