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Straparola also deals with the same theme (“Les Facétieuses nuits,” Paris, 1857, I Nacht, 4 Fabel, I. S., 58 ft., cited by Rittershaus). A prince wishes to marry his daughter. On the advice of a nurse she hides in a cupboard which is sold and is taken from the palace and finally comes into possession of the king of England who then marries her. There she is discovered by the father. He disguises himself as an astrologer and comes to the court. Here he kills his two grandchildren and trys by means of a bloody knife which he hides near the queen to attach suspicion to his daughter. For this she is to die a slow death. Her old nurse learns of her misfortune, arrives upon the scene and discloses the misdeeds of her father.
The “Peasant Daughter Helga” (Rittershaus, XL), a beautiful maiden, received an awl from her dying mother which could say “yes” when charged to. When one evening her father wished to compel her to come to bed with him, she pretended, that she must look after the fire. When she was outside she stuck the awl in the wall and charged it to say “yes.” Now she herself ran out into the dark night.
The further development of the fairy tale, however, takes a different course than those previously related.
Towards morning she had penetrated deep into the forest to a neat little house. The owner was named Herraudur and asked her to stay with him. After a while Helga became pregnant. In the sequel Herraudur was ensnared and bewitched by a sorceress