“What do you see?” said the magic mirror to the Princess.
“I see nothing,” said the Princess.
“But surely you see your beauty,” said the magic mirror.
“Beauty is nothing,” said the Princess.
“Well, then surely you see your fine dress,” said the magic mirror.
“The dress is nothing,” said the Princess.
“Surely you must see something,” said the magic mirror.
“No,” said the Princess, “I can’t see what I want to see.”
“Are you blind?” said the magic mirror.
“No,” said the Princess, “I have long golden hair, and the dress is light blue with threads of gold in it, and I’m in my room. I see just fine.”
“Then why do you say you see nothing?” said the magic mirror.
“I say that I see nothing because I can’t see what I want to see,” said the Princess.
“What do you want to see?” said the magic mirror.
“I want to see who I am,” said the Princess, “but apparently, no magic and no mirror can show me that. To see it, I must find it myself.”