English Original
A farmer, an artisan, and a labourer went to the King of their country and complained that they were compelled to support a large standing army of mere consumers, who did nothing for their keep.
"Very well," said the King, "my subjects' wishes are the highest law."
So he disbanded his army, and the consumers became producers also. The sale of their products so brought down prices that farming was ruined, and their skilled and unskilled labour drove the artisans and labourers into the almshouses and highways. In a few years the national distress was so great that the farmer, the artisan, and the labourer petitioned the King to reorganize the standing army.
"What!" said the King; "you wish to support those idle consumers again?"
"No, your Majesty," they replied — "we wish to enlist."
中文翻译
一位农民、一位工匠和一位劳工去找他们的国王，抱怨他们被迫供养一支庞大的常备军，这些人只是纯粹的消费者，对自己的生计毫无贡献。
“很好，”国王说，“臣民的愿望就是最高的法律。”
于是他解散了他的军队，那些消费者也变成了生产者。他们产品的销售导致价格暴跌，农业被摧毁，他们的熟练和非熟练劳动将工匠和劳工逼进了救济院和街头。几年后，国家的困境变得如此严重，以至于农民、工匠和劳工请求国王重组常备军。
“什么！”国王说；“你们又想供养那些懒惰的消费者了？”
“不，陛下，”他们回答——“我们想应征入伍。”