Страница 452 из 626

Long after this, a man was making his way through the wood when

he heard a raven calling, and he followed the sound of the voice.

As he drew near, the raven said, 'I am by birth a king's

daughter, but am now under the spell of some enchantment; you

can, however, set me free.' 'What am I to do?' he asked. She

replied, 'Go farther into the wood until you come to a house,

wherein lives an old woman; she will offer you food and drink,

but you must not take of either; if you do, you will fall into a

deep sleep, and will not be able to help me. In the garden behind

the house is a large tan-heap, and on that you must stand and

watch for me. I shall drive there in my carriage at two o'clock

in the afternoon for three successive days; the first day it will

be drawn by four white, the second by four chestnut, and the last

by four black horses; but if you fail to keep awake and I find

you sleeping, I shall not be set free.'