“Let me dissuade you,” said he, “from the undertaking, for it will be fruitless.”
“For it is a most wonderful labyrinth. It is full of every imaginable thing in the way of pit-falls and wild-eyed beasts, and it is impossible for any one to succeed. I say this, because a most formidable knight who had faced death in every conceivable form went on the quest a month ago and has not returned. Each day there is a herald sent forth to cry out whether any one has succeeded. A week ago—the last news I had—no one had been crowned. And no one ever will be.”
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_I enter the labyrinth and listen to the rules governing my progress therein. I meet a terrible lion which I overcome quite readily, as I likewise do other difficulties I encounter, especially a huge serpent which I gorge with an indigestible meal._
NOTWITHSTANDING what the hermit had said, I proceeded on my journey across the mountains. When I reached the highest peak I saw a square of white trees. This was of great extent, inclosing several hundred square miles of land, which was full of hills and rivers. I noticed the trees within the square were so closely set the ground was not visible from my position, and if I had passed over it in my airship I should have been none the wiser.
I observed, however, what I supposed to be an entrance on each of the four sides, and made my way to the nearest one.
As I was about to enter, I was accosted by a voice (the owner of which I could not discover, though I diligently sought to do so) which said:
“Enterest thou here as a suitor to the hand of the princess?”
“Thou dost speak with great truthfulness,” I made answer.
“Then harken thou to the following rules, each one of which must receive strict attention at your hands under penalty of death.
“First: If thou hast fought because of the princess, turn back at once.
“Second: Thou shalt seek to gain the secret chamber by no unfair means.
“Third: Thou shalt not speak aloud, unless bidden so to do by the princess herself.
“Fourth: Thou shalt not carry any weapon.
“Sixth: Thou shalt not pluck any leaf, blossom, twig, or limb that is alive.
“Seventh: Thou shalt not leave marks by the aid of which to retrace thy steps.