o an impenetrable forest, stretching
among the mountains as far as the seacoast, where they stopped to
rest; and the King's daughter threw herself on the grass, from
weariness, and fell asleep. But Prince Peter sat beside her and
watched her while she slept. Then he observed a knot in a golden
clasp, and unfastening it, he found the three rings which he had given
her. He laid them on the grass, and, as chance would have it, a black
raven flew past, picked up the rings and flew with them on to a tree.
Peter climbed up the tree to catch the bird; but, as he was just about
to seize it, the raven flew into another tree, and so from one tree to
another, and then over the sea, and let fall the rings into the water,
and itself lighted upon an island. Away ran Prince Peter after the
raven to the seashore, and looked about till he found a small fishing
boat to row to the island, but having no oars, he was obliged to
paddle along with his hands. On a sudden a violent wind arose, and
carried him out on to the open sea. When Peter saw that he was far
from land, he well-nigh despaired of being saved, and exclaimed, with
sighs and tears: "Alas! woe is me, the most miserable of men! Why did
I take the rings out of their place of safety? I have destroyed all my
joy; I have carried off the fair Princess, and left her forsaken in a
pathless wood. Wild beasts will tear her to pieces, or she will lose
her way and die of hunger. Murderer that I am, that have shed innocent
blood!" And with that he began to sink in the waves.

Now it happened that a ship from Turkey came sailing by, and when the
sailors saw a man sinking in the sea they picked him up and took him
half-dead on board their ship. Then they sailed on until they arrived
at the city of Alexandria, where they sold Peter to the Turkish Pasha.
But the Pasha sent Prince Peter as a present to the Sultan of Turkey,
who, when he saw his discreet behaviour, and handsome mien, made Peter
a great senator, and his uprightness and gracious behaviour won for
him the love of everyone.

When the Princess Magilene awoke from her sleep in the wood, she
looked around on all sides, but nowhere beheld Prince Peter: she wept
with grief and despair, and fell upon the ground. At length she
arose, went into the wood, and cried aloud with all her strength:
"Noble Prince Peter, whither are you gone?" And thus she wandered
about for a long time, and met a nun, and begged for her dark dress,
giving her in e