He looked around and saw before him a great city with many church-towers which shone so brightly that they fairly dazzled his eyes. He rode into the city, and was overcome with astonishment, for all around him was nothing but stone. Men, women, animals, everything he set his eyes upon was turned to stone, for this was an enchanted city. And the horse was a Vila, and had vanished from under him as soon as he had entered the precincts of the city.
Perhaps he himself would have remained the whole day upon the spot, as if turned to stone, had he not suddenly beheld before him a maiden with golden hair. When she saw him she uttered a cry and hastened up into the golden castle.
He followed close upon her footsteps, but before the castle-gate he met the same old woman who had given him the horse. He greeted her prettily and asked her what was all this about—the golden-haired maiden and the enchanted city. Hereupon the old dame told him the following story:
“Many, many years ago this city was the greatest and the most beautiful in the whole world. An Emperor lived here, who was so benevolent and such a lover of justice that whenever he heard that any one had done his neighbor a kindness he rewarded him so richly and with such distinction that he could live to his dying day in peace and happiness. On the other hand, he was unmercifully severe to evil-doers and caused every one who was guilty of any sort of crime to be put to death at once.
“For this reason some wicked men killed him and his only son. But as they were murdering the son they heard an awful voice, which said:
“‘Miserable wretches! you have killed him who was your benefactor and father. Be accursed, therefore, for a thousand years, until a youth shall come and loose you from this ban!’
“But the Emperor’s daughter, whom the Lord God had given to me, remained alive, for God said, ‘She shall be the reward of him who frees you.’ Meantime, however, she was turned to stone until the moment when you entered the city. Then she awoke, cried, ‘The Liberator is come!’ and brought the news to me. You yourself have seen her.”
So spoke the old dame, and, full of joy, the young man asked her what he was to do in order to loose the city from the spell. She answered:
“I can give you no counsel, but you will soon find that out above. And now, as you have no more need of me, farewell, in God’s name! But first I will tell you who I am. I am a Vila. If ever you should fall into any trouble, you have only to call, ‘Vila, stand by me!’ and you shall be helped.” She spoke, and was already gone.
The young man and the maiden were now in doubt as to what they ought to do. They would gladly have wedded each other, but where find a priest, or even any one else? So they went into a church to pray to God; and the maid said to the youth, “From this hour you are my husband and I am your wife till death. But go at least and set the bells a-ringing, that our nuptials may be celebrated in some way.”