The Water of Life

Author: Brothers Grimm

Age6–10
Reading time14 min
LevelIntermediate

Introduction

This is another Grimm tale in which the humble youngest son wins in the end (read it alongside The Golden Goose on this site). Three princes set out to find the 'Water of Life' that can heal their father, and each meets the same little dwarf along the way — who is really a test of character. The two arrogant brothers are rude to him and end up trapped between mountains; only the polite youngest, who answers honestly, is helped and brings back the water. The 'water of life' — an elixir of immortality, a fountain of youth — is an ancient motif found in myths the world over. The story's finest touch is the golden road at the end: the princess declares that whoever rides straight up the gold to her is the true one. Both elder brothers turn aside, unwilling to 'spoil' the gold — their eyes are on the gold; but the youngest, thinking only of the princess, never even notices what the road is made of and rides straight over it. The golden road tells sincerity from calculation at a glance. As you read, ask your child: the brothers' 'unwillingness to tread on gold' sounds like being careful — but what does it really reveal about what they care about most?

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There was once a King who had an illness, and no one believed that he would come out of it with his life. He had three sons who were much distressed about it, and went down into the palace-garden and wept. There they met an old man who inquired as to the cause of their grief. They told him that their father was so ill that he would most certainly die, for nothing seemed to cure him.

Then the old man said, "I know of one more remedy, and that is the water of life; if he drinks of it he will become well again; but it is hard to find." The eldest said, "I will manage to find it," and went to the sick King, and begged to be allowed to go forth in search of the water of life, for that alone could save him. "No," said the King, "the danger of it is too great. I would rather die." But he begged so long that the King consented.

The prince thought in his heart, "If I bring the water, then I shall be best beloved of my father, and shall inherit the kingdom." So he set out, and when he had ridden forth a little distance, a dwarf stood there in the road who called to him and said, "Whither away so fast?" - "Silly shrimp," said the prince, "very haughtily, "it is nothing to do with you," and rode on.

But the little dwarf had grown angry, and had wished an evil wish. Soon after this the prince entered a ravine, and the further he rode the closer the mountains drew together, and at last the road became so narrow that he could not advance a step further; it was impossible either to turn his horse or to dismount from the saddle, and he was shut in there as if in prison. The sick King waited long for him, but he came not.

Then the second son said, "Father, let me go forth to seek the water," and thought to himself, "If my brother is dead, then the kingdom will fall to me." At first the King would not allow him to go either, but at last he yielded, so the prince set out on the same road that his brother had taken, and he too met the dwarf, who stopped him to ask, whither he was going in such haste? "Little shrimp," said the prince, "that is nothing to thee," and rode on without giving him another look. But the dwarf bewitched him, and he, like the other, rode into a ravine, and could neither go forwards nor backwards. So fare haughty people.

As the second son also remained away, the youngest begged to be allowed to go forth to fetch the water, and at last the King was obliged to let him go. When he met the dwarf and the latter asked him whither he was going in such haste, he stopped, gave him an explanation, and said, "I am seeking the water of life, for my father is sick unto death." - "Dost thou know, then, where that is to be found?" - "No," said the prince.

"As thou hast borne thyself as is seemly, and not haughtily like thy false brothers, I will give thee the information and tell thee how thou mayst obtain the water of life. It springs from a fountain in the courtyard of an enchanted castle, but thou wilt not be able to make thy way to it, if I do not give thee an iron wand and two small loaves of bread. Strike thrice with the wand on the iron door of the castle and it will spring open: inside lie two lions with gaping jaws, but if thou throwest a loaf to each of them, they will be quieted. Then hasten to fetch some of the water of life before the clock strikes twelve, else the door will shut again, and thou wilt be imprisoned."

The prince thanked him, took the wand and the bread, and set out on his way. When he arrived, everything was as the dwarf had said. The door sprang open at the third stroke of the wand, and when he had appeased the lions with the bread, he entered the castle, and came to a large and splendid hall, wherein sat some enchanted princes whose rings he drew off their fingers. A sword and a loaf of bread were lying there, which he carried away.

After this, he entered a chamber, in which was a beautiful maiden who rejoiced when she saw him, kissed him, and told him that he had delivered her, and should have the whole of her kingdom, and that if he would return in a year their wedding should be celebrated; likewise she told him where the spring of the water of life was, and that he was to hasten and draw some of it before the clock struck twelve. Then he went onwards, and at last entered a room where there was a beautiful newly-made bed, and as he was very weary, he felt inclined to rest a little. So he lay down and fell asleep.

When he awoke, it was striking a quarter to twelve. He sprang up in a fright, ran to the spring, drew some water in a cup which stood near, and hastened away. But just as he was passing through the iron door, the clock struck twelve, and the door fell to with such violence that it carried away a piece of his heel. He, however, rejoicing at having obtained the water of life, went homewards, and again passed the dwarf.

When the latter saw the sword and the loaf, he said, "With these thou hast won great wealth; with the sword thou canst slay whole armies, and the bread will never come to an end." But the prince would not go home to his father without his brothers, and said, "Dear dwarf, canst thou not tell me where my two brothers are? They went out before I did in search of the water of life, and have not returned." - "They are imprisoned between two mountains," said the dwarf. "I have condemned them to stay there, because they were so haughtily."

Then the prince begged until the dwarf released them; but he warned him, however, and said, "Beware of them, for they have bad hearts." When his brothers came, he rejoiced, and told them how things had gone with him, that he had found the water of life and had brought a cupful away with him, and had rescued a beautiful princess, who was willing to wait a year for him, and then their wedding was to be celebrated and he would obtain a great kingdom.

After that they rode on together, and chanced upon a land where war and famine reigned, and the King already thought he must perish, for the scarcity was so great. Then the prince went to him and gave him the loaf, wherewith he fed and satisfied the whole of his kingdom, and then the prince gave him the sword also wherewith he slew the hosts of his enemies, and could now live in rest and peace. The prince then took back his loaf and his sword, and the three brothers rode on.

But after this they entered two more countries where war and famine reigned and each time the prince gave his loaf and his sword to the Kings, and had now delivered three kingdoms, and after that they went on board a ship and sailed over the sea. During the passage, the two eldest conversed apart and said, "The youngest has found the water of life and not we, for that our father will give him the kingdom the kingdom which belongs to us, and he will rob us of all our fortune."

They then began to seek revenge, and plotted with each other to destroy him. They waited until they found him fast asleep, then they poured the water of life out of the cup, and took it for themselves, but into the cup they poured salt sea-water.

Now therefore, when they arrived home, the youngest took his cup to the sick King in order that he might drink out of it, and be cured. But scarcely had he drunk a very little of the salt sea-water than he became still worse than before. And as he was lamenting over this, the two eldest brothers came, and accused the youngest of having intended to poison him, and said that that they had brought him the true water of life, and handed it to him. He had scarcely tasted it, when he felt his sickness departing, and became strong and healthy as in the days of his youth.

After that they both went to the youngest, mocked him, and said, "You certainly found the water of life, but you have had the pain, and we the gain; you should have been sharper, and should have kept your eyes open. We took it from you whilst you were asleep at sea, and when a year is over, one of us will go and fetch the beautiful princess. But beware that you do not disclose aught of this to our father; indeed he does not trust you, and if you say a single word, you shall lose your life into the bargain, but if you keep silent, you shall have it as a gift."

The old King was angry with his youngest son, and thought he had plotted against his life. So he summoned the court together and had sentence pronounced upon his son, that he should be secretly shot. And once when the prince was riding forth to the chase, suspecting no evil, the King's huntsman had to go with him, and when they were quite alone in the forest, the huntsman looked so sorrowful that the prince said to him, "Dear huntsman, what ails you?" The huntsman said, "I cannot tell you, and yet I ought."

Then the prince said, "Say openly what it is, I will pardon you." - "Alas!" said the huntsman, "I am to shoot you dead, the King has ordered me to do it." Then the prince was shocked, and said, "Dear huntsman, let me live; there, I give you my royal garments; give me your common ones in their stead." The huntsman said, "I will willingly do that, indeed I should not have been able to shoot you."

Then they exchanged clothes, and the huntsman returned home; the prince, however, went further into the forest. After a time three waggons of gold and precious stones came to the King for his youngest son, which were sent by the three Kings who had slain their enemies with the prince's sword, and maintained their people with his bread, and who wished to show their gratitude for it.

The old King then thought, "Can my son have been innocent?" and said to his people, "Would that he were still alive, how it grieves me that I have suffered him to be killed!" - "He still lives," said the huntsman, "I could not find it in my heart to carry out your command," and told the King how it had happened. Then a stone fell from the King's heart, and he had it proclaimed in every country that his son might return and be taken into favour again.

The princess, however, had a road made up to her palace which was quite bright and golden, and told her people that whosoever came riding straight along it to her, would be the right wooer and was to be admitted, and whoever rode by the side of it, was not the right one, and was not to be admitted.

As the time was now close at hand, the eldest thought he would hasten to go to the King's daughter, and give himself out as her deliverer, and thus win her for his bride, and the kingdom to boot. Therefore he rode forth, and when he arrived in front of the palace, and saw the splendid golden road, he thought, it would be a sin and a shame if he were to ride over that, and turned aside, and rode on the right side of it. But when he came to the door, the servants told him that he was not the right man, and was to go away again.

Soon after this the second prince set out, and when he came to the golden road, and his horse had put one foot on it, he thought, it would be a sin and a shame to tread a piece of it off, and he turned aside and rode on the left side of it, and when he reached the door, the attendants told him he was not the right one, and he was to go away again.

When at last the year had entirely expired, the third son likewise wished to ride out of the forest to his beloved, and with her forget his sorrows. So he set out and thought of her so incessantly, and wished to be with her so much, that he never noticed the golden road at all. So his horse rode onwards up the middle of it, and when he came to the door, it was opened and the princess received him with joy, and said he was her deliverer, and lord of the kingdom, and their wedding was celebrated with great rejoicing.

When it was over she told him that his father invited him to come to him, and had forgiven him. So he rode thither, and told him everything; how his brothers had betrayed him, and how he had nevertheless kept silence. The old King wished to punish them, but they had put to sea, and never came back as long as they lived.

Vocabulary from "The Water of Life"

12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.

distressed(distress)B2

/dɪˈstrest/adj.

Very upset, worried, or unhappy.

苦恼的；忧伤的；痛苦的。

He had three sons who were much distressed about it, and went down into the palace-garden and wept.
他有三个儿子，对此非常苦恼，来到宫殿的花园里哭泣。

remedyB2

/ˈremədi/n.

A cure or way to put right something that is wrong.

疗法；药物；补救办法。

I know of one more remedy, and that is the water of life; if he drinks of it he will become well again.
我知道还有一个办法，那就是生命之水；如果他喝了它，就会好起来。

inheritB2

/ɪnˈherɪt/v.

To receive money, property, or a title from someone after they die.

继承（财产、头衔等）。

If I bring the water, then I shall be best beloved of my father, and shall inherit the kingdom.
如果我带回了水，我就能成为父亲最宠爱的儿子，并将继承王位。

haughtilyC1

/ˈhɔːtɪli/adv.

In a proud way that looks down on others.

傲慢地；高傲地。

Silly shrimp, said the prince very haughtily, it is nothing to do with you, and rode on.
'蠢侏儒，'王子非常傲慢地说，'这跟你没关系，'说完就骑走了。

ravineC1

/rəˈviːn/n.

A deep, narrow valley with steep sides.

深谷；峡谷。

Soon after this the prince entered a ravine, and the further he rode the closer the mountains drew together.
不久之后，王子进入了一个峡谷，越往前骑山就靠得越近。

wandB2

/wɒnd/n.

A thin rod, often with magic power.

魔杖；杖；棒。

Strike thrice with the wand on the iron door of the castle and it will spring open.
用铁杖敲三次城堡的铁门，门就会弹开。

appeased(appease)C1

/əˈpiːzd/v.

Made someone or something calm or satisfied, especially to avoid trouble.

平息；安抚；使息怒。

When he had appeased the lions with the bread, he entered the castle, and came to a large and splendid hall.
当他用面包安抚了狮子后，他走进城堡，来到一个宏伟的大厅。

famineB2

/ˈfæmɪn/n.

A serious lack of food across a whole region.

饥荒。

They chanced upon a land where war and famine reigned, and the King already thought he must perish.
碰巧经过一个战乱饥荒的国家，国王以为自己必死无疑。

revengeB2

/rɪˈvendʒ/n.

Harm done to someone in return for harm they caused.

报复；报仇。

They then began to seek revenge, and plotted with each other to destroy him.
于是他们开始寻求报复，密谋要毁了他。

pardonB2

/ˈpɑːdn/v.

To forgive someone for something.

原谅；宽恕；赦免。

Then the prince said, Say openly what it is, I will pardon you.
王子说：'直说吧，我会原谅你的。'

proclaimed(proclaim)C1

/prəˈkleɪmd/v.

Announced something publicly and officially.

宣告；公布；宣布。

He had it proclaimed in every country that his son might return and be taken into favour again.
他在各国宣告他的儿子可以回来并再次受到恩宠。

incessantlyC1

/ɪnˈsesntli/adv.

Without stopping; continually.

不停地；持续不断地。

He thought of her so incessantly, and wished to be with her so much, that he never noticed the golden road at all.
因为不停地想着她，太想和她在一起，根本没注意到那条金路。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

Humility, sincerity, and kindness are rewarded in the end, while arrogance and scheming rebound on those who practise them; a sincere heart does not stop to count the cost.

Educational Value

Leads children to value humility and sincerity, to tell a genuine heart from a calculating one, and to understand the power of forgiveness.

Tips for Parents

Focus your discussion on the golden-road test at the end — why do those whose eyes are on the gold lose? You can also read it alongside The Golden Goose on this site to talk about 'the humble youngest son.'

Talk About It

All three princes met the same little dwarf. How did the two elder brothers and the youngest differ in how they treated him — and how did their fates differ?
At the end, both brothers rode around the golden road, but the youngest rode straight up it. What was that road really testing?
The brothers stole the Water of Life and framed him, yet the youngest chose to stay silent and protect them. Would you keep the secret of someone who had wronged you?
Everyone wants the 'Water of Life.' If there really were something that made people live forever, do you think it would be a good thing or a problem?