In ancient times, King Iskander the Two-horned conquered the whole world. But on one of the campaigns he was overcome by severe wounds, and he felt the approach of death. Then Iskander called the most skilled healers and said:
“My hour of death has come. But I don't want to die. I want to live and reign forever in the countries I have conquered. Find medicines that would extend my life for centuries!
The wisest thought for a long time. The most knowledgeable doctors finally advised Tsar Iskander to drink living water from the spring. Located in a distant land. Rumor claimed. What the one. Whoever tastes the water from a wonderful spring will live forever.
Iskander listened to advice. He ordered himself to be placed on a stretcher. And the fastest warriors rushed the ruler to the treasured source.
And there was a magical spring in a shady and cool grove. The trees with their crowns sheltered him from the scorching rays of the sun. And the thick thorny shrubs protected the bush from the sultry winds.
The king's soldiers left him near the water. And they left. Iskander woke up. He scooped up water from the spring with a golden ladle. But he didn’t have time to bring it to his lips. How a thin, hunched old man grew up in front of him.
- My son. - the old man said quietly, - if you take a sip of water from this source. then you will become immortal.
“But that’s what I want!” exclaimed the amazed Iskander.
“Don’t rush, my son,” the old man stopped him. – first listen to what I tell you... Three thousand years ago I conquered all the kingdoms on earth. The whole world lay at my feet, and no one dared to look up at me. That's when I decided to become immortal. To forever rule over peoples and states. And he drank water from the source... But only a hundred years passed, the people rebelled against me and drove me from the throne. And when I now approach people and tell them my name, they spit in my face and call me a robber and a murderer... because I, as you are doing now, did evil on earth.
The old man disappeared. And Iskander, in deep thought, filled a bottle with magic water, hid it on his chest and ordered the soldiers to carry him home.
The hour of death captured Iskander on the way. The king's soldiers laid him down in the shadow of three old elms. Iskander took out a bottle from his chest, but did not dare to drink the water of immortality and threw it out on the ground.
Centuries have passed. And three elms are still green in the steppe. Giving tired travelers shelter and coolness.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru