Once upon a time there lived a king, and he had three sons. The king lived to a ripe old age, and his strength began to weaken. And so he fell ill. They brought the best doctors to the king, but none of them could restore his health. The doctors no longer hid from the sovereign that his end was near.
The king resigned himself to his fate and prepared to depart to another world.
Once, when there was no one in the royal bedchamber, the door suddenly opened and a beggar entered. The king frowned.
“Don’t be angry, sir,” the beggar spoke, noticing his displeasure. “I didn’t come for alms.” I want to give you important advice, if only you will listen to me.
- Speak quickly! You see for yourself, I’m dying,” the king responded in a weak voice.
“Your hour of death has not yet come, sir.” There is such a medicine in the world that can put you back on your feet.
- So I believed you! - the king said bitterly. - However, speak up!
“I know you will shake your head in disbelief; but what I will say now is the same pure truth as the fact that I am standing in front of you. Only a healing apple can save you. Taste it and you will immediately feel healthy. Send your sons to look for an apple. One of them will certainly be lucky. If you don’t get an apple, your hour of death will strike. Farewell, sir!
And with these words the beggar left the bedchamber. The king called out to him - after all, the old man did not say where to look for the garden in which the healing apple grows. The servant came to the call. The king ordered the beggar to be turned back immediately. The servant was surprised
- He did not leave the royal chambers, but did not notice anyone leaving there.
The king became thoughtful. He called his sons and made the following speech:
- My children! My hour of death has not yet come. A healing apple can give me back my strength. Go look for him around the world. Whoever gets the apple will become my heir.
The eldest sons did not like their father's will. They did not like dangerous journeys and were more willing to go to parties and parties. But the youngest son was happy when he heard that his beloved father was not dying yet.
That same day everyone set off on their journey and went in different directions.
Many weeks passed, and the eldest son wandered into deserted places. He looked around from the mountain - no houses or trees were visible. I marveled at the desolation of this region, and went further along the road. Suddenly a lame old beggar came towards him. The prince wanted to walk by with importance, but the beggar stopped him:
- Give me, dear sir, at least a little!
The prince threw him a penny, and the lame man asked again:
“Give me, dear sir, a piece of bread, I’m hungry, I can barely stand on my feet.”
The prince’s pride did not allow him to talk to the poor man for so long, and without saying a word, he moved on, but suddenly stopped, looked around and shouted:
- Hey, beggar, did I give you a penny for nothing? Well, tell me, how can I find a garden where a healing apple grows?
- Follow this road, and soon it will lead you to that wonderful garden. Just remember my advice: pick an apple and immediately run away from the garden!
“Okay, okay,” the prince grinned.
He walked a long way and finally reached the large gate, opened it and entered the garden. There were no trees at all, only a single apple tree stood in the middle on a green field. There were even rows of beds stretching across the entire garden, and on them grew a great variety of the most beautiful flowers.
A magical fragrance spread throughout the garden. The prince walked slowly along the path that led to the apple tree. There were no fruits on the tree, only on one branch, bent close to the ground, hung a beautiful ruddy apple. The prince quickly walked up to the apple tree and picked a wonderful apple. I turned it over in my hands with curiosity: it was just an apple, nothing special. He stood there and suddenly felt very tired. Without hesitation, the prince sank onto the green grass.
As soon as he lay down, a certain man approached him. The prince saw him as if through a fog. He strained his memory and finally remembered: yes, this is a beggar, the same one that he met on the road. He bent down to the prince and took the apple from his hands, touched it to the branch where it had previously hung,
and the apple instantly grew attached to it. Then he broke a small twig, touched the prince with it and whispered:
“You are not worthy to bring your father a healing apple.” Why did you disobey me?
Now you will be a raven, a black raven - until the hour of deliverance comes!
At that same moment, the prince turned into a black raven and flew into the sky.
Three days later, the middle son walked along the same road, and the same thing happened to him as to the eldest.
Three days later, the youngest son found himself on that road. He met a beggar. Before the old man had time to open his mouth, the prince threw gold sequin into his hat.
- Apparently you are hungry, poor man. “Take some bread too,” said the prince and wanted to go further, but the beggar stopped him, thanked him and made the following speech:
“Korol’evich, I know where you’re going.” You're on the right track. Quickly pick an apple and run away from the garden as fast as you can. Today is the last day. Your father must eat the healing apple before the moon rises. Woe to you and your brothers if you disobey me!
These words added strength to the prince. Soon he saw the garden and entered it. The flowers emitted an intoxicating aroma, but the prince did not even look at them, he went straight to the apple tree. He picked a ruddy apple and was about to go back, as the beggar ordered, but then he felt that his head was getting heavier and his legs were giving way. He was just about to lie down under a tree when suddenly a noise was heard above him. Overcoming fatigue, he looked up and saw two ravens. “Aren’t these my brothers?” - A terrible suspicion flashed through him, and he was overcome by such fear that all fatigue disappeared as if by hand.
- My father! - he exclaimed and rushed out of the garden as fast as he could. A beggar was waiting for him outside the gate.
- You are lucky, prince! I was very afraid for you. Now sit down on the green grass and relax!
The beggar was silent for a while, and then spoke again:
“Here’s a branch for you, take it with you!” At the very moment when your father gets out of bed healthy, run out of the palace. Two ravens will fly up to you and sit on the ground in front of you. Quickly touch them with this branch.
Once again the prince was overcome by fatigue. The heavy eyelids closed of their own accord. And then it seemed to him that the beggar took him by the belt and together they flew into the air.
Dusk had already fallen on the earth when the prince woke up. In front of him stood the royal castle. At first he thought that he had only dreamed of the healing apple, but, looking at his hands, he realized that it was reality. He remembered then that he had to get to his father before the moon rose, and he rushed to the castle faster than a chamois.
The king ate the apple and immediately recovered. Cheerful and strong, he jumped out of bed, where he had been lying for so long. The prince saw this and rushed out. As soon as he found himself in the field, two ravens flew up to him and sat down on the ground next to him. And - a great miracle! - As soon as the prince touched them with the branch that the beggar gave him, his two brothers stood in front of him.
There was a huge feast in the castle. However, the older princes were sad - they did not expect their younger brother to become the heir.
And I was there, otherwise how would I know this very true story?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru