Once upon a time there was a rich king named King Cophetua. He had a wonderful palace, ate from gold and silver dishes and slept on a bed of solid ivory. He was a young king and very fair to look upon, but he was not spoiled by his riches or by his power. He was kind to his subjects and was just in all his dealings.
The only thing he lacked to make him happy was a wife. With all his wealth he was lonely. The people wished him to get a wife, so they were searching everywhere for a princess suitable for the young king. But none could be found. Some were very ugly, and some were cross and high-tempered. Some were very vain and so silly that they giggled aloud every time the king’s name was mentioned.
King Cophetua did not seem to care. He had seen so much of foolish princesses that he came to dislike their vain ways. He said to the wise men of his court:
“I shall never marry until I find a young woman very beautiful and very good. If she is a princess all the better—but I would marry her were she as poor as a beggar.”
One day as the king and his nobles were riding through the country on a hunt, there stood by the roadside an old man who was blind. By his side was his daughter. Very poor they were and dressed in the cheapest clothes. They were beggars, for the man was blind and his daughter could not leave him to work.
King Cophetua tossed the old man a gold coin. The girl looked up to thank him and he caught sight of her face. It was a beautiful face, and the king was much astonished. He stopped his horse and dismounted.
“What is your name?” he asked the young girl.
“My name is Penelophon,” she replied, not knowing she was speaking to the king, and smiled very sweetly.
The king took her hand and looked into her face again. Then he asked her many questions about herself and her father, and she gave such truthful and beautiful answers, that the king was more and more attracted by her manners and her lovely face.