` After this I had the beautiful fruit of these trees carefully guarded by my most faithful servants ; but every year , on this very night , the fruit was plucked and stolen by an invisible hand , and next morning not a single apple remained on the trees . For some time past I have given up even having the trees watched . ' When the King had finished his story , Szabo , his eldest son , said to him : ` Forgive me , father , if I say I think you are mistaken . I am sure there are many men in your kingdom who could protect these trees from the cunning arts of a thieving magician ; I myself , who as your eldest son claim the first right to do so , will mount guard over the fruit this very night . ' The King consented , and as soon as evening drew on Szabo climbed up on to one of the trees , determined to protect the fruit even if it cost him his life . So he kept watch half the night ; but a little after midnight he was overcome by an irresistible drowsiness , and fell fast asleep . He did not awake till it was bright daylight , and all the fruit on the trees had vanished . The following year Warza , the second brother , tried his luck , but with the same result . Then it came to the turn of the third and youngest son . Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder brothers , though they were both much older and stronger than he was , and when night came climbed up the tree as they had done , The moon had risen , and with her soft light lit up the whole neighbourhood , so that the observant Prince could distinguish the smallest object distinctly . At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree , and at the same moment a snow-white swan-like bird sank down gently on his breast . The Prince hastily seized the bird 's wings in his hands , when , lo ! to his astonishment he found he was holding in his arms not a bird but the most beautiful girl he had ever seen . ` You need not fear Militza , ' said the beautiful girl , looking at the Prince with friendly eyes . ` An evil magician has not robbed you of your fruit , but he stole the seed from my mother , and thereby caused her death . When she was dying she bade me take the fruit , which you have no right to possess , from the trees every year as soon as it was ripe . This I would have done to-night too , if you had not seized me with such force , and so broken the spell I was under . ' Iwanich , who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and not a lovely girl , fell desperately in love with her . They spent the rest of the night in pleasant conversation , and when Militza wished to go away he begged her not to leave him . ' I would gladly stay with you longer , ' said Militza , ` but a wicked witch once cut off a lock of my hair when I was asleep , which has put me in her power , and if morning were still to find me here she would do me some harm , and you , too , perhaps . '
Having said these words , she drew a sparkling diamond ring from her finger , which she handed to the XXXXX , saying : ` Keep this ring in memory of Militza , and think of her sometimes if you never see her again .
King Militza Prince Szabo daylight drowsiness midnight night second third