Maid Maleen, however, refused it, and said, “I wish for no honor which is not suitable for me.”
THE PRINCE TOOK HER BY THE HAND AND LED HER TO CHURCH
It was in vain, too, that the Bride offered her gold. At last she said angrily, “If you do not obey me, it shall cost you your life. I have but to speak the word, and your head will lie at your feet.”
Then she was forced to obey, and put on the Bride’s magnificent clothes and all her jewels. When she entered the royal hall, every one was amazed at her great beauty, and the King said to his son, “This is the Bride whom I have chosen for you, and whom you must lead to church.”
The Bridegroom was astonished, and thought, “She is like my Maid Maleen, and I should believe that it was she herself, but she has long been shut up in the tower or dead.”
He took her by the hand and led her to church. On the way was a nettle-plant, and she said:
“Nettle-plant, Nettle-plant,
Nettle-plant so small!
What are you doing here,
Alone by the wall?
I have the time known,
When unroasted, unboiled,
I ate thee alone!”
“What are you saying?” asked the King’s Son.
“Nothing,” she replied, “I was only thinking of Maid Maleen.”