There was once on a time a King who had a great forest near his palace, full of all kinds of wild animals. One day he sent out a huntsman to shoot him a roe, but he did not come back. "Perhaps some accident has befallen him," said the King, and the next day he sent out two more huntsmen who were to search for him, but they too stayed away. Then on the third day, he sent for all his huntsmen, and said, "Scour the whole forest through, and do not give up until ye have found all three." But of these also, none came home again, and of the pack of hounds which they had taken with them, none were seen more. From that time forth, no one would any longer venture into the forest, and it lay there in deep stillness and solitude, and nothing was seen of it, but sometimes an eagle or a hawk flying over it. This lasted for many years, when a strange huntsman announced himself to the King as seeking a situation, and offered to go into the dangerous forest. The King, however, would not give his consent, and said, "It is not safe in there; I fear it would fare with thee no better than with the others, and thou wouldst never come out again." The huntsman replied, "Lord, I will venture it at my own risk, of fear I know nothing."
The huntsman therefore betook himself with his dog to the forest. It was not long before the dog fell in with some game on the way, and wanted to pursue it; but hardly had the dog run two steps when it stood before a deep pool, could go no farther, and a naked arm stretched itself out of the water, seized it, and drew it under, When the huntsman saw that, he went back and fetched three men to come with buckets and bale out the water. When they could see to the bottom there lay a wild man whose body was brown like rusty iron, and whose hair hung over his face down to his knees. They bound him with cords, and led him away to the castle. There was great astonishment over the wild man; the King, however, had him put in an iron cage in his court-yard, and forbade the door to be opened on pain of death, and the Queen herself was to take the key into her keeping. And from this time forth every one could again go into the forest with safety.
The huntsman therefore betook himself with his dog to the forest. It was not long before the dog fell in with some game on the way, and wanted to pursue it; but hardly had the dog run two steps when it stood before a deep pool, could go no farther, and a naked arm stretched itself out of the water, seized it, and drew it under, When the huntsman saw that, he went back and fetched three men to come with buckets and bale out the water. When they could see to the bottom there lay a wild man whose body was brown like rusty iron, and whose hair hung over his face down to his knees. They bound him with cords, and led him away to the castle. There was great astonishment over the wild man; the King, however, had him put in an iron cage in his court-yard, and forbade the door to be opened on pain of death, and the Queen herself was to take the key into her keeping. And from this time forth every one could again go into the forest with safety.
The King had a son of eight years, who was once playing in the court-yard, and while he was playing, his golden ball fell into the cage. The boy ran thither and said, "Give me my ball out." - "Not till thou hast opened the door for me," answered the man. "No," said the boy, "I will not do that; the King has forbidden it," and ran away. The next day he again went and asked for his ball; the wild man said, "Open my door," but the boy would not. On the third day the King had ridden out hunting, and the boy went once more and said, "I cannot open the door even if I wished, for I have not the key." Then the wild man said, "It lies under thy mother's pillow, thou canst get it there." The boy, who wanted to have his ball back, cast all thought to the winds, and brought the key. The door opened with difficulty, and the boy pinched his fingers. When it was open the wild man stepped out, gave him the golden ball, and hurried away. The boy had become afraid; he called and cried after him, "Oh, wild man, do not go away, or I shall be beaten!" The wild man turned back, took him up, set him on his shoulder, and went with hasty steps into the forest. When the King came home, he observed the empty cage, and asked the Queen how that had happened? She knew nothing about it, and sought the key, but it was gone. She called the boy, but no one answered. The King sent out people to seek for him in the fields, but they did not find him. Then he could easily guess what had happened, and much grief reigned in the royal court.
When the wild man had once more reached the dark forest, he took the boy down from his shoulder, and said to him, "Thou wilt never see thy father and mother again, but I will keep thee with me, for thou hast set me free, and I have compassion on thee. If thou dost all I bid thee, thou shalt fare well. Of treasure and gold have I enough, and more than anyone in the world." He made a bed of moss for the boy on which he slept, and the next morning the man took him to a well, and said, "Behold, the gold well is as bright and clear as crystal, thou shalt sit beside it, and take care that nothing falls into it, or it will be polluted. I will come every evening to see if thou hast obeyed my order." The boy placed himself by the margin of the well, and often saw a golden fish or a golden snake show itself therein, and took care that nothing fell in. As he was thus sitting, his finger hurt him so violently that he involuntarily put it in the water. He drew it quickly out again, but saw that it was quite gilded, and whatsoever pains he took to wash the gold off again, all was to no purpose. In the evening Iron John came back, looked at the boy, and said, "What has happened to the well?" - "Nothing, nothing," he answered, and held his finger behind his back, that the man might not see it. But he said, "Thou hast dipped thy finger into the water, this time it may pass, but take care thou dost not again let anything go in." By daybreak the boy was already sitting by the well and watching it. His finger hurt him again and he passed it over his head, and then unhappily a hair fell down into the well. He took it quickly out, but it was already quite gilded. Iron John came, and already knew what had happened. "Thou hast let a hair fall into the well," said he. "I will allow thee to watch by it once more, but if this happens for the third time then the well is polluted, and thou canst no longer remain with me."
On the third day, the boy sat by the well, and did not stir his finger, however much it hurt him. But the time was long to him, and he looked at the reflection of his face on the surface of the water. And as he still bent down more and more while he was doing so, and trying to look straight into the eyes, his long hair fell down from his shoulders into the water. He raised himself up quickly, but the whole of the hair of his head was already golden and shone like the sun. You may imagine how terrified the poor boy was! He took his pocket-handkerchief and tied it round his head, in order that the man might not see it. When he came he already knew everything, and said, "Take the handkerchief off." Then the golden hair streamed forth, and let the boy excuse himself as he might, it was of no use. "Thou hast not stood the trial, and canst stay here no longer. Go forth into the world, there thou wilt learn what poverty is. But as thou hast not a bad heart, and as I mean well by thee, there is one thing I will grant thee; if thou fallest into any difficulty, come to the forest and cry, "Iron John," and then I will come and help thee. My power is great, greater than thou thinkest, and I have gold and silver in abundance."
Then the King's son left the forest, and walked by beaten and unbeaten paths ever onwards until at length he reached a great city. There he looked for work, but could find none, and he had learnt nothing by which he could help himself. At length he went to the palace, and asked if they would take him in. The people about court did not at all know what use they could make of him, but they liked him, and told him to stay. At length the cook took him into his service, and said he might carry wood and water, and rake the cinders together. Once when it so happened that no one else was at hand, the cook ordered him to carry the food to the royal table, but as he did not like to let his golden hair be seen, he kept his little cap on. Such a thing as that had never yet come under the King's notice, and he said, "When thou comest to the royal table thou must take thy hat off." He answered, "Ah, Lord, I cannot; I have a bad sore place on my head." Then the King had the cook called before him and scolded him, and asked how he could take such a boy as that into his service; and that he was to turn him off at once. The cook, however, had pity on him, and exchanged him for the gardener's boy.
And now the boy had to plant and water the garden, hoe and dig, and bear the wind and bad weather. Once in summer when he was working alone in the garden, the day was so warm he took his little cap off that the air might cool him. As the sun shone on his hair it glittered and flashed so that the rays fell into the bed-room of the King's daughter, and up she sprang to see what that could be. Then she saw the boy, and cried to him, "Boy, bring me a wreath of flowers." He put his cap on with all haste, and gathered wild field-flowers and bound them together. When he was ascending the stairs with them, the gardener met him, and said, "How canst thou take the King's daughter a garland of such common flowers? Go quickly, and get another, and seek out the prettiest and rarest." - "Oh, no," replied the boy, "the wild ones have more scent, and will please her better." When he got into the room, the King's daughter said, "Take thy cap off, it is not seemly to keep it on in my presence." He again said, "I may not, I have a sore head." She, however, caught at his cap and pulled it off, and then his golden hair rolled down on his shoulders, and it was splendid to behold. He wanted to run out, but she held him by the arm, and gave him a handful of ducats. With these he departed, but he cared nothing for the gold pieces. He took them to the gardener, and said, "I present them to thy children, they can play with them." The following day the King's daughter again called to him that he was to bring her a wreath of field-flowers, and when he went in with it, she instantly snatched at his cap, and wanted to take it away from him, but he held it fast with both hands. She again gave him a handful of ducats, but he would not keep them, and gave them to the gardener for playthings for his children. On the third day things went just the same; she could not get his cap away from him, and he would not have her money.
Not long afterwards, the country was overrun by war. The King gathered together his people, and did not know whether or not he could offer any opposition to the enemy, who was superior in strength and had a mighty army. Then said the gardener's boy, "I am grown up, and will go to the wars also, only give me a horse." The others laughed, and said, "Seek one for thyself when we are gone, we will leave one behind us in the stable for thee." When they had gone forth, he went into the stable, and got the horse out; it was lame of one foot, and limped hobblety jig, hobblety jig; nevertheless he mounted it, and rode away to the dark forest. When he came to the outskirts, he called "Iron John," three times so loudly that it echoed through the trees. Thereupon the wild man appeared immediately, and said, "What dost thou desire?" - "I want a strong steed, for I am going to the wars." - "That thou shalt have, and still more than thou askest for." Then the wild man went back into the forest, and it was not long before a stable-boy came out of it, who led a horse that snorted with its nostrils, and could hardly be restrained, and behind them followed a great troop of soldiers entirely equipped in iron, and their swords flashed in the sun. The youth made over his three-legged horse to the stable-boy, mounted the other, and rode at the head of the soldiers. When he got near the battle-field a great part of the King's men had already fallen, and little was wanting to make the rest give way. Then the youth galloped thither with his iron soldiers, broke like a hurricane over the enemy, and beat down all who opposed him. They began to fly, but the youth pursued, and never stopped, until there was not a single man left. Instead, however, of returning to the King, he conducted his troop by bye-ways back to the forest, and called forth Iron John. "What dost thou desire?" asked the wild man. "Take back thy horse and thy troops, and give me my three-legged horse again." All that he asked was done, and soon he was riding on his three-legged horse. When the King returned to his palace, his daughter went to meet him, and wished him joy of his victory. "I am not the one who carried away the victory," said he, "but a stranger knight who came to my assistance with his soldiers." The daughter wanted to hear who the strange knight was, but the King did not know, and said, "He followed the enemy, and I did not see him again." She inquired of the gardener where his boy was, but he smiled, and said, "He has just come home on his three-legged horse, and the others have been mocking him, and crying, "Here comes our hobblety jig back again!" They asked, too, "Under what hedge hast thou been lying sleeping all the time?" He, however, said, "I did the best of all, and it would have gone badly without me." And then he was still more ridiculed."
The King said to his daughter, "I will proclaim a great feast that shall last for three days, and thou shalt throw a golden apple. Perhaps the unknown will come to it." When the feast was announced, the youth went out to the forest, and called Iron John. "What dost thou desire?" asked he. "That I may catch the King's daughter's golden apple." - "It is as safe as if thou hadst it already," said Iron John. "Thou shalt likewise have a suit of red armour for the occasion, and ride on a spirited chestnut-horse." When the day came, the youth galloped to the spot, took his place amongst the knights, and was recognized by no one. The King's daughter came forward, and threw a golden apple to the knights, but none of them caught it but he, only as soon as he had it he galloped away.
On the second day Iron John equipped him as a white knight, and gave him a white horse. Again he was the only one who caught the apple, and he did not linger an instant, but galloped off with it. The King grew angry, and said, "That is not allowed; he must appear before me and tell his name." He gave the order that if the knight who caught the apple, should go away again they should pursue him, and if he would not come back willingly, they were to cut him down and stab him.
On the third day, he received from Iron John a suit of black armour and a black horse, and again he caught the apple. But when he was riding off with it, the King's attendants pursued him, and one of them got so near him that he wounded the youth's leg with the point of his sword. The youth nevertheless escaped from them, but his horse leapt so violently that the helmet fell from the youth's head, and they could see that he had golden hair. They rode back and announced this to the King.
The following day the King's daughter asked the gardener about his boy. "He is at work in the garden; the queer creature has been at the festival too, and only came home yesterday evening; he has likewise shown my children three golden apples which he has won."
The King had him summoned into his presence, and he came and again had his little cap on his head. But the King's daughter went up to him and took it off, and then his golden hair fell down over his shoulders, and he was so handsome that all were amazed. "Art thou the knight who came every day to the festival, always in different colours, and who caught the three golden apples?" asked the King. "Yes," answered he, "and here the apples are," and he took them out of his pocket, and returned them to the King. "If you desire further proof, you may see the wound which your people gave me when they followed me. But I am likewise the knight who helped you to your victory over your enemies." - "If thou canst perform such deeds as that, thou art no gardener's boy; tell me, who is thy father?" - "My father is a mighty King, and gold have I in plenty as great as I require." - "I well see," said the King, "that I owe thanks to thee; can I do anything to please thee?" - "Yes," answered he, "that indeed you can. Give me your daughter to wife." The maiden laughed, and said, "He does not stand much on ceremony, but I have already seen by his golden hair that he was no gardener's boy," and then she went and kissed him. His father and mother came to the wedding, and were in great delight, for they had given up all hope of ever seeing their dear son again. And as they were sitting at the marriage-feast, the music suddenly stopped, the doors opened, and a stately King came in with a great retinue. He went up to the youth, embraced him and said, "I am Iron John, and was by enchantment a wild man, but thou hast set me free; all the treasures which I possess, shall be thy property."
Der var engang en konge, som havde en stor skov, hvori der var alle slags hjorte og rådyr. En dag, da en af jægerne var blevet sendt derind for at skyde et rådyr, kom han ikke tilbage. "Der er måske tilstødt ham en ulykke," sagde kongen og sendte næste dag to andre jægere derind for at lede efter ham, men de kom heller ikke tilbage. Da samlede han alle sine jægere og bød dem undersøge skoven på kryds og tværs for at finde de tre, men heller ingen af dem kom tilbage, og ikke en eneste af alle de hunde, de havde haft med sig, viste sig igen. Fra nu af turde ingen vove sig ind i skoven, og i mange år lå den øde og forladt, kun engang imellem fløj en ørn eller en høg henover den. Engang kom der en fremmed jæger til slottet og ville have tjeneste der, og han tilbød at gå ind i den farlige skov. Kongen ville imidlertid ikke give ham lov til det og sagde: "Der er ikke hyggeligt derinde. Jeg er bange for, det vil gå dig ligesom de andre, du kommer såmænd heller ikke ud igen." Men jægeren stod fast ved sin beslutning og sagde: "Jeg er ikke bange for noget."
Han gik altså ind i skoven med sin hund. Kort efter fik den færten af et dyr og ville løbe efter det, men da den havde løbet et par skridt, kom den til en dyb sø, og en lang, nøgen arm stak op af vandet, greb den og halede den ned i dybet. Da jægeren så det, gik han tilbage og hentede tre mænd, som skulle tage spande med og øse vandet bort. De så da, at der nede på bunden lå en stor mand, som var helt mørkebrun ligesom rustent jern, og hvis hår hang ned over ansigtet lige til knæene. De bandt ham og førte ham op på slottet, hvor der blev stor forundring, og kongen lod ham sætte i et jernbur ude i gården og forbød under dødsstraf nogen at åbne døren. Dronningen fik nøglen til buret. Fra nu af var der fredeligt i skoven, så man igen kunne færdes der.
Kongen havde en søn på otte år. En dag, da han løb ude i gården og spillede bold, faldt hans guldkugle ind i buret. Drengen løb derhen og sagde til manden, at han skulle kaste den ud til ham. "Ikke før du lukker døren op," svarede manden. "Det tør jeg ikke," sagde drengen, "kongen har forbudt det." Dagen efter kom han igen derned og bad om sin kugle. "Luk døren op," sagde den vilde mand. Drengen ville ikke, men den tredie dag, da kongen var på jagt, kom han igen og sagde: "Selv om jeg ville, kunne jeg dog ikke lukke op for dig, for jeg har jo ingen nøgle." - "Den ligger under din mors hovedpude," sagde manden. Drengen, der gerne ville have sin bold igen, rystede alle betænkeligheder af sig og hentede nøglen. Døren var svær at få op, og han klemte sine fingre dygtigt, men endelig lykkedes det. Manden gav ham bolden og gik af sted med lange skridt, men drengen råbte ængstelig: "Du må ikke gå, du må ikke gå, så får jeg prygl." Manden vendte om, satte drengen op på sine skuldre og gik hurtigt ind i skoven. Da kongen kom hjem og så, at buret var tomt, spurgte han dronningen, hvordan det var gået til. Hun vidste ikke noget om det, men nøglen var borte, og da hun kaldte på sin søn, var der ingen, der svarede. Kongen sendte nu folk ud for at lede efter ham, men de fandt ham ikke. De kunne nu omtrent tænke sig til, hvordan det var gået til, og var meget bedrøvede.
Da den vilde mand var kommet ud i skoven, satte han drengen ned på jorden igen og sagde: "Din far og mor ser du aldrig mere, men du har befriet mig og jeg har ondt af dig, så derfor skal du blive hos mig, og hvis du gør, hvad jeg siger, skal du få det godt. Jeg har mere guld og flere skatte end nogen anden i verden." Derpå redte han et leje af mos til drengen, som lagde sig derpå og faldt i søvn. Næste morgen vækkede han ham, gik med ham hen til en gylden brønd og sagde: "Se, vandet er rent og klart som krystal. Du skal holde vagt her og passe på, at der ikke falder noget ned i brønden, så den bliver uren. Hver aften kommer jeg og ser efter, om du har gjort, hvad du skulle." Drengen satte sig ved brønden og så, at der flere gange viste sig en guldfisk og også en gang en slange dernede og passede på, at der ikke faldt noget i vandet. Pludselig fik han så ondt i fingeren, at han uvilkårlig stak den ned i brønden. Da han tog den op, var den helt forgyldt, og hvormeget umage han end gjorde sig for at få guldet af, lykkedes det ikke. Om aftenen kom manden, som hed Jernhans, derhen, så på drengen og spurgte: "Hvad er der sket med brønden?" - "Ingenting," svarede drengen og holdt hånden på ryggen, men manden sagde: "Du har stukket fingeren ned i vandet. Denne gang skal jeg tilgive dig, men vogt dig for at være ulydig mere." Ganske tidlig næste morgen gik drengen ud til brønden igen. Hans finger gjorde ondt, og da han strøg sig med hånden henover hovedet, faldt uheldigvis et hår ned i vandet. Da Jernhans kom, vidste han allerede, hvad der var sket. "Du har tabt et hår i brønden," sagde han. "Denne gang endnu vil jeg lade nåde gå for ret, men sker det en gang til, er brønden uren, og du kan ikke blive længere hos mig." Den tredie dag sad drengen dernede uden at røre fingeren, hvor ondt den så gjorde. Men tiden faldt ham lang, og han bøjede sig ud over randen for at spejle sig. Til sidst bukkede han sig så langt ned, at hans lange hår faldt ned i vandet. Han rejste sig forfærdet op, men håret var allerede forgyldt og skinnede som en sol om hans hovede. Han tog sit lommetørklæde og bandt det om hovedet for at skjule det, men da manden kom om aftenen, vidste han allerede besked. "Tag det tørklæde af," sagde han, og da drengen gjorde det, vældede de gyldne krøller frem og alle hans undskyldninger hjalp intet. "Du har ikke bestået prøven," sagde Jernhans, "du kan ikke blive her længere. Gå ud i den vide verden, så skal du få at vide, hvad det er at være fattig. Men du har et rent hjerte, og jeg mener det alligevel godt med dig. Når du kommer i nød, behøver du blot at gå herud og råbe: "Jernhans," så kommer jeg og hjælper dig. Min magt er større, end du tror, og guld og sølv har jeg nok af."
Kongesønnen gik nu ud af skoven, over veje og marker, til han kom til en stor by. Der søgte han arbejde, men kunne ikke få noget, da han ingenting havde lært. Til sidst gik han op på slottet og spurgte, om han kunne få tjeneste der. De vidste ikke, hvad de skulle bruge ham til, men kunne godt lide ham, og lod ham blive. Endelig tog kokken ham i tjeneste og sagde, han kunne bære vand og brænde og feje asken sammen. En dag, da der ikke var nogen anden ved hånden, lod kokken ham bringe maden op til taflet, og da han ikke ville have, at nogen skulle se hans gyldne hår, beholdt han huen på. Det var kongen ikke vant til og sagde: "Duma virkelig ikke komme til taflet med hat på." - "Undskyld, herre," svarede han, "men jeg er nødt til det, for jeg har noget slemt udslæt i hovedet." Kongen blev vred og spurgte kokken, hvor det kunne falde ham ind at tage sådan en fyr i sin tjeneste, han skulle øjeblikkelig jages bort. Kokken havde imidlertid ondt af ham og lod ham bytte tjeneste med gartnerdrengen.
Han måtte nu plante og grave i haven i al slags vejr. En sommerdag, da han stod alene dernede, var det så varmt, at han tog sin hue af, for at vinden skulle køle hans pande lidt. Da solen skinnede på hans hår lyste og blinkede det, så strålerne trængte helt ind i kongedatterens sovekammer, og hun sprang op for at se, hvad det var. Hun fik da øje på drengen og råbte: "Bring mig en buket blomster, dreng." Han satte i en fart huen på og plukkede en mængde vilde blomster og bandt dem sammen. På trappen mødte han gartneren, som sagde: "Hvor kan det falde dig ind at bringe prinsessen sådanne tarvelige blomster. Skynd dig ned og pluk nogle af de sjældne, kostbare planter, der står ude i haven." - "Hun vil sikkert synes bedre om disse," svarede drengen, "vilde blomster dufter stærkest." Da han kom ind i værelset, sagde kongedatteren:" Tag hatten af. Det passer sig ikke, at du beholder den på i stuen." - "Jeg er nødt til det," svarede han, "for jeg har udslæt i hovedet." Prinsessen fik i en fart huen revet af ham, så de gyldne lokker faldt ned over hans skuldre. Han ville løbe sin vej, men hun holdt fast på ham og gav ham en håndfuld dukater. Kongesønnen brød sig ikke om guldet, men gav det til gartneren: "Her er noget, dine børn kan lege med," sagde han. Den næste dag bad kongedatteren ham igen om en buket markblomster, og da han kom ind i stuen ville hun rive huen af ham, men han holdt fast med begge hænder, og de guldstykker, hun gav ham, forærede han igen gartnerens børn. Den tredie dag gik det ligesådan. Hun kunne ikke få huen revet af ham, og han brød sig ikke om guldet.
Kort tid efter kom landet i krig. Kongen samlede hele folket, men tvivlede dog på, at han kunne stå sig mod fjenden, hvis hær var meget større. "Jeg vil også i krig," sagde gartnerdrengen, "jeg er stor nok dertil. Giv mig en hest." De andre lo af ham og sagde: "Vi skal nok lade en blive til dig. Når vi er draget af sted kan du gå ned i stalden og tage den." Da de var borte, gik drengen derned i stalden. Der stod ganske vist en hest, men den var lam på det ene ben og haltede. Han satte sig alligevel op på den og red af sted ud til den store skov. Der råbte han på Jernhans så højt, at det klang gennem skoven. Et øjeblik efter kom manden og spurgte, hvad han ville. "Jeg vil gerne have en stærk hest, for jeg skal i krig," svarede han. "Det skal du få og mere til," sagde Jernhans. Det varede ikke længe, så kom der en staldkarl ud af skoven med en dejlig hest, der prustede og fnyste og næsten ikke var til at styre. Bagefter ham kom en stor skare bevæbnede krigsfolk, hvis lanser lynede i solen. Kongesønnen gav staldkarlen den halte hest, steg op på den anden og red i spidsen for sine folk ud på kamppladsen. En stor del af kongens mænd var allerede dræbt, og resten kunne kun gøre ringe modstand. Da kom prinsen farende som en stormvind i spidsen for sin jernklædte skare og huggede ned for fode. Fjenden ville flygte, men de blev hugget ned, hver eneste en. I stedet for at vende tilbage til kongen red kongesønnen ud til skoven og kaldte på Jernhans, der spurgte hvad han ville. "Tag din hest og dine krigere igen," svarede han, "og giv mig min halte hest." Han fik, hvad han forlangte, og red så hjem til slottet på sin gamle krikke. Da kongen kom tilbage, gik hans datter ham i møde og ønskede ham til lykke med sejren. "Det er slet ikke mig, der er sejrherre," svarede, han, "men en fremmed ridder, som kom mig til hjælp med sine mænd." Hun ville vide, hvem det var, men kongen vidste det ikke og sagde: "Han fulgte fjenden, og jeg har ikke set ham siden." Hun gik da ned til gartneren og spurgte, hvor hans dreng var henne, og han sagde hende: "Han er lige kommet hjem fra krigen på sin halte hest" og de andre pegede fingre ad ham og råbte: "Hinkeben, bag hvad for en busk har du ligget og sovet?" Han svarede: "Hvis jeg ikke havde været, havde det set galt ud." Så lo de naturligvis endnu mere af ham.
Kongen kaldte nu på sin datter og sagde: "Jeg vil give en stor fest, som skal vare i tre dage. Du skal kaste guldæbler i grams, måske kommer den ubekendte ridder." Da det blev bekendtgjort, gik kongesønnen ud i skoven og kaldte på Jernhans, der kom og spurgte, hvad han ville. "Kan du hjælpe mig til at gribe kongedatterens guldæble?" spurgte han. "Du kan være lige så sikker derpå, som om du allerede havde det i hånden," svarede Jernhans. "Vent lidt, så skal jeg give dig en rød rustning og en prægtig fuks." Da festen begyndte, kom kongesønnen springende og holdt stille mellem de andre riddere. Ingen kendte ham. Kongedatteren trådte frem og kastede et guldæble over til dem. Han greb det og red straks af sted. Næste dag havde Jernhans givet ham en hvid rustning og en skimmel. Han greb atter æblet og red øjeblikkelig derfra. Kongen blev nu vred. "Han skal fremstille sig for mig og sige, hvem han er," sagde han og befalede, at når ridderen næste dag var redet derfra, skulle hans folk sætte efter ham, og hvis han ikke godvillig fulgte med tilbage, bruge magt. Den tredie dag gav Jernhans kongesønnen en sort rustning og en ravnsort hest, og han greb også denne dag kongedatterens æble og red af sted. Folkene satte efter ham, og en af dem kom så nær ved ham, at han sårede ham i benet med spidsen af sit sværd. Han undslap alligevel sine forfølgere, men på en gang gjorde hesten så voldsomt et sæt, at hjelmen faldt af hans hovede, så de kunne se det gyldne hår. De red da tilbage og fortalte det til kongen.
Næste dag gik kongedatteren ned til gartneren og spurgte, hvor hans dreng var henne. "Han arbejder ude i haven," svarede han. "Den løjerlige fyr har været med til festen og kom først hjem i går aftes og viste mine børn tre guldæbler, som han havde fået." Kongen lod gartnerdrengen kalde op til sig, og han kom ind med huen på. Men kongedatteren gik hen og tog den af, så de gyldne lokker faldt ned over skuldrene. Alle forbavsedes, da de så, hvor dejligt det var. "Er du den ridder, der har været ved festen, hver dag i en forskellig rustning, og har grebet guldæblerne?" spurgte kongen. "Ja," svarede han, "her er æblerne, og hvis I vil have endnu flere beviser, kan I se det sår, eders folk gav mig, da de forfulgte mig. Jeg er også den ridder, der sejrede over eders fjender." - "Du kan da ikke være nogen almindelig gartnerdreng, når du kan udføre sådanne heltegerninger," sagde kongen, "hvem er din far?" - "Han er en mægtig konge," svarede prinsen, "og guld og sølv kan jeg få lige så meget af, som jeg vil." - "Jeg er dig megen tak skyldig," sagde kongen, "er der ikke noget, jeg kan gøre for dig?" - "Jo," svarede han, "giv mig eders datter til kone." - "Han går lige løs på sagen," lo kongedatteren, "men jeg har for længe siden set på hans gyldne hår, at han ikke var nogen gartnerdreng." Derpå gik hun hen og kyssede ham. Der blev sendt bud til hans far og mor, som blev ude af sig selv af glæde, for de havde opgivet alt håb om at se deres kære søn igen. Midt under bryllupsfesten holdt musikken pludselig op med at spille, døren åbnedes og en prægtigklædt konge trådte ind med sit følge. "Jeg er Jernhans," sagde han, "jeg var forhekset til en vild mand, men du har frelst mig. Derfor skal du også arve alle mine skatte."