Old Woman. Death, unhappy boy! It is death! Run! Run quickly! I will show you a path by which you may leave these woods unseen, undiscovered by anybody.
Prince. Bah, let the giants and fierce dragons come! Come monsters and hobgoblins! Raise up your walls of fire!
Old Woman. My son, don't talk nonsense! None of these things can be, nor have we need to fear them. But these men, these soulless wretches—they have sworn to rob you. They have seen that you have gold. They will kill you, as they have killed the others… Look! They are lighting the bonfire into which they mean to throw your body to burn it up, so that it will not be known. Then they will cast the ashes into the abyss, like those of other boys. I have helped them, oh, so often! I am a sinner… I was afraid—I was so poor! But I will not do it to-day. No! You are so young, so generous. You make me pity you, I want to save you. But don't delay. Fly! Fly, for your mother's sake! For you are too young yet to have another love on earth than mother!
Prince. No, I will not fly. I shall wait here for these men, be they men or monsters, and meet them without fear. Nothing can frighten me.
Old Woman. No, for my sake! Have pity upon me! See! if they return and I protect you, they will kill me, too. And they will kill me if they don't find you here! They will say that I have deceived them. But what difference does it make? I pity you.
Prince. No, I will not go. I know you only want to test my courage. No sacrifice can be too great to win the Princess's hand!
Old Woman. Ah, what madness! Poor boy! See! I am not a fairy, I am a poor old woman who has taken pity on you and wants to save you… Hark! They are com-
