27-the witch and her servants-第5章

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dissuade　you　from　taking　the　foal；　and　will　tell　you　that　it　is

both　idle　and　sickly；　but　do　not　believe　her；　and　stick　to　your

point。'



Iwanich　longed　to　possess　such　an　animal；　and　promised　the　mare

to　follow　her　advice。　



This　time　Corva　received　him　in　the　most　friendly　manner；　and　set

a　sumptuous　repast　before　him。　　As　soon　as　he　had　finished　she

asked　him　what　reward　he　demanded　for　his　year's　service。



'Nothing　more　nor　less；'　replied　the　Prince；　'than　the　foal　of

your　mare。'



The　witch　pretended　to　be　much　astonished　at　his　request；　and

said　that　he　deserved　something　much　better　than　the　foal；　for

the　beast　was　lazy　and　nervous；　blind　in　one　eye；　and；　in　short；

was　quite　worthless。



But　the　Prince　knew　what　he　wanted；　and　when　the　old　witch　saw

that　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to　have　the　foal；　she　said；　'I　am

obliged　to　keep　my　promise　and　to　hand　you　over　the　foal；　and　as

I　know　who　you　are　and　what　you　want；　I　will　tell　you　in　what　way

the　animal　will　be　useful　to　you。　　The　man　in　the　cauldron　of

boiling　pitch；　whom　you　set　free；　is　a　mighty　magician；　through

your　curiosity　and　thoughtlessness　Militza　came　into　his　power；

and　he　has　transported　her　and　her　castle　and　belongings　into　a

distant　country。



'You　are　the　only　person　who　can　kill　him；　and　in　consequence　he

fears　you　to　such　an　extent　that　he　has　set　spies　to　watch　you；

and　they　report　your　movements　to　him　daily。



'When　you　have　reached　him；　beware　of　speaking　a　single　word　to

him；　or　you　will　fall　into　the　power　of　his　friends。　　Seize　him

at　once　by　the　beard　and　dash　him　to　the　ground。'



Iwanich　thanked　the　old　witch；　mounted　his　foal；　put　spurs　to　its

sides；　and　they　flew　like　lightning　through　the　air。



Already　it　was　growing　dark；　when　Iwanich　perceived　some　figures

in　the　distance；　they　soon　came　up　to　them；　and　then　the　Prince

saw　that　it　was　the　magician　and　his　friends　who　were　driving

through　the　air　in　a　carriage　drawn　by　owls。



When　the　magician　found　himself　face　to　face　with　Iwanich；

without　hope　of　escape；　he　turned　to　him　with　false　friendliness

and　said：　'Thrice　my　kind　benefactor！'



But　the　Prince；　without　saying　a　word；　seized　him　at　once　by　his

beard　and　dashed　him　to　the　ground。　　At　the　same　moment　the　foal

sprang　on　the　top　of　the　magician　and　kicked　and　stamped　on　him

with　his　hoofs　till　he　died。



Then　Iwanich　found　himself　once　more　in　the　palace　of　his　bride；

and　Militza　herself　flew　into　his　arms。



From　this　time　forward　they　lived　in　undisturbed　peace　and

happiness　till　the　end　of　their　lives。