` The figs in truth belong to you , but you can not pluck them without touching both the trunk and the branches . Therefore you must give your first basketful to your brother Peppe , as the price of his leave to put your ladder against the tree ; and the second basketful to your brother Alfin , for leave to shake his boughs . The rest you can keep for yourself . ' And the brothers were contented , and returned home , saying one to the other , ` We will each of us send a basket of figs to the king . Perhaps he will give us something in return , and if he does we will divide it faithfully between us . ' So the best figs were carefully packed in a basket , and Peppe set out with it to the castle . On the road he met a little old man who stopped and said to him , ` What have you got there , my fine fellow ? ' ` What is that to you ? ' was the answer ; ` mind your own business . ' But the old man only repeated his question , and Peppe , to get rid of him , exclaimed in anger , ` Dirt . ' ` Good , ' replied the old man ; ` dirt you have said , and dirt let it be . ' Peppe only tossed his head and went on his way till he got to the castle , where he knocked at the door . ' I have a basket of lovely figs for the king , ' he said to the servant who opened it , ` if his majesty will be graciously pleased to accept them with my humble duty . ' The king loved figs , and ordered Peppe to be admitted to his presence , and a silver dish to be brought on which to put the figs . When Peppe uncovered his basket sure enough a layer of beautiful purple figs met the king 's eyes , but underneath there was nothing but dirt . ` How dare you play me such a trick ? ' shrieked the king in a rage . ` Take him away , and give him fifty lashes . ' This was done , and Peppe returned home , sore and angry , but determined to say nothing about his adventure . And when his brothers asked him what had happened he only answered , ` When we have all three been I will tell you . '
A few days after this more figs were ready for plucking , and Alfin in his turn XXXXX out for the palace .
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