earning your bread." So saying he mounted his horse, and went,
like a sheep that is led to the slaughter, to follow a boar. In the
meanwhile seven wicked women, with whom the Prince had been
acquainted, began to grow jealous; and being curious to pry into
the secret, they sent for a mason, and for a good sum of money got
him to make an underground passage from their house into the
Prince's chamber. Then these cunning jades went through the
passage in order to explore. But finding nothing, they opened the
window; and when they saw the beautiful myrtle standing there,
each of them plucked a leaf from it; but the youngest took off the
entire top, to which the little bell was hung; and the moment it was
touched the bell tinkled and the fairy, thinking it was the Prince,
immediately came out.

As soon as the wicked women saw this lovely creature they
fastened their talons on her, crying, "You are she who turns to your
own mill the stream of our hopes! You it is who have stolen the
favour of the Prince! But you are come to an end of your tricks, my
fine lady! You are nimble enough in running off, but you are
caught in your tricks this time, and if you escape, you were never
born."

So saying, they flew upon her, and instantly tore her in pieces, and
each of them took her part. But the youngest would not join in this
cruel act; and when she was invited by her sisters to do as they did,
she would take nothing but a lock of those golden hairs. So when
they had done they went quickly away by the passage through
which they had come.

Meanwhile the chamberlain came to make the bed and water the