present those seven serpents who had committed the slaughter of
that sweet suckling-calf.

And as soon as they had done eating, the Prince asked all the
guests, one after another, what he deserved who had injured that
beautiful maiden--pointing to the fairy, who looked so lovely that
she shot hearts like a sprite and drew souls like a windlass.

Then all who sat at table, beginning with the King, said, one that
he deserved the gallows, another that he merited the wheel, a third
the pincers, a fourth to be thrown from a precipice; in short one
proposed this punishment and another that. At last it came to the
turn of the seven wicked women to speak, who, although they did
not much relish this conversation, yet, as the truth comes out when
the wine goes about, answered, that whoever had the heart basely
to touch only this quintessence of the charms of love deserved to
be buried alive in a dungeon.

"As you have pronounced this sentence with your own lips," said
the Prince, "you have yourselves judged the cause, you have
yourselves signed the decree. It remains for me to cause your order
to be executed, since it is you who with the heart of a negro, with
the cruelty of Medea, made a fritter of this beautiful head, and
chopped up these lovely limbs like sausage-meat. So quick, make
haste, lose not a moment! throw them this very instant into a large
dungeon, where they shall end their days miserably."

So this order was instantly carried into execution. The Prince
married the youngest sister of these wicked creatures to the
chamberlain, and gave her a good portion. And giving also to the