Once upon a time, a childless couple lived unhappily. At the back of their house was a window overlooking a beautiful garden, but it was surrounded by a high wall and belonged to a powerful witch, feared by all.
One day, the wife saw a bed of fresh rampion in the garden and longed to eat it. Her desire grew so strong that she became pale and sick. Her loving husband, fearing she would die, climbed the wall at dusk and stole a handful of rampion leaves for her salad. It tasted so good that her craving intensified, compelling him to return the next evening.
This time, the witch caught him. He begged for mercy, explaining his wife's condition. The witch, somewhat appeased, offered a deal: he could take all the rampion he wanted, but must give her the child his wife would soon bear. In his terror, the man agreed.
When the girl was born, the witch took her, named her Rapunzel (which means rampion), and raised her. Rapunzel grew to be the most beautiful child. At age twelve, the witch locked her in a tower deep in a forest. The tower had no door or stairs, only a small window at the very top. To enter, the witch would stand below and call:
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel,
Let down your golden hair."
Rapunzel had magnificent, golden hair as fine as spun gold. She would let her long braids fall, and the witch would climb up.
Years later, a prince riding through the wood heard Rapunzel singing sweetly from the tower. Enchanted, he searched for a door in vain. Haunted by her song, he returned daily. One day, he saw the witch use the hair as a ladder. The next evening, he imitated her call. Rapunzel let down her hair, and the prince climbed up.
Frightened at first by this man—the first she had ever seen—Rapunzel was soon comforted by his kind words. He confessed his love, moved by her singing. She agreed to marry him, seeing a chance for happiness. They devised a plan: he would bring silk each visit so she could weave a ladder to escape. He would visit every evening while the witch was away during the day.
Their secret remained until Rapunzel thoughtlessly asked the witch, "Why are you so much heavier to pull up than the young prince?"
Enraged, the witch cried, "You wicked child! You have deceived me!" She seized Rapunzel's hair, cut off the beautiful braids, and banished her to a desolate wilderness to live in misery.
That evening, the witch fastened the severed braids to the window hook. When the prince called and climbed up, he found the witch instead. She mocked him, "Your pretty bird has flown! You will never see her again!"
Overcome with grief, the prince leaped from the tower. He survived but fell into thorns that blinded him. Wandering blind and wretched through the forest, he lived on roots and berries, mourning his lost love for years.
Eventually, he stumbled into the desert where Rapunzel lived. Hearing a familiar voice, he followed it. Rapunzel recognized him and embraced him, weeping. Two of her tears fell on his eyes, restoring his sight instantly.
He led her to his kingdom, where they were joyfully received and lived happily ever after.