Part 3 (1/2)
The sun stood over a wide country, beyond the deep seas, beyond high mountains, where Prince Hero in a golden helmet, on a gallant horse, was drawing up his army, and preparing to march against Kosciey, the besieger of the fair princess. He had seen her three times in a dream, and had heard much about her, for her beauty was famous throughout the world.
”Dismiss your army,” said the sun. ”No army can conquer Kosciey, no bullet can reach him; you can only free Princess Miranda by killing him, and how you are to do it, you must learn from the old woman Jandza; I can only tell you where you will find the horse, that must carry you to her. Go hence towards the East; you will come to a green meadow, in which there are three oak trees; and among them you will find hidden in the ground an iron door, with a brazen padlock; behind this door you will find a battle charger, and a mace; the rest you will learn afterwards; ... farewell!”
Prince Hero was most surprised; but he took off his enchanted ring and threw it into the sea; with it all his great army vanished directly into mist, leaving no trace behind. He turned to the East and travelled onwards.
After three days he came to the green meadow, where he found the three oak trees, and the iron door, as he had been told. It opened upon a narrow, crooked stairway, going downwards, leading into a deep dungeon, where he found another iron door, closed by a heavy iron padlock. Behind this he heard a horse neighing, so loudly that it made the door fall to the ground, and at the same moment eleven other doors flew open and there came out a war-horse, which had been shut up there for ages by a wizard.
The prince whistled to the horse; the horse tugged at his fastenings, and broke twelve chains by which he had been fettered. He had eyes like stars, flaming nostrils, and a mane like a thunder-cloud; ... he was a horse of horses, the wonder of the world.
”Prince Hero!” said the horse, ”I have long waited for such a rider as you, and I am ready to serve you for ever. Mount on my back, take that mace in your hand, which you see hanging to the saddle; you need not fight with it yourself, for it will strike wherever you command it, and beat a whole army. I know the way everywhere; tell me where you want to go, and you will presently be there.”
The prince told him everything; took the self-fighting mace in his hand, and sprang on his back.
The horse reared, snorted, spurned the ground, and they flew over mountains and forests, higher than the flying clouds, over rapid rivers, and deep seas; but when they flew along the ground the charger's light feet never trampled down a blade of gra.s.s, nor raised an atom of dust on the sandy soil.
Before sunset Prince Hero had reached the primeval forest in which the old woman Jandza lived.
He was amazed at the size and age of the mighty oaks, pine trees and firs, where there reigned a perpetual twilight. And there was absolute silence--not a leaf or a blade of gra.s.s stirring; and no living thing, not so much as a bird, or the hum of an insect; only amidst this grave-like stillness the sound of his horse's hoofs.
The prince stopped before a little house, supported on crooked legs, and said:
”Little house, move On your crooked legs free: Turn your back to the wood, And your front to me.”
The house turned round, with the door towards him; the prince went in, and the old woman Jandza asked him:
”How did you get here, Prince Hero, where no living soul has penetrated till now?”
”Don't ask me; but welcome your guest politely.”
So the old woman gave the prince food and drink, made up a soft bed for him, to rest on after his journey, and left him for the night.
Next morning he told her all, and what he had come for.
”You have undertaken a great and splendid task, prince; so I will tell you how to kill Kosciey. In the Ocean-Sea, on the island of Everlasting Life, there is an old oak tree; under this tree is buried a coffer bound with iron; in this coffer is a hare; under the hare sits a grey duck; this duck carries within her an egg; and in this egg is enclosed the life of Kosciey. When you break the egg he will die at once. Now good-bye, prince; and good luck go with you; your horse will show you the way.”
The prince got on horseback, and they soon left the forest behind them, and came to the sh.o.r.e of the ocean.
On the beach was a fisherman's net, and in the net was a great fish, who when he saw the prince, cried out piteously:
”Prince Hero! take me out of the net, and throw me back into the sea; I will repay you!”
The prince took the fish out of the net, and threw it into the sea; it splashed in the water, and vanished.
The prince looked over the sea, and saw the island in the grey distance, far, far away; but how was he to get there? He leaned upon his mace, deep in thought.
”What are you thinking of, prince?” asked the horse.
”I am thinking how I am to get to the island, when I cannot swim over that breadth of sea.”