(1855)
Far in the interior of the country lay an old baronial hall, and in it lived
an old proprietor, who had two sons, which two young men thought
themselves too clever by half. They wanted to go out and woo the King’s
daughter; for the maiden in question had publicly announced that she would
choose for her husband that youth who could arrange his words best.
So these two geniuses prepared themselves a full week for the wooing-
this was the longest time that could be granted them; but it was enough, for
they had had much preparatory information, and everybody knows how
useful that is. One of them knew the whole Latin dictionary by heart, and
three whole years of the daily paper of the little town into the bargain, and
so well, indeed, that he could repeat it all either backwards or forwards, just
as he chose. The other was deeply read in the corporation laws, and knew
by heart what every corporation ought to know; and accordingly he thought
he could talk of affairs of state, and put his spoke in the wheel in the
council. And he knew one thing more: he could embroider suspenders with
roses and other flowers, and with arabesques, for he was a tasty, light-
fingered fellow.
“I shall win the Princess!” So cried both of them. Therefore their old
papa gave to each of them a handsome horse. The youth who knew the
dictionary and newspaper by heart had a black horse, and he who knew all
about the corporation laws received a milk-white steed. Then they rubbed
the corners of their mouths with fish-oil, so that they might become very
smooth and glib. All the servants stood below in the courtyard, and looked
on while they mounted their horses; and just by chance the third son came
up. For the proprietor had really three sons, though nobody counted the
third with his brothers, because he was not so learned as they, and indeed he
was generally known as “Jean the Dullard.”
