When he arrived at the town, the whole town
assembled as to see a wondrous sight because he had come, whereas
previously no shepherd had been able to come from the lake. The next day
the prince got ready again, and went with his sheep straight to the
lake. But the emperor sent two grooms after him to go stealthily and see
what he did, and they placed themselves on a high hill whence they could
have a good view. When the shepherd arrived, he put the hounds and
bagpipes under the stump and the falcon upon it, then tucked up his hose
and sleeves waded into the lake and shouted: "Dragon, dragon! come out
to single combat with me, that we may measure ourselves once more
together, unless you are a woman!" The dragon replied: "I will do so,
prince, now, now!" Erelong, behold the dragon! it was large, it was
terrible, it was disgusting! And it seized him by the waist and wrestled
with him a summer's day till afternoon. But when the afternoon heat came
on, the dragon said: "Let me go, prince, that I may moisten my parched
head in the lake, and may toss you to the sky." The prince replied:
"Come, dragon, don't talk nonsense; if I had the emperor's daughter to
kiss me on the forehead, I would toss you still higher." Thereupon the
dragon suddenly left hold of him, and went off into the lake. When night
approached the prince drove the sheep as before, and went home playing
the bagpipes When he arrived at the town, the whole town was astir and
began to wonder because the shepherd came home every evening, which no
one had been able to do before.
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