So he had word sent throughout the kingdom, that anyone who could get
his daughter to laugh should have her for his wife and half the kingdom
besides. But, if there was anyone who tried and could not, he was to
have a sound thrashing. And sure it was that there were many sore backs
in that kingdom, for lovers and wooers came from north and south, and
east and west, thinking it nothing at all to make a King's daughter
laugh. And gay fellows they were, some of them too, but for all their
tricks and capers there sat the Princess, just as sad and serious as she
had been before.
Now, not far from the palace lived a man who had three sons, and they,
too, had heard how the King had given it out that the man who could make
the Princess laugh was to have her to wife and half the kingdom.
The eldest was for setting off first. So he strode off, and when he came
to the King's grange, he told the King he would be glad to try to make
the Princess laugh.
"All very well, my man," said the King, "but it's sure to be of no use,
for so many have been here and tried. My daughter is so sorrowful it's
no use trying, and it's not my wish that anyone should come to grief."
But the lad thought he would like to try. It couldn't be such a very
hard thing for him to get the Princess to laugh, for so many had laughed
at him, both gentle and simple, when he enlisted for a soldier and was
drilled by Corporal Jack.
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