There was once a King who had a Daughter. She was more beautiful than
words can tell, but at the same time so proud and haughty that no man
who came to woo her was good enough for her. She turned away one after
another, and even mocked them.
One day her father ordered a great feast to be given, and invited to
it all the marriageable young men from far and near.
They were all placed in a row, according to their rank and position.
First came Kings, then Princes, then Dukes, Earls, and Barons.
The Princess was led through the ranks, but she had some fault to find
with all of them.
One was too stout. 'That barrel!' she said. The next was too tall.
'Long and lean is no good!' The third was too short. 'Short and stout,
can't turn about!' The fourth was too white. 'Pale as death!' The
fifth was too red. 'Turkey-cock!' The sixth was not straight.
'Oven-dried!'
So there was something against each of them. But she made specially
merry over one good King, who stood quite at the head of the row, and
whose chin was a little hooked.
'Why!' she cried, 'he has a chin like the beak of a thrush.'