Once there lived a mighty King, whose Queen, being near death, made him promise that he would never wed again unless he found a woman fairer and more accomplished than she. For many years no such lady could be found, until, to the horror of all good sense, the King declared that only his own daughter surpassed the late Queen in beauty.

The Princess, terrified, sought the counsel of her fairy godmother. To delay the marriage, she demanded impossible gifts: first a gown the colour of the sky, then one as radiant as the moon, and lastly a dress as brilliant as the sun. Yet the King’s craftsmen accomplished every task.

At last the fairy bade her ask for the hide of the marvellous donkey that supplied the royal treasury with gold. Even this the King granted. With no further means of escape, the Princess wrapped herself in the ugly hide, took her enchanted gowns, and fled the palace.

Far away she found shelter in a humble farmhouse, where she lived as a servant and was mocked for her filthy disguise. Yet in secret, upon feast days, she would shut herself in her poor little chamber, cast aside the donkeyskin, and dress once more as a princess.

One day a young Prince chanced to glimpse her in all her splendour and fell hopelessly in love. He became so lovesick that he would eat nothing unless Donkeyskin herself baked him a cake. While preparing it, the Princess let a ring fall into the dough.

The Prince declared that he would marry the maiden whose finger fitted the ring. Ladies great and small tried in vain, until Donkeyskin was summoned. The ring fitted her perfectly.

Then she threw off her ragged disguise, revealed her true birth, and appeared in her radiant gown. The Prince rejoiced, the court marvelled, and the Princess at last found safety, honour, and a marriage freely chosen.