Pert-lively and bold
Paucity-scarcity,lack
Rococo-very highly ornamented
Smelt-to melt metal in order to refine it


A young prince lived in a mottled, ivy-covered castle. Today was his birthday, and his father, king of the country, was wasting no time getting the castle decorated. The castle had been polished so that the gray, sandstone blocks that made the castle shone like silver. The castle was so rococo that there was only a inch of castle that you could see beneath all the banners and paper chains decorating the castle. Inside, it looked even more beautiful and merry. There was a pile of brightly wrapped presents in a corner, among them a graceful smelted iron statue still too hot from its melting to be covered. The wooden oak table in the center of the room had, however, a paucity of things on it's surface, unlike the rest of the rococo castle. The king had just given yet another toast to the prince.
" To our pert, young, and stupid prince." he announced, taking a mighty swig of the ale from his gold goblet.
"Father!" protested the prince. "You're being ignominious! More than I've ever seen you!"
"Well, of course I'm ignominious, blockhead. There's a whole 300 nobles here. I've got to be... What was that ignominopinior mean?"
The prince sighed.
"Disgraceful, father,"
"That's it, son. If you don't push yourself, you'll learn what these words mean."
The prince nearly groaned.
"Really father, maybe we should pass out the trenchers to the inpecunious people now."
he said, trying to change the subject.
"No, son, charity for the poor comes later. For now, go into the yard and pull up the turnips. I want to see if you are strong."
This time, the prince did groan.
"Oh well, at least I'll be somewhere else."
He tramped to the door to the vegtable gardens. Once there, he stared up at the frightening palisade looming around the palace.