No one knew that he was a prince; no fireside offered him welcome; no lips gave him a friendly greeting.

The scissors hung useless and rusting by his side.
One night as he lay in a deep forest, too unhappy to sleep, he heard a noise near at hand in the bushes.

By the light of the moon he saw that a ferocious wild beast had been caught in a hunter's snare, and was struggling to free itself from the heavy net.

His first thought was to slay the animal, for he had had no meat for many days.

Then he bethought himself that he had no weapon large enough.
While he stood gazing at the struggling beast, it turned to him with such a beseeching look in its wild eyes, that he was moved to pity.
"Thou shalt have thy liberty," he cried, "even though thou shouldst rend me in pieces the moment thou art free.