Set a Purpose

The king promises to marry a woman as smart as he is. Find out who it will be.

Once, long ago, there lived a king who was very proud of his clever wits. So proud of them was he that he vowed to marry only a woman who was as clever as he.

Now, one day the king stopped at an inn. There he heard the innkeeper boasting about his daughter, Rachel, who was so clever she could solve any riddle. The king frowned.

“I don’t like liars,” he told the innkeeper. “I will ask you three riddles. If your daughter can solve them, you will be rewarded. But if she fails, you shall lose your inn. First, what is the fastest thing? Second, what is the richest thing? Third, what is the dearest thing?”

Sadly, the innkeeper went home to his daughter, Rachel, and told her what the king had said. Rachel smiled. “You won’t lose the inn, Father. Go to the king and tell him that Thought is the fastest thing. Life-giving Earth is the richest thing. And Love is the dearest thing.”

When the king heard these answers, he frowned again. He had vowed to wed only a woman as clever as he. Could that woman be Rachel, a common innkeeper’s daughter?

“If Rachel is as clever as she seems,” he told the innkeeper, “I wish to meet her. She must come to my palace in three days. But she must come neither walking nor riding, neither dressed nor undressed, and bringing a gift that is not a gift.”

Sadly the innkeeper went home, sure that Rachel could never solve this puzzle. But Rachel thought for only a few moments, and then she smiled. “Don’t worry, father. I know what to do. Please buy me a goat, a fishnet, and … hmm … two doves.”

Bewildered, the innkeeper did as he was asked. Rachel wrapped herself in the fishnet and sat on the goat so that one leg dragged on the ground. Clutching the doves, she set off for the royal palace.