Page 588 - Child's own book

yard of a royal palace, and feeling very tired, he laid himself
down on the grass and went to sleep. While he lay there,
people came by who looked at him on every side, and read on
his girdle, “-Seven at one blow.’* ** Ah,'1 said they, “ what
wants this great hero here in the midst of peace? This must
be a mighty lord." They went and mentioned it to the king*
thinking if war should break out, here was an important and
most useful man whom one should not part with at any price.
So the king summoned a council, and sent one of his courtiers
to the tailor to desire of him, if he should be awake, his services
in war. The messenger remained standing by the sleeper,
waiting until he should stretch his limbs and open his eyes,
and then he laid before him the proffer. “ Solely on that
account have I come hither," was the reply. “ I am ready to
enter into the king’s service.” Then was he received with
gre.it honour, and an admirable dwelling was appointed for him.
The king's officers, however, were jealous of the tailor, and
wished he had been a thousand miles away. “ What will come
out of it?” said they to one another ; “ if we go to battle with
him, and he strikes a blow, every time seven will die, so that
not one will fall fo our share.” So they came to a resolution,
and presenting themselves all together before the king, they re-
quested their dismi-<isal. “ We are not prepared/' said they,
44 to keep with a man who kills seven with one blow.’* The
king was grieved to lose all his faithful servant* for the sake
of one, and wished that his eyes had never seen him ; but he
dared not give him his dismissal, because he feared that the tailor
might kill him, together with his subjects, and set himself upon
the throne. For a long time he thought one thing and another,
until he resolved, and sending for the tailor, he told him that,
seeing he was so great a warrior, he wished to make a proposal
to him. In a forest in his kingdom two giants were at large