wanted to see the Troll, and Glibtongue walked so bent and bowed, his coat-tails were higher than his neck. But then the king caught sight of something glistening in the hair of Boots.
"What have you got there?" he said.
"Oh," said Boots, "nothing but the ring your daughter gave me when I freed her from the Troll."
And now it came out how it had all happened. Glibtongue begged and prayed for himself; but for all his trying and all his crying, there was no help for it; down he had to go into a pit full of snakes, and there he lay till he burst.
Then they put an end to the Troll; and then they began to be noisy and merry, and to drink and dance at the bridal of Boots, for now he was king of that company, and he got the youngest princess and half the kingdom.
And here I lay my tale upon a sledge,
And send it thee whose tongue hath sharper edge;
But if thy tongue in wit is not so fine,
Then shame on thee that throwest blame on mine.
