The eldest of four brothers did a sound business; the second, a smashing business; the third, a light business; and the youngest, the most wicked business. What were they?
Cut off my head, and singular I am,
Cut off my tail, and plural I appear;
Cut off both head and tail, O wondrous fact!
My middle part remains, though naught is there.
What is my head cut off? A sounding sea.