Her former bridegroom rode over it a few days ago and heard her singing , but was no wiser than the rest . '' `` And he is to blame for all her misfortunes , '' added the magpie . `` If he heeds only the words of men she will remain a flower for ever . She were soon delivered were the matter only laid before the old wizard of Finland . '' After hearing this , the Prince wondered how he could get a message conveyed to Finland . He heard one swallow say to another : `` Come , let us fly to Finland ; we can build better nests there . '' `` Stop , kind friends ! '' cried the Prince . `` Will you do something for me ? '' The birds consented , and he said : `` Take a thousand greetings from me to the wizard of Finland , and ask him how I may restore a maiden transformed into a flower to her own form . '' The swallows flew away , and the Prince rode on to the bridge . There he waited , hoping to hear the song . But he heard nothing but the rushing of the water and the moaning of the wind , and , disappointed , rode home . Shortly after , he was sitting in the garden , thinking that the swallows must have forgotten his message , when he saw an eagle flying above him . The bird gradually descended until it perched on a tree close to the Prince and said : `` The wizard of Finland greets thee and bids me say that thou mayest free the maiden thus : Go to the river and smear thyself all over with mud ; then say : ` From a man into a crab , ' and thou wilt become a crab . Plunge boldly into the water , swim as close as thou canst to the water-lily 's roots , and loosen them from the mud and reeds . This done , fasten thy claws into the roots and rise with them to the surface . Let the water flow all over the flower , and drift with the current until thou comest to a mountain ash tree on the left bank . There is near it a large stone . Stop there and say : ` From a crab into a man , from a water-lily into a maiden , ' and ye both will be restored to your own forms . ''
Full of doubt and fear , the Prince let some time pass XXXXX he was bold enough to attempt to rescue the maiden .
If as before for in near of than that to