` Thank you , ' said the merchant 's son , and he went into the wood , sat himself in his trunk , flew on to the roof , and crept through the window into the princess 's room . She was lying on the sofa asleep , and was so beautiful that the young merchant had to kiss her . Then she woke up and was very much frightened , but he said he was a Turkish god who had come through the air to see her , and that pleased her very much . They sat close to each other , and he told her a story about her eyes . They were beautiful dark lakes in which her thoughts swam about like mermaids . And her forehead was a snowy mountain , grand and shining . These were lovely stories . Then he asked the princess to marry him , and she said yes at once . ` But you must come here on Saturday , ' she said , ` for then the sultan and the sultana are coming to tea with me . They will be indeed proud that I receive the god of the Turks . But mind you have a really good story ready , for my parents like them immensely . My mother likes something rather moral and high-flown , and my father likes something merry to make him laugh . ' ` Yes , I shall only bring a fairy story for my dowry , ' said he , and so they parted . But the princess gave him a sabre set with gold pieces which he could use . Then he flew away , bought himself a new dressing-gown , and sat down in the wood and began to make up a story , for it had to be ready by Saturday , and that was no easy matter . When he had it ready it was Saturday . The sultan , the sultana , and the whole court were at tea with the princess . He was most graciously received . ` Will you tell us a story ? ' said the sultana ; ` one that is thoughtful and instructive ? '
` But something that we can laugh XXXXX , ' said the sultan .
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