OUT in the country lay an old mansion，and in it lived an old proprietor，who had two sons，which two young men thought themselves too clever by half．They wanted to go out and woo the King's daughter；for the maiden¹ in question had publicly announced that she would choose for her husband that one that she thought could best speak for himself．

So these two prepared themselves a full week for the wooing—this was the longest time that could be granted them！But it was enough，for they had previous accomplishments，and these are useful．One of them knew the whole Latin dictionary by heart，and three whole years of the daily paper of the little town，and that either backwards² or forwards．The other was deeply read in the corporation laws，and knew by heart at every alderman ought to know；and accordingly he thought he could talk of affairs of state．And he knew one thing more：he could embroider³ braces，for he was a tasty，light-fingered fellow．

“I shall win the Princess！”So cried both of them．Therefore their father gave to each a handsome horse．The youth who knew the dictionary and newspaper by heart had a black horse，and he who knew all about the corporation laws received a milk-white steed．Then they rubbed the corners of their mouths with fish-oil，so that they might be-come very smooth and glib．All the servants stood below in the courtyard，and looked on while they mounted their horses；and just by chance the third son came up．For there were three of them，though nobody counted the third with his brothers，because he was not so learned as they，and indeed he was generally known as“Jack⁴ the Dullard”．

“Hello！”said he，“where are you going since you have put on your best clothes？

“We're going to the King's court，as suitors to the King's daughter．Don't you know the announcement that has been made all through the country？”And they told him all about it．

“My word！I'll be in it too！”cried Jack the Dullard；and his two brothers burst out laughing at him，and rode away．

“Father，”said Jack，“I must have a horse too．I do feel so desperately⁵ inclined to marry！If she accepts me，she accepts me；and if she won't have me，I'll have her all the same！”

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1 maiden
n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的
参考例句：
The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。 The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

2 backwards
adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地
参考例句：
He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。 All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

3 embroider
v.刺绣于(布)上；给…添枝加叶，润饰
参考例句：
The editor would take a theme and embroider upon it with drollery.编辑会将一篇文章，以调侃式的幽默笔调加以渲染。 She wants to embroider a coverlet with flowers and birds.她想给床罩绣上花鸟。

4 jack
n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克
参考例句：
I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。 He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

5 desperately
adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地
参考例句：
He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。 He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

6 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 prudent
adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的
参考例句：
A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。 You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

8 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

9 utensil
n.器皿，用具
参考例句：
The best carving utensil is a long, sharp, flexible knife.最好的雕刻工具是锋利而柔韧的长刻刀。 Wok is a very common cooking utensil in every Chinese family.炒菜锅是每个中国人家庭里很常用的厨房食用具。

10 spurted
（液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺
参考例句：
Water spurted out of the hole. 水从小孔中喷出来。 Their guns spurted fire. 他们的枪喷射出火焰。

11 blot
vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍
参考例句：
That new factory is a blot on the landscape.那新建的工厂破坏了此地的景色。 The crime he committed is a blot on his record.他犯的罪是他的履历中的一个污点。