When therefore the son had been proclaimed King, and the time ofmourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had givenhis father, and caused the King's daughter to be asked in marriage,and she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, andfretted so much about his faithlessness that she nearly died. Then herfather said to her, "Dearest child, why art thou so sad? Thou shalt havewhatsoever thou wilt." She thought for a moment and said, "Dear father,I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size."The father said, "If it be possible, thy desire shall be fulfilled,"and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom, until elevenyoung maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face,figure, and size.
When they came to the King's daughter, she had twelve suits of huntsmen'sclothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to put on thehuntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit. Thereupon shetook leave of her father, and rode away with them, and rode to the courtof her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly. Then she inquired ifhe required any huntsmen, and if he would take the whole of them intohis service. The King looked at her and did not know her, but as theywere such handsome fellows, he said, "Yes," and that he would willinglytake them, and now they were the King's twelve huntsmen.
The King, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knew allconcealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening he said tothe King, "Thou thinkest thou hast twelve huntsmen?" "Yes," said the King,"they are twelve huntsmen." The lion continued, "Thou art mistaken, theyare twelve girls." The King said, "That cannot be true! How wilt thouprove that to me?" "Oh, just let some peas be strewn in thy ante-chamber,"answered the lion, "and then thou wilt soon see it. Men have a firm step,and when they walk over the peas none of them stir, but girls trip andskip, and drag their feet, and the peas roll about." The King was wellpleased with the counsel, and caused the peas to be strewn.
There was, however, a servant of the King's who favored the huntsmen,and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he wentto them and repeated everything, and said, "The lion wants to make theKing believe that you are girls." Then the King's daughter thanked him,and said to her maidens, "Put on some strength, and step firmly on thepeas." So next morning when the King had the twelve huntsmen calledbefore him, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas werelying, they stepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure walk,that not one of the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went awayagain, and the King said to the lion, "Thou hast lied to me, they walkjust like men." The lion said, "They have got to know that they weregoing to be put to the test, and have assumed some strength. Just lettwelve spinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber some day, andthey will go to them and be pleased with them, and that is what no manwould do." The King liked the advice, and had the spinning-wheels placedin the ante-chamber.
But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them,and disclosed the project. Then when they were alone the King's daughtersaid to her eleven girls, "Put some constraint on yourselves, and do notlook round at the spinning-wheels." And next morning when the King had histwelve huntsmen summoned, they went through the ante-chamber, and neveronce looked at the spinning wheels. Then the King again said to the lion,"Thou hast deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked at thespinning-wheels." The lion replied, "They have learnt that they weregoing to be put to the test, and have restrained themselves." The King,however, would no longer believe the lion.
The twelve huntsmen always followed the King to the chase, and hisliking for them continually increased. Now it came to pass that oncewhen they were out hunting, news came that the King's betrothed wasapproaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so much thather heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. TheKing thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up tohim, wanted to help him, and drew his glove off. Then he saw the ringwhich he had given to his first bride, and when he looked in her facehe recognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her,and when she opened her eyes he said, "Thou art mine, and I am thine,and no one in the world can alter that." He sent a messenger to the otherbride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a wifealready, and a man who had just found an old dish did not require a newone. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was again takeninto favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.
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