Similar thoughts passed through the knight's mind, and consequently he
did not attack it with his sword, but lifting a huge piece of granite
from the ground he hurled it at the monster's head. The creature only
sneezed, and passed its hand over its eyes as if to brush away a fly.
Then it looked round and, perceiving the knight, bellowed aloud, and
changed itself into a dragon spouting fire. Herr Wendelin rejoiced at
this, for his favourite pastime was to kill that sort of beast. He had
no sooner, however, plunged his good sword into a soft part of the
monster, and seen the blood flow from the wound, than his opponent
changed itself into a griffin, and raising itself from the ground swooped
upon him. His defence now became more difficult, as the evil spirit
continued to attack him in ever changing forms, but Sir Wendelin was no
coward, and knew well how to use his arm and sword. At length, however,
the knight began to feel that his strength was deserting him; his sword
seemed to grow heavier and heavier in his hand, and his legs felt as if
an hundredweight had been attached to them. His squire, noting his
fatigue, grew faint, and began to think the best thing for him would be
to ride off, for the fight was likely to end badly for his master. The
knight's knees were trembling under him, and as the monster, in the form
of a unicorn, charged against his shield he fell to the ground.

The creature shrank suddenly together and in the guise of a black, agile
rat shot towards him.

Sir Wendelin felt that he was losing consciousness, he heard faintly a
voice from the grotto where the lady was imprisoned calling to him: "The
ring, remember the ring!"

He was just able to turn with his thumb the ring on his little finger.
Immediately he felt himself lighter and freer than he had ever felt