Ripe and rosy
cheeked, it was so beautiful to look upon, that all who saw it longed
for it; but it brought death to any who should eat it. When the apple
was ready, she painted her face, disguised herself as a peasant-woman,
and journeyed over the seven hills to where the seven dwarfs dwelt. At
the sound of the knock, Snowdrop put her head out of the window, and
said, "I cannot open the door to anybody, for the seven dwarfs have
forbidden me to do so."
"Very well," replied the peasant-woman; "I only want to be rid of my
apples. Here, I will give you one of them!"
"No!" said Snowdrop, "I dare not take it."
"Art thou afraid of being poisoned?" asked the old woman. "Look here;
I will cut the apple in two, and you shall eat the rosy side, and I
the white."
Now the fruit was so cunningly made, that only the rosy side was
poisoned. Snowdrop longed for the pretty apple; and when she saw the
peasant-woman eating it, she could resist no longer, but stretched out
her hand and took the poisoned half. She had scarcely tasted it, when
she fell lifeless to the ground.
The queen, laughing loudly, watched her with a barbarous look, and
cried, "O thou who art white as snow, red as blood, and black as
ebony, the seven dwarfs cannot awaken thee this time!"
And when she asked the mirror at home,
"Little glass upon the wall,
Who is fairest among us all?"
the mirror at last replied,
"Lady queen, so grand and tall,
You are the fairest of them all.
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