The king,
hearing that each of his sons had succeeded in finding what he had
required, again began to think of some new expedient to delay the time
of his resigning the crown; but when the whole court were with the
king assembled to pass judgment, the princess who accompanied the
youngest, perceiving his thoughts by his countenance, stepped
majestically forward and thus addressed him:
"It is a pity that your majesty, who is so capable of governing,
should think of resigning the crown! I am fortunate enough to have six
kingdoms in my possession; permit me to bestow one on each of the
eldest princes, and to enjoy the remaining four in the society of the
youngest. And may it please your majesty to keep your own kingdom, and
make no decision concerning the beauty of three princesses, who,
without such a proof of your majesty's preference, will no doubt live
happily together!"
The air resounded with the applauses of the assembly: the young prince
and princess embraced the king, and next their brothers and sisters:
the three weddings immediately took place, and the kingdoms were
divided as the princess had proposed.
PRINCE CHERRY
Long ago there lived a monarch, who was such a very honest man that
his subjects entitled him the Good King. One day, when he was out
hunting, a little white rabbit, which had been half killed by his
hounds, leaped right into his majesty's arms.
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