So saying , she sank down into the water again , leaving Charming greatly astonished at her politeness . Another day , as he journeyed on , he saw a raven in great distress . The poor bird was closely pursued by an eagle , which would soon have eaten it up , had not Charming quickly fitted an arrow to his bow and shot the eagle dead . The raven perched upon a tree very joyfully . `` Charming , '' said he , `` it was very generous of you to rescue a poor raven ; I am not ungrateful , some day I will repay you . '' Charming thought it was very nice of the raven to say so , and went on his way . Before the sun rose he found himself in a thick wood where it was too dark for him to see his path , and here he heard an owl crying as if it were in despair . `` Hark ! '' said he , `` that must be an owl in great trouble , I am sure it has gone into a snare '' ; and he began to hunt about , and presently found a great net which some bird-catchers had spread the night before . `` What a pity it is that men do nothing but torment and persecute poor creatures which never do them any harm ! '' said he , and he took out his knife and cut the cords of the net , and the owl flitted away into the darkness , but then turning , with one flicker of her wings , she came back to Charming and said : `` It does not need many words to tell you how great a service you have done me . I was caught ; in a few minutes the fowlers would have been here -- without your help I should have been killed . I am grateful , and one day I will repay you . '' These three adventures were the only ones of any consequence that befell Charming upon his journey , and he made all the haste he could to reach the palace of the Princess Goldilocks . When he arrived he thought everything he saw delightful and magnificent . Diamonds were as plentiful as pebbles , and the gold and silver , the beautiful dresses , the sweetmeats and pretty things that were everywhere quite amazed him ; he thought to himself : `` If the Princess consents to leave all this , and come with me to marry the King , he may think himself lucky ! '' Then he dressed himself carefully in rich brocade , with scarlet and white plumes , and threw a splendid embroidered scarf over his shoulder , and , looking as gay and as graceful as possible , he presented himself at the door of the palace , carrying in his arm a tiny pretty dog which he had bought on the way . The guards saluted him respectfully , and a messenger was sent to the Princess to announce the arrival of Charming as ambassador of her neighbor the King . `` Charming , '' said the Princess , `` the name promises well ; I have no doubt that he is good looking and fascinates everybody . '' `` Indeed he does , madam , '' said all her maids of honor in one breath .
`` We saw him from the window of the garret where we were spinning flax , and we could do nothing but look at him XXXXX long as he was in sight . ''
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