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And now he had to use his own legs, and when he had walked a long

way, he came to a large city. There was a great noise and crowd

in the streets, and a man rode up on horseback, crying aloud:

'The king's daughter wants a husband; but whoever seeks her hand

must perform a hard task, and if he does not succeed he will

forfeit his life.' Many had already made the attempt, but in

vain; nevertheless when the youth saw the king's daughter he was

so overcome by her great beauty that he forgot all danger, went

before the king, and declared himself a suitor.

So he was led out to the sea, and a gold ring was thrown into it,

before his eyes; then the king ordered him to fetch this ring up

from the bottom of the sea, and added: 'If you come up again

without it you will be thrown in again and again until you perish

amid the waves.' All the people grieved for the handsome youth;

then they went away, leaving him alone by the sea.