well, when the old shepherd told his daughter that she was to be prince lindworm's bride, she was utterly in despair. she went out into the woods, crying and wringing her hands and bewailing her hard fate. and while she wandered to and fro, an old witch-woman suddenly appeared out of a big hollow oak-tree, and asked her, "why do you look so doleful, pretty lass?" the shepherd-girl said, "it's no use my telling you, for nobody in the world can help me." "oh, you never know," said the old woman. "just you let me hear what your trouble is, and maybe i can put things right." "ah, how can you?" said the girl, "for i am to be married to the king's eldest son, who is a lindworm. he has already married two beautiful princesses, and devoured them: and he will eat me too! no wonder i am distressed."