erandturnedintoalamb.Thesisterthereforefoundherselfalonewithelevenoxenandonelambtofeedeveryday.
Aprinceouthuntingwentastrayinthewoodsand,turningupatthegirlshouse,fellinlovewithher.Heaskedhertomarryhim,butsherepliedthatshehadtothinkofheroxenbrothersandcouldntpossiblyleavethem.Theprincetookhertohispalacealongwithallthebrothers.Thegirlbecamehisprincessbride,andtheelevenoxenandthelambwereputintoamarblebarnwithgoldmangers.
Butthewitchesinthewoodsdidnotgiveup.Onedaytheprincesswasstrollingunderthegrapearborwithherlambkinbrotherthatshealwayscarriedwithher,whenanoldwomanwalkeduptoher.
"Willyougivemeabunchofgrapes,mygoodprincess?"
"Yes,dearoldsoul,helpyourself."
"Icantreachupthathigh,pleasepickthemforme."
"Rightaway,"saidtheprincess,reachingupforabunch.
"Pickthatbunchthere,theyretheripest,"saidtheoldwoman,pointingtoabunchabovethecistern.
Toreachit,theprincesshadtostandontherimofthecistern.Theoldwomangaveherapush,andtheprincessfellin.Thelambstartedbleating,andbleatedallaroundthecistern,butnobodyunderstoodwhatitwasbleatingabout,nordidtheyheartheprincessmoaningdowninthewell.Meanwhilethewitchhadtakentheprincesssshapeandgotintoherbed.Whentheprincecamehome,heasked,"Whatareyoudoinginbed?"
"Imsick,"saidthefalseprincess."Ineedtoeatamorseloflamb.Slaughtermethatoneouttherethatwontstopbleating."
"Didntyoutellmesometimeago,"askedtheprince,"thatthelambwasyourbrother?Andyouwanttoeathimnow?"
Thewitchhadblunderedandwasatalossforwords.Theprince,sensingthatsomethingwasamiss,wentintothegardenandfollowedthelambthatwasbleatingsopitifully.Itapproachedthecistern,andtheprinceheardhiswifecalling.
"Whatareyoudoingatthebottomofthecistern?"heexclaimed."DidntIjustleaveyouinbed?"
"No,Ivebeendownhereeversincethismorning!Awitchthrewmein!"
Theprinceorderedhiswifepulledupatonce.Thewitchwascaughtandburnedatthestake.Whilethefireburned,theoxenandalsothelambslowlyturnedbackintofine,strappingyoungmen,andyoudhavethoughtthecastlehadbeeninvadedbyabandofgiants.Theywereallmadeprinces,whileIvestayedaspoorasoulasever.
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