Once upon a time there lived a prince who longed to marry a true princess, yet none whom he met seemed quite to satisfy him. He travelled through many kingdoms, and though princesses were plentiful, he could never be certain that any was genuine. At last he returned home sorrowful, for his heart still desired a princess of the truest kind.

One stormy night, while rain beat fiercely upon the castle windows and thunder shook the towers, there came a knocking at the gate. Outside stood a young maiden, drenched from head to foot, who declared that she was a princess.

The old queen, wishing to test her claim, said nothing. Instead, she went secretly to the guest chamber, stripped the bed, and placed a single small pea upon the bedstead. Over it she laid twenty mattresses, and upon these twenty soft feather beds.

The weary maiden was then shown to her lofty couch.

In the morning the queen asked how she had slept.

“Very badly indeed,” replied the princess. “I scarcely closed my eyes. Something hard lay beneath me, and my whole body is bruised and aching.”

Then all knew that she must indeed be a true princess, for only one of such delicate nature could have felt a tiny pea through so many layers of bedding.

The prince rejoiced and took her for his bride, and the little pea was placed in the royal cabinet, where, if no one has carried it away, it may perhaps be seen to this very day.