There was once a king, whose queen had hair of the purest gold, and wasso beautiful that her match was not to be met with on the whole face ofthe earth. But this beautiful queen fell ill, and when she felt thather end drew near she called the king to her and said, «Promise methat you will never marry again, unless you meet with a wife who isas beautiful as I am, and who has golden hair like mine.» Then whenthe king in his grief promised all she asked, she shut her eyes anddied. But the king was not to be comforted, and for a long time neverthought of taking another wife. At last, however, his wise men said,«this will not do; the king must marry again, that we may have aqueen.» So messengers were sent far and wide, to seek for a bride asbeautiful as the late queen. But there was no princess in the world sobeautiful; and if there had been, still there was not one to be foundwho had golden hair. So the messengers came home, and had had all theirtrouble for nothing.
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