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?

My sense of reasoning is obviously different to you guys. I think she married the son who gave her the apple... why?
Well when you rationalise this, he's the only one who actually loses anything in order to save her. Once the apple has been eaten, it's gone.. plus the apple will rot and won't last forever. The sons who have the horse and mirror don't really lose out because they still have their horse and mirror. So, the son who was prepared to sacrifice what he had wins... HOWEVER, if I was a materialistic sort a gal then I'd probably choose one of the others because they still had something to offer. :-)

Posted by Marg on 2004-10-17 23:40:34