They then went to the bed on which Hlini was lying, and moving the headboard, on which the runes were carved, to one side, out came two beautiful silver swans.
“Sing, my beautiful swans, sing, and waken Hlini,” cried the giantesses.
And as the swans, obeying, sang a lovely sweet song, the prince awoke.
The younger giantess then brought him a silver tray laden with delicious fruit and wine; but the prince would not touch anything.
“Will you marry me now?” then asked the giantess.
“No, no, and again no!” cried the prince.
“Then sing, sing, my beautiful swans, that Hlini may go to sleep again,” she called out angrily.
And as the swans raised their voices in a sad, plaintive melody, the prince fell back on the bed, and was soon in his magic sleep again.
The two sisters then lay down on the other couch with the silver-embroidered quilt.
In the morning they again wakened Hlini in the same manner, and offered him food, which, however, he angrily refused; whereupon the younger giantess again asked him if he would marry her; and when he refused, as before, the sisters put him to sleep by the song of the swans, and then left the cave, closing it as they went out.