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The Water Of Life(2)
After that they boarded a ship and sailed over the sea. During the voyage the two elder brothers said to each other:" Our youngest brother found the Water of Life and we didn't, so our father will give him the kingdom that's due to us and so he'll sob us of our fortunes." And they sought revenge and plotted together to destroy him. They waited for a time when he was fast asleep, and then they took the Water of Life from him, emptying it out of his cup and pouring salt sea-water into it instead.
So when they arrived home the youngest son took his cup to the sick king for him to drink out of it and get well. But he had hardly tasted a mouthful of the salt sea-water when he fell even more ill than before. And as he was lamenting about this, his two elder sons came in and accused the youngest of having tried to poison him, but told him that they had brought the real Water of Life. So they gave it to him, and no sooner had he drunk some than he felt his sickness leave him and grew strong and healthy as he had been in his youth.
After this the two went to their youngest brother and mocked him:" Oh yes, you found the Water of Life," they said, "but you've had the trouble and we've got the reward! You should have been cleverer and kept you eyes open: we took it from you when you'd fallen asleep on the ship, and a year from now one of us will fetch that beautiful princess. But mind you say nothing about this; our father wouldn't believe you anyway, and if you utter a single word you'll lose your life as well, but if you hold your tongue we'll spare it."
The old king was angry with his youngest son, believing he had tried to kill him. So he summoned all his courtiers and made them pass judgment, and it was decided that the prince should be secretly shot.
So one day when he was out hunting and suspected nothing, the king's huntsman was ordered to accompany him. When they were out there in the forest quite alone and the huntsman was looking very sad, the prince said to him, "Dear huntsman, what's the matter?" The huntsman said, "I can't tell you, and yet I must." Then the prince said, "Tell me right out what it is, I'll forgive you." "Oh, sir," said the huntsman, "I'm to shoot you dead, it's the king's order." The prince was startled and said, "Dear huntsman, let me live! Look, I'll give you my royal clothes, give me your plain ones in exchange." The huntsman said: "I'll gladly do so, I just couldn't have brought myself to shoot at you." So they changed clothes, and the huntsman went home, but the prince went deeper into the forest.
Sometime later, the old king received three wagon-loads of gold and precious stones for his youngest son: they had been sent by the three kings who had defeated their enemies with the prince's sword and fed their people with his loaf of bread, and who wanted to show their gratitude. Then the old king thought: can it be that my son was innocent? And he said to his servants, "If only he were still alive! How sorry I am now that I had him killed." "Sir, he is still alive," said the huntsman, "for I didn't have the heart to carry out your orders." And he told the king what had happened. At this a great weight fell from the king's heart, and he had it proclaimed in every kingdom that his son might come home and that we would be graciously welcomed.
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发表于 2016-7-10 17:26:22