Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/235



NCE on a time there was a king, who had a daughter, and she was so lovely, that her good looks were well known far and near; but she was so sad and serious she could never be got to laugh; and, besides, she was so high and mighty, that she said "No" to all who wooed her to wife, and she would have none of them, were they ever so grand—lords and princes, it was all the same. The king had long ago got tired of this, for he thought she might just as well marry, she, too, like the rest of the world. There was no good waiting; she was quite old enough, nor would she be any richer, for she was to have half the kingdom that came to her as her mother's heir.

So he had it given out at the church door both quick and soon, that any one who could get his daughter to laugh should have her and half the kingdom. But if there was any one who tried and could not, he was to