Then they went still farther out of the town, and drove their geese into the country. And when they had come to the meadow, she sat down and unbound her hair which was like pure gold. Conrad saw it and delighted in its brightness, and wanted to pluck out a few hairs. Then she said:
“Blow, blow, thou gentle Wind, I say,
Blow Conrad’s little hat away,
And make him chase it here and there,
Until I’ve braided all my hair,
And bound it up again.”
And there came such a violent wind that it blew Conrad’s hat far away across county, and he was forced to run after it.
When he came back she had finished combing her hair and was putting it up again and he could not get any of it. Then Conrad was angry, and would not speak to her. And thus they watched the geese until the evening, and then they went home.
THE HEAD ANSWERED, “ALAS! YOUNG QUEEN HOW ILL YOU FARE”
Next day when they were driving the geese out through the dark gateway, the maiden said:
“Alas, Falada, hanging there!”
Falada answered:
“Alas! young Queen, how ill you fare!
If this your tender Mother knew,
Her heart would surely break in two!”