'Because thou hast been faithful to thy promise, and courageous in
risking thy life rather than to break thy word, behold I give the whole
plant at thy desire; and this without breaking my royal decree. For my
decree said that whoso desired a single leaf should be put to death,
but in that thou hast asked the whole plant thou hast shown a courage
worthy of reward.'
So he took the plant of rue and gave it to the merchant to give to
his daughter; moreover, he bade him tell her that she should every
night burn a leaf of the plant. With that he dismissed him.
The merchant returned home and distributed the presents he had brought
to his daughters, and not more pleased were the elder ones with their
fine gifts than was the younger with her simple pot of rue. In the
evening they went with their father to the ball as usual, but the
youngest staid at home as she was wont to do, and this night she
burnt a leaf of the rue as the king had bidden her. But the king had
three beautiful sons, and no sooner had she burnt the rue leaf than
the eldest son of the king appeared before her, and sitting beside
her, said so many kind things that no evening had ever passed so
pleasantly. This she did every evening as the king had bidden.