a it was especially obvious that they gave up their claims
unwillingly. Hence it was now the care of the princess to justify the
work of the gods, and to declare that Squire Premislas made amends for
his deficiency on the score of brilliant extraction by his intellect
and acuteness. She had caused a noble meal to be prepared, not in the
least inferior to that with which the hospitable Queen Dido formerly
entertained the pious Eneas. After the cup of welcome had passed
readily from mouth to mouth, the gifts of the joy-bestirring Bacchus
had inspired cheerfulness and good humour, and part of the night had
already past in jest and pastime, she suggested a game at riddles, and
because the divination of things concealed was her peculiar forte, she
resolved the riddles that were proposed to the satisfaction of all
present.

When it was her turn to propose, she called Prince Wladomir, the Knight
Mizisla, and Squire Premislas to her, and said: "Now, my friends, set
about solving a riddle, which I will propose, that it may be apparent
which is the wisest and cleverest among you. I have destined for each
of you, out of this basket, a gift of the plums, which I have picked in
my garden. One of you shall have half of them and one more, the second
shall again have half and one more, and the third shall again have half
and three more. Supposing now that the basket is thus emptied, tell me
how many plums are in it now."

The hasty knight, Mizisla, measured the fruit-basket with his eyes--not
the sense of the problem with his understanding--and said: "That which
can be solved by the sword I will solve readily, but thy riddles,
gracious princess, are rather too subtle for me. Nevertheless, in
accordance with thy wishes, I will make a venture at random. I guess
that if the plums be well counted, they will be found to amount to
three score."

"Thou hast made a mistake, dear knight," answered the Lady Libussa.
"If there were as many more, half as many more, and a third as many
more, as the basket contains now and five more added to that, the
number would by so much exceed three score as it is now short of it."

Prince Wladomir calculated slowly and laboriously, as if the post of
general controller of the finances were the reward for solving the
riddle, and at last gave out five-and-forty as the value of the
renowned number. The lady then said:

"If there were a third as many more, half as many more, and a sixth as
many more