‘My Lady Queen, you are fair, ‘tis true,
But Snowdrop is fairer far than you.
Snowdrop, who dwells with the seven little men,
Is as fair as you, as fair again.’
When she heard this she became as pale as death, because she saw at once that Snowdrop must be alive again.
‘This time,’ she said to herself, ‘I will think of something that will make an end of her once and for all.’
And by the witchcraft which she understood so well she made a poisonous comb; then she dressed herself up and assumed the form of another old woman. So she went over the seven hills till she reached the house of the seven Dwarfs, and knocking at the door she called out:
‘Fine wares for sale.’
Snowdrop looked out of the window and said:
‘You must go away, for I may not let anyone in.’
‘But surely you are not forbidden to look out?’ said the old woman, and she held up the poisonous comb for her to see.
It pleased the girl so much that she let herself be taken in, and opened the door. When they had settled their bargain the old woman said:
‘Now I’ll comb your hair properly for you, for once in the way.’