When Prince Peter arrived at the kingdom of Naples, he ordered a
skilful workman to make him a coat-of-mail and a helmet, and to fasten
to this two golden keys; then he rode to the tournament-lists, where
the King and his knights were assembled. There he gave his name as
Peter with the Golden Keys, and he placed himself behind the knights.
First rode forth Sir Andrei Skrintor, and against him appeared the son
of the King of England; and Andrei struck Henry so hard a blow that he
was well-nigh thrown from his horse; whereupon Landiot, the King's
son, rode out and overthrew Andrei Skrintor. When Prince Peter saw
this he rode at Landiot, and cried with a loud voice: "Long life and
happiness to their Majesties and the beautiful Princess Magilene!" and
he rode at Landiot so furiously that he threw both him and his steed
to the ground, and thrust the lance through his heart. Peter was
praised by the King for this exploit, and still more by the Princess
Magilene and all present, and he became the foremost of the King's
knights.
When the Princess Magilene beheld the valour and handsome appearance
of Prince Peter she fell in love with him, and resolved to be his
wife. She told her wish to her waiting-maid, and from that time
Prince Peter visited the beautiful King's daughter daily, and gave her
the three golden rings, in token of his love, and rode with her out of
the city.
And they rode off upon their goodly steeds, taking with them a
quantity of gold and silver, and they journeyed on and on the whole
night. Then Prince Peter came to an impenetrable forest, stretching
among the mountains as far as the seacoast, where they stopped to
rest; and the King's daughter threw herself on the grass, from
weariness, and fell asleep. But Prince Peter sat beside her and
watched her while she slept. Then he observed a knot in a golden
clasp, and unfastening it, he found the three rings which he had given
her. He laid them on the grass, and, as chance would have it, a black
raven flew past, picked up the rings and flew with them on to a tree.
Peter climbed up the tree to catch the bird; but, as he was just about
to seize it, the raven flew into another tree, and so from one tree to
another, and then over the sea, and let fall the rings into the water,
and itself lighted upon an island. Away ran Prince Peter after the
raven to the seashore, and looked about till he found a small fishing
boat to row to the island, but having no oars, he was obliged to
paddle along with his hands. On a sudden a violent wind arose, and
carried him out on to the open sea. When Peter saw that he was far
from land, he well-nigh despaired of being saved, and exclaimed, with
sighs and tears: "Alas! woe is me, the most miserable of men! Why did
I take the rings out of their place of safety? I have destroyed all my
joy; I have carried off the fair Princess, and left her forsaken in a
pathless wood. Wild beasts will tear her to pieces, or she will lose
her way and die of hunger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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