But just now you must take a red silk thread and tie it round my little finger , so that you may be able to recognise me again , into whatever shape she turns me . ' The prince made haste to get the silk thread tied round her little white finger ; at the same moment the princess became a dove again and flew away , and immediately after that the old witch came home with her dough-trough on he back . ` Well , ' said she , ' I must say that you are clever at your work , and it is something , too , that such princely hands are not accustomed to . ' ` Since you are so well pleased with my work , said the prince , ` you will , no doubt , be willing to give me a little pleasure too , and give me something that I have taken a fancy to . ' ` Oh yes , indeed , ' said the old woman ; ` what is it that you want ? ' ' I want the princess here who is in the shape of a white dove , ' said the prince . ` What nonsense ! ' said the witch . ` Why should you imagine that there are princesses here flying about in the shape of white doves ? But if you will have a princess , you can get one such as we have them . ' She then came to him , dragging a shaggy little grey ass with long ears . ` Will you have this ? ' said she ; ` you ca n't get any other princess ! ' The prince used his eyes and saw the red silk thread on one of the ass 's hoofs , so he said , ` Yes , just let me have it . ' ` What will you do with it ? ' asked the witch . ' I will ride on it , ' said the prince ; but with that the witch dragged it away again , and came back with an old , wrinkled , toothless hag , whose hands trembled with age . ` You can have no other princess , ' said she . ` Will you have her ? ' ` Yes , I will , ' said the prince , for he saw the red silk thread on the old woman 's finger .
At this the witch became so furious XXXXX she danced about and knocked everything to pieces that she could lay her hands upon , so that the splinters flew about the ears of the prince and princess , who now stood there in her own beautiful shape .
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