Pagina 542 van 626

Then the huntsman washed his face and went into the court that

they might know him. 'Now you shall be paid for your roguery,'

said he; and tied them all three to a rope and took them along

with him till he came to a mill and knocked at the window.

'What's the matter?' said the miller. 'I have three tiresome

beasts here,' said the other; 'if you will take them, give them

food and room, and treat them as I tell you, I will pay you

whatever you ask.' 'With all my heart,' said the miller; 'but how

shall I treat them?' Then the huntsman said, 'Give the old one

stripes three times a day and hay once; give the next (who was

the servant-maid) stripes once a day and hay three times; and

give the youngest (who was the beautiful lady) hay three times a

day and no stripes': for he could not find it in his heart to

have her beaten. After this he went back to the castle, where he

found everything he wanted.