The Mythology & Folklore Database
"Yes," said the snake, "you can get it, if you will come back to me and sit on my back."
The girl said yes to that, and then pushed the snake away from the jacket, then took it to her father. She came back immediately and sat down on the snake's back. It immediately ran off into the woods and kept running deeper into the woods.
When it had run a long time, it said: "Little girl, stand up on my back and see if you see anything!"
The girl stood up on its back and said: "I see something shining like clear silver."
"Yes, it is my mother's castle," said the snake. "We still have a long way to go."
The snake ran further into the woods, and then it said again: "Little girl, stand up on my back and see if you see anything!"
"Yes," said the girl, "I see something that shines like pure Gold."
"Yes, that is my father's castle," said the snake. "We still have a long way to go."
It went a long way further, and then said the third time: "Little girl, stand up on my back and see if you see anything!"
"Yes," said the girl, "now I see something that shines like a diamond."
"Yes, then we will be there right away," said the Snake.
It now ran until it came to a lovely castle. The snake lay down by the gate, and said to the girl: "Now stand up on my back and ring the bell! When the porter comes and asks what you want, then say that you want to enter into service at the castle, and he will probably welcome you."
The girl did as the snake said, and when the porter came and asked what she wanted, she said that she had come to seek work at the castle. He asked what she could do, and she replied that she could sweep the floor and carry water and help in the kitchen.
"Yes, she could gladly come in, for that is exactly what they needed," he said.
He followed her into the castle and showed her the room where she was to sleep. She then went down to the kitchen and helped with everything, and the people liked her because she was so helpful.
In the evening, when she was in her bedroom, she heard someone knocking on the door. She asked who it was.
"Well, it's me," said the snake. "It's cold out here, and I'm freezing. May I not come in and lie in your room?"
The girl thought it was a pity that it should lie out there and freeze, and so she let it in. But as soon as it had come in, it wanted to kiss her.
The girl held an apron between them, but it kissed her anyway. Immediately the most beautiful prince was standing there before her.
He thanked her for freeing him, and told her that he was a king's son, and that this was his own castle where they now were.
The prince and the girl now held their wedding with great joy. They then traveled first to his father and then to his mother, and from there to the little girl's parents, whom they brought to the castle, where they lived in joy and happiness.