One is of gold , the other of hemp . Lead him by the hempen halter , or else the horse will begin to neigh , and will waken the guards . Then all is over with you . ' So Master Simpleton searched till he found the horse , and was struck dumb at its beauty . ` What ! ' he said to himself , ` put the hempen halter on an animal like that ? Not I , indeed ! ' Then the horse neighed loudly ; the guards seized our young friend and conducted him before their master . ' I will give you the golden horse , ' said he , ` if you will bring me in exchange a golden maiden who has never yet seen either sun or moon . ' ` But if I am to bring you the golden maiden you must lend me first the golden steed with which to seek for her . ' ` Ah , ' replied the owner of the golden horse , ` but who will undertake that you will ever come back ? ' ' I swear on the head of my father , ' answered the young man , ` that I will bring back either the maiden or the horse . ' And he went away to consult the fox . Now , the fox who was always patient and charitable to other people 's faults , led him to the entrance of a deep grotto , where stood a maiden all of gold , and beautiful as the day . He placed her on his horse and prepared to mount . -LSB- Illustration : LIMPING FOX ADVISES THE SIMPLETON TO KEEP THE GOLDEN GIRL HIMSELF -RSB- ` Are you not sorry , ' said the fox , ` to give such a lovely maiden in exchange for a horse ? Yet you are bound to do it , for you have sworn by the head of your father . But perhaps I could manage to take her place . ' So saying , the fox transformed himself into another golden maiden , so like the first that hardly anyone could tell the difference between them . The simpleton took her straight to the owner of the horse , who was enchanted with her .
And the young XXXXX got back his father 's vine and married the real golden maiden into the bargain .
animal anyone difference entrance fox man owner patient place simpleton