The King's Son

A certain king had a son, and sent him out to be nursed by a smith's

wife. This crafty woman put the king's child in a common cradle,

and her own son in the gorgeous royal cradle. Some years afterwards,

the king took the changeling to court, and brought his foster-brother

with him. One fine day, the king set out for his favourite forest

to hunt, and took his pretended son with him. When they arrived,

the king asked: 'How do you like this place, my son? Is it not a

magnificent wood?' The boy replied: 'O father, if we could only burn

it all somehow, what a fine lot of charcoal we should have!'

Then the king sent for the other boy, and asked him the same

question. 'There could not be a better forest, your Majesty!' 'But what

would you do with it if it were yours?' 'Nothing, your Majesty. I would

double the guards, so that it should not be injured.' Then the king

saw how the smith's wife had tried to cheat him, and put her in prison.