"Thou must lend me thy aid, sir knight, if I am to subdue them; but thou hast not the heart for it." "Boaster, evil boaster!" answered the youth; "what dost thou ask of me ?" "Not much, sir knight; nothing at all for one who has strength and ardour of soul.

Thou needest only look at the sea steadily and keenly for one half-hour, without ever ceasing to wish with all thy might that it should foam and rage and swell, and never again rest till winter has laid its icy hold upon your mountains.

Then winter is enough to hinder Duke Menelaus from his voyage to Montfaucon.

And now give me a lock of your black hair, which is blowing so wildly about your head, like ravens' or vultures' wings." The youth drew his sharp dagger, madly cut off a lock of his hair, threw it to the strange being, and now gazed, as he desired, powerfully wishing, on the waves of the sea.

And softly, quite softly, did the waters stir themselves, as one whispers in troubled dreams who would gladly rest and cannot.