Kletke . Once upon a time there was a Glass Mountain at the top of which stood a castle made of pure gold , and in front of the castle there grew an apple-tree on which there were golden apples . Anyone who picked an apple gained admittance into the golden castle , and there in a silver room sat an enchanted Princess of surpassing fairness and beauty . She was as rich too as she was beautiful , for the cellars of the castle were full of precious stones , and great chests of the finest gold stood round the walls of all the rooms . Many knights had come from afar to try their luck , but it was in vain they attempted to climb the mountain . In spite of having their horses shod with sharp nails , no one managed to get more than half-way up , and then they all fell back right down to the bottom of the steep slippery hill . Sometimes they broke an arm , sometimes a leg , and many a brave man had broken his neck even . The beautiful Princess sat at her window and watched the bold knights trying to reach her on their splendid horses . The sight of her always gave men fresh courage , and they flocked from the four quarters of the globe to attempt the work of rescuing her . But all in vain , and for seven years the Princess had sat now and waited for some one to scale the Glass Mountain . A heap of corpses both of riders and horses lay round the mountain , and many dying men lay groaning there unable to go any farther with their wounded limbs . The whole neighbourhood had the appearance of a vast churchyard . In three more days the seven years would be at an end , when a knight in golden armour and mounted on a spirited steed was seen making his way towards the fatal hill . Sticking his spurs into his horse he made a rush at the mountain , and got up half-way , then he calmly turned his horse 's head and came down again without a slip or stumble . The following day he started in the same way ; the horse trod on the glass as if it had been level earth , and sparks of fire flew from its hoofs . All the other knights gazed in astonishment , for he had almost gained the summit , and in another moment he would have reached the apple-tree ; but of a sudden a huge eagle rose up and spread its mighty wings , hitting as it did so the knight 's horse in the eye . The beast shied , opened its wide nostrils and tossed its mane , then rearing high up in the air , its hind feet slipped and it fell with its rider down the steep mountain side . Nothing was left of either of them except their bones , which rattled in the battered golden armour like dry peas in a pod . And now there was only one more day before the close of the seven years . Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy -- a merry , happy-hearted youth , but at the same time strong and well-grown .
He saw how many knights had broken their necks XXXXX vain , but undaunted he approached the steep mountain on foot and began the ascent .
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