No. 248
Concerning a Royal Princess and Two Thieves
In a certain country there was a King. There was one Princess, only, of the King’s. Except the King’s Queen and Princess, only, there was not any other child. At the time when the Princess was twelve years old the King died. After he died any person does not go to do the work at the royal house as in the time when the King was there. By reason of this, the Princess and Queen are doing the work in the palace without any one.
When not much time had gone, two men came to the royal house without [anything] to eat and to wear. At that time this royal Queen asked, “What have ye come for?”
Thereupon these men said that being without [anything] to eat and to wear they came seeking a means of subsistence.
Then the Queen said, “It is good. If so, remain ye here.” The men having said, “It is good,” stayed there. The work she gave them, indeed, was [this]: she told one person to cause the cattle to graze; she told one person to pour water [on the plants] at the flower garden.
After that, the man who looks after the cattle having taken the cattle to a garden of someone or other and left them, was lying down under a tree. At that time the owner of the garden having come, and having beaten him and the cattle, drove them away. After that, the man having put the cattle somewhere else, [after] causing them to graze there went to the palace.
The man to whom was given the charge to pour the water, from morning until evening comes having drawn water, became much fatigued. On the following day, with the thought of changing [the work of] both persons that day, he asked the man who went to cause the cattle to graze, “Friend, how is the work you went for? Is it easy or difficult?”