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 willreturn and fetch you.So he rode away, and when he reached
his father,the latter wasdangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him, dear son, Iwished to
see you once again before my end, promise me to marry as I wish, and he named a certain king's
daughter who was to be his wife.The son was in such trouble that he did not think what he was doing,
and said, yes, dear father, your will shall be done, and thereuponthe 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 hadgiven his father, and caused the king's daughter to be asked
promised to him. His first betrothed heard ofthis, and fretted so much about his faithlessness
that she nearlydied. Then her father said to her, dearest child, why are you sosad. You shall
have whatsoever you will. She thought for a momentand said, dear father, I wish for eleven girls
exactly like myself inface, figure, and size. The father said, if it be possible, yourdesire
shall be fulfilled, and he caused a search to be made in hiswhole kingdom, until eleven young
maidens were found who exactlyresembled his daughter in face, figure, and size.When they came to
the king's daughter, she had twelve suits ofhuntsmen's clothes made, all alike, and the eleven
maidens had to puton the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit.Thereupon she
took leave of her father, and rode away with them, androde to the court of her former betrothed,
whom she loved so dearly.Then she asked if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take allof
them into his service. The king looked at her and did not knowher, but as they were such handsome
fellows, he said, yes, and thathe would willingly take them, and now they were the king's
twelvehuntsmen.The king, however, had
a lion which was a wondrous animal, for heknew all concealed and secret things. It came to
pass that oneevening he said to the king, you think you have twelve huntsmen.Yes, said the
king, they are twelve huntsmen. The lion continued, youare mistaken, they are twelve girls.The king
said, that cannot be true. How will you prove that to me.Oh, just let some peas be strewn in the
ante-chamber, answered sweredthe lion, and then you will soon see. Men have a firm step,
and whenthey walk over the peas none of them stir, but girls trip and skip,and drag their feet, and
the peas roll about. The king was wellpleased with the counsel, and caused the peas to be strewn.