perceiving the illusion, and the strange mistake into which his
imagination had betrayed him, he could with difficulty refrain from
laughing. The white nodding figure he had seen became transformed,
in the twinkling of an eye, to what in reality it was, a small brook,
long and familiarly known to him, which ran foaming from the forest,
and discharged itself into the lake.

But what had caused the startling sound was a knight arrayed in
sumptuous apparel, who from under the shadows of the trees came
riding toward the cottage. His doublet was violet embroidered with
gold, and his scarlet cloak hung gracefully over it; on his cap of
burnished gold waved red and violet-coloured plumes; and in his
golden shoulder-belt flashed a sword, richly ornamented, and
extremely beautiful. The white barb that bore the knight was more
slenderly built than war-horses usually are, and he touched the turf
with a step so light and elastic that the green and flowery carpet
seemed hardly to receive the slightest injury from his tread. The
old fisherman, notwithstanding, did not feel perfectly secure in his
mind, although he was forced to believe that no evil could be feared
from an appearance so pleasing, and therefore, as good manners
dictated, he took off his hat on the knight's coming near, and
quietly remained by the side of his nets.

When the stranger stopped, and asked whether he, with his horse,
could have shelter and entertainment there for the night, the
fisherman returned answer: "As to your horse, fair sir, I have no
better stable for him than this shady meadow, and no better provender
than the grass that is growing here. But with respect to yourself,
you shall be welcome to our humble cottage, and to the best supper
and lodging we are able to give you."