My three sons are all brave and clever, and for that reason, I worry that they’ll start to quarrel for my crown long before I’m ready for the grave.
I would prefer to spend these years in peace, so I’ve come up with a scheme.
I’ll summon my sons and tell them that I am planning to retire to the country and that I would like a pretty, lively, faithful little dog for company. I’ll send them all out to find that creature, and I’ll promise that the one who brings me the prize dog will succeed me at once.
Little do they know, there is no dog in the world who will please me.