Pagina 497 di 626

The king, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he

knew all concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one

evening he said to the king: 'You think you have twelve

huntsmen?' 'Yes,' said the king, 'they are twelve huntsmen.' The

lion continued: 'You are mistaken, they are twelve girls.' The

king said: 'That cannot be true! How will you prove that to me?'

'Oh, just let some peas be strewn in the ante-chamber,' answered

the lion, 'and then you will soon see. Men have a firm step, and

when they walk over peas none of them stir, but girls trip and

skip, and drag their feet, and the peas roll about.' The king was

well pleased with the counsel, and caused the peas to be strewn.