The Bride
Once upon a time there was a proud young prince, and he had reason to be proud. He was heir to the kingdom, he was handsome and healthy, he had been extremely well educated, and all the social graces that could reasonably be taught had been carefully inculcated. What was more, his father was a king, and his father’s father, and his father before that, so that his right to rule was undisputed. Now, when it was time for this young man to marry, he said to his father. ‘Father, you have always said that only the best was fit for me. I have the best falcons, and the best hounds and the best stallions in the entire world. But where will you find a bride who is worthy for me?’ The king didn’t this would be much of a problem. He had contests instituted throughout the kingdom. There were contests for beauty, and contests for strength, and contests for knowledge and intelligence and wit, and there were skill-testing for all sort of thing such as archery and music. When the tests were done, the winners of the contests were presented to the prince. He looked them over. Their credentials were good. Indeed, he began to be afraid that some of their credentials were better than his. ‘These women had excelled,’ he said to his father, ‘but they seem to be lacking in the womanly qualities.’ ‘Well, of course,’ said his father. ‘I have weeded these out. You can now choose from those who did not compete.’