In a faraway kingdom, the beautiful princess, daughter of the mighty (and unjust) ruler, subject of the courting of many princes and even kings from even farther away kingdoms, suddenly fell in love. This was a completely new feeling for her, and she really didn't know what to do. After many hours of thinking and rethinking, forced to use parts of her lovely little head which were normally left idle, the poor creature decided to tell her maid, an elderly woman with much experience. She immediately told the girl to confess to the fortunate man. Little did the maid know that the subject of the princess' love was a swineherd.
The swineherd, a very sharp young man who hoped to do great things and had already taught larger part of the royal pig population the times two table, reacted very strangely indeed. Instead of dressing up in furs and gold, bringing gifts to the king, and sucking up to the princess (as did all of her previous suitors), he responded by kissing her. On the whole, thought the princess, happily (and muddily) returning home, it was a most productive evening.
After about half a year's worth of such evenings, the king found out. He immediately ordered the poor swineherd's execution and the princess' marriage to the baldest king on the planet. No pleading or tears from his daughter could change his mind. However, his chief counselor advised him that maybe it would be a good idea to appear merciful to his people. He suggested that the condemned man should be publicly given a choice of two papers which he would blindly draw from a bag, and which would determine whether he should be executed or allowed to marry the princess. To make sure that he would die, both papers would have "guilty" written on them.
The princess, hearing only the first part of the plan, immediately ran to find her beloved in the dungeons. He, being an optimistic young man, rejoiced and said that it was better than no chance at all. However, the princess soon found out about the trickery. In tears, she told her swineherd all about it. Instead of being discouraged, he told her that the fates had turned their way, and he was to be soon united with her for the rest of their lives.
How?
Write your answers in comments, but try not to read other people's comments before thinking yourselves.
I have put the answer on answersdiscarded.blogspot.com. Answer #3.
Please, please, please think about it before looking at the answer. (!)
The swineherd, a very sharp young man who hoped to do great things and had already taught larger part of the royal pig population the times two table, reacted very strangely indeed. Instead of dressing up in furs and gold, bringing gifts to the king, and sucking up to the princess (as did all of her previous suitors), he responded by kissing her. On the whole, thought the princess, happily (and muddily) returning home, it was a most productive evening.
After about half a year's worth of such evenings, the king found out. He immediately ordered the poor swineherd's execution and the princess' marriage to the baldest king on the planet. No pleading or tears from his daughter could change his mind. However, his chief counselor advised him that maybe it would be a good idea to appear merciful to his people. He suggested that the condemned man should be publicly given a choice of two papers which he would blindly draw from a bag, and which would determine whether he should be executed or allowed to marry the princess. To make sure that he would die, both papers would have "guilty" written on them.
The princess, hearing only the first part of the plan, immediately ran to find her beloved in the dungeons. He, being an optimistic young man, rejoiced and said that it was better than no chance at all. However, the princess soon found out about the trickery. In tears, she told her swineherd all about it. Instead of being discouraged, he told her that the fates had turned their way, and he was to be soon united with her for the rest of their lives.
How?
Write your answers in comments, but try not to read other people's comments before thinking yourselves.
I have put the answer on answersdiscarded.blogspot.com. Answer #3.
Please, please, please think about it before looking at the answer. (!)
