Then they set the coffin out upon the mountain and one of them always remained by it to watch.  And the birds came too and mourned for Snow-White, first a hare, then two owls, and lastly, two deer.

Now, for a long while Snow-White lay in the coffin and never changed, but looked as if she were asleep, for she was still as white as snow, with lips as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony.

It happened, however, that one day a king's son rode through the wood and up to the dwarfs' house, which was near it.  He saw on the mountain the coffin and beautiful Snow-White within it, and he read what was written in golden letters upon it.  Then he said to the dwarfs,  »Let me have the coffin, and I will give you whatever you like to ask for it.«  But the dwarfs told him that they could not part with it for all the gold in the world.  But he said,  »I beseech you to give it to me for I cannot live without looking upon Snow-White.  I will honour and respect her as my dearest.«  When he so spoke the good little dwarfs had pity upon him and gave him the coffin.

 

 

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