The Three Sluggards (Grimm)
Division into sections is editorial.
The kings dilemma and his test
A certain king faced a difficult decision that troubled him deeply. He had three sons who were all equally precious to him, and he could not determine which one should inherit his throne after his death. The king loved each of his children with equal measure, making the choice of succession particularly challenging. As his life drew to an end and the time came to make this crucial decision, he knew he needed to find a fair way to choose his heir.
When the king felt his death approaching, he summoned all three of his sons to his bedside for what would be their final conversation. The dying monarch had devised an unusual test to determine which son would be most suitable to rule the kingdom. Rather than testing their courage, wisdom, or strength as might be expected, the king had conceived of a completely different approach to selecting his successor.
Dear children, I have been thinking of something which I will declare unto you; whichsoever of you is the laziest shall have the kingdom.
This unexpected criterion surprised the three princes, who had never imagined that laziness would be the quality their father valued most in a ruler.
The eldest sons claim to laziness
Upon hearing his father's unusual test, the eldest son immediately stepped forward to make his case. He was confident that he possessed the greatest degree of laziness among the three brothers and therefore deserved to inherit the kingdom. The eldest prince proceeded to describe his extraordinary level of idleness with a specific example that he believed would demonstrate his superior laziness beyond any doubt.
Then, father, the kingdom is mine, for I am so idle that if I lie down to rest, and a drop falls in my eye, I will not open it that I may sleep.
The eldest son's example illustrated his commitment to avoiding any unnecessary movement or effort, even when it might cause him discomfort or inconvenience.
The second sons claim to laziness
Not to be outdone by his older brother, the second son quickly spoke up to present his own claim to the throne. He believed his laziness surpassed even that of the eldest son and was determined to prove his superior idleness. The second prince offered his own compelling example of extreme laziness, one that involved physical harm rather than mere discomfort.
Father, the kingdom belongs to me, for I am so idle that when I am sitting by the fire warming myself, I would rather let my heel be burnt off than draw back my leg.
The second son's declaration demonstrated an even more extreme form of laziness, showing his willingness to endure serious physical injury rather than make the effort to move his leg away from danger.
The third sons victory
The youngest son listened carefully to his brothers' claims before making his own declaration. He realized that to win his father's test, he would need to present an example of laziness that exceeded both of his brothers' impressive displays of idleness. The third son's example would prove to be the most extreme of all, involving a matter of life and death rather than mere discomfort or injury.
The third son declared that his laziness was so profound that even if he were about to be executed by hanging, with the rope already around his neck, and someone placed a sharp knife in his hand that could cut the rope and save his life, he would still be too lazy to raise his hand to cut himself free. He would rather face death than make the effort required to save himself.
Upon hearing this final and most extreme example of laziness, the king made his decision. He recognized that the third son had indeed demonstrated the greatest degree of idleness among the three brothers.
When the father heard that, he said, 'Thou hast carried it the farthest, and shalt be King.'