Page:Segnius Irritant or Eight Primitive Folk-lore Stories.pdf/36



Reason and Fortune met at a foot-bridge. Reason was in those days still inexperienced; he did not know who is expected to give place to whom, and so he said: “Why should I move out of thy way? Thou art no better than I.” “The better is he,” replied Fortune, who proves himself to be so in practice. Seest thou that peasant’s son yonder, who is ploughing in the field? Enter into him, and if he fares better with thee than with me, I will always submissively move out of thy way when and wheresoever we meet.” Reason agreed to this, and then and there entered into the ploughboy’s head. As soon as the plough-boy felt that he had Reason in his head he began to syllogise. “Why must I walk behind the plough to the day of my death? I am sure I could make my fortune in some other and easier way as well.” He left off ploughing, put by the plough, and went home. “Dear little father,” he says, I don’t like this husbandry business; I had rather apprentice myself to a gardener.” His papa said: “What’s up with thee, Vanek? Art thou out of thy wits?” But then he reflected, and said: “Nu! since thou wishest it, go in Heaven’s name! thy brother will have this cottage after me.” Vanek lost the cottage; but he cared nothing for that; he went and apprenticed himself to the royal gardener. The gardener did not show him much; on the other hand, Vanek, just through this, got to understand more. Soon after he did not even obey the gardener when he told him to do anything, and did everything his own way. At first the gardener was cross; but then, seeing that everything succeeded better so, he was contented. I see that thou hast more reason than I have,” he said, and henceforth left Vanek to garden exactly as he pleased. In no long time Vanek had improved the garden so much that the king had great delight in it, and often took a walk in it with his royal lady and his only daughter. This daughter of the king was a very beautiful maiden, but from her twelfth year she had ceased to speak; no one had ever heard a single word from her. The king was greatly vexed on that account, and had it proclaimed, who causes her to speak again shall be her husband. And so many young kings, princes, and other great lords announced themselves one after the other, but as they came so they