There was once a king’s son who had a bride whom he loved very much.And when he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that hisfather lay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again beforehis end. Then he said to his beloved: «I must now go and leave you, Igive you a ring as a remembrance of me. When I am king, I will returnand fetch you.» So he rode away, and when he reached his father,the latter was dangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him:«Dear son, I wished to see you once again before my end, promise me tomarry as I wish,» and he named a certain king’s daughter who was to behis wife. The son was in such trouble that he did not think what he wasdoing, and said: «Yes, dear father, your will shall be done,» andthereupon the king shut his eyes, and died.
When therefore the son had been proclaimed king, and the time ofmourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had givenhis father, and caused the king’s daughter to be asked in marriage,and she was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, andfretted so much about his faithfulness that she nearly died. Then herfather said to her: «Dearest child, why are you so sad? You shall havewhatsoever you will.» She thought for a moment and said: «Dear father,I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size.’The father said: «If it be possible, your desire shall be fulfilled,’and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom, untileleven young maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter inface, figure, and size.
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