A Criada Traidora

Era uma vez uma donzela que vivia presa numa torre alta. Apesar do cativeiro, havia um príncipe que a visitava todas as tardes. Ele chegava ao sopé da torre e chamava por ela, e ela deixava cair a sua longa trança pela janela para que o príncipe pudesse subir e conversar com ela. Assim passavam horas a falar, até que o sol se punha e o príncipe descia pela trança e partia.

Once there was a maiden who lived imprisoned in a tall tower. Despite her captivity, there was a prince who visited her every afternoon. He would arrive at the foot of the tower and call to her, and she would let her long braid fall from the window so that the prince could climb up and talk with her. They would spend hours talking until the sun set and the prince climbed back down the braid and departed.

Certo dia, uma bruxa passou por ali e viu o príncipe a subir pela trança. Voltou no dia seguinte mais cedo do que o príncipe costumava chegar e, imitando a voz dele com perfeição, chamou pela donzela. A donzela, sem desconfiar, deixou cair a trança como sempre fazia. A bruxa agarrou-a e subiu. Depois passou algum tempo a dar maus conselhos à donzela e a dizer-lhe que esquecesse o príncipe.

One day, a witch happened to pass by and saw the prince climbing up the braid. She returned the next day earlier than the prince usually came and, perfectly imitating his voice, called to the maiden. The maiden, unsuspecting, let down her braid as always. The witch grabbed hold of it and climbed up. She then spent some time giving the maiden bad advice and telling her to forget the prince.