As before, the youth drew on him the gaze of every one present; he was instantly recognized as the knight who had already so distinguished himself; but he allowed them little time for observation, for setting spurs to his horse, he rode with an arrow's speed up the glassy mountain, when, having nearly reached the summit, he bowed to the princess, turned his horse, rapidly rode down again, and again disappeared in the forest.

The same series of events took place a third time, except that this time the prince received from the wild man a suit of golden armor, cased in which he, on the third day of trial, rode to the mountain's summit, bowed his knee before the princess, and from her hand received the golden apple. Then casting himself on his horse, he rode at full speed down the mountain, and again disappeared in the forest. Now arose an outcry on the mountain! The whole assemblage raised a shout of joy; horns and trumpets were sounded, and the king caused it to be proclaimed aloud that the stranger knight, in the golden armor, had won the prize.

All that now remained was to discover the gold-clad knight, for no one knew him. For some time hopes were cherished that he would appear at court, but he came not. His absence excited the astonishment of all, the princess looked pale and was evidently pining away, the king became impatient, and the suitors murmured every day. When no alternative appeared, the king commanded a great assemblage to be held at his palace, at which every man's son high or low, should be present, that the princess might choose among them. At this meeting there was not one who did not readily attend, both for the sake of the princess, and in obedience to the king's command, so that there was assembled an innumerable body of people. When all were gathered together, the princess issued from the royal palace in great state, and with her maidens passed among the whole throng; but although she looked in all directions, she did not find not what she sought. Suddenly she caught sight of a man who was standing concealed in the crowd. He wore a broad-brimmed hat, and was wrapped in a large grey cloak, like those worn by herdsmen, the hood of which was drawn up over his head, so that no one could see his face. But the princess instantly ran towards him, pulled down his hood, clasped him in her arms and cried: "Here he is! here he is!"

At this all the people laughed, for they saw that it was the king's herd-boy, and the king himself exclaimed: "Gracious heaven support me! What kind of a son-in-law am I to have?"

But the young man said: "Do not let that trouble you! You will get as good a king's son, as you yourself are a king." At the same moment he threw aside his cloak, and where were now the laughers, when, in place of the grey herdsman, they saw before them a handsome young prince clad in gold from head to foot, and holding in his hand the princess's golden apple! All now recognized in him the youth who had ridden up the glass mountain.

Now, it is easy to imagine, there was joy, the like of which was never known. The prince held his beloved in his arms, and told her of his family and all he had undergone. The king instantly made preparations for the marriage, to which he invited all the suitors and all the people. A banquet was then given such as has never been heard of before or after. Thus did the prince gain the king's daughter and half the kingdom; and when the feastings had lasted about seven days, the prince took his fair young bride in great state to his father's kingdom, where both the king and the queen wept for joy to see him again. The prince and his bride ever afterwards lived happily and well. But nothing more was heard of the wild man.
关键字:公主和玻璃山
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