The Prince suddenly remembered the gold-spinners , and said to himself : `` If I ride thither , who knows but that they could explain this to me ? '' He at once rode to the hut , and found the two maidens at the fountain . He told them what had befallen their sister the year before , and how he had twice heard a strange song , but yet could see no singer . They said that the yellow water-lily could be none other than their sister , who was not dead , but transformed by the magic ball . Before he went to bed , the eldest made a cake of magic herbs , which she gave him to eat . In the night he dreamed that he was living in the forest and could understand all that the birds said to each other . Next morning he told this to the maidens , and they said that the charmed cake had caused it , and advised him to listen well to the birds , and see what they could tell him , and when he had recovered his bride they begged him to return and deliver them from their wretched bondage . Having promised this , he joyfully returned home , and as he was riding through the forest he could perfectly understand all that the birds said . He heard a thrush say to a magpie : `` How stupid men are ! they can not understand the simplest thing . It is now quite a year since the maiden was transformed into a water-lily , and , though she sings so sadly that anyone going over the bridge must hear her , yet no one comes to her aid . 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 XXXXX Finland , and ask him how I may restore a maiden transformed into a flower to her own form . ''
After If before for from into of since that through