s. 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 to wife. If you fail, then it will cost you
your head.'

Then the stranger withdrew, an