So she went on her way, and after a time came to the thick thorny hedge, and seeing what she thought was a gap in it, she tried to pass through; but no sooner had she got well into the middle of the hedge than the thorns closed in around her so that she was all scratched and torn before she won her way. Thus, streaming with blood, she went on to the well, and seeing water, sate on the brink intending to cleanse herself. But just as she dipped her hands, up came a golden head singing as it came:
"Wash me, and comb me, lay me on the bank to dry
Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by."
"A likely story," says she. "I'm going to wash myself." And with that she gave the head such a bang with her bottle that it bobbed below the water. But it came up again, and so did a second head, singing as it came:
"Wash me, and comb me, lay me on the bank to dry
Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by."
"Not I," scoffs she. "I'm going to wash my hands and face and have my dinner." So she fetches the second head a cruel bang with the bottle, and both heads ducked down in the water.
But when they came up again all draggled and dripping, the third head came also, singing as it came:
"Wash me, and comb me, lay me on the bank to dry
Softly and prettily to watch the passers-by."
By this time the ugly princess had cleansed herself, and, seated on the primrose bank, had her mouth full of sugar and almonds.
"Not I," says she as well as she could. "I'm not a washerwoman nor a barber. So take that for your washing and combing."