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her what she wanted for it； and she replied that it was not
for sale； either for gold or money； but that if she could get
leave to go to the Prince； and be with him during the
night； she should have it。 But when she went up to the
Prince's room he was again asleep； and； let her call him；
or shake him； or weep as she would； he still slept on； and
she could not put any life in him。 When daylight came in
the morning； the Princess with the long nose came too；
and once more drove her away。 When day had quite
come； the girl seated herself under the castle windows； to
spin with her golden spinning…wheel； and the Princess
with the long nose wanted to have that also。 So she
opened the window； and asked what she would take for
it。 The girl said what she had said on each of the former
occasionsthat it was not for sale either for gold or for
money； but if she could get leave to go to the Prince who
lived there； and be with him during the night； she should
have it。
〃Yes；〃 said the Princess； 〃I will gladly consent to that。〃
But in that place there were some Christian folk who
had been carried off； and they had been sitting in the
chamber which was next to that of the Prince； and had
heard how a woman had been in there who had wept and
called on him two nights running； and they told the
Prince of this。 So that evening； when the Princess came
once more with her sleeping…drink； he pretended to drink；
but threw it away behind him； for he suspected that it
was a sleeping…drink。 So； when the girl went into the
Prince's room this time he was awake； and she had to tell
him how she had come there。 〃You have come just in
time；〃 said the Prince； 〃for I should have been married
to…morrow； but I will not have the long…nosed Princess；
and you alone can save me。 I will say that I want to see
what my bride can do； and bid her wash the shirt which
has the three drops of tallow on it。 This she will consent
to do； for she does not know that it is you who let them
fall on it； but no one can wash them out but one born of
Christian folk： it cannot be done by one of a pack of
trolls； and then I will say that no one shall ever be my bride
but the woman who can do this； and I know that you
can。〃 There was great joy and gladness between them all
that night； but the next day； when the wedding was to
take place； the Prince said； 〃I must see what my bride
can do。〃 〃That you may do；〃 said the stepmother。
〃I have a fine shirt which I want to wear as my wedding
shirt； but three drops of tallow have got upon it which I
want to have washed off； and I have vowed to marry no
one but the woman who is able to do it。 If she cannot do
that； she is not worth having。〃
Well； that was a very small matter； they thought； and
agreed to do it。 The Princess with the long nose began
to wash as well as she could； but； the more she washed and
rubbed； the larger the spots grew。 〃Ah！ you can't wash
at all；〃 said the old troll…hag； who was her mother。 〃Give
it to me。〃 But she too had not had the shirt very long in
her hands before it looked worse still； and； the more she
washed it and rubbed it； the larger and blacker grew the
spots。
So the other trolls had to come and wash； but； the more
they did； the blacker and uglier grew the shirt； until at
length it was as black as if it had been up the chimney。
〃Oh；〃 cried the Prince； 〃not one of you is good for
anything at all！ There is a beggar…girl sitting outside the
window； and I'll be bound that she can wash better than
any of you！ Come in； you girl there！〃 he cried。 So she
came in。 〃Can you wash this shirt clean？〃 he cried。 〃Oh！
I don't know；〃 she said； 〃but I will try。〃 And no sooner
had she taken the shirt and dipped it in the water than
it was white as driven snow； and even whiter than that。
〃I will marry you；〃 said the Prince。
Then the old troll…hag flew into such a rage that she
burst； and the Princess with the long nose and all the
little trolls must have burst too； for they have never been
heard of since。 The Prince and his bride set free all the
Christian folk who were imprisoned there； and took away
with them all the gold and silver that they could carry；
and moved far away from the castle which lay east of the
sun and west of the moon。＇1＇
＇1＇ Asbjornsen and Moe。