FORTUNE AND KNOWLEDGE
nouncing her opinion. The young man nodded to the mirror, saying: "That is right, little mirror; thanks to you for your kindness!" Upon this he walked out of the door without even looking at the. princess. The ministers, however, who had been listening outside, having heard, nothing, took him into the court-yard to be hanged. At the very same moment the king happened to pass the yard, and as soon as he saw whom the hangman had in his hands, and recognized him as the watch-maker's apprentice who had made the wonderful clock, he pardoned him at once.
Some time afterwards the boy again tried to make the princess speak, but without succeeding—that is, the generals who were this time listening at the door declared that they heard nothing. The young man was accordingly taken into the court-yard and again doomed to be hanged.
At the same moment Fortune and Knowledge happened to pass outside. When they saw what was in progress they stopped. "Look!" exclaimed Fortune; "what good did his great wisdom do him? Now you must admit that fortune is far more valuable than knowledge." "Yes," replied Knowledge; "now you must help him if you can!" Fortune did so, for at the very moment when the young man was standing on the ladder, the princess rushed into the court-yard and told all: He had restored her power of speech; him she wanted to marry! Thus the young man escaped death, married the princess, and became king of the land.
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