In the middle of this room , which was as large as a church , Petru saw the celebrated well that he had come so far to seek . It was a well just like other wells , and it seemed strange that the Fairy of the Dawn should have it in her own chamber ; yet anyone could tell it had been there for hundreds of years . And by the well slept the Fairy of the Dawn -- the Fairy of the Dawn -- herself ! And as Petru looked at her the magic flute dropped by his side , and he held his breath . Near the well was a table , on which stood bread made with does ' milk , and a flagon of wine . It was the bread of strength and the wine of youth , and Petru longed for them . He looked once at the bread and once at the wine , and then at the Fairy of the Dawn , still sleeping on her silken cushions . As he looked a mist came over his senses . The fairy opened her eyes slowly and looked at Petru , who lost his head still further ; but he just managed to remember his flute , and a few notes of it sent the Fairy to sleep again , and he kissed her thrice . Then he stooped and laid his golden wreath upon her forehead , ate a piece of the bread and drank a cupful of the wine of youth , and this he did three times over . Then he filled a flask with water from the well , and vanished swiftly . As he passed through the garden it seemed quite different from what it was before . The flowers were lovelier , the streams ran quicker , the sunbeams shone brighter , and the fairies seemed gayer . And all this had been caused by the three kisses Petru had given the Fairy of the Dawn . He passed everything safely by , and was soon seated in his saddle again . Faster than the wind , faster than thought , faster than longing , faster than hatred rode Petru . At length he dismounted , and , leaving his horses at the roadside , went on foot to the house of Venus . The goddess Venus knew that he was coming , and went to meet him , bearing with her white bread and red wine . ` Welcome back , my prince , ' said she . ` Good day , and many thanks , ' replied the young man , holding out the flask containing the magic water .
She received it with joy , and after a short rest Petru set forth , XXXXX he had no time to lose .
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