Manyknightshadcomefromafartotrytheirluck，butitwasinvaintheyattemptedtoclimbthemountain。Inspiteofhavingtheirhorsesshodwithsharpnails，noonemanagedtogetmorethanhalf-wayup，andthentheyallfellbackrightdowntothebottomofthesteepslipperyhill。Sometimestheybrokeanarm，sometimesaleg，andmanyabravemanhadbrokenhisneckeven。
ThebeautifulPrincesssatatherwindowandwatchedtheboldknightstryingtoreachherontheirsplendidhorses。Thesightofheralwaysgavemenfreshcourage，andtheyflockedfromthefourquartersoftheglobetoattempttheworkofrescuingher。
Butallinvain，andforsevenyearsthePrincesshadsatnowandwaitedforsomeonetoscaletheGlassMountain。
Aheapofcorpsesbothofridersandhorseslayroundthemountain，andmanydyingmenlaygroaningthereunabletogoanyfartherwiththeirwoundedlimbs。Thewholeneighbourhoodhadtheappearanceofavastchurchyard。Inthreemoredaysthesevenyearswouldbeatanend，whenaknightingoldenarmourandmountedonaspiritedsteedwasseenmakinghiswaytowardsthefatalhill。
Stickinghisspursintohishorsehemadearushatthemountain，andgotuphalf-way，thenhecalmlyturnedhishorse’sheadandcamedownagainwithoutasliporstumble。Thefollowingdayhestartedinthesameway；thehorsetrodontheglassasifithadbeenlevelearth，andsparksoffireflewfromitshoofs。Alltheotherknightsgazedinastonishment，forhehadalmostgainedthesummit，andinanothermomenthewouldhavereachedtheapple-tree；butofasuddenahugeeagleroseupandspreaditsmightywings，hittingasitdidsotheknight’shorseintheeye。