Ash Lad sets off with a dead crow chick, a willow band, and a broken bowl -- and uses them to silence the princess.
🌟 This is a classic Norwegian folktale from Asbjørnsen and Moe, first published in 1843 under the title "The Riddle" ("Spurningen") and later known as "The Princess Who Could Not Be Silenced."
The King's Challenge and the Brothers' Journey
Once upon a time there was a king. He had a daughter who was so sharp-tongued and contrary that no one could get the better of her in words. So he announced that whoever could outtalk her would win the princess and half the kingdom besides. There was no shortage of men willing to try, for it isn't every day you can win a princess and half a kingdom as a prize. The gate to the king's estate hardly had a moment's rest — suitors came in droves from east and west, riding and walking. But no one could outtalk the princess.
At last the king declared that anyone who tried and failed would be branded on both ears with his great branding iron. He wanted no more of this useless parade at his estate.
Three brothers had heard about the princess. Since things weren't so pleasant at home, they wanted to go out and try their luck and see if they could win the princess and half the kingdom. They got along well and were good friends, so all three set off together.
Ash Lad's Finds Along the Way
When they had gone some way, Ash Lad found a dead crow chick.
"I found something, I found something!" he shouted.
"What did you find?" asked his brothers.
"I found a dead crow chick," he answered.
"Ugh, throw it away! What do you want with that?" said the two, who always thought they were the clever ones.
"Oh, I have such things to do, I have such things to carry. So I'll carry this too," said Ash Lad.
When they had walked a bit further, Ash Lad found an old willow band, and he picked it up too.
"I found something, I found something!" he shouted.
"What did you find this time?" asked his brothers.
"I found a willow band," he answered.
"Bah! What do you want with that? Throw it away!" said the two.
"I have such things to do, I have such things to carry. So I'll carry this too," said Ash Lad.
When they had walked a little further, he found a broken bowl, and he picked that up as well.
"Lads, I found something, I found something!" he said.
"What did you find this time?" asked his brothers.
"A broken bowl," he said.
"Ugh! Now that's really something to lug around! Throw it away!" they said.
"Oh, I have such things to do, I have such things to carry. So I'll carry this too," answered Ash Lad.
The Tests at the Castle and the Princess Silenced
When they had gone a bit further, he found a crooked goat's horn, and shortly after that he found its match.
"I found something, I found something, lads!" he shouted.
"What did you find this time, then?" said the others.
"Two goat's horns," answered Ash Lad.
"Ugh! Throw them away! What do you want with them?" they said.
"No, I have such things to do, I have such things to carry. So I'll carry these too," said Ash Lad.
A little later he found a scrap of leather.
"No, lads, I found something, I found something!" he shouted.
"That's quite a bit of finding you're doing! What did you find this time?" said the two eldest.
"I found a scrap of leather," he answered.
"Oh, throw it away! What do you want with that?" they said.
"I have such things to do, I have such things to carry. So I'll carry this too," said Ash Lad.
As they crossed the field by the king's estate, where manure had recently been spread, he bent down and picked up a worn-out shoe sole.
"No, no, lads, I found something, I found something!" he said.
"If only you'd found a bit of sense before we got there!" said the two. "What was it you found this time, then?"
"A worn-out shoe sole," he answered.
"Ugh, now that's something to pick up too! Throw it away! What do you want with it?" his brothers asked. "Oh, I have such things to do, I have such things to carry. So I'll carry this too, if I'm to win the princess and half the kingdom," said Ash Lad.
"You're quite the one, you are!" said the two, meaning quite the opposite.
Then they went in to see the princess. First the eldest.
"Good day," he said.
"Good day to you too," she answered, twisting about.
"It's terribly hot in here," he said.
"It's hotter on the burning pile," answered the princess.
The branding iron lay ready and waiting. When he saw it, the words dried up in him at once, and that was the end of him.
It went no better for the middle brother.
"Good day," he said.
"Good day to you too," she said, wriggling about.
"It's terribly hot in here," he said.
"It's hotter on the burning pile," she answered.
With that he too lost the power of speech — and out came the iron again.
Then came Ash Lad.
"Good day," he said.
"Good day to you too," she answered, wriggling and twisting about.
"It's good and warm in here," said Ash Lad.
"It's hotter on the burning pile," she answered; she was no friendlier for the third one arriving.
"Would there be a chance to roast my crow chick in here, then?" he asked.
"I'm afraid it will burst," said the princess.
"Oh, there's no danger of that, I'll wrap this willow band around it," answered the boy.
"That's too loose," she said.
"I'll drive in this scrap of leather," said the boy, and brought out the leather.
"The fat will run out of it," said the princess.
"I'll hold this underneath," he answered, showing her the broken bowl.
"You're so crooked in your words, you are," said the princess.
"No, I'm not crooked, but this is crooked," answered the boy, taking out one of the goat's horns.
"No! I've never seen the like of it!" cried the princess.
"Here's its match," said the boy, taking out the other one.
"I suppose you think you're worn-out enough to silence me, do you?" she said.
"No, I'm not worn-out, but this here is worn-out," answered the boy, drawing out the shoe sole.
And so the princess was silenced.
"Now you're mine," said Ash Lad, and so he won the princess and half the kingdom besides.
THE END
Even the sharpest tongue can meet its match when wit stands up to courage.
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