"with much difficulty i climbed to the summit, here stood the golden tree growing with silver roots in the ground. the wonders of that strange land are many, and if i began to tell you about them i could never stop. in spite of my wish to stay there long, on breaking off the branch i hurried back. with utmost speed it has taken me four hundred days to get back, and, as you see, my clothes are still damp from exposure on the long sea voyage. i have not even waited to change my raiment, so anxious was i to bring the branch to the princess quickly."