The three Princesses took their water melons and headed towards the veranda.

The first presented her melon to her father, but as he began to cut it open he exclaimed:
'this melon is shrivelled and yelow and fit for nothing'
and he threw the melon onto the ground below the veranda.
'Bring me a melon I can eat.'
As she left, she said' Shrivelled and fit for nothing am I becoming, and I not yet wed.'

She sent in her younger sister. This too was over ripe, being green and juice less and insipid when he cut it open.
'This too is over ripe' and flung that too onto the ground below.
'Bring me a melon I can eat!' he shouted angrily.
'I too am over ripe, and me not yet wed, Father' said the Princess as she left.

The youngest of thje three Princesses came and cut open her water melon. This time it was pink and juicy, and her father was at last able to enjoy his melon.
'This melon is in prime condition,' he said happily.
'As I am, Father, and I ought to be married.'

Later that day the King sat down at the dinner table and said:
'You are a parcel of hussies. Very well, you shall be married and what is more, you shall choose your own husbands.'

The heralds were summoned and the King bade them announce throughout the land that the Princesses would be given in marriage to whomever they chose.

A few days later, a crowd of suitors filled the court yard. The Princesses came out onto the varanda and looked down upon them. Each had a golden ball in her hand. The first threw her ball at the son of the gand Vizier. The second at the son of the Lord Chamerlain, whom she had long loved in secret. The third caught sight of a handsome but poorly dressed youth sitting to one side and threw her ball at him.
'No ~ he won't do! throw again!'
But agin she threw her ball at the youth.
'Such a son-in-law I will never accept' roared the King. 'Choose again'
This time although the Princess threw hers in a different direction, the youth had wanderdd towards the other side of the crowd, and again the ball struck him.
'I will not agree to such a marriage'
'You gave me leave to choose for myself, and that I have done. I will wed without your blessing' said the obstinate Princess, and went to her chamber.



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