as her father wished to give her to another, the prince was rejected; but as they both loved each other with all their hearts, they would not give each other up, and maid maleen said to her father, "i can and will take no other for my husband." then the king flew into a passion, and ordered a dark tower to be built, into which no ray of sunlight or moonlight should enter. when it was finished, he said, "therein shalt thou be imprisoned for seven years, and then i will come and see if thy perverse spirit is broken." meat and drink for the seven years were carried into the tower, and then she and her waiting-woman were led into it and walled up, and thus cut off from the sky and from the earth. there they sat in the darkness, and knew not when day or night began. the king’s son often went round and round the tower, and called their names, but no sound from without pierced through the thick walls.