On each side of the way the rows of flowers began to praise Petru , and to try and persuade him to pick some of them and make himself a wreath . ` Take me , for I am lovely , and can give strength to whoever plucks me , ' said one . ` No , take me , for whoever wears me in his hat will be loved by the most beautiful woman in the world , ' pleaded the second ; and then one after another bestirred itself , each more charming than the last , all promising , in soft sweet voices , wonderful things to Petru , if only he would pick them . Petru was not deaf to their persuasion , and was just stooping to pick one when the horse sprang to one side . ` Why do n't you stay still ? ' asked Petru roughly . ` Do not pick the flowers ; it will bring you bad luck ; answered the horse . ` Why should it do that ? ' ` These flowers are under a curse . Whoever plucks them must fight the Welwa -LRB- 1 -RRB- of the woods . ' -LRB- 1 -RRB- A goblin . ` What kind of a goblin is the Welwa ? ' ` Oh , do leave me in peace ! But listen . Look at the flowers as much as you like , but pick none , ' and the horse walked on slowly . Petru knew by experience that he would do well to attend to the horse 's advice , so he made a great effort and tore his mind away from the flowers . But in vain ! If a man is fated to be unlucky , unlucky he will be , whatever he may do ! The flowers went on beseeching him , and his heart grew ever weaker and weaker . ` What must come will come , ' said Petru at length ; ` at any rate I shall see the Welwa of the woods , what she is like , and which way I had best fight her .
If she is ordained to be the cause of my death , well , then it will be so ; but XXXXX not I shall conquer her though she were twelve hundred Welwas , ' and once more he stooped down to gather the flowers .
On after as at by if in of to under