Throwing himself on his knees before the King, he cried, "Oh, royal Sire, bestow upon me also a sword and a steed, that I may up and away to follow my brethren." But the King laughed him to scorn.

"Thou a sword!" he quoth.

"Thou who hast never done a deed of valor in all thy life! In sooth thou shalt have one, but it shall be one befitting thy maiden size and courage, if so small a weapon can be found in all my kingdom!" Now just at that moment it happened that the Court Tailor came into the room to measure the King for a new mantle of ermine.

Forthwith the grinning Jester began shrieking with laughter, so that the bells upon his motley cap were all set a-jangling.
"What now, Fool ?" demanded the King.
"I did but laugh to think the sword of Ethelried had been so quickly found," responded the Jester, and he pointed to the scissors hanging from the Tailor's girdle.
"By my troth," exclaimed the King, "it shall be even as thou sayest!" and he commanded that the scissors be taken from the Tailor, and buckled to the belt of Ethelried.
"Not until thou hast proved thyself a prince with these, shalt thou come into thy kingdom," he swore with a mighty oath.

"Until that far day, now get thee gone!" So Ethelried left the palace, and wandered away over mountain and moor with a heavy heart.