Once upon a time, there was a kingdom ruled by a kind but aging king.
This king had a single daughter, beautiful and clever, but incredibly picky regarding suitors.
At first, the king entertained many foreign princes and young nobles, seeking the hand of his daughter in marriage. However, the princess insisted every potential groom be put to a mysterious test of her design, and none of the suitors returned from a walk in the park with her.
Gradually, the nobles and princes stopped visiting the castle, and the old king began to despair. Will his daughter ever find someone worthy enough to inherit his kingdom?
So he let it be known that anyone, no matter his birth or station, can try his luck.
And so it came to pass that Peasant Jim arrived to brave the princess’s test.
The princess took him for a walk in the castle gardens, passing the time in pleasant conversation, until they came to a pond full of crocodiles.
The princess slipped a ring from her slender finger, threw it into the pond, looked at Peasant Jim and said “Pull it out!”
Peasant Jim didn’t hesitate and pulled it out.
The princess said, “Finally! All the other idiots jumped into the pond!”
This joke is included in the Black Book of Jokes. You can order it from here.