“There once lived a man and his wife who had long wished for a child, but in vain.”

“Let no one ever say that a poor tailor cannot do great things and win high honors; all that is needed is that he should go to the right smithy, and what is of most consequence, that he should have good luck.”

“There were once two brothers, the one rich, the other poor.”

“‘O gentle doves, O turtle-doves, And all the birds that be, The lentils that in ashes lie Come and pick up for me! The good must be put in the dish, The bad you may eat if you wish.'”

“A King once had a wife with golden hair who was so beautiful that none on earth could be found equal to her.”

“There once was a young fellow who had learnt the trade of locksmith, and told his father he would now go out into the world and seek his fortune.”