The dog had two puppies exactly alike , the mare had two foals , and on each side of the front door there sprang up two cypress trees precisely similar . When the two boys were grown up , they were not content to remain at home , though they had wealth in plenty ; but they wished to go out into the world , and make a name for themselves . Their father would not allow them both to go at once , as they were the only children he had . He said : ` First one shall travel , and when he is come back then the other may go . ' So the one took his horse and his dog , and went , saying to his brother : ` So long as the cypress trees are green , that is a sign that I am alive and well ; but if one begins to wither , then make haste and come to me . ' So he went forth into the world . One day he stopped at the house of an old woman , and as at evening he sat before the door , he perceived in front of him a castle standing on a hill . He asked the old woman to whom it belonged , and her answer was : ` My son , it is the castle of the Fairest in the Land ! ' ` And I am come here to woo her ! ' ` That , my son , many have sought to do , and have lost their lives in the attempt ; for she has cut off their heads and stuck them on the post you see standing there . ' ` And the same will she do to me , or else I shall be victor , for to-morrow I go there to court her . ' Then he took his zither and played upon it so beautifully that no one in all that land had ever heard the like , and the princess herself came to the window to listen . The next morning the Fairest in the Land sent for the old woman and asked her , ` Who is it that lives with you , and plays the zither so well ? ' ` It is a stranger , princess , who arrived yesterday evening , ' answered the old woman . And the princess then commanded that the stranger should be brought to her . When he appeared before the princess she questioned him about his home and his family , and about this and that ; and confessed at length that his zither-playing gave her great pleasure , and that she would take him for her husband . The stranger replied that it was with that intent he had come . The princess then said : ` You must now go to my father , and tell him you desire to have me to wife , and when he has put the three problems before you , then come back and tell me . ' The stranger then went straight to the king , and told him that he wished to wed his daughter . 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 XXXXX wife .
So about at if into on that to upon with