nd you shall choose." But the princess said: "My
dear father, such a choice would be very embarrassing. I would rather
not. Just marry me to any good-looking young man, who understands a
single science from beginning to end. I wish nothing more nor less than
that."

Now while the king was looking for such a husband, four brave,
good-looking, scientific men from the south heard of the matter and
came to him. And when they had been hospitably received, each explained
his own science to the king.

The first said: "I am a working-man, and my name is Five-cloth. I make
five splendid suits of clothes a day. One I give to some god and one to
a Brahman. One I wear myself, and one I shall give to my wife when I
have one. The fifth I sell, to buy food and things. This is my science.
Pray give me Grace."

The second said: "I am a farmer, and my name is Linguist. I understand
the cries of all beasts and birds. Pray give me the princess."

The third said: "I am a strong-armed soldier, and my name is Swordsman.
I have no rival on earth in the science of swordsmanship. O King, pray
give me your daughter."

The fourth said: "O King, I am a Brahman, and my name is Life. I
possess a wonderful science. For if dead creatures are brought to me, I
can quickly restore them to life. Let your daughter find a husband in a
man who has such heroic skill."

When they had spoken, and the king had seen that they all had wonderful
garments and personal beauty, he and his daughter swung in doubt.

When the goblin had told this story, he said to the king: "Remember the
curse I mentioned, and tell me to which of them the girl should be
given."

And the king said to the goblin: "Sir, you are merely trying to gain
time by making me break silence. There is no puzzle about that. How
could a warrior's daughter be given to a working-man, a weaver? Or to a
farmer, either? And as to his knowledge of the speech of beasts and
birds, of what practical use is it? And what good is a Brahman who
neglects his own affairs and turns magician, despising real courage? Of
course she should be given to the warrior Swordsman who had some
manhood with his science."

When the goblin heard this, he escaped by magic from the king's
shoulder, and disappeared. And the king followed him as before.
Discouragement never enters the brave heart of a resolute man.

TENTH GOBLIN

_The Three Delicate Wives of King Virtue-banner. Which is the most
delicate?_

Then the