at haughty
bearing were obstacles in his path to success. Whenever he made love
to her, she turned aside, and listened instead to the thrilling tales
told by some wandering minstrel. The magician finally succumbed to the
infirmities of old age, his life made more burdensome by his repeated
disappointments. He left to the king three enchanted winged horses;
to the princess, two magic necklaces of exactly the same appearance,
of inimitable workmanship and of priceless worth. Not did the
magician fall to wreak vengeance on the cause of his death. Before
he expired, he locked Clotilde and the three magic horses in a high
tower inaccessible to any human being. She was to remain in this
enchanted prison until some man succeeded in setting her free.

Naturally, King Ludovico wanted to see his daughter before the hour
of his death, which was fast approaching. He offered large sums of
money, together with his crown and Clotilde's hand, to anybody who
could set her free. Hundreds of princes tried, but in vain. The stone
walls of the tower were of such a height, that very few birds, even,
could fly over them.

But a deliverer now rose from obscurity and came into prominence. This
man was an uneducated but persevering peasant named Juan. He
possessed a graceful form, herculean frame, good heart, and unrivalled
ingenuity. His two learned older brothers tried to scale the walls
of the tower, but fared no better than the others. At last Juan's
turn came. His parents and his older brothers expostulated with him
not to go, for what could a man unskilled in the fine arts do? But
Juan, in the hope of setting the princess free, paid no attention to
their advice. He took as many of the biggest nails as he could find,
a very long rope, and a strong hammer. As he lived in a town several
miles distant from the capital, he had to make the trip on horseback.

One day Juan set out with all his equipment. On the way he met his
disappointed second brother returning after a vain attempt. The
older brother tried in every way he could to divert Juan from his
purpose. Now, Juan's parents, actuated partly by a sense of shame if
he should fail, and partly by a deep-seated hatred, had poisoned his
food without his knowledge. When he felt hungry, he suspected them
of some evil intention: so before eating he gave his horse some of
his provisions. The poor creature died on the road amidst terrible
sufferings, and Juan was obliged to finish the journey on