"Oh," said the wild man, "if that's all, a remedy may easily be found. You have helped me, I will now help you in return."

Then, taking the prince by the hand, he led him to his cave deep down in the earth, and showed a suit of armor hanging on the wall, forged of the hardest steel, and so bright that it shed a bluish light all around. Close by it stood a splendid steed, ready saddled and bridled, and champing his bit. The wild man then said to him: "Arm yourself quickly, and ride away, and try your fortune. I will, in the meantime, tend your cattle." The prince did not need to be asked twice, but instantly armed himself with helm and harness, buckled spurs on his heels, and a sword by his side, and felt as light in his steel armor as a bird in the air. Then vaulting into the saddle, he gave his horse the rein, and rode at full speed to he mountain.

The princess's suitors had just ceased from their arduous enterprise, in which none had won the prize, though each had well played his part, and were now standing and thinking that another time fortune might be more favorable, when on a sudden they saw a young knight come riding forth from the edge of the forest directly towards the mountain. He was clad in steel from head to foot, with shield on arm and sword in belt, and bore himself so nimbly in the saddle that it vas a pleasure to behold him. All eyes were instantly directed towards the strange knight, each asking another who he might be, for no one had seen him before. But they had no long time for asking; for scarcely had he emerged from the forest, when, raising himself in the stirrups, and setting spurs to his horse, he darted like an arrow straight up the glass mountain. Nevertheless, he did not reach the top, but when about half way on the slope, he suddenly turned his charger and rode down the hill, so that the sparks flew from his horse's hoofs. He then disappeared in the forest as a bird flies.

Now, it is easy to imagine, there was a commotion among the assembled multitude, of whom there was not one that was not stricken with wonder at the stranger, who, I hardly need say it, was no other than the prince. At the same time all were agreed that they had never seen a nobler steed or a more gallant rider. It was, moreover, whispered abroad that such was also the opinion of the princess herself, and that every night she dreamed of nothing but the daring stranger.

The time had now arrived when the suitors of the princess should make a second trial. As on the first time, she was conducted to the glass mountain, the attempt to climb which by the several competitors was attended with a result similar in every respect to what has been already related.

The prince in the meanwhile was watching his cattle, and unhappy at being unable to join in the attempt, when the wild man again appeared before him, who, after listening to his complaints, again conducted him to his underground home, where there hung a suit of armor formed of the brightest silver, close by which stood a snow-white steed ready saddled and fully equipped, pawing the ground with his silver-shod hoofs and champing his bit. The prince, following the directions of the wild man, having put on the armor and mounted the horse, galloped away to the glass mountain.
关键字:公主和玻璃山
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