Die Drei Faulen (The Three Lazy Ones)
A scan of my handwritten notes is below (with my handwritten copy of the original tale and my literal translation). I am happy to say that I have finished Eric Greenfield's grammar book, though I did not post any more about it on this blog since the grammar-work started to grow boring.
Translation:
A king had three sons who were all equally dear to him, and he did not know whom he should make king after his death. When the time came that he was to die, he called them before his bed and spoke: "Dear children, I have been reflecting on a matter that I wish to share with you. Whoever of you is the laziest shall become king after me. Then the eldest said: "Father, then the kingdom belongs to me, for I am so lazy that when I lie down to sleep and a drop of water falls in my eyes, I will not close them in order to sleep." The second said: "Father, the kingdom belongs to me, for I am so lazy that when I sit by the fire to warm myself, I let my heels burn before I pull my legs back." The third said, "Father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so lazy that should I be hanged and the rope was already around my throat and someone put a sharp knife in my hand that I might cut the rope, I would let myself be hanged before I would raise my hand to take the knife." When the father heard that, he said, "You took it the farthest. You should be king."
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