They wandered forth to seek another country, but nowhere did they find a shelter, or a human being to give them a mouthful of bread, and their need was so great that they were forced to appease their hunger with nettles. When, after long journeying, they came into another country, they tried to get work everywhere, but wherever they knocked they were turned away, and no one would have pity on them. At last they arrived in a large city and went to the royal palace. There also they were ordered to go away, but at last the cook said that they might stay in the kitchen and be scullions.
The son of the king in whose kingdom they were, however, was the very man who had been betrothed to maid maleen. His father had chosen another bride for him, whose face was as ugly as her heart was wicked. The wedding was fixed, and the maiden had already arrived, but because of her great ugliness she shut herself in her room, and allowed no one to see her, and maid maleen had to take her her meals from the kitchen. When the day came for the bride and the bridegroom to go to church, she was ashamed of her ugliness, and afraid that if she showed herself in the streets, she would be mocked and laughed at by the people. Then said she to maid maleen, a great piece of luck has befallen you. I have sprained my foot, and cannot well walk through the streets, you shall put on wedding-clothes and take my place, a greater honor than that you cannot have. Maid maleen, however, refused it, and said, I wish for no honor which is not suitable for me. 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. Ihave 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, oh, nettle-plant, little nettle-plant, what dost thou here alone.
I have known the time when I ate thee unboiled when I ate thee unroasted.
What are you saying, asked the king's son. Nothing, she replied, I was only thinking of maid maleen. He was surprised that she knew about her, but kept silence. When they came to the foot-plank into the chuchyard, she said, foot-bridge, do not break, I am not the true bride.
What are you saying there, asked the the king's son. Nothing, she replied, 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 once more, church-door, break not, I am not the true bride.
What are you saying there asked he. Ah, she answered, I was only thinking of maid maleen. Then he took out a precious chain, put it round her neck, and fastened the clasp. Thereupon they entered the church, and the priest joined their hands together before the altar, and married them. He led her home, but she did not speak a single word the whole way. When they got back to the royal palace, she hurried into the bride's chamber, put off the magnificent clothes and the jewels, dressed herself in her gray gown, and kept nothing but the jewel on her neck, which she had received from the bridegroom.
When the night came, and the bride was to be led into the prince's apartment, she let her veil fall over her face, that he might not observe the deception. As soon as everyone had gone away, he said to her, what did you say to the nettle-plant which was growing by the wayside.
To which nettle-plant, asked she, I don't talk to nettle-plants.
If you did not do it, then you are not the true bride, said he.
So she bethought herself, and said, I must go out unto my maid who keeps my thoughts for me.
She went out and sought maid maleen. Girl, what have you been saying to the nettle. I said nothing but, oh, nettle-plant, little nettle-plant, what dost thou here alone.
I have known the time when I ate thee unboiled, when I ate thee unroasted.
The bride ran back into the chamber, and said, I know now what I said to the nettle, and she repeated the words which she had just heard. But what did you say to the foot-bridge when we went over it asked the king's son. To the foot-bridge, she answered.
I don't talk to foot-bridges. Then you are not the true bride.
She again said, I must go out unto my maid, who keeps my thoughts for me.
And ran out and scolded maid maleen, girl, what did you say to the foot-bridge.
I said nothing but, foot-bridge, do not break, I am not the true bride.
That costs you your life, cried the bride, but she hurried into the room and said, I know now what I said to the foot-bridge, and she repeated the words. But what did you say to the church-door. To the church-door, she replied, I don't talk to church-doors. Then you are not the true bride.
She went out and scolded maid maleen, and said, girl, what did you say to the church-door. I said nothing but, church-door, break not, I am not the true bride.
That will break your neck for you, cried the bride, and flew into a terrible passion, but she hastened back into the room, and said, I know now what I said to the church-door, and she repeated the words. But where have you the jewel which I gave you at the church-door. What jewel, she answered, you did not give me any jewel. I myself put it round your neck, and I myself fastened it, if you do not know that, you are not the true bride.
He drew the veil from her face, and when he saw her immeasurable ugliness, he sprang back terrified, and said, how do you come here.