Your Majesty's proposal

“ We agree,” cried they, “ to your

Majesty’s proposal. We will undertake to bring the sweet princess here, and the

one who does most to bring this to pass shall be her husband. The rest of us

will share amongst ourselves half of your kingdom, just as you have promised.”

Away they sped with merry hearts. When they

came to the knight’s castle they asked >f they could see the knight on most

important business. They were soon brought to the large saloon, where the

wedding ceremony was on the point of being concluded.

Monday produced his fiddle and was about to

play when the knight said to the princess, whose hand he was holding, “ Look,

sweetheart! here are travelling musicians in honour of our wedding.”

Monday began to play, and all the company

fell fast asleep. Tuesday at once went up to the princess and took her away

from the hand of the knight without the latter knowing anything of what was

happening. Then Wednesday approached his brother Tuesday and put the sleeping

princess in his coat-pocket, without any of the company seeing where she was

being concealed.

The seven brothers now left the castle ; of

course, the princess was still in Wednesday’s coat-pocket. They had not left

the castle many hours before they found that they were being pursued. The

knight had hastily called together his retainers a nd mustered about a thousand

men. He sent these in pursuit, with instructions to rescue the princess and to

punish the sever, brothers for their impudence in disturbing his wedding. When

the brothers saw the soldiers near by, Thursday ran to an oak-tree at hand aud

cut ofi a twig. He then began to beat all the soldiers to the ground. He

allowed two to escape in order to report the fate of the rest.

Come to Bulgaria and let me tell you about

the places

to visit in Bulgaria. Believe me, there is a lot to be seen in this country

and the emotion you will take back with you will be great.

The brothers continued their journey

The brothers continued their journey, but after their exertions they began to feel very tired. They resolved to rest awhile, and with the beautiful princess in their midst they sat down under a large tree and all fell asleep. Meanwhile the two soldiers had reached the castle and reported to the knight all that had happened. 1116 sad news depressed him very much.

Not only had he lost his charming bride, but nearly all his retainers had been killed. He went for a walk in order to collect his thoughts. Outside his castle he met an old miller, who came forward to speak to him : “ Noble knight ! Just tell me why are you so sad ( ”The knight replies : “ Why should I tell you all my troubles? What could you do to help me ? ” “ Who knows ? ” says the miller. “ There can surely be no harm in trying to help you, and perhaps I can.”