On the morrow the king arose and questioned him, ‘What do you want here?’
‘I came, sire, to steal your silver horse, because that other king said to me that if I bring him your silver steed, he will give me his golden bird.’
‘Well, I will give it to you myself if you will accomplish this feat: Our third king has a daughter with locks of gold. If you will carry her off, and bring her to me, then I will give you my silver steed.’
‘Very well.’
He came back to his hare. ‘Why, then, won’t you do what I tell you?’ said the hare to him, and would have beaten him. ‘Come, then, with me, but do not get on my back. You will go to where this princess dwells; you will eat with her; you will drink with her; finally, you will sleep with her. Then I shall come during the night and carry you both away.’
Well, he came to where the princess lived. He ate, he [[187]]drank, and he slept with her. The hare got up during the night, and carried them both away. They set out, and by the time it was day they had gone a great distance.
‘Where am I?’ asked the princess.
The hare told her, ‘You will be the wife of this prince.’
She was quite content to have such a young and handsome husband.
Then said the foolish prince, ‘Well, we have already got the princess with the golden locks, but how are we going to manage to steal the silver steed and the golden bird?’