Pagina 588 di 626

Thereupon the wild man appeared immediately, and said: 'What do

you desire?' 'I want a strong steed, for I am going to the wars.'

'That you shall have, and still more than you ask for.' Then the

wild man went back into the forest, and it was not long before a

stable-boy came out of it, who led a horse that snorted with its

nostrils, and could hardly be restrained, and behind them

followed a great troop of warriors entirely equipped in iron, and

their swords flashed in the sun. The youth made over his

three-legged horse to the stable-boy, mounted the other, and rode

at the head of the soldiers. When he got near the battlefield a

great part of the king's men had already fallen, and little was

wanting to make the rest give way. Then the youth galloped

thither with his iron soldiers, broke like a hurricane over the

enemy, and beat down all who opposed him. They began to flee, but

the youth pursued, and never stopped, until there was not a

single man left.