There was once a King's son who, tired of home and fearing nothing, decided to explore the wide world. He journeyed until he reached a giant's house. Tired, he rested and saw the giant's enormous playthings: huge balls and nine-pins as tall as a man. He began playing with them merrily.
The giant heard the noise and looked out. "Little worm," he cried, "why are you playing with my things?" The Prince replied boldly, "Oh, blockhead! You think only you have strong arms? I can do anything I wish."
Impressed, the giant came down and said, "If you are so capable, fetch me an apple from the Tree of Life for my betrothed." The Prince agreed. The giant warned him of the dangers: a garden guarded by wild beasts and an apple protected by a magical ring. "That luck will be mine," said the Prince.
He traveled far and found the wondrous garden. The beasts were asleep. He stepped over them, climbed the fence, and saw the Tree of Life with shining red apples. He climbed, reached through the ring without difficulty, and picked an apple. Instantly, the ring tightened on his arm, filling him with prodigious strength. He left not by climbing but by forcing the great gate open with a single shake. A lion awoke and began following him humbly as its master.
The Prince delivered the apple to the giant. The giant's wise bride demanded to see the ring as proof. The giant returned, demanding the ring, but the Prince refused. They wrestled, but the ring's magic made the Prince stronger. The giant then tricked him into bathing to steal the ring. The loyal lion saw the theft, pursued the giant, and retrieved the ring. Enraged, the giant blinded the Prince while he dressed.
Blind and helpless, the Prince was led by the giant to a high precipice to be killed. The faithful lion held him back. Thwarted, the giant tried another path to the cliff's edge, but the lion pushed the giant to his death.
The lion guided its master to a clear brook. It sprinkled water on his face with its paws. A few drops wet his eye sockets, and his sight began to return. He saw a bird heal itself in the water and took it as a sign from God. He washed his face and regained his sight, brighter than ever.
Thanking God, the Prince traveled on with his lion. He came to an enchanted castle where a beautiful but black-skinned maiden stood at the gateway. She begged him to break the spell by enduring three nights of torment in the great hall without making a sound.
He entered bravely. At midnight, devils appeared, gambling and then tormenting him violently. He endured silently. At dawn, the maiden healed him with the Water of Life. He noticed her feet had turned white. The second night was worse, but he endured again. Her hands turned white. The third and final night was the worst torment yet, but he never cried out. At dawn, he was healed and found the maiden standing before him, now completely snow-white and fair.
"Rise," she said. "Swing your sword three times over the stairs." He did so, and the enchantment was broken. The maiden was revealed as a rich King's daughter. They celebrated with a feast, and their wedding was solemnized with great joy.