As soon as Minnikin had got safely on his ship again , he said : ` Now go over salt water and fresh water , over hill and dale , and do not stop until thou comest unto the King 's palace . ' And in a moment the ship went off so fast that the yellow foam rose up all round about it . When those who were in the King 's palace saw the ship , they lost no time in going to meet him with song and music , and thus they marched up towards Minnikin with great rejoicings ; but the gladdest of all was the King , for now he had got his other daughter back again . But now Minnikin was not happy , for both the Princesses wanted to have him , and he wanted to have none other than the one whom he had first saved , and she was the younger . For this cause he was continually walking backwards and forwards , thinking how he could contrive to get her , and yet do nothing that was unkind to her sister . One day when he was walking about and thinking of this , it came into his mind that if he only had his brother , King Pippin , with him , who was so like himself that no one could distinguish the one from the other , he could let him have the elder Princess and half the kingdom ; as for himself , he thought , the other half was quite enough . As soon as this thought occurred to him he went outside the palace and called for King Pippin , but no one came . So he called a second time , and a little louder , but no ! still no one came . So Minnikin called for the third time , and with all his might , and there stood his brother by his side . ' I told you that you were not to call me unless you were in the utmost need , ' he said to Minnikin , ` and there is not even so much as a midge here who can do you any harm ! ' and with that he gave Minnikin such a blow that he rolled over on the grass . ` Shame on you to strike me ! ' said Minnikin . ` First have I won one Princess and half the kingdom , and then the other Princess and the other half of the kingdom ; and now , when I was just thinking that I would give you one of the Princesses and one of the halves of the kingdom , do you think you have any reason to give me such a blow ? ' When King Pippin heard that he begged his brother 's pardon , and they were reconciled at once and became good friends . ` Now , as you know , ' said Minnikin , ` we are so like each other that no one can tell one of us from the other ; so just change clothes with me and go up to the palace , and then the Princesses will think that I am coming in , and the one who kisses you first shall be yours , and I will have the other . ' For he knew that the elder Princess was the stronger , so he could very well guess how things would go . King Pippin at once agreed to this . He changed clothes with his brother , and went into the palace .
When he entered the Princess 's apartments they believed that he was XXXXX , and both of them ran up to him at once ; but the elder , who was bigger and stronger , pushed her sister aside , and threw her arms round King Pippin 's neck and kissed him ; so he got her to wife , and Minnikin the younger sister .
King Minnikin Pippin Princess Princesses day first gladdest rejoicings third