The Pink Fairy Book, part 23 · page 21 2101This happened many times, till at length she found it was no use, and gave him the one he wanted.102And when he had it safe he made her stoop down and smear it over his brother’s face, taking care all the while never to loose her hair, and when the dead man opened his eyes the youth drew his sword and cut off her head with a single blow.103Then the elder brother got up and stretched himself, and said, ‘Oh, how long I have slept!104And where am I?’105‘The old witch had enchanted you, but now she is dead and you are free.106We will wake up the other knights that she laid under her spells, and then we will go.’107This they did, and, after sharing amongst them the jewels and gold they found in the castle, each man went his way.108The two brothers remained together, the elder tightly grasping the ointment which had brought him back to life.109They had much to tell each other as they rode along, and at last the younger man exclaimed, ‘O fool, to leave such a beautiful wife to go and fight a witch!110She took me for her husband, and I did not say her nay.’111When the elder brother heard this a great rage filled his heart, and, without saying one word, he drew his sword and slew his brother, and his body rolled in the dust.112Then he rode on till he reached his home, where his wife was still sitting, weeping bitterly.113When she saw him she sprang up with a cry, and threw herself into his arms.114‘Oh, how long have I waited for thee!115Never, never must you leave me any more!’116When the old king heard the news he welcomed him as a son, and made ready a feast, and all the court sat down.117And in the evening, when the young man was alone with his wife, she said to him, ‘Why would you not let me touch you when you came back, but always thrust me away when I tried to put my arms round you or kiss you?’118Then the young man understood how true his brother had been to him, and he sat down and wept and wrung his hands because of the wicked murder that he had done.119Suddenly he sprang to his feet, for he remembered the ointment which lay hidden in his garments, and he rushed to the place where his brother still lay.120He fell on his knees beside the body, and, taking out the salve, he rubbed it over the neck where the wound was gaping wide, and the skin healed and the sinews grew strong, and the dead man sat up and looked round him.121And the two brothers embraced each other, and the elder asked forgiveness for his wicked blow; and they went back to the palace together, and were never parted any more.1 2← previousThe Pink Fairy Book, part 22next →The Pink Fairy Book, part 24↑ back to The Pink Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg5615/23/page/2/