I have been told that in Galicia (Spain) a king once ruled who had an only son whom he loved dearly. Nothing is told of the queen. In the king’s court lived two men, a knight and a cook, who held high positions. In another kingdom not far away reigned a king who had a beautiful and wise daughter. He had a beautiful house built for her where she stayed every day with her servants.
One day the king’s son spoke to his father: “I would like to take a pleasure trip out of the country, and would like you to choose a companion for me.” The king answered that it would be pleased to do so. The prince said, “I need no large entourage and would be happy if only the knight and cook would accompany me.”
“Where then will you travel with so few people?” asked the king. “I am thinking of presenting myself to the neighboring king,” replied the son, “to test his daughter’s wisdom of which so much is told.” The father agreed, and the prince began his trip with his two companions.
Before they reached their goal, the king’s son said, “We will now give up our earlier habit. The cook should enter first and take the place of honor while I will sit at the most outer place. He should behave as though he were the most honored of us, and lead the conversation with the king.”
So it was done. When the three had greeted the king, he asked who they were. The cook answered according to his invention but that was not the truth. The king then asked where they came from. The answer was that they came from afar, and asked the king to remain by him for the winter. He answered that there would be no lack of food and drink, and directed them to their places. The cook took the place of honor; the knight sat next to him and at the outermost end sat the prince. They remained there for a while, appearing to be modest and pleasant natured.
One day, the king went to the daughter’s house. She asked of any news. When he replied that he knew of nothing, she asked further if strangers had not come. The king then said that indeed, three unknown men with a handsome appearance were staying at his palace. The princess asked to be presented to the men, and the king agreed.
The next day, the king asked the cook to visit the princess with him. The cook agreed, and when he entered the princess’s chamber, he offered her greetings, which she heartily accepted. She sat on a high throne with two stools before her; the cook took a place on the shortest stool. When the king had left, the maiden asked him whom he was. He gave an answer that was not the truth. “Tell me,” she said, “which bird would you most like to be?”
“How could I be a bird when I am a man?” answered the cook.
“I certainly see that you are a man, and a very handsome one,” replied the king’s daughter, “but if you must be a bird, which bird would you most like to be?”
“A partridge,” said the cook.
“Why a partridge?” the princess asked.
“Because it is a man’s meal,” he answered.
“That is also true,” said the princess, “but which tree would you most like to be?”
“A birch,” was the answer.
“Why that?”
“A man can make a fire most quickly with the wood.”
“Well said,” said the king’s daughter, “and for that you will take part at my dinner.”
The next day, the knight went with the king to see the princess. He sat on the higher stool, and the princess asked him the same questions as she asked the cook. The answers were, “A falcon because he is braver than other birds, a muskellunge because the other fish fear his teeth, an ash as its wood is the best for spear shafts.”
On the third day, the prince accompanied the king. He greeted the princess with an honorable manner, and she responded to the greeting in a friendly way. With that, he sat next to her on the high seat. The king’s daughter then presented him with the same questions:
“Which bird would you most like to be?” she said.
“I would not like to be an animal,” he replied.
“I certainly know that,” she spoke,” and I did not ask the question to insult you.”
“I would most like to be a sparrow,” the prince said.
“A sparrow!” she cried, “that is a very unworthy bird! Why do you choose this?!”
“He is always surrounded with a large following,” said the prince.
“And which fish would you most like to be?” she asked further.
“A herring,” was his answer.
“That is certainly a pitiful fish,” said the princess, “why would you wish to be a herring?”
“He is always in a large company with others,” answered the prince.
“And which tree would you most like to be?”
“The maiden flower,” was the answer.
“That is an unusual choice,” said the king’s daughter, “since it is lower in rank than all other trees, what reason can you give?’
“The maiden flower wraps itself around other trees and holds them fast,” answered the prince.
“I would not argue that,” said the king’s daughter. “But which of all small things would you most like to be?”
“That is quickly answered,” said the young man, “most dearly, the clasp in your corset.”
“Why is that?” she asked.
“Then I could grasp you with my hands all the time,” said the prince.
“Is that so?” said the princess, “then you are welcome to take part at my table.”
“I accept the invitation,” said the prince.
He stayed there during that day and they talked together often. In the evening, the king’s son returned to the king’s palace, taking his usual place. The next morning the king went to see his daughter and asked how she had liked the strangers. “I don’t know their names,” the princess said. “But I believe I know what they do.”
“The first man who came to me is a cook, and may be a member of a royal court. The second is a knight and may hold a respected position. The third is a king’s son; he appears to me to be powerful, respectful of truth and for some secret reason hides his rank. Let him change his place, and you will soon learn what kind of man he is.”
The king returned to his hall, approached the prince and said, “Sit with me on the high seat. You have hidden yourself long enough.” They began to talk, and the king recognized what kind of man the prince was. Later, he took the princess as his wife and the two loved each other greatly. But of children, there is no knowledge.