In a few days a magnificent wedding was celebrated , at which the rejoicings lasted four whole weeks , for all the neighbouring kings had met together to thank the man who had freed the world from their common enemy . But everyone forgot amid the general joy that they ought to have buried the Dragon 's monstrous body , for it began now to have such a bad smell that no one could live in the neighbourhood , and before long the whole air was poisoned , and a pestilence broke out which destroyed many hundreds of people . In this distress , the King 's son-in-law resolved to seek help once more from the Eastern magician , to whom he at once travelled through the air like a bird by the help of the ring . But there is a proverb which says that ill-gotten gains never prosper , and the Prince found that the stolen ring brought him ill-luck after all . The Witch-maiden had never rested night nor day until she had found out where the ring was . As soon as she had discovered by means of magical arts that the Prince in the form of a bird was on his way to the Eastern magician , she changed herself into an eagle and watched in the air until the bird she was waiting for came in sight , for she knew him at once by the ring which was hung round his neck by a ribbon . Then the eagle pounced upon the bird , and the moment she seized him in her talons she tore the ring from his neck before the man in bird 's shape had time to prevent her . Then the eagle flew down to the earth with her prey , and the two stood face to face once more in human form . ` Now , villain , you are in my power ! ' cried the Witch-maiden . ' I favoured you with my love , and you repaid me with treachery and theft . You stole my most precious jewel from me , and do you expect to live happily as the King 's son-in-law ? Now the tables are turned ; you are in my power , and I will be revenged on you for your crimes . ' ` Forgive me ! forgive me ! ' cried the Prince ; ' I know too well how deeply I have wronged you , and most heartily do I repent it . ' The maiden answered , ` Your prayers and your repentance come too late , and if I were to spare you everyone would think me a fool . You have doubly wronged me ; first you scorned my love , and then you stole my ring , and you must bear the punishment . ' With these words she put the ring upon her left thumb , lifted the young man with one hand , and walked away with him under her arm . This time she did not take him to a splendid palace , but to a deep cave in a rock , where there were chains hanging from the wall .
The XXXXX now chained the young man 's hands and feet so that he could not escape ; then she said in an angry voice , ` Here you shall remain chained up until you die .
air arm maiden neck power prayers smell thumb time villain