Then the Troll will come and beat thee , but thou shalt take the flask which is hanging on the wall , and anoint thyself wheresoever he has wounded thee , after which thou shalt be as well as before . Then lay hold of the sword which is hanging by the side of the flask , and smite the Troll dead . ' So he did what the Princess had told him . He walked straight in between the lions just as if he did not see them , and then into the small chamber , and lay down on the bed . The first night a Troll came with three heads and three rods , and beat the lad most unmercifully ; but he held out until the Troll was done with him , and then he took the flask and rubbed himself . Having done this , he grasped the sword and smote the Troll dead . In the morning when he went to the sea-shore the Princesses were out of the earth as far as their waists . The next night everything happened in the same way , but the Troll who came then had six heads and six rods , and he beat him much more severely than the first had done but when the lad went out of doors next morning , the Princesses were out of the earth as far as their knees . On the third night a Troll came who had nine heads and nine rods , and he struck the lad and flogged him so long , that at last he swooned away ; so the Troll took him up and flung him against the wall , and this made the flask of ointment fall down , and it splashed all over him , and he became as strong as ever again . Then , without loss of time , he grasped the sword and struck the Troll dead , and in the morning when he went out of the castle the Princesses were standing there entirely out of the earth . So he took the youngest for his Queen , and lived with her very happily for a long time . At last , however , he took a fancy to go home for a short time to see his parents . His Queen did not like this , but when his longing grew so great that he told her he must and would go , she said to him : ` One thing shalt thou promise me , and that is , to do what thy father bids thee , but not what thy mother bids thee , ' and this he promised . So she gave him a ring , which enabled him who wore it to obtain two wishes . He wished himself at home , and instantly found himself there ; but his parents were so amazed at the splendour of his apparel that their wonder never ceased . When he had been at home for some days his mother wanted him to go up to the palace , to show the King what a great man he had become . The father said , ` No ; he must not do that , for if he does we shall have no more delight in him this time ; ` but he spoke in vain , for the mother begged and prayed until at last he went . When he arrived there he was more splendid , both in raiment and in all else , than the other King , who did not like it , and said : ` Well , you can see what kind of Queen mine is , but I ca n't see yours . I do not believe you have such a pretty Queen as I have . ' ` Would to heaven she were standing here , and then you would be able to see ! '
said the young King , and XXXXX an instant she was standing there .
At So after as by for in than that until