Page:Slavonic Fairy Tales.djvu/270

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

The Three Brothers.
253

Then the angel went away with the youngest brother, and whilst walking through a field he asked him,—

"And what would you like to have?"

So the youngest brother answered, "May Heaven grant me a truly pious wife; I do not ask for anything else."

"Ah," said the angel, "it is very difficult to find a truly pious woman. In the whole world there are only three such, two of them are already married, but the third is still a maiden; there are, however, already two suitors for her."

Then they started again, and having walked for a long time they reached a town where a king lived who had a truly pious daughter. Having entered into the town, they went immediately to the king to ask for his daughter.

There they found that two kings had arrived before them, had asked for the princess, and had already put their apples on the table. Hereupon they also put their apples on the table by the side of the other apples.

When the king saw them he said to those who stood around,—

"What shall we do? The first two suitors are kings, and these men are mere beggars in comparison with them."

Then the angel said, "I will tell you what to do. Let the princess take three branches of vine, plant them in the garden, and name each one after her lovers;