“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me,” said Ashiepattle.
As he went across the king’s fields, which had been freshly manured, he stooped down and took up an old boot-sole.
“Hullo, lads! I have found something! I have found something!” said he.
“Heaven grant you may find a little sense before you get to the palace!” said the two. “What is it you have found now?”
“An old boot-sole,” said he.
“Is that anything worth picking up? Throw it away! What are you going to do with it?” said the brothers.
“Oh, I have nothing else to do. I can easily carry it with me, and—who knows?—it may help me to win the Princess and half the kingdom,” said Ashiepattle.
“Yes, you look a likely one, don’t you?” said the other two. So they went in to the Princess, the eldest first.
“Good day!” said he.
“Good day to you!” answered she, with a shrug.