“Perhaps he would revive if I were to put him in that lovely cage,” thought the youth.
The moment the golden blackbird had touched the bars of the splendid cage he awoke and began to whistle, so that all the servants of the castle ran to see what was the matter, saying that he was a thief and must be put in prison.
“No,” he answered, “I am not a thief. If I have taken the golden blackbird, it is only that it may cure my father, who is ill, and I have traveled more than seven hundred miles in order to find it.”
“Well,” they replied, “we will let you go, and will even give you the golden blackbird if you are able to bring us the porcelain maiden.”
The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was munching wild thyme.
“What are you crying for, my friend?” asked the hare.
“It is because,” he answered, “the castle people will not allow me to carry off the golden blackbird without giving them the porcelain maiden in exchange.”
“You have not followed my advice,” said the little hare. “And you have put the golden blackbird into the fine cage.”
“Alas! yes!”
“Don’t despair. The porcelain maiden is a young girl, beautiful as Venus, who dwells two hundred miles from here. Jump on my back and I will take you there.”