There was once a king's son who had a bride whom he loved very much. Andwhen he was sitting beside her and very happy, news came that his fatherlay sick unto death, and desired to see him once again before his end.Then he said to his beloved: 'I must now go and leave you, I give youa ring as a remembrance of me. When I am king, I will return and fetchyou.' So he rode away, and when he reached his father, the latter wasdangerously ill, and near his death. He said to him: 'Dear son, I wishedto see you once again before my end, promise me to marry as I wish,' andhe named a certain king's daughter who was to be his wife. The son wasin such trouble that he did not think what he was doing, and said: 'Yes,dear father, your will shall be done,' and thereupon the king shut hiseyes, and died.

When therefore the son had been proclaimed king, and the time ofmourning was over, he was forced to keep the promise which he had givenhis father, and caused the king's daughter to be asked in marriage, andshe was promised to him. His first betrothed heard of this, and frettedso much about his faithfulness that she nearly died. Then her fathersaid to her: 'Dearest child, why are you so sad? You shall havewhatsoever you will.' She thought for a moment and said: 'Dear father,I wish for eleven girls exactly like myself in face, figure, and size.'The father said: 'If it be possible, your desire shall be fulfilled,'and he caused a search to be made in his whole kingdom, until elevenyoung maidens were found who exactly resembled his daughter in face,figure, and size.

When they came to the king's daughter, she had twelve suits ofhuntsmen's clothes made, all alike, and the eleven maidens had to puton the huntsmen's clothes, and she herself put on the twelfth suit.Thereupon she took her leave of her father, and rode away with them,and rode to the court of her former betrothed, whom she loved so dearly.Then she asked if he required any huntsmen, and if he would take all ofthem into his service. The king looked at her and did not know her, butas they were such handsome fellows, he said: 'Yes,' and that he wouldwillingly take them, and now they were the king's twelve huntsmen.

The king, however, had a lion which was a wondrous animal, for he knewall concealed and secret things. It came to pass that one evening hesaid to the king: 'You think you have twelve huntsmen?' 'Yes,' said theking, 'they are twelve huntsmen.' The lion continued: 'You are mistaken,they are twelve girls.' The king said: 'That cannot be true! Howwill you prove that to me?' 'Oh, just let some peas be strewn in theante-chamber,' answered the lion, 'and then you will soon see. Men havea firm step, and when they walk over peas none of them stir, but girlstrip and skip, and drag their feet, and the peas roll about.' The kingwas well pleased with the counsel, and caused the peas to be strewn.

There was, however, a servant of the king's who favoured the huntsmen,and when he heard that they were going to be put to this test he went tothem and repeated everything, and said: 'The lion wants to make the kingbelieve that you are girls.' Then the king's daughter thanked him, andsaid to her maidens: 'Show some strength, and step firmly on the peas.'So next morning when the king had the twelve huntsmen called beforehim, and they came into the ante-chamber where the peas were lying, theystepped so firmly on them, and had such a strong, sure walk, that notone of the peas either rolled or stirred. Then they went away again,and the king said to the lion: 'You have lied to me, they walk just likemen.' The lion said: 'They have been informed that they were going tobe put to the test, and have assumed some strength. Just let twelvespinning-wheels be brought into the ante-chamber, and they will go tothem and be pleased with them, and that is what no man would do.'The king liked the advice, and had the spinning-wheels placed in theante-chamber.

But the servant, who was well disposed to the huntsmen, went to them,and disclosed the project. So when they were alone the king's daughtersaid to her eleven girls: 'Show some constraint, and do not look roundat the spinning-wheels.' And next morning when the king had his twelvehuntsmen summoned, they went through the ante-chamber, and never oncelooked at the spinning-wheels. Then the king again said to the lion:'You have deceived me, they are men, for they have not looked at thespinning-wheels.' The lion replied: 'They have restrained themselves.'The king, however, would no longer believe the lion.

The twelve huntsmen always followed the king to the chase, and hisliking for them continually increased. Now it came to pass thatonce when they were out hunting, news came that the king's bride wasapproaching. When the true bride heard that, it hurt her so much thather heart was almost broken, and she fell fainting to the ground. Theking thought something had happened to his dear huntsman, ran up to him,wanted to help him, and drew his glove off. Then he saw the ring whichhe had given to his first bride, and when he looked in her face herecognized her. Then his heart was so touched that he kissed her, andwhen she opened her eyes he said: 'You are mine, and I am yours, andno one in the world can alter that.' He sent a messenger to the otherbride, and entreated her to return to her own kingdom, for he had a wifealready, and someone who had just found an old key did not require a newone. Thereupon the wedding was celebrated, and the lion was again takeninto favour, because, after all, he had told the truth.