_In choosing our companions it is well to consider their character
and not their clothes._
Once upon a time there was a rich king named King Cophetua. He had
a wonderful palace, ate from gold and silver dishes and slept on a
bed of solid ivory. He was a young king and very fair to look upon,
but he was not spoiled by his riches or by his power. He was kind
to his subjects and was just in all his dealings.
The only thing he lacked to make him happy was a wife. With all his
wealth he was lonely. The people wished him to get a wife, so they
were searching everywhere for a princess suitable for the young
king. But none could be found. Some were very ugly, and some were
cross and high-tempered. Some were very vain and so silly that they
giggled aloud every time the king’s name was mentioned.
King Cophetua did not seem to care. He had seen so much of foolish
princesses that he came to dislike their vain ways. He said to the
wise men of his court:
“I shall never marry until I find a young woman very beautiful and
very good. If she is a princess all the better--but I would marry
her were she as poor as a beggar.”
One day as the king and his nobles were riding through the country
on a hunt, there stood by the roadside an old man who was blind. By
his side was his daughter. Very poor they were and dressed in the
cheapest clothes. They were beggars, for the man was blind and his
daughter could not leave him to work.
King Cophetua tossed the old man a gold coin. The girl looked up
to thank him and he caught sight of her face. It was a beautiful
face, and the king was much astonished. He stopped his horse and
dismounted.
“What is your name?” he asked the young girl.
“My name is Penelophon,” she replied, not knowing she was speaking
to the king, and smiled very sweetly.
The king took her hand and looked into her face again. Then he
asked her many questions about herself and her father, and she gave
such truthful and beautiful answers, that the king was more and
more attracted by her manners and her lovely face.
“I am looking for a wife, and I want you to marry me,” said the
young king at last.
She looked up at him for a long time and then slowly said: “Yes, I
will marry you. But you must take my father, too,” and still she
did not know he was the young king.
The king then cried: “I will care for you both,” and then he called
to his followers:
“Back to the palace and prepare for my marriage. She is no beggar
maid from this on, but a princess who is to be my wife.”
The people were all surprised at first, but when they saw
Penelophon, they shouted with joy. There was a great marriage and
King Cophetua and his wife lived many years very happily.