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RAPUNZEL
ONCE upon a time there lived a man and his wife who were very
unhappy because they had no children。 These good people
had a little window at the back of their house； which looked into
the most lovely garden； full of all manner of beautiful flowers and
vegetables； but the garden was surrounded by a high wall； and no
one dared to enter it； for it belonged to a witch of great power； who
was feared by the whole world。 One day the woman stood at the
window overlooking the garden； and saw there a bed full of the
finest rampion： the leaves looked so fresh and green that she longed
to eat them。 The desire grew day by day； and just because she
knew she couldn't possibly get any； she pined away and became
quite pale and wretched。 Then her husband grew alarmed and
said：
‘What ails you； dear wife？'
‘Oh；' she answered； ‘if I don't get some rampion to eat out of
the garden behind the house； I know I shall die。'
The man； who loved her dearly； thought to himself； ‘Come！ rather
than let your wife die you shall fetch her some rampion； no matter
the cost。' So at dusk he climbed over the wall into the witch's
garden； and； hastily gathering a handful of rampion leaves； he
returned with them to his wife。 She made them into a salad； which
tasted so good that her longing for the forbidden food was greater
than ever。 If she were to know any peace of mind； there was
nothing for it but that her husband should climb over the garden
wall again； and fetch her some more。 So at dusk over he got；
but when he reached the other side he drew back in terror； for
there； standing before him； was the old witch。
‘How dare you；' she said； with a wrathful glance； ‘climb into
my garden and steal my rampion like a common thief？ You shall
suffer for your foolhardiness。'
‘Oh！' he implored； ‘pardon my presumption； necessity alone
drove me to the deed。 My wife saw your rampion from her window；
and conceived such a desire for it that she would certainly have
died if her wish had not been gratified。' Then the Witch's anger
was a little appeased； and she said：
‘If it's as you say； you may take as much rampion away with
you as you like； but on one condition onlythat you give me the
child your wife will shortly bring into the world。 All shall go well
with it； and I will look after it like a mother。'
The man in his terror agreed to everything she asked； and as soon
as the child was born the Witch appeared； and having given it the
name of Rapunzel； which is the same as rampion； she carried it off
with her。
Rapunzel was the most beautiful child under the sun。 When
she was twelve years old the Witch shut her up in a tower； in the
middle of a great wood； and the tower had neither stairs nor doors；
only high up at the very top a small window。 When the old Witch
wanted to get in she stood underneath and called out：
‘Rapunzel； Rapunzel；
Let down your golden hair；'
for Rapunzel had wonderful long hair； and it was as fine as spun
gold。 Whenever she heard the Witch's voice she unloosed her
plaits； and let her hair fall down out of the window about twenty
yards below； and the old Witch climbed up by it。
After they had lived like this for a few years； it happened one
day that a Prince was riding through the wood and passed by the
tower。 As he drew near it he heard someone singing so sweetly
that he stood still spell…bound； and listened。 It was Rapunzel in
her loneliness trying to while away the time by letting her sweet voice
ring out into the wood。 The Prince longed to see the owner of the
voice； but he sought in vain for a door in the tower。 He rode home；
but he was so haunted by the song he had heard that he returned
every day to the wood and listened。 One day； when he was standing
thus behind a tree； he saw the old Witch approach and heard
her call out：
‘Rapunzel； Rapunzel；
Let down your golden hair。'
Then Rapunzel let down her plaits； and the Witch climbed up by them。
‘So that's the staircase； is it？' said the Prince。 ‘Then I too will
climb it and try my luck。'
So on the following day； at dusk； he went to the foot of the tower
and cried：
‘Rapunzel； Rapunzel；
Let down your golden hair；'
and as soon as she had let it down the Prince climbed up。
At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man came in； for she had
never seen one before； but the Prince spoke to her so kindly； and told her
at once that his heart had been so touched by her singing； that he felt
he should know no peace of mind till he had seen her。 Very soon Rapunzel
forgot her fear； and when he asked her to marry him she consented at once。
‘For；' she thought； ‘he is young and handsome； and I'll certainly be happier
with him than with the old Witch。' So she put her hand in his and said：
‘Yes； I will gladly go with you； only how am I to get down out of the tower？
Every time you come to see me you must bring a skein of silk with you；
and I will make a ladder of them； and when it is finished I will climb down
by it； and you will take me away on your horse。'
They arranged that till the ladder was ready； he was to come to her
every evening； because the old woman was with her during the day。
The old Witch； of course； knew nothing of what was going on；
till one day Rapunzel； not thinking of what she was about；
turned to the Witch and said：
‘How is it； good mother； that you are so much harder to pull
up than the young Prince？ He is always with me in a moment。'
‘Oh！ you wicked child；' cried the Witch。 ‘What is this I hear？ I
thought I had hidden you safely from the whole world； and in spite
of it you have managed to deceive me。'
In her wrath she seized Rapunzel's beautiful hair； wound it
round and round her left hand； and then grasping a pair of scissors
in her right； snip snap； off it came； and the beautiful plaits lay on
the ground。 And； worse than this； she was so hard…hearted that
she took Rapunzel to a lonely desert place； and there left her to
live in loneliness and misery。
But on the evening of the day in which she had driven poor
Rapunzel away； the Witch fastened the plaits on to a hook in the
window； and when the Prince came and called out：
‘Rapunzel； Rapunzel；
Let down your golden hair；'
she let them down； and the Prince climbed up as usual； but instead
of his beloved Rapunzel he found the old Witch； who fixed her evil；
glittering eyes on him； and cried mockingly：
‘Ah； ah！ you thought to find your lady love； but the pretty bird
has flown and its song is dumb； the cat caught it； and will scratch
out your eyes too。 Rapunzel is lost to you for everyou will never
see her more。'
The Prince was beside himself with grief； and in his despair he
jumped right down from the tower； and； though he escaped with his
life； the thorns among which he fell pierced his eyes out。 Then he
wandered； blind and miserable； through the wood； eating nothing
but roots and berries； and weeping and lamenting the loss of his
lovely bride。 So he wandered about for some years； as wretched
and unhappy as he could well be； and at last he came to the desert
place where Rapunzel was living。 Of a sudden he heard a voice
which seemed strangely familiar to him。 He walked eagerly in
the direction of the sound； and when he was quite close； Rapunzel
recognised him and fell on his neck and wept。 But two of her
tears touched his eyes； and in a moment they became quite clear
again； and he saw as well as he had ever done。 Then he led her to
his kingdom； where they were received and welcomed with great
joy； and they lived happily ever after。＇23＇
＇23＇ Grimm。