[From Ungarische Mahrehen.]



Lucky Luck

Once upon a time there was a king who had an only son. When the
lad was about eighteen years old his father had to go to fight in a
war against a neighbouring country, and the king led his troops in
person. He bade his son act as Regent in his absence, but ordered
him on no account to marry till his return.

Time went by. The prince ruled the country and never even thought
of marrying. But when he reached his twenty-fifth birthday he
began to think that it might be rather nice to have a wife, and he
thought so much that at last he got quite eager about it. He
remembered, however, what his father had said, and waited some
time longer, till at last it was ten years since the king went out to
war. Then the prince called his courtiers about him and set off with
a great retinue to seek a bride. He hardly knew which way to go, so
he wandered about for twenty days, when, suddenly, he found
himself in his father's camp.

The king was delighted to see his son, and had a great many
questions to ask and answer; but when he heard that instead of
quietly waiting for him at home the prince was starting off to seek a
wife he was very angry, and said: 'You may go where you please
but I will not leave any of my people with you.'