There was once a King's daughter who was the most beautiful thing in
the world, and as her hair was fair and reached to her feet she was
called the Princess Goldenhair.

A handsome young King in the neighbourhood, although he had never seen
this Princess, fell so deeply in love with her from what he had heard,
that he could neither eat nor sleep.

So an ambassador was sent with a magnificent chariot, more than a
hundred horses, and fifty pages, to bring the Princess to the King,
and great preparations were made for her reception.

[Illustration: "AN AMBASSADOR WAS SENT WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED
HORSES, AND FIFTY PAGES TO BRING THE PRINCESS TO THE KING."]

But whether the Princess Goldenhair was in an ill humour when the
ambassador arrived at her Court, or whatever was the reason, certain
it is that she sent a message to the young King thanking him but
saying that she did not wish to marry.

When the King heard of her refusal he wept like a child.

Now at his Court there was a young man called Avenant. He was as
beautiful as the sun, and a more finely made fellow than any in the
kingdom; everybody loved him except a few envious people, who were
angry because the King favoured and confided in him, and in the
presence of these, one day, Avenant incautiously remarked,