“‘Wonderful Shuttle, weaving for me, Cover each shrub and cover each tree; Then, while my fairies dance and sing, Straight through the forest this brave knight bring!’
“Gradually great clouds of white formed everywhere. Their gauzy vapor thickened as they rolled away and enclosed the whole forest. Nothing could be seen but the wonderful little Lady of the Mist, and she stood shining and gleaming like silver in the centre of the ghostly shroud. At last, when all was snowy white, she stopped singing, and bade the knight follow her. Always through the thick veil he could see her shining bright and clear, and thus she conducted him through the dark forest. But the magician’s imps could not see a thing, and though Oswald heard them fighting and snarling, they did not trouble him again.
“At break of day, on the edge of a beautiful lake, she left him; but he was in full view of the magician’s elegant palace. The Lady of the Mist bade him remain in hiding until the sunset hour, and when the Princess came out to view his dead body (or the wicked magician’s skill in changing him into some animal), he must hold his gleaming sword in front of him, and boldly advance to her side. The White Lady of the Mist promised to aid him at the critical moment, and she would give him a sign to advance and rescue the Princess: it would be a veil of mist descending the mountain. He must not rush forward until the mist appeared, however, as she could not help him while the sun shone.
“The Prince promised faithfully to follow her instructions, though it was hard to wait all day. He walked around the lake, keeping well in the bushes, and finally hiding himself beneath the Princess’s balcony.
“The magician’s palace was truly magnificent, for it was built all of solid black ebony. It was very gloomy and terrible to look upon, but also very costly, Oswald could see. The great arches of ebony that upheld the balcony were inlaid with glittering gold and diamonds, so that the palace sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight. But a black palace was an unusual sight, and one felt at a glance that it was the abode of a magician. The floor of the balcony was inlaid with a border of splendid white pearls, and precious rugs lay on the floor. Costly jewels were scattered carelessly about in quantities, for the magician felt if he lost anything his magic could easily restore it. Enticing fruit gardens grew down to the borders of the lake, and handsome trees spread out their cool green branches. The place was so lovely it seemed a shame that such a wicked old magician should own it.