LITMIR.BIZ

      5) Retell the fairy-tale.

      III. Princess of Canterbury

      There lived formerly in the County of Cumberland a nobleman who had three sons, two of whom were clever, but the third one a natural fool, named Jack, who was a shepherd. The King of Canterbury had a beautiful daughter, who was also very clever. The King proclaimed that whoever[30] should answer three questions put to him by the princess should marry her, and take the crown when her father dies. Soon news of it reached the ears of[31] the nobleman’s sons, and the two clever ones desided to have a trial[32]. They didn’t want their idiot brother to go with them, but they could not get rid of him. They had not gone far, before Jack shrieked with laughter, saying ‘I’ve found an egg.’ ‘Put it in your pocket,’ said the brothers. A little while afterwards, again he laughted because he found a crooked hazel stick, which he also put in his pocket; and a third time he again laughed because he found a nut. That also was put with his other treasures.

      When they arrived at the palace, they were immediately shown into a room where the princess and her suite[33] were sitting. Jack, who never stood on ceremony, cried, ‘What a troop[34] of fair ladies we’ve got here!’

      ‘Yes,’ said the princess, ‘we are fair ladies, for we carry fire in our bosoms[35].’

      ‘Do you?’ said Jack. ‘Then roast me an egg,’ pulling out[36] the egg from his pocket.

      ‘How will you get it out again?’ said the princess.

      ‘With a crooked stick,’ replied Jack, producing[37] the hazel.

      ‘Where did that come from?’ said the princess.

      ‘From a nut,’ answered Jack, pulling out the nut from his pocket. ‘I’ve answered the three questions, and now I’ll have the lady.’ ‘No, no,’ said the king, ‘not so fast. You have still a test to go through. You must come here in a week’s time and watch for one whole night with the princess, my daughter. If you can manage to keep awake the whole night long you shall marry her next day.’