“Then you can’t go in,” said the soldier. And so loud a dispute arose that the king came himself; and when he heard what was the matter, he brought them in gladly, and made them sit down at table. Then the witch who was there told a wicked lie.
“These children,” said she, “have said that they can bring the Sound and Song of the Lovely Sibyl.” But they had not promised anything of the kind.
“Very well,” said the king, “let them come back with it here.”
So the hermit and the children went away, and the eldest boy set out.
“If I am not back in seven days,” said he, “you may know that something has happened to me.”
He rode on till he came to a hermit with a white beard sitting by the roadside.
“Where are you going?” asked this hermit.
“Well-bred people don’t put questions of that sort,” answered the prince and passed on.
After the seven days were gone the second brother determined to try his luck, as the first had not yet returned. He, too, met the hermit, received the same question, gave the same answer, and rode away.