` Why , ' says she , ` the King your husband has three fine sons he had by the late Queen , whom he keeps shut up in a tower until they come of age , intending to divide the kingdom between them , and let your son push his fortune ; now , if you do n't find some means of destroying them ; your child and perhaps yourself will be left desolate in the end . ' ` And what would you advise me to do ? ' said she ; ' I am wholly at a loss in what manner to act in this affair . ' ` You must make known to the King , ' says the hen-wife , ` that you heard of his sons , and wonder greatly that he concealed them all this time from you ; tell him you wish to see them , and that it is full time for them to be liberated , and that you would be desirous he would bring them to the Court . The King will then do so , and there will be a great feast prepared on that account , and also diversions of every sort to amuse the people ; and in these sports , ' said she , ` ask the King 's sons to play a game at cards with you , which they will not refuse . Now , ' says the hen-wife , ` you must make a bargain , that if you win they must do whatever you command them , and if they win , that you must do whatever they command you to do ; this bargain must be made before the assembly , and here is a pack of cards , ' says she , ` that I am thinking you will not lose by . ' The Queen immediately took the cards , and , after returning the hen-wife thanks for her kind instruction , went back to the palace , where she was quite uneasy until she got speaking to the King in regard of his children ; at last she broke it off to him in a very polite and engaging manner , so that he could see no muster or design in it . He readily consented to her desire , and his sons were sent for to the tower , who gladly came to Court , rejoicing that they were freed from such confinement . They were all very handsome , and very expert in all arts and exercises , so that they gained the love and esteem of all that had seen them . The Queen , more jealous with them than ever , thought it an age until all the feasting and rejoicing was over , that she might get making her proposal , depending greatly on the power of the hen-wife 's cards . At length this royal assembly began to sport and play at all kinds of diversions , and the Queen very cunningly challenged the three Princes to play at cards with her , making bargain with them as she had been instructed . They accepted the challenge , and the eldest son and she played the first game , which she won ; then the second son played , and she won that game likewise ; the third son and she then played the last game , and he won it , which sorely grieved her that she had not him in her power as well as the rest , being by far the handsomest and most beloved of the three . However , everyone was anxious to hear the Queen 's commands in regard to the two Princes , not thinking that she had any ill design in her head against them . Whether it was the hen-wife instructed her , or whether it was from her own knowledge , I can not tell ; but she gave out they must go and bring her the Knight of the Glen 's wild Steed of Bells , or they should lose their heads . The young Princes were not in the least concerned , not knowing what they had to do ; but the whole Court was amazed at her demand , knowing very well that it was impossible for them ever to get the steed , as all that ever sought him perished in the attempt . However , they could not retract the bargain , and the youngest Prince was desired to tell what demand he had on the Queen , as he had won his game . ` My brothers , ' says he , ` are now going to travel , and , as I understand , a perilous journey wherein they know not what road to take or what may happen them . I am resolved , therefore , not to stay here , but to go with them , let what will betide ; and I request and command , according to my bargain , that the Queen shall stand on the highest tower of the palace until we come back -LRB- or find out that we are certainly dead -RRB- , with nothing but sheaf corn for her food and cold water for her drink , if it should be for seven years and longer . ' All things being now fixed , the three princes departed the Court in search of the Knight of the Glen 's palace , and travelling along the road they came up with a man who was a little lame , and seemed to be somewhat advanced in years ; they soon fell into discourse , and the youngest of the princes asked the stranger his name , or what was the reason he wore so remarkable a black cap as he saw on him . ' I am called , ' said he , ` the Thief of Sloan , and sometimes the Black Thief from my cap ; ` and so telling the prince the most of his adventures , he asked him again where they were bound for , or what they were about .
The prince , willing to gratify his request , told him their affairs from the beginning XXXXX the end .
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