inger and clove it in twain with his sword. One half he gave
to his son, and the other to the gardener's daughter, and said, "If God
has created you for one another, the two halves of the ring will grow
together of themselves at the proper time, so that the point at which
the ring was divided cannot be detected. Let each keep their half till
the time shall be fulfilled."

The queen was ready to burst with rage when she saw her stepson, whom
she thought had disappeared for ever, suddenly return as the undisputed
heir to the throne, for the king had only two daughters by his second
marriage. A few years afterwards the king closed his eyes in death, and
his son became king. Notwithstanding the great wrongs which he had
received from his stepmother, he would not return evil for evil, but
left her to the justice of God. Although she no longer hoped to set one
of her daughters on the throne in his place, she hoped at least to wed
him to a noble lady of her own family; but he answered, "I will not
consent, for I have chosen my bride long since." When the queen-dowager
learned that the young king was resolved to marry a maiden of low birth,
she incited the highest councillors of the kingdom to attempt
unanimously to prevent it. But the king remained firm, and would not
yield. After the matter had been discussed for a long time, the king
announced his final decision. "We will give a great feast, and invite
all the princesses and all the other unmarried ladies of high birth; and
if I find one among them who surpasses my chosen bride in grace and
beauty, I will marry her. But if this is not the case, my betrothed
shall become my consort."

Thereupon a magnificent feast was prepared in the royal palace, which
was to last a fortnight, that the king might have full opportunity of
considering whether any of the ladies surpassed the gardener's daughter.
All the great ladies in the neighbourhood were invited to bring their
daughters to the feast, and as the object of the gathering was generally
known, every maiden hoped that the great prize would fall to her. The
feast drew to a close, and yet the king had not met with one who pleased
his fancy. On the last day of the feast the highest councillors of the
kingdom again presented themselves before the king, and said, as the
queen had instructed them, that if the king did not make his choice
before evening, an insurrection might break out, for all his subjects
wished the king to marry. Th