This door he unlocked with his golden key , and he passed through into a vast chamber which had a roof of blue sprinkled with golden stars , and a carpet of green silk soft as turf . Twelve windows framed in gold let in the light of the sun , and on every window was painted the figure of a young girl , each more beautiful than the last . While the prince gazed at them in surprise , not knowing which he liked best , the girls began to lift their eyes and smile at him . He waited , expecting them to speak , but no sound came . Suddenly he noticed that one of the windows was covered by a curtain of white silk . He lifted it , and saw before him the image of a maiden beautiful as the day and sad as the tomb , clothed in a white robe , having a girdle of silver and a crown of pearls . The prince stood and gazed at her , as if he had been turned into stone , but as he looked the sadness which was on her face seemed to pass into his heart , and he cried out : ` This one shall be my wife . This one and no other . ' -LSB- Illustration : the sadness of her face seemed to pass into his heart . -RSB- As he said the words the young girl blushed and hung her head , and all the other figures vanished . The young prince went quickly back to his father , and told him all he had seen and which wife he had chosen . The old man listened to him full of sorrow , and then he spoke : ` You have done ill , my son , to search out that which was hidden , and you are running to meet a great danger . This young girl has fallen into the power of a wicked sorcerer , who lives in an iron castle . Many young men have tried to deliver her , and none have ever come back . But what is done is done ! You have given your word , and it can not be broken . Go , dare your fate , and return to me safe and sound . ' So the prince embraced his father , mounted his horse , and set forth to seek his bride . He rode on gaily for several hours , till he found himself in a wood where he had never been before , and soon lost his way among its winding paths and deep valleys . He tried in vain to see where he was : the thick trees shut out the sun , and he could not tell which was north and which was south , so that he might know what direction to make for .
He felt XXXXX despair , and had quite given up all hope of getting out of this horrible place , when he heard a voice calling to him .
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