Golden Apples

Three times the prince receives armour,
a noble horse, from the wild man.
Three times he cups the gold apple
the princess throws, then gallops away.
The king's troops are outrun, but wound
their quarry, whose helmet falls off —
an inexplicable dazzle!
The king puzzles at the report.
In the garden, a limping gardener…
The princess runs to pluck off his hat.
What then? A gold finger at his heart,
the youth makes his fervent offer.