“May it please your majesty, I wish to learn no art, but if you will
order a smithy to be built in the middle of your court, I will smithy a
column which shall reach to heaven.”
The Czar saw that this Simeon required no teaching, since he was such a
smith, for he showed him very costly work, but he did not believe that
he would be able to smithy a column that should reach to heaven.
However, he ordered a place to be built in the middle of his yard, and
the eldest Simeon set to work.