Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/112

92 them. Some of these men were noble and good men; their only fault was their poverty. One day when she was celebrating her twenty-third birthday her father said to her,—

"I do wish, dear daughter, that Princes who are beggars would keep away from our court."

"To be sure, dear father, I quite agree. I have no patience with poor people who think of marrying me for the sake of my wealth."

Not long after this conversation there appeared in the courtyard of the palace a handsome young fellow dressed like a Prince in silk and velvet. His sword was of gold, and he had diamonds in the buckles of his shoes. He knocked at the palace door and when it was opened he asked to see the King. He was admitted and conducted at once to the royal presence. He advanced towards the throne whereon the King sat, and, after bowing in a very stately fashion, exclaimed,—

"May your gracious Majesty live long and live well! I am a Prince with very blue blood; my pedigree is unparalleled, I can assure you. I have come to ask your Majesty's permission to woo your lovely daughter. I am longing to see her, for I hear that she is the most beautiful Princess in all the world. The fame of her beauty has reached my father's realm, and I now ask you to allow me to see her."

"Well, noble Prince, I think I can allow you to see her. Like all wise Princesses, she has made up