At last he lifted his eyes , and there he was outside of a smith 's gate that he often passed before , about a mile away from the palace of his betrothed princess . The clothes he had on him were as ragged as you please , but he had his crowns safe under his old cloak . Then the smith came out , and says he , ` It 's a shame for a strong , big fellow like you to be lazy , and so much work to be done . Are you any good with hammer and tongs ? Come in and bear a hand , an I 'll give you diet and lodging , and a few pence when you earn them . ' ` Never say ' t twice , ' says the prince . ' I want nothing but to be busy . ' So he took the hammer , and pounded away at the red-hot bar that the smith was turning on the anvil to make into a set of horse-shoes . They had n't been long at work when a tailor came in , and he sat down and began to talk . ` You all heard how the two princess were loth to be married till the youngest would be ready with her crowns and her sweetheart . But after the windlass loosened accidentally when they were pulling up her bridegroom that was to be , there was no more sign of a well , or a rope , or a windlass , than there is on the palm of your hand . So the princes that were courting the eldest ladies would n't give peace or ease to their lovers nor the king till they got consent to the marriage , and it was to take place this morning . Myself went down out o ' curiousity , and to be sure I was delighted with the grand dresses of the two brides , and the three crowns on their heads -- gold , silver , and copper , one inside the other . The youngest was standing by mournful enough , and all was ready . The two bridegrooms came in as proud and grand as you please , and up they were walking to the altar rails , when the boards opened two yards wide under their feet , and down they went among the dead men and the coffins in the vaults . Oh , such shrieks as the ladies gave ! and such running and racing and peeping down as there was ! but the clerk soon opened the door of the vault , and up came the two princes , their fine clothes covered an inch thick with cobwebs and mould . So the king said they should put off the marriage . ` For , ' says he , ' I see there is no use in thinking of it till the youngest gets her three crowns , and is married with the others .
I 'll give my youngest daughter for a wife XXXXX whoever brings three crowns to me like the others ; and if he does n't care to be married , some other one will , and I 'll make his fortune . ' '
For after by inside like of than that till to