Prevod

Once upon a time there was a king who had a son, and the son sought the hand of a mighty king’s daughter, whose name was Maid Maleen and who was exceedingly beautiful. But her father wished to give her to another, and so the prince was refused. As the two loved each other with all their hearts, however, they would not be parted, and Maid Maleen said to her father, “I cannot and will not take any other man for my husband.” Then her father flew into a rage and had a dark tower built, into which no ray of sun or moon could fall. When it was finished, he said, “There you shall sit for seven years. Then I will come and see whether your stubborn spirit has been broken.” Food and drink for seven years were carried into the tower; then she and her chambermaid were led inside and walled in, cut off from heaven and earth. There they sat in the darkness, never knowing when day or night began. The prince often walked around the tower and called her name, but no sound from outside could penetrate the thick walls. What could they do but weep and lament? Meanwhile, time passed, and as their food and drink dwindled, they knew that the seven years were drawing to an end. They thought the moment of their deliverance had come, but not a hammer blow was heard, and not a stone fell from the wall. It seemed as though her father had forgotten her. When they had only a little food left and saw a miserable death before them, Maid Maleen said, “We must make one last attempt and see whether we can break through the wall.” She took the bread knife and scraped and bored at the mortar around a stone, and when she grew tired, the chambermaid took her place. After much labour they managed to remove one stone, then a second and a third, and after three days the first ray of light fell into their darkness. At last the opening was large enough for them to look out. The sky was blue, and fresh air blew towards them, but what a sorrowful sight lay all around: her father’s castle stood in ruins, the town and villages had been burned as far as the eye could see, and the fields lay ravaged far and wide. Not a living soul was to be seen. When the opening in the wall was large enough for them to slip through, the chambermaid jumped down first, and Maid Maleen followed. But where were they to turn? Enemies had laid waste the whole kingdom, driven out the king, and slain all the inhabitants. They set off in search of another country, but nowhere could they find shelter or anyone to give them a morsel of bread, and their need was so great that they had to still their hunger with a clump of nettles. After a long journey they came to another country and offered their services everywhere, but wherever they knocked, they were turned away, and no one would take pity on them. At last they reached a great city and went to the royal court. There, too, they were told to move on, until finally the cook said they could stay in the kitchen and work as scullery maids.

Now the son of the king in whose country they found themselves was the very prince to whom Maid Maleen had been betrothed. His father had chosen another bride for him, who was as ugly in face as she was wicked at heart. The wedding day had been set, and the bride had already arrived, but because of her great ugliness she would let no one see her and shut herself away in her chamber. Maid Maleen had to bring her meals from the kitchen. When the day came for the bride to go to church with the bridegroom, she was ashamed of her ugliness and feared that if she appeared in the street, people would mock and laugh at her. So she said to Maid Maleen, “A great piece of good fortune awaits you. I have twisted my ankle and cannot easily walk through the streets. You shall put on my bridal clothes and take my place. No greater honour could be yours.” But Maid Maleen refused and said, “I desire no honour that is not rightfully mine.” It was no use offering her gold, either. At last the bride said angrily, “If you do not obey me, it will cost you your life. I need only say a word, and your head will be laid at your feet.” Then she had to obey and put on the bride’s splendid clothes and jewels. When she entered the royal hall, everyone marvelled at her great beauty, and the king said to his son, “This is the bride I have chosen for you, whom you are to lead to church.” The bridegroom was astonished and thought, “She looks like my Maid Maleen, and I would believe it was she herself, but she has long been imprisoned in the tower, or else she is dead.” He took her by the hand and led her to church. Beside the road stood a clump of nettles, and she said:

“Nettle, nettle, little and low, why do you stand alone here so? I knew a time when, in my need, on you, unboiled, unroasted, I would feed.” “What are you saying?” asked the prince. “Nothing,” she answered. “I was only thinking of Maid Maleen.” He wondered that she knew of her, but said nothing. When they came to the footbridge before the churchyard, she said:

“Churchyard bridge, do not break, for the true bride’s place I take.” “What are you saying?” asked the prince. “Nothing,” she answered. “I was only thinking of Maid Maleen.” “Do you know Maid Maleen?” “No,” she answered. “How should I know her? I have only heard of her.” When they came to the church door, she said again:

“Church door, do not break, for the true bride’s place I take.” “What are you saying?” he asked. “Oh,” she answered, “I was only thinking of Maid Maleen.” Then he brought out a precious necklace, placed it around her neck, and fastened the links of its chain together. They went into the church, and before the altar the priest joined their hands and married them. He led her back, but she spoke not a word all the way. When they reached the royal palace again, she hurried to the bride’s chamber, took off the splendid clothes and jewels, and put on her grey smock, keeping only the necklace the bridegroom had given her.

When night came and the bride was to be led into the prince’s room, she let her veil fall over her face so that he would not discover the deception. As soon as everyone had gone, he said to her, “What was it you said to the clump of nettles beside the road?” “What clump of nettles?” she asked. “I do not talk to nettles.” “If you did not, then you are not the true bride,” he said. So she found an excuse and said:

“I must go out to my maid, who keeps my thoughts for me.” She went out and snapped at Maid Maleen, “Girl, what did you say to the clump of nettles?” “I said nothing but: Nettle, nettle, little and low, why do you stand alone here so?

I knew a time when, in my need, on you, unboiled, unroasted, I would feed.” The bride ran back into the room and said, “Now I remember what I said to the clump of nettles,” and repeated the words she had just heard. “But what did you say to the churchyard bridge as we crossed it?” asked the prince. “To the churchyard bridge?” she answered. “I do not talk to churchyard bridges.” “Then you are not the true bride.” Again she said:

“I must go out to my maid, who keeps my thoughts for me.” She ran out and snapped at Maid Maleen, “Girl, what did you say to the churchyard bridge?” “I said nothing but: Churchyard bridge, do not break, for the true bride’s place I take.”

“That will cost you your life!” cried the bride, but she hurried back into the room and said, “Now I remember what I said to the churchyard bridge,” and repeated the words. “But what did you say to the church door?” “To the church door?” she answered. “I do not talk to church doors.” “Then you are not the true bride.” She went out and snapped at Maid Maleen, “Girl, what did you say to the church door?” “I said nothing but: Church door, do not break, for the true bride’s place I take.”

“You shall lose your head for that!” cried the bride in a towering rage, but she hurried back into the room and said, “Now I remember what I said to the church door,” and repeated the words. “But where is the necklace I gave you at the church door?” “What necklace?” she answered. “You gave me no necklace.” “I put it around your neck myself and fastened it myself. If you do not know that, then you are not the true bride.” He drew the veil from her face, and when he saw her appalling ugliness, he sprang back in horror and said, “How did you come here? Who are you?” “I am your betrothed bride, but because I feared people would mock me if they saw me outside, I ordered the scullery maid to put on my clothes and go to church in my place.” “Where is the girl?” he said. “I want to see her. Go and bring her here.” She went out and told the servants that the scullery maid was an impostor, and that they were to take her down to the courtyard and cut off her head. The servants seized her and were about to drag her away, but she cried so loudly for help that the prince heard her voice, hurried out of his room, and ordered them to release the girl at once. Lights were brought, and he saw around her neck the gold necklace he had given her at the church door. “You are the true bride,” he said, “who went to church with me. Come with me to my chamber.” When they were alone, he said, “On the way to church you spoke of Maid Maleen, who was my betrothed bride. If I thought it possible, I would have to believe she stood before me, for you are like her in every way.” She answered, “I am Maid Maleen, who for your sake spent seven years imprisoned in darkness, suffered hunger and thirst, and lived so long in poverty and distress. But today the sun shines on me again. I was married to you in the church, and I am your lawful wife.” Then they kissed each other and were happy for the rest of their lives. The false bride had her head cut off as punishment.

The tower in which Maid Maleen had been imprisoned stood for a long time afterwards, and when the children passed it, they would sing: “Kling, klang, kloria, who sits within this tower here?

A king’s daughter sits inside, hidden from my sight. The wall will not break away, the stone will not give way. Little Hans in your coat so bright, come and follow me tonight.”