He knew at once that it was not an ordinary one , so he also went inside , and offered the purchaser far more than he had paid for it , so the latter sold it to him . The first thing the wizard now did was to lead the horse away to a smith to get a red-hot nail driven into its mouth , because after that it could not change its shape again . When the horse saw this it changed itself to a dove , and flew up into the air . The wizard at once changed himself into a hawk , and flew up after it . The dove now turned into a gold ring , and fell into a girl 's lap . The hawk now turned into a man , and offered the girl a great sum of money for the gold ring , but she would not part with it , seeing that it had fallen down to her , as it were , from Heaven . However , the wizard kept on offering her more and more for it , until at last the gold ring grew frightened , and changed itself into a grain of barley , which fell on the ground . The man then turned into a hen , and began to search for the grain of barley , but this again changed itself to a pole-cat , and took off the hen 's head with a single snap . The wizard was now dead , the pole-cat put on human shape , and the youth afterwards married the girl , and from that time forward let all his magic arts alone . The Golden Lion Sicilianische Mahrchen . L. Gonzenbach . There was once a rich merchant who had three sons , and when they were grown up the eldest said to him , ` Father , I wish to travel and see the world . I pray you let me . ' So the father ordered a beautiful ship to be fitted up , and the young man sailed away in it . After some weeks the vessel cast anchor before a large town , and the merchant 's son went on shore . The first thing he saw was a large notice written on a board saying that if any man could find the king 's daughter within eight days he should have her to wife , but that if he tried and failed his head must be the forfeit . ` Well , ' thought the youth as he read this proclamation , ` that ought not to be a very difficult matter ; ' and he asked an audience of the king , and told him that he wished to seek for the princess . ` Certainly , ' replied the king . ` You have the whole palace to search in ; but remember , if you fail it will cost you your head . ' So saying , he commanded the doors to be thrown open , and food and drink to be set before the young man , who , after he had eaten , began to look for the princess .
But though he visited every corner and chest and cupboard , she was not XXXXX any of them , and after eight days he gave it up and his head was cut off .
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