And the king answered : ' I shall be well pleased , provided you can do what I impose upon you ; if not you will lose your head . Now , listen ; out there on the ground , there lies a thick log , which measures more than two fathoms ; if you can cleave it in two with one stroke of your sword , I will give you my daughter to wife . If you fail , then it will cost you your head . ' Then the stranger withdrew , and returned to the house of the old woman sore distressed , for he could believe nothing but that next day he must atone to the king with his head . And so full was he of the idea of how to set about cleaving the log that he forgot even his zither . In the evening came the princess to the window to listen to his playing , and behold all was still . Then she called to him : ` Why are you so cast down this evening , that you do not play on your zither ? ' And he told her his trouble . But she laughed at it , and called to him : ` And you grieve over that ? Bring quickly your zither , and play something for my amusement , and early to-morrow come to me . ' Then the stranger took his zither and played the whole evening for the amusement of the princess . Next morning she took a hair from her locks and gave it to him , saying : ` Take this hair , and wind it round your sword , then you will be able to cleave the log in two . ' Then the stranger went forth , and with one blow cleft the log in two . But the king said : ' I will impose another task upon you , before you can wed my daughter . ' ` Speak on , ' said the stranger . ` Listen , then , ' answered the king ; ` you must mount a horse and ride three miles at full gallop , holding in each hand a goblet full of water . If you spill no drop then I shall give you my daughter to wife , but should you not succeed then I will take your life . ' Then the stranger returned to the house of the old woman , and again he was so troubled as to forget his zither . In the evening the princess came to the window as before to listen to the music , but again all was still ; and she called to him : ` What is the matter that you do not play on your zither ? ' Then he related all that the king had ordered him to do , and the princess answered : ` Do not let yourself be disturbed , only play now , and come to me to-morrow morning . '
Then next morning he went XXXXX her , and she gave him her ring , saying : ` Throw this ring into the water and it will immediately freeze , so that you will not spill any . '
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