y paper of the town off by heart, so that he could repeat it all
backwards or forwards as you pleased. The other had worked at the laws
of corporation, and knew by heart what every member of the corporation
ought to know, so that he thought he could quite well speak on State
matters and give his opinion. He understood, besides this, how to
embroider braces with roses and other flowers, and scrolls, for he was
very ready with his fingers.

'I shall win the king's daughter!' they both cried.

Their old father gave each of them a fine horse; the one who knew the
dictionary and the daily paper by heart had a black horse, while the
other who was so clever at corporation law had a milk-white one. Then
they oiled the corners of their mouths so that they might be able to
speak more fluently. All the servants stood in the courtyard and saw
them mount their steeds, and here by chance came the third brother;
for the squire had three sons, but nobody counted him with his
brothers, for he was not so learned as they were, and he was generally
called 'Blockhead-Hans.'

'Oh, oh!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Where are you off to? You are in your
Sunday-best clothes!'

'We are going to Court, to woo the Princess! Don't you know what is
known throughout all the country side?' And they told him all about
it.

'Hurrah! I'll go too!' cried Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed
at him and rode off.

'Dear father!' cried Blockhead-Hans, 'I must have a horse too. What a
desire for marriage has seized me! If she will have me, she _will_
have me, and if she won't have me, I will have her.'

'Stop that nonsense!' said the old man. 'I will not give you a horse.
_You_ can't speak; _you_ don't know how to choose your words. Your
brothers! Ah! they are very different lads!'

[Illustration: Then They Oiled the Corners of Their Mouths]

'Well,' said Blockhead-Hans, 'if I can't have a horse, I will take the
goat which is mine; he can carry me!'

And he did so. He sat astride on the goat, struck his heels into its
side, and went rattling down the high-road like a hurricane.

Hoppetty hop! what a ride! 'Here I come!' shouted Blockhead-Hans,
singing so that the echoes were roused far and near. But his brothers
were riding slowly in front. They were not speaking, but they were
thinking over all the good things they were going to say, for
everything had to be thought out.

'Hullo!' bawled Blockhead-Hans, 'here I am! Just look what I found on
the