Frau Trude (Grimm)
Division into chapters is editorial.
The girls forbidden curiosity about Frau Trude
A young girl lived with her parents, but she possessed a troublesome nature that would ultimately lead to her doom.
There was once a little girl who was obstinate and inquisitive, and when her parents told her to do anything, she did not obey them, so how could she fare well?
One day, the girl approached her parents with a dangerous request. She had heard many stories about a mysterious woman named Frau Trude and became consumed with curiosity about her. The girl told her parents that she was determined to visit this woman, explaining her fascination with the strange tales she had heard.
People say that everything about her does look so strange, and that there are such odd things in her house, that I have become quite curious!
Her parents were horrified by this request and absolutely forbade her from going. They warned her sternly about the danger, telling her that Frau Trude was evil and threatening to disown her if she disobeyed.
Frightening encounters on the way to the witch
Despite her parents' prohibition and dire warnings, the stubborn girl refused to be deterred. Her curiosity proved stronger than her obedience, and she secretly made her way to Frau Trude's dwelling. The journey to the witch's house filled her with terror as she encountered a series of frightening figures along the way.
When she finally arrived at Frau Trude's house, the girl was pale with fear and trembling from what she had witnessed. Frau Trude immediately noticed her terrified state and questioned her about it. The girl described the horrifying encounters she had experienced on her journey to the witch's dwelling.
First, she had seen a black man on Frau Trude's steps, which the witch calmly explained was merely a collier.
Then she had encountered a green man, whom Frau Trude identified as a huntsman.
After that, she had seen a blood-red man, which the witch dismissed as simply a butcher.
But the most terrifying sight came when she looked through the window of the house itself. Instead of seeing Frau Trude as she expected, the girl witnessed something far more horrifying that confirmed her worst fears about the woman's true nature.
I looked through the window and saw not you, but, as I verily believe, the devil himself with a head of fire.
The witch reveals herself and transforms the girl
Upon hearing the girl's description of the fiery-headed figure, Frau Trude's demeanor changed completely. Rather than offering any comfort or explanation, she revealed her true nature and sinister intentions. The witch acknowledged that the girl had indeed seen her in her proper form and confessed that she had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Oho! then thou hast seen the witch in her proper costume. I have been waiting for thee, and wanting thee a long time already; thou shalt give me some light.
With these ominous words, Frau Trude revealed the true purpose behind the girl's visit. The witch had been deliberately luring the curious child to her dwelling, knowing that her obstinate and disobedient nature would eventually overcome her parents' warnings. The girl's fate was sealed the moment she chose to satisfy her forbidden curiosity.
Without hesitation or mercy, Frau Trude used her dark magic to transform the terrified girl. The witch changed her into a block of wood and immediately threw her into the fire. As the flames consumed what had once been a living child, Frau Trude sat down beside the fire to warm herself, taking pleasure in the bright light the burning wood provided.
That shines bright for once in a way.