And as he promised he did. The giant’s daughter was at his side in a twinkling, and she said: “To-morrow thou wilt get the choice of my two sisters to marry; but say thou that thou wilt not take either, but me. My father wants me to marry the son of the King of the Green City, but I don’t like him.” On the morrow the giant took out his three daughters, and he said: “Now, son of the King of Tethertown, thou hast not lost by living with me so long. Thou wilt get to wife one of the two eldest of my daughters, and with her leave to go home with her the day after the wedding.”
“If thou wilt give me this pretty little one,” says the king’s son, “I will take thee at thy word.”
The giant’s wrath kindled, and he said: “Before thou gett’st her thou must do the three things that I ask thee to do.” “Say on,” says the king’s son. The giant took him to the byre. “Now,” says the giant, “the dung of a hundred cattle is here, and it has not been cleansed for seven years. I am going from home to-day, and if this byre is not cleaned before night comes, so clean that a golden apple will run from end to end of it, not only thou shalt not get my daughter, but ’tis a drink of thy blood that will quench my thirst this night.” He begins cleaning the byre, but it was just as well to keep baling the great ocean. After midday, when sweat was blinding him, the giant’s young daughter came where he was, and she said to him: “Thou art being punished, king’s son.” “I am that,” says the king’s son. “Come over,” says she, “and lay down thy weariness.” “I will do that,” says he, “there is but death awaiting me, at any rate.” He sat down near her. He was so tired that he fell asleep beside her. When he awoke, the giant’s daughter was not to be seen, but the byre was so well cleaned that a golden apple would run from end to end of it. In comes the giant, and he said: “Thou hast cleaned the byre, king’s son?” “I have cleaned it,” says he. “Somebody
