The Clever Girl
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived an old man in a little cottage. He was very poor and would have been terribly unhappy if not for his daughter, Leila.
She was a cheerful and bright young woman, as clever as she was beautiful. Every day, she went to the market and begged for alms. But they barely managed to scrape together enough for a good meal. Sometimes, they went to bed hungry.
On one such night, the old man sat and sadly watched his daughter humming a little tune.
— My dear child, I am so sorry you must live such a sad life. I wish I could have given you more. — Don't worry, Father. I am happy with everything you've given me. As for tonight's supper, never mind. I'll try harder tomorrow.
The King's First Challenge
But the old man was still sad. He loved his daughter beyond measure and wanted to give her the very best. He lay awake all night, thinking about what to do. He watched the moon shine and hoped it might give him some answers.
The next day, the old man went to the royal palace. Upon seeing him, the king looked the old man up and down, wondering what he might want.
— Your Majesty, it is an honor to be in your presence. I have come to ask if you might give me a few gold coins, just for today, and I promise I will never ask again. — Hmm. This man has come dressed in rags, yet he speaks like a nobleman. How is that possible? My dear man, who taught you to speak so well? — My daughter taught me to speak. She says words are priceless to us all. She is very clever. I would be nothing without her. — Allow me to test how clever she is. Take these eggs to your daughter and ask her to hatch chicks from them. If she succeeds, you shall be rewarded. However, if you don't bring back the hatched eggs, you will be punished.
Leila's Solution
The old man was discouraged. He returned home sadly and told his daughter everything.
— My dear, what shall we do? This is the basket of eggs the king gave us. — Well, the eggs are boiled — chicks cannot hatch from them. — What? Then we shall surely be punished! — Don't worry, Father. Go rest and I will find a solution to this problem.
The old man went to rest, leaving her to ponder the eggs. In the evening, Leila went to speak to her father, who was very worried.
— Father, listen to what I have to say. Take these boiled beans and plant them in the ground. When the king passes by, shout loudly: "Oh, let the boiled beans grow and the harvest shall be plentiful!" And when he asks you about it, tell him it is just as possible as chicks hatching from boiled eggs.
The King's Second Challenge
The old man did as he was told. And when he began to plow the field, the king happened to ride by on his horse. When he saw him, the old man began saying aloud:
— Oh, let the boiled beans grow and the harvest shall be plentiful!
The king was very amazed to hear this. He stopped his horse and called out to the old man.
— Tell me, how is it possible to have a harvest from boiled beans? It is impossible! — Oh, but it is possible, Your Majesty! Just as possible as hatching chicks from boiled eggs!
The king was surprised to hear this answer. He guessed it was the old man's daughter.
— Very well. Take this bundle of flax and turn it into ropes and sails and everything else needed on a ship. If you cannot, you will be punished.
The King's Third Challenge
The poor man returned home even sadder now. He told his daughter once again everything that had happened.
— Hmm, don't worry. Everything will be fine. It's late. Let's go to sleep and tomorrow we'll have the answer.
The next day, Leila took a piece of wood and gave it to her father.
— Take this to the king and tell him that if he makes a loom and a spinning wheel from it, I'll make everything he asks.
The old man went to the king and delivered Leila's message.
— Your daughter truly is very clever, but I won't give up. Take this cup and tell her she must empty the entire sea with it, until it's as dry as a field. Do it, or you will not live to see another day.
Leila's Wisdom
The old man returned home in fear, carrying the cup carefully. His eyes were full of tears as he spoke to Leila.
— Leila, in the end, the king has asked for something very difficult. He told you that you must empty the entire sea with this cup! — What a beautiful cup! Very well. I'll have an answer for the king by the end of the day. Don't be afraid, Father, I don't think anything bad awaits us.
That day, Leila herself went to the king's palace. The king was stunned by her beauty.
— Have you come to admit defeat? — Not at all, Your Majesty. I have come to ask if you would be so kind as to stop all the rivers and springs from flowing into the sea. Only then will I empty it.
The king was amazed at how clever this girl was.
— You've handled my challenges very well. But allow me to ask you some questions. Let's see how well you answer. Tell me, what is the farthest thing anyone can hear? — Your Majesty, the farthest sound one can hear is thunder. And also, a lie. — Hmm, you are right. Tell me, how much is my beard worth? — Your beard is worth as much as three rainy days in summer.
Queen Leila
— Your answers have made me happy. I believe you are the cleverest girl in my land. I keep my word and shall reward your father with as many gold coins as he wishes. — Oh, thank you, Your Majesty! You are too kind to us. — But I would like to make you my queen. Would you do me the honor of marrying me and living with me in the palace?
Leila did not answer right away and thought carefully about what the king had said.
— Your Majesty, I would be very happy to be your wife. But I will only do so if you promise me something. — Of course. And what might that be? — You must promise that if you ever become angry and ask me to leave, you will allow me to take with me the one thing I love most from the palace. — Ha-ha-ha! Is that all you want? Why, of course. I agree.
The king and Leila were married the very next day with the grandest ceremony. They loved each other dearly and lived a happy life.
An Important Lesson
But as the king grew older, he became very temperamental. He quarreled with everyone who served him. One day, he had a terrible argument with his queen.
— You think you're too clever even for me. I've had enough of you. Leave the palace and go back where you came from. — As you wish, Your Majesty. But will you drink a glass with me one last time? After that, I'll leave and never return.
But Leila put a sleeping potion in the king's glass, and after he drank it, he fell into a deep sleep. Leila took the king with her, back to the old cottage.
When he woke up, he was shocked to find himself there and not in the palace. He saw Leila beside him and became furious.
— Where have you brought me, you insolent woman? You will be punished for abducting the king! — Please don't be angry with me. Do you remember the promise you made? That if you ever told me to leave, I could take with me what I love most from the palace? Do you remember? Because it is you I love the most, so I took you with me.
The king felt sorry for what he had done. Now he knew how much she loved him.
— Forgive me, my dear. I am truly a lucky king to have as my wife a woman as clever and beautiful as you.
The king returned to the palace with his queen. They both lived a long and happy life and never quarreled again. And if they ever did, the queen was always there to set things right.
The moral of this story is that love and wisdom can overcome any obstacle and bring true happiness.
