quick ! bring him back to me . ' The servants mounted their horses and rode after the Prince ; but as they did not know which road he had taken , they went all ways except the right one , and instead of bringing him back they returned themselves when it grew dark , with their horses worn out and covered with dust . III When Desire thought they could no longer catch him , he pulled his horse into a walk , like a prudent man who knows he has far to go . He travelled in this way for many weeks , passing by villages , towns , mountains , valleys , and plains , but always pushing south , where every day the sun seemed hotter and more brilliant . At last one day at sunset Desire felt the sun so warm , that he thought he must now be near the place of his dream . He was at that moment close to the corner of a wood where stood a little hut , before the door of which his horse stopped of his own accord . An old man with a white beard was sitting on the doorstep enjoying the fresh air . The Prince got down from his horse and asked leave to rest . ` Come in , my young friend , ' said the old man ; ` my house is not large , but it is big enough to hold a stranger . ' The traveller entered , and his host put before him a simple meal . When his hunger was satisfied the old man said to him : ` If I do not mistake , you come from far . May I ask where you are going ? ' ' I will tell you , ' answered Desire , ` though most likely you will laugh at me . I dreamed that in the land of the sun there was a wood full of orange trees , and that in one of the oranges I should find a beautiful princess who is to be my wife . It is she I am seeking . ' ` Why should I laugh ? ' asked the old man . ` Madness in youth is true wisdom . Go , young man , follow your dream , and if you do not find the happiness that you seek , at any rate you will have had the happiness of seeking it . '
IV The next day the Prince arose early and took leave XXXXX his host .
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