When it
is time, run up and kiss me, and fear not." As he went and drove the
sheep, the shepherd was thoroughly cheery, and played a merry tune on
his bagpipes; but the damsel did nothing but weep as she went beside
him, and he several times left off playing and turned toward her: "Weep
not, golden one; fear nought." When they arrived at the lake, the sheep
immediately spread round it, and the prince placed the falcon on the
stump, and the hounds and bagpipes under it, then tucked up his hose and
sleeves, waded into the water, and shouted: "Dragon! dragon! Come out to
single combat with me; let us measure ourselves once more, unless you're
a woman!" The dragon replied: "I will, prince; now, now!" Erelong,
there was the dragon! it was huge, it was terrible, it was disgusting!
When it came out, they seized each other by the middle, and wrestled 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 toss you to the skies." 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 much higher." When he said this, the
emperor's daughter ran up and kissed him on the face, on the eye, and on
the forehead. Then he swung the dragon, and tossed it high into the air,
and when it fell to the ground it burst into pieces.
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