A wizard left each of his three sons a gift before he died. The oldest received a mirror, through which he could see anyone in the world. The second, a horse which could ride to any place in the world in one day. The third, a magic apple which would never rot, and when eaten would cure any disease.

One day the brothers heard about a princess in a faraway land who was dying of an unknown disease. Rumour had it the king would let the man who saved his daughter marry her. The brothers sprung into action. The first looked in his mirror and saw the ill princess and the land she lived in. All three jumped on the second brother's horse, and they rode so fast they got to the princess' land the next morning. Then the third son took his apple to the princess, who ate it and recovered full health instantly.

The king was grateful, and indeed intended to let one of them marry the princess. But it had taken the cooperation of all three brothers to save her. Which one did the king decide should marry his daughter?

The king had her marry the guy with the horse.

Explanation:

The king thought: "She might get sick again. The guy with the apple will not be much help; she ate his apple -- it's gone. The guy with the mirror? He won't be much help either. They'll be living together, so he'll know where she is; he won't need to look in that mirror except to shave in the morning. But that horse will come in handy to get her quickly to the best clinic anywhere in the world."

(btw, York, that wizard is dead).

Posted by Penny on 2004-02-13 11:32:31