Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/255

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THE TRIAL

clever as he might be, otherwise he would have conquered the whole world long ago. His army was so large and well equipped that this would be an easy matter for him!

This reproach pleased the king so much that on the appointed day when the council was to listen to his decision in the matter of the succession, he announced that his youngest son would be best fitted for governing the land. Although his two older sons were good and able young men in their way, he would choose neither of them, as they had both fallen short of his expectations.

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