Stranica 299 [299]
THE GOLDEN BIRD. 239
swifter than the wind, and that then he should also receive the
golden bird as a reward.
So the king’s son set off to find the golden horse, but he
sighed, and was very sad, for how should it be accomplished ?
And then he saw his old friend the fox sitting by the roadside.
Now, you see, said the fox, “all this has happened,
because you would not listen to me. But be of good courage,
I will bring you through, and will tell you how you are to get
the golden horse. You must go straight on until you come
to a castle, where the horse stands in his stable; before the
stable-door the grooms will be lying, but they will all be asleep
and snoring ; and you can go and quietly lead out the horse.
But one thing you must mind—take care to put upon him the
plain saddle of wood and leather, and not the golden one,
which will hang close by ; otherwise it will go badly with you.”
Then the fox stretched out his tail, and the king’s son
seated himself upon it, and away they went over stock and
stone until the wind whistled through their hair. And every¬
thing happened just as the fox had said, and he came to the
stall where the golden horse was : and as he was about to put
on him the plain saddle, he thought to himself,
‘Such a beautiful animal would be disgraced were I not
to put on him the good saddle, which becomes him so well.”
However, no sooner did the horse feel the golden saddle
touch him than he began to neigh. And the grooms all
awoke, seized the king’s son and threw him into prison. The
next morning he was delivered up to justice and condemned
to death, but the king promised him his life, and also to
bestow upon him the golden horse, if he could convey thither
the beautiful princess of the golden castle.
With a heavy heart the king’s son set out, but by great
good luck he soon met with the faithful fox.
I ought now to leave you to your own ill-luck,” said the
fox, " but I am sorry for you, and will once more help you in
your need. Your way lies straight up to the golden castle:
you will arrive there in the evening, and at night, when all is
quiet, the beautiful princess goes to the bath. And as she is
entering the bathing-house, go up to her and give her a kiss,
then she will follow you, and you can lead her away; but do