The king and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. When he reached the king, he fell fainting on the ground, moaning feebly. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. The king turned round and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. «Here comes someone running,» said the hermit. « If you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home». When he had dug two beds, the king stopped and repeated his questions. «You are tired,» said the king, «let me take the spade and work awhile for you». He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging. The hermit listened to the king but answered nothing. Seeing the king, he greeted him and went on digging. When the king approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Leaving his bodyguard behind, he went on alone. So the king put on simple clothes and, before reaching the hermit’s cell, dismounted from his horse. The hermit lived in a wood that he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them and gave the reward to none. To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation, some replied that the most important thing in the world was science. Equally various were the answers to the second question.
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