There was once an old castle, that stood in the middle of a deepgloomy wood, and in the castle lived an old fairy. Now this fairy couldtake any shape she pleased. All the day long she flew about in the formof an owl, or crept about the country like a cat; but at night shealways became an old woman again. When any young man came within ahundred paces of her castle, he became quite fixed, and could not movea step till she came and set him free; which she would not do till hehad given her his word never to come there again: but when any prettymaiden came within that space she was changed into a bird, and the fairyput her into a cage, and hung her up in a chamber in the castle.There were seven hundred of these cages hanging in the castle, and allwith beautiful birds in them.
Now there was once a maiden whose name was Jorinda. She was prettierthan all the pretty girls that ever were seen before, and a shepherdlad, whose name was Jorindel, was very fond of her, and they were soonto be married. One day they went to walk in the wood, that theymight be alone; and Jorindel said, «We must take care that we don’t gotoo near to the fairy’s castle.» It was a beautiful evening; the lastrays of the setting sun shone bright through the long stems of thetrees upon the green underwood beneath, and the turtle-doves sang fromthe tall birches.
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