Then the husband said, “Now, my wife, here is a peasant who has promised to tell stories all night long, on the condition that you are not to make any remarks or interruptions.”
“Yes,” said the guest; “no remarks, or else I shall not open my mouth.”
So they had supper and lay down to sleep, and the peasant began—
“There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and sipped the water.
“There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and sipped the water.
“There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and sipped the water.
“There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and sipped the water.”
And he went on telling the same thing over and over again—
“There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and sipped the water.”
So the mistress went on listening, and at last interrupted: “What sort of a tale is this? Why, it is a mere repetition.”