Oldal 300 [300]
240 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES.
not suffer her first to go and take leave of her parents, or it
will go ill with you.”
Then the fox stretched out his tail; the king’s son seated
himself upon it, and away they went over stock and stone,
so that the wind whistled through their hair. And when he
came to the golden castle all was as the fox had said. He
waited until midnight, when all lay in deep sleep, and then
as the beautiful princess went to the bathing-house he went up
to her and gave her a kiss, and she willingly promised to go
with him, but she begged him earnestly, and with tears, that
he would let her first go and take leave of her parents. At
first he denied her prayer, but as she wept so much the more,
and fell at his feet, he gave in at last. And no sooner had
the princess reached her father’s bedside than he, and all who
were in the castle, waked up, and the young man was seized
and thrown into prison.
The next morning the king said to him,
“Thy life is forfeit, but thou shalt find grace if thou canst
level that mountain that lies before my windows, and over
which I am not able to see: and if this is done within eight
days thou shalt have my daughter for a reward.”
So the king’s son set to work, and dug and shovelled
away without ceasing, but when, on the seventh day, he saw
how little he had accomplished, and that all his work was as
nothing, he fell into great sadness, and gave up all hope. But
on the evening of the seventh day the fox appeared, and said,
‘‘You do not deserve that I should help you, but go now
and lie down to sleep, and I will do the work for you.”
The next morning when he awoke, and looked out of the
window, the mountain had disappeared. The young man
hastened full of joy to the king, and told him that his behest
was fulfilled, and, whether the king liked it or not, he had to
keep to his word, and let his daughter go.
So they both went away together, and it was not long
before the faithful fox came up to them.
‘Well, you have got the best first,” said he; "but you
must know the golden horse belongs to the princess of the
golden castle.” }
“ But how shall I get it?” asked the young man.
“T am going to tell you,” answered the fox. “ First, go