把她要的水和糖端过来，她却说：“噢，我又不渴了，你喝了吧，小可怜！我得回到你父亲那里。你什么也不需要，是吧？那我走了。”说完就走了。
王后的马车刚一走远，公主就急切地翻起书来，王子变成了金丝雀，飞向窗台，箭一般落在垫子上。金丝雀当即疼得大叫起来，鲜血染红了黄色的羽毛，是垫子里的那几根针刺进了金丝雀的胸脯。它挣扎着抬起那对摇晃不稳的翅膀，借着风力，摇摆着飞下去，张着翅膀摔在地上。公主吓懵了，弄不清到底发生了什么事，急急忙忙向前翻着书页，希望金丝雀变回人身后，王子的伤痛能够消失。唉，变回人身后，只见他黄色猎装的胸前被刺破了几处很深的伤口，鲜血滴个不停，他只好仰卧在地上，他的那几只猎狗围在他的身旁。
猎狗的狂叫声引来了另外一些猎人，大家赶来救他，用一副树枝做的担架把他抬走了，王子甚至没有睁眼看一下他的恋人的窗口，而她正为王子的伤担惊受怕呢。
王子被带回王宫后，没向任何人透露受伤的经过，御医们也无法给他更多的帮助。他的伤口不仅没愈合，反而越发厉害。国王让人在所有的大街小巷都贴上布告，重金招募能治好王子伤病的人，结果无人敢应募。
这时，公主因为见不到心上人而焦虑万分。她把床单剪成细条，搓紧，然后系在一起，结成一根很长很长的绳子，趁着黑夜顺着绳子从高高的城堡塔尖上滑了下来。她顺着那条打猎的小路向前走着，但是到处是漆黑一片和狼的嗥叫声。公主想还是等早上天亮再走吧，就摸黑来到一株空心的老槐树下，钻进树洞里，曲着腿坐下，她累极了，很快就睡着了。她醒来的时候，天还黑着，可她隐约听到有口哨声，侧耳倾听，又听到一声，接着听到了第三声，第四声。而且她还远远看见有四支烛火在向她靠近。这是四个女巫，她们从世界的四个地方来，要聚在这棵树下碰面。公主躲在树里，没让她们发现，她从树干的缝隙中，看见四个老妇人每人手里都拿着根蜡烛，大呼小叫地笑着，问候着：“哈哈！哈哈！哈哈！”
她们在树下点起了一堆篝火，坐在旁边取暖，一边烤着几只蝙蝠当晚餐。当她们都饱了，就开始互相聊起各自遇上的新鲜事。
“我看见土耳其的苏丹了，他又买了二十个妻子了。”
“我看见中国的皇帝了，他的辫子已经长到三米长了。”
“我看见食人国的国王了，他一不留神，把自己的宠臣吃了。”
“我看见这附近的那个国王了，他的儿子病了，没有人能治好他，因为只有我知道那方法。”
“什么方法？”另外三个女巫问。
“在他的房间里，有一块活动的地砖，打开这块砖，就能找到一个细颈瓶，瓶里有一种药膏，可以愈合他所有的伤口。”
公主在树洞里惊喜得差点叫出声来，她赶快用手捂住自己的嘴，保持沉默。女巫们最后把自己要说的话都讲出来了，就各自上路回去了。公主从树洞里跳出来，趁着黎明的微光，朝城里走去。路过第一家旧货铺时，她买了一件医生穿的长袍和一副眼镜，然后来到王宫前敲开了门。仆人看到这个医生带的器具简陋，不想放她进去，国王却说：“反正，我儿子的病已经到了无可救药的地步了，再差的医术也不会伤害到我那可怜的儿子了，也让他试试吧。”假医生请求让她跟病人单独待一会，国王也同意了。
王子神志不清地躺在床上呻吟着，公主望着自己的心上人，很想大哭一场，也很想吻遍他全身，但是，她强忍住自己的感情，要赶快按照那个巫婆的秘诀救王子。她在宽大的房间里来来回回地走着，终于找到了一块活动的地砖，打开一看，里边有一个小瓶，装着药膏。公主把瓶里的药膏抹在王子的伤口上，她刚把涂着药膏的手指放到伤口上，伤口马上就愈合了。公主又惊又喜，去请国王进来。国王看见儿子的伤口全消失了，脸上也渐渐出现了血色，正躺在床上安静地睡着。
国王说：“医生，告诉我你想要什么，我领地上所有的财宝都可以给你。”
医生说：“我不想要钱，只要王子用的那块刻着族徽的盾牌，王子的战旗和他的那件被血染红的破了的黄色猎装。”她得到这三件东西后就离开了。
三天过后，王子又去打猎。他从那个森林中的城堡下经过的时候，连看都没往公主的窗口那边看。公主马上取来那本书，翻着书页，王子尽管全力抵抗，但也只能变成一只金丝雀。他飞到房间里，公主又让他变回人身。他说：“让我走，你用发针刺伤了我还不够吗？还想给我更多的痛苦？”确实，王子对公主已经没有任何爱慕之情了，他以为是公主造成了他的不幸。
公主差点昏过去，说：“是我救了你！是我给你治好了伤！”
王子却说：“假话，给我治伤的是一个外国医生，他不要任何酬谢，只带走了我的族徽、战旗和我的那件被血染红的猎装！”
“这是你的族徽，这是你的战旗，这是你的猎装！我就是那个医生！那些发针是我的那位残忍的继母放的！”
王子惊愕地望着公主的眼睛，觉得她从没像现在这样美丽过。他扑倒在公主的脚下，请求她的原谅，并表明了自己全部的感激之情和爱慕之意。
当天晚上，王子就禀告父王要娶森林中城堡上住的那位姑娘为妻。国王却说：“你只能娶国王或皇帝的女儿为妻。”
“我要娶曾经救过我命的姑娘。”
于是，王宫上下忙着准备婚礼，他们邀请了附近所有的国王和王后。公主的父亲也来参加了，他对女儿的事一无所知。当他看到新娘出现在自己面前时，惊呼道：“我的女儿！”
“怎么？我儿子的新娘是您的女儿？为什么您以前从没提过她？”新郎的父亲问。
新娘说：“因为他们根本没把我当人看待，我的继母把我关押起来。”她边说边用手指着那个王后。
国王听到女儿所有的不幸遭遇，对女儿他感到万分内疚，对狠心的妻子感到愤怒。他等不及回家就把王后抓了起来。婚礼在喜庆的气氛中举行，所有的人都感到欢乐、满足，只有那个恶妇在等待着悲惨的结局。
（都灵地区）
the canary prince
there was a king who had a daughter。 her mother was dead； and the stepmother was jealous of the girl and always spoke badly of her to the king。 the maiden defended herself as best as she could； but the stepmother was so contrary and insistent that the king； though he loved his daughter； finally gave in。 he told the queen to send the girl away； but to some place where she would be fortable； for he would never allow her to be mistreated。 〃have no fear of that；〃 said the stepmother； who then had the girl shut up in a castle in the heart of the forest。 to keep her pany； the queen selected a group of ladies…in…waiting； ordering them never to let the girl go out of the house or even to look out the windows。 naturally they received a salary worthy of a royal household。 the girl was given a beautiful room and all she wanted to eat and drink。 the only thing she couldnt do was go outdoors。 but the ladies； enjoying so much leisure time and money； thought only of themselves and paid no attention to her。
every now and then the king would ask his wife； 〃and how is our daughter？ what is she doing with herself these days？〃 to prove that she did take an interest in the girl； the queen called on her。 the minute she stepped from her carriage； the ladies…in…waiting all rushed out and told her not to worry； the girl was well and happy。 the queen went up to the girls room for a moment。 〃so youre fortable； are you？ you need nothing； do you？ youre looking well； i see； the country air is doing you good。 stay happy； now。 bye…bye； dear！〃 and off she went。 she informed the king she had never seen his daughter so content。
on the contrary； alwasy alone in the room； with ladies…in…waiting who didnt so much as look at her； the princess spent her days wistfully at the window。 she sat there leaning on the windowsill； and had she not thought to put a pillow under them； she would have got calluses on her elbows。 the window looked out on the forest； and all day long the princess saw nothing but treetops； clouds and； down below； the hunters trail。 over that trail one day came the son of a king in pursuit of a wild boar。 nearing the castle known to have been unoccupied for no telling how many years； he was amazed to see washing spread out on the battlements； smoke rising from the chimneys； and open casements。 as he looked about him； he noticed a beautiful maiden at one of the upper windows and smiled at her。 the maiden saw the prince too； dressed in yellow； with hunters leggings and gun； and smiling at her； so she smiled back at him。 for a whole hour； they smiled； bowed； and curtsied； being too far apart to municate in any other way。
the next day； under the pretext of going hunting； the kings son returned； dressed in yellow； and they stared at each other this time for two hours； in addition to smiles； bows； and curtsies； they put a hand over their hearts and waved handkerchiefs at great length。 the third day the prince stopped for three hours； and they blew each other kisses。 the fourth day he was there as usual； when from behind a tree a witch peeped and began to guffaw： 〃ho； ho； ho； ho！〃
〃who are you？ whats so funny？〃 snapped the prince。
〃whats so funny？ two lovers silly enought to stay so far apart！〃
〃would you know how to get any closer to her； ninny？〃 asked the prince。
〃i like you both；〃 said the witch； 〃and ill help you。〃
she knocked at the door and handed the ladies…in…waiting a big old book with yellow； smudgy pages； saying it was a gift to the princess so the young lady could pass the time reading。 the ladies took it to the girl； who opened it at once and read： 〃this is a magic book。 turn the pages forward； and the man bees a bird； turn them back； and the bird bees a man once more。〃
the girl ran to the window； placed the book on the sill； and turned the pages in great haste while watching the youth in yellow standing in the path。 moving his arms； he was soon flapping wings and changed into a canary； dressed in yellow as he was。 up he soared above the treetops and headed straight for the window； ing to rest on the cushioned sill。 the princess couldnt resist picking up the beautiful canary and kissing him； then remembering he was a young man； she blushed。 but on second thought she wasnt ashamed at all and made haste to turn him back into a youth。 she picked up the book and thumbed backward through it； the canary ruffled his yellow feathers； flapped his wings； then moved arms and was once more the youth dressed in yellow with the hunters leggings； who knelt before her； declaring； 〃i love you！〃
by the time they finished confessing all their love for one another； it was evening。 slowly； the princess leafed t