there is but one woman that is worthy of being your wife , and that is she who is the fairest in the whole world . ' ` But where can I find her ? ' asked the king ` Oh , Ciccu will know , and he will bring her to you . ' Now the king had got so used to depending on Ciccu , that he really believed he could do everything . So he sent for him and said , ` Ciccu , unless within eight days you bring me the fairest in the whole world , I will have you hewn into a thousand pieces . ' This mission seemed to Ciccu a hundred times worse than either of the others , and with tears in his eyes he took his way to the stables . ` Cheer up , ' laughed the horse ; ` tell the king you must have some bread and honey , and a purse of gold , and leave the rest to me . ' Ciccu did as he was bid , and they started at a gallop . After they had ridden some way , they saw a swarm of bees lying on the ground , so hungry and weak that they were unable to fly . ` Get down , and give the poor things some honey , ' said the horse , and Ciccu dismounted . By-and-bye they came to a stream , on the bank of which was a fish , flapping feebly about in its efforts to reach the water . ` Jump down , and throw the fish into the water ; he will be useful to us , ' and Ciccu did so . Farther along the hillside they saw an eagle whose leg was caught in a snare . ` Go and free that eagle from the snare ; he will be useful to us ; ' and in a moment the eagle was soaring up into the sky . At length they came to the castle where the fairest in the world lived with her parents . Then said the horse , ` You must get down and sit upon that stone , for I must enter the castle alone . Directly you see me come tearing by with the princess on my back , jump up behind , and hold her tight , so that she does not escape you . If you fail to do this , we are both lost . ' Ciccu seated himself on the stone , and the horse went on to the courtyard of the castle , where he began to trot round in a graceful and elegant manner . Soon a crowd collected first to watch him and then to pat him , and the king and queen and princess came with the rest .
The eyes of the fairest XXXXX the world brightened as she looked , and she sprang on the horse 's saddle , crying , ` Oh , I really must ride him a little ! '
After At If So as for in into to with