Once upon a time, a flea, a grasshopper, and a leap-frog made a wager to see who could jump the highest. The news of this intriguing contest soon echoed through the halls of the royal palace. Hearing of this, the King decided to offer a magnificent prize, both to entertain his court and to find a clever husband for his daughter:
“Whoever has the strongest legs and leaps the highest shall have my daughter’s hand in marriage!”
When the great day arrived, the grand hall of the palace was packed. The three contestants eagerly took their places on the stage, ready to show off their skills.
The flea was the first to step forward. Because he was accustomed to living among humans, he had the elegant manners of a courtier and bowed politely to the crowd. He took a deep breath, gathered his strength, and jumped so high that he completely vanished from sight. However, since the spectators could not see where he went, they claimed he had not jumped at all and was merely showing off. And so, his magnificent leap went entirely unrewarded.
Next came the grasshopper, looking quite dashing in his emerald-green uniform. He strutted about, bragging endlessly about his ancient and noble lineage. With an air of supreme confidence, he sprang into the air. But he jumped so recklessly and without calculation that he crashed right into the King’s face. Furious at this insolence, the King declared the grasshopper a rude and ill-mannered creature, utterly lacking in royal etiquette.
Finally, all eyes turned to the leap-frog, who had been waiting silently in the corner. Unlike the flea, he made no grand display of manners, and unlike the grasshopper, he did not boast about his ancestors. He simply stood there in deep, wise contemplation. Seeing his profound silence, the courtiers began to whisper that he must be formulating a brilliant plan.
The leap-frog slowly advanced to the center of the hall. He had carefully calculated his target. He didn’t launch himself blindly into the void like the flea, nor did he overstep his bounds like the grasshopper. Using his wits, he leaped gently and landed perfectly on the silken lap of the beautiful princess as she sat on her throne.
The King smiled warmly at this clever move and announced his decision:
“The highest and most honorable place in this world is by my daughter’s side. By knowing exactly where to land, the leap-frog has proven that true heights are reached with intellect. He is the undisputed winner of this contest!”
Feeling completely cheated, the furious flea left the country and was never seen again. The grasshopper settled by the edge of an old ditch, where he spent his days singing melancholic songs about the world’s injustice. As for the leap-frog, having won the great contest with his wisdom, he lived happily ever after with the princess in the royal palace.
