In France there once lived a high-born Prince named Volchvan, with his
wife Petronida; and they had an only son named Peter. Now, Prince
Peter had in his youth a great inclination for knightly prowess and
deeds of war; and, when he came of age, he sighed after nothing so
much as chivalrous feats. But it happened that at this time a knight
named Ruiganduis arrived there from the kingdom of Naples, who,
observing Peter's bravery, said: "Prince Peter, there is a King in
Naples who has a beautiful daughter named Magilene, and this King
rewards richly all those knights who do battle in behalf of his
daughter."
Then Peter went to his father and mother and begged for their blessing
that he might travel to the kingdom of Naples to learn there knightly
feats, but especially to see the beauty of the King's daughter
Magilene. So they dismissed Prince Peter with great sorrow, exhorting
him to make friendship with good men only; then, giving him three
golden rings with precious stones and a gold chain, they dismissed him
in peace.
When Prince Peter arrived at the kingdom of Naples, he ordered a
skilful workman to make him a coat-of-mail and a helmet, and to fasten
to this two golden keys; then he rode to the tournament-lists, where
the King and his knights were assembled. There he gave his name as
Peter with the Golden Keys, and he placed himself behind the knights.
First rode forth Sir Andrei Skrintor, and against him appeared the son
of the King of England; and Andrei struck Henry so hard a blow that he
was well-nigh thrown from his horse; whereupon Landiot, the King's
son, rode out and overthrew Andrei Skrintor. When Prince Peter saw
this he rode at Landiot, and cried with a loud voice: "Long life and
happiness to their Majesties and the beautiful Princess Magilene!" and
he rode at Landiot so furiously that he threw both him and his steed
to the ground, and thrust the lance through his heart. Peter was
praised by the King for this exploit, and still more by the Princess
Magilene and all present, and he became the foremost of the King's
knights.
When the Princess Magilene beheld the valour and handsome appearance
of Prince Peter she fell in love with him, and resolved to be his
wife. She told her wish to her waiting-maid, and from that time
Prince Peter visited the beautiful King's daughter daily, and gave her
the three golden rings, in token of his love, and rode with her out of
the city.
And they rode off upon their goodly steeds, taking with them a
quantity of gold and silver, and they journeyed on and on the whole
night. Then Prince Peter came to an impenetrable forest, stretching
among the mountains as far as the seacoast, where they stopped to
rest; and the King's daughter threw herself on the grass, from
weariness, and fell asleep. But Prince Peter sat beside her and
watched her while she slept. Then he observed a knot in a golden
clasp, and unfastening it, he found the three rings which he had given
her. He laid them on the grass, and, as chance would have it, a black
raven flew past, picked up the rings and flew with them on to a tree.
Peter climbed up the tree to catch the bird; but, as he was just about
to seize it, the raven flew into another tree, and so from one tree to
another, and then over the sea, and let fall the rings into the water,
and itself lighted upon an island. Away ran Prince Peter after the
raven to the seashore, and looked about till he found a small fishing
boat to row to the island, but having no oars, he was obliged to
paddle along with his hands. On a sudden a violent wind arose, and
carried him out on to the open sea. When Peter saw that he was far
from land, he well-nigh despaired of being saved, and exclaimed, with
sighs and tears: "Alas! woe is me, the most miserable of men! Why did
I take the rings out of their place of safety? I have destroyed all my
joy; I have carried off the fair Princess, and left her forsaken in a
pathless wood. Wild beasts will tear her to pieces, or she will lose
her way and die of hunger. Murderer that I am, that have shed innocent
blood!" And with that he began to sink in the waves.
Now it happened that a ship from Turkey came sailing by, and when the
sailors saw a man sinking in the sea they picked him up and took him
half-dead on board their ship. Then they sailed on until they arrived
at the city of Alexandria, where they sold Peter to the Turkish Pasha.
But the Pasha sent Prince Peter as a present to the Sultan of Turkey,
who, when he saw his discreet behaviour, and handsome mien, made Peter
a great senator, and his uprightness and gracious behaviour won for
him the love of everyone.
When the Princess Magilene awoke from her sleep in the wood, she
looked around on all sides, but nowhere beheld Prince Peter: she wept
with grief and despair, and fell upon the ground. At length she
arose, went into the wood, and cried aloud with all her strength:
"Noble Prince Peter, whither are you gone?" And thus she wandered
about for a long time, and met a nun, and begged for her dark dress,
giving her in exchange her light-coloured one. At length she came to a
harbour, where she hired a ship from the country in which Peter's
father lived. There she dwelt with a noble lady named Susanna; she
chose a spot among the mountains for a harbour, and built a convent,
to which she gave the name of Saint Peter and Paul, and established an
hospital for the reception of strangers. Thus Magilene became
celebrated by her piety and goodness. Then came Peter's father and
mother to visit her, and brought her three rings, saying their cook
had bought a fish, inside which these rings were found; but, as they
had given them to their son Peter, they feared that he had been
drowned at sea, and they wept bitterly.
After Prince Peter had lived for a long time at the Court of the
Turkish Sultan, he expressed a wish to travel to his native country.
So the Sultan dismissed him with great presents, giving him much gold
and silver and costly jewels. Then Peter hired a French ship, bought
fourteen casks, put at the bottom of them some salt, then laid over
this gold and silver, and on this more salt, and told the sailors that
the casks contained only salt. He sailed with a favourable wind to his
native country, and anchored at an island, not far from the country of
France, for Prince Peter suffered from sea sickness. Then he wandered
about on the shore, and lost his way in the island; he lay down and
fell fast asleep. The sailors sought for him everywhere for a long
time, calling him by name; but not finding him, they went on their
way. At length they came to the convent, and there deposited the casks
of salt; and once when there was a want of salt in the convent,
Magilene ordered the casks to be opened and found in them innumerable
treasures.
Prince Peter was found by some other sailors upon the island, and
carried to this convent, where he was placed in Magilene's hospital
and there he remained for more than a month, but did not recognize
Magilene, for her face was concealed by a black veil. And Peter wept
every day.
One day Magilene came to the hospital, saw Peter weeping, and asked
him the cause of his tears; and he related to her exactly all his
adventures. Then Magilene knew him again, and sent to inform his
father Volchvan and his mother, Petronida, that their son was safe
and well. Soon came the father and mother to the convent, and the
King's daughter received them attired in princely robes. When Prince
Peter saw his parents he fell at their feet, embraced them, and wept,
and they wept with him. But Prince Peter stood up, took them by the
hands, kissed them, and said: "My lord and father, and you my mother,
this maiden is the daughter of the great King of Naples, to sue for
whom I wandered so far." Then they were married, and lived happily
ever after.