ut
the thread at once, they went and broke the passage here and there; so
that, when the unhappy girl threw the powder into the fire, to give the
signal to her husband, the Prince, who used always to come running in
furious haste, hurt himself in such a manner against the broken crystal
that it was truly a pitiable sight to see. And being unable to pass
further on he turned back all cut and slashed like a Dutchman's
breeches. Then he sent for all the doctors in the town; but as the
crystal was enchanted the wounds were mortal, and no human remedy
availed. When the King saw this, despairing of his son's condition, he
sent out a proclamation that whoever would cure the wounds of the
Prince--if a woman she should have him for a husband--if a man he
should have half his kingdom.

Now when Nella, who was pining away from the loss of the Prince, heard
this she dyed her face, disguised herself, and unknown to her sisters
she left home to go to see him before his death. But as by this time
the Sun's gilded ball with which he plays in the Fields of Heaven, was
running towards the west, night overtook her in a wood close to the
house of an ogre, where, in order to get out of the way of danger, she
climbed up into a tree. Meanwhile the ogre and his wife were sitting at
table with the windows open in order to enjoy the fresh air while they
ate; as soon as they had emptied their cups and put out the lamps they
began to chat of one thing and another, so that Nella, who was as near
to them as the mouth to the nose, heard every word they spoke.

Among other things the ogress said to her husband, "My pretty
Hairy-Hide, tell me what news; what do they say abroad in the world?"
And he answered, "Trust me, there is no hand's breadth clean;
everything's going topsy-turvy and awry." "But what is it?" replied his
wife. "Why I could tell pretty stories of all the confusion that is
going on," replied the ogre, "for one hears things that are enough to
drive one mad, such as buffoons rewarded with gifts, rogues esteemed,
cowards honoured, robbers protected, and honest men little thought of.
But, as these things only vex one, I will merely tell you what has
befallen the King's son. He had made a crystal path along which he used
to go to visit a pretty lass; but by some means or other, I know not
how, all the road has been broken; and as he was going along the
passage as usual, he has wounded himself in such a manner that before
he can stop the l