生    命    之    水   

 很    久    很    久    以    前   ， 在    一    个    非    常    遥    远    的    地    方   ， 有    一    个    国    王    生    了    重    病   ， 人    们    都    认    为    他    已    经    病    入    膏    肓   ， 无    药    可    救    了   。 国    王    有    三    个    儿    子   ， 他    们    对    父    亲    的    身    体    非    常    担    心   ， 每    当    他    们    伤    心    之    时    就    跑    到    王    宫    的    花    园    里    去    哭    泣   。 一    次   ， 他    们    在    花    园    里    遇    见    了    一    位    老    人   ， 老    人    问    他    们    什    么    使    得    他    们    这    么    伤    心   。 他    们    就    把    自    己    对    父    亲    生    病   、 担    心    无    法    医    治    的    事    告    诉    了    老    人   ， 老    人    听    了    之    后    说    道   ：" 原    来    是    这    么    回    事   ， 我    知    道    有    一    种    生    命    之    水   ， 只    要    你    们    的    父    亲    喝    上    一    口   ， 他    的    病    就    会    好   ， 并    且    很    快    就    能    恢    复    健    康   ， 但    这    种    水    非    常    难    找    到   。" 大    儿    子    忙    说   ：" 我    一    定    要    找    到    这    种    水   。" 他    来    到    生    病    的    父    亲    面    前   ， 请    求    让    他    去    找    生    命    之    水   ， 这    是    救    父    亲    生    命    的    唯    一    希    望   。 但    国    王    说   ：" 不   ！ 我    宁    愿    死    去   。 也    不    要    你    去    冒    这    个    险   。" 大    儿    子    苦    苦    哀    求    父    亲    让    他    去   ， 他    心    里    是    这    样    想    的   ：" 如    果    我    给    父    亲    找    回    了    生    命    之    水   ， 我    就    是    父    亲    最    亲    爱    的    人    了   ， 他    一    定    会    让    我    继    承    他    的    王    位   。" 经    过    努    力   ， 国    王    终    于    同    意    了    他    的    请    求   。

 大    王    子    出    发    了   ， 他    一    路    上    趾    高    气    扬   、 不    闻    不    问   。 一    天   ， 他    来    到    一    座    树    木    从    生   、 怪    石    林    立    的    深    山    峡    谷    中   ， 四    下    一    看   ， 发    现    他    上    面    的    怪    石    上    坐    着    一    个    小    矮    人   。 小    矮    人    问    他   ：" 王    子   ， 你    走    这    么    快    要    到    哪    儿    去    呀   ？"" 关    你    什    么    事    呢   ？ 你    这    个    丑    小    鬼   。" 王    子    轻    蔑    傲    慢    地    说    完   ， 骑    着    马    走    了   。 小    矮    人    对    他    的    行    为    非    常    生    气   ， 针    对    他    念    了    一    句    邪    恶    的    咒    语   。 这    一    来   ， 大    王    子    骑    马    所    经    过    的    山    峡    就    变    得    越    来    越    窄   ， 最    后    山    道    狭    窄    到    使    他    一    步    也    不    能    向    前    移    动    了   。 他    想    拨    马    往    来    路    退    回    去   ， 但    后    面    的    山    峡    也    合    在    一    起    使    他    完    全    卡    在    了    里    面   ， 他    想    下    马    走    路   ， 可    连    马    也    下    不    来    了   ， 竟    死    死    地    被    咒    语    困    在    那    儿    了   。

 他    的    父    亲    老    国    王    在    病    中    一    天    挨    一    天    地    盼    望    着    大    儿    子   ， 可    就    是    不    见    他    回    转   。 时    间    不    等    人   ， 二    儿    子    又    向    父    亲    说   ：" 爸    爸   ， 我    要    去    找    生    命    之    水   。" 他    暗    想   ：" 我    哥    哥    一    定    是    死    了   ， 如    果    我    这    一    去    运    气    好   ， 这    个    王    国    今    后    肯    定    就    归    我    来    继    承    了   。" 国    王    开    始    不    愿    意    让    他    去   ， 但    最    后    经    不    住    他    苦    苦    哀    求   ， 就    同    意    了    他    的    请    求   。 他    沿    着    哥    哥    相    同    的    路    径   ， 抱    着    相    同    的    态    度   ， 在    同    一    个    地    方    遇    上    了    同    一    个    小    矮    人   ， 小    矮    人    和    先    前    一    样    说    道   ：" 王    子   ， 你    走    这    么    快    要    到    哪    儿    去    呀   ？"" 多    管    闲    事   ！ 留    意    你    自    己    的    事    情    吧   。" 王    子    很    不    屑    地    回    答    完   ， 骑    着    马    走    了   ， 小    矮    人    气    愤    之    下    对    他    施    了    同    样    的    魔    法   ， 二    王    子    也    和    他    哥    哥    一    样    被    困    在    窄    窄    的    山    峡    中   ， 既    不    能    前    进   ， 也    不    能    后    退    了   。 这    就    是    那    些    自    以    为    聪    明   、 不    听    劝    说   、 不    懂    礼    貌   、 骄    傲    而    又    愚    蠢    的    人    的    下    场   。

 二    王    子    出    去    不    少    时    候    了   ， 在    和    他    哥    哥    一    样    毫    无    回    音    的    情    况    下   ， 小    王    子    也    向    父    亲    请    求    要    去    寻    找    生    命    之    水   ， 他    自    信    能    很    快    使    父    亲    恢    复    健    康   ， 最    后    他    征    得    父    亲    的    同    意    出    发    了   。 他    在    同    一    个    地    方    也    遇    到    了    小    矮    人   。 小    矮    人    问    道   ：" 王    子   ， 你    走    这    么    快    要    到    哪    儿    去    呀   ？" 王    子    回    答    说   ：" 我    爸    爸    生    病    快    要    死    了   ， 我    是    去    寻    找    生    命    之    水    来    救    活    他    的   。 您    能    帮    助    我    吗   ？" 小    矮    人    问    道   ：" 你    知    道    到    哪    儿    去    找    吗   ？" 王    子    回    答    道   ：" 不    知    道   。" 小    矮    人    说    道   ：" 你    对    我    说    话    挺    和    气   ， 又    真    心    诚    意    地    请    求    我    的    帮    助   ， 我    就    告    诉    你    到    哪    儿    去    找   ， 又    如    何    去    找    这    种    生    命    之    水    吧   。 你    所    要    寻    找    的    水    是    一    座    被    施    了    魔    法    的    城    堡    中    一    口    井    里    面    涌    出    来    的    水   ， 我    给    你    一    根    铁    杖    和    两    小    块    面    包   ， 你    可    以    很    顺    利    地    到    达    那    儿   。 当    你    到    达    城    堡    时   ， 用    这    根    铁    杖    敲    三    下    城    门   ， 门    会    自    动    打    开   。 进    门    迎    面    躺    着    两    头    饥    饿    的    狮    子   ， 张    着    大    嘴    随    时    等    候    着    猎    物    送    上    门    来   ， 但    如    果    把    面    包    扔    给    它    们   ， 它    们    就    会    让    你    进    去   ， 你    要    尽    快    到    井    边    去    取    生    命    之    水   ， 赶    在    时    钟    敲    过    十    二    点    之    前    出    城   ， 要    是    你    稍    有    耽    搁   ， 城    门    又    会    关    上   ， 你    就    永    远    也    别    想    出    来    了   。" 小    王    子    对    小    矮    人    热    情    友    好    的    帮    助    连    声    道    谢   ， 接    过    铁    杖    和    面    包   ， 按    照    小    矮    人    的    指    点    出    发    了   。 他    翻    山    越    岭   ， 漂    洋    过    海   ， 终    于    到    达    此    行    的    目    的    地   -- 被    施    了    魔    法    的    城    堡   。 一    切    都    和    小    矮    人    所    说    的    完    全    相    同   ， 他    用    铁    杖    敲    了    三    下    城    门   ， 门    向    上    打    开    了   ， 扔    掉    面    包    让    狮    子    安    静    下    来    后   ， 他    走    进    城    堡   ， 终    于    来    到    一    座    漂    亮    的    大    厅   。

 大    厅    周    围    有    几    个    骑    士    坐    在    那    儿    昏    睡    着   ， 他    取    下    他    们    的    戒    指    戴    在    自    己    的    手    指    上   。 又    顺    着    大    厅    来    到    另    一    间    房    中   ， 看    到    一    张    桌    子    上    有    一    把    宝    剑    和    一    块    面    包   ， 他    一    起    收    了    起    来   。 他    再    来    到    一    个    房    间    里   ， 房    子    里    的    一    张    靠    椅    上    坐    着    一    个    年    青    美    丽    的    少    女   ， 看    见    他    进    来   ， 少    女    很    高    兴    地    欢    迎    他   ， 说    他    为    她    解    脱    了    魔    咒   ， 他    就    应    该    得    到    这    个    王    国   ， 要    是    他    一    年    之    后    回    到    这    儿   ， 她    就    和    他    结    婚   。 接    着   ， 她    又    告    诉    他    那    口    井    就    在    王    宫    的    花    园    里   ， 要    他    赶    快    在    十    二    点    钟    之    前    去    汲    取    他    所    要    的    生    命    之    水   。 告    别    少    女    后   ， 他    一    路    寻    去   ， 就    在    他    走    进    那    座    美    丽    的    花    园    时   ， 一    座    令    人    爽    快    的    凉    棚    吸    引    了    他    的    注    意   。 凉    棚    下    有    一    张    睡    椅   ， 看    到    这    些   ， 他    想    到    自    己    太    累    了   ， 应    该    休    息    一    会    儿   。 于    是   ， 他    走    上    前    去   ， 在    睡    椅    上    躺    了    下    来   ， 很    快    就    沉    睡    过    去   ， 一    直    睡    到    时    钟    响    过    十    一    点    四    十    五    分    才    醒    来   。 当    意    识    到    剩    下    的    时    间    已    经    不    多    时   ， 他    立    即    惊    慌    地    跳    起    来    向    井    口    跑    去   ， 拿    起    井    边    的    一    个    杯    子    舀    了    一    满    杯    水   ， 十    万    火    急    地    及    时    冲    出    了    城    门   。 他    刚    刚    跨    出    铁    门   ， 时    钟    就    敲    过    十    二    点   ， 铁    门    从    上    面    落    了    下    来   ， 速    度    极    快   ， 连    他    的    鞋    后    跟    也    被    切    掉    了    一    块   。

 他    从    惊    慌    中    回    过    神    来   ， 发    现    自    己    没    有    受    到    一    点    伤   ， 再    想    到    自    己    得    到    了    生    命    之    水   ， 非    常    兴    奋   ， 快    快    活    活    地    走    上    了    回    家    的    路   。 在    经    过    他    遇    到    小    矮    人    的    地    方    时   ， 小    矮    人    仍    在    那    儿   ， 他    看    见    宝    剑    和    面    包    后    说   ：" 你    已    经    得    到    了    价    值    连    城    的    东    西   。 用    这    口    宝    剑   ， 你    只    要    一    挥   ， 整    个    敌    军    都    会    被    杀    死   ， 这    块    面    包    则    是    一    块    永    远    吃    不    完    的    面    包   。" 王    子    心    想   ：" 我    不    能    一    个    人    回    去    见    我    父    亲   ， 应    该    和    两    个    哥    哥    一    起    回    去   。" 所    以   ， 他    说    道   ：" 亲    爱    的    小    矮    神   ， 你    能    不    能    告    诉    我   ， 我    的    两    个    哥    哥    在    哪    儿    吗   ？ 他    们    在    我    之    前    出    来    寻    找    生    命    之    水   ， 一    直    没    有    回    去   。" 小    矮    人    回    答    说   ：" 我    已    经    用    魔    法    把    他    们    锁    在    两    座    山    之    间    了   ， 因    为    他    们    太    傲    慢    无    礼   ， 不    听    人    劝    告   。" 小    王    子    听    了    之    后   ， 苦    苦    地    为    他    的    两    个    哥    哥    求    情   ， 乞    求    小    矮    人    放    了    他    们   ， 尽    管    小    矮    人    不    愿    意   ， 但    还    是    将    他    们    放    了   ， 并    告    诫    他    说   ：" 你    要    小    心    提    防    他    们   ， 这    两    个    家    伙    心    术    不    正   。"

 他    们    兄    弟    见    面    之    后    非    常    高    兴   ， 小    王    子    把    他    是    如    何    发    现    生    命    之    水   ， 并    取    了    一    满    杯   ， 以    及    他    是    如    何    解    救    一    个    美    丽    的    公    主    摆    脱    魔    咒    的   ， 公    主    又    如    何    约    定    一    年    以    后    等    他    去    和    她    完    婚   ， 要    把    王    位    传    给    他    等    经    历    都    告    诉    了    他    们   ， 然    后    三    人    一    起    骑    着    马    往    回    赶    路   。 在    路    上   ， 他    们    经    过    一    个    国    家    时   ， 看    到    那    儿    正    遭    受    战    争    和    饥    饿    的    蹂    躏   ， 土    地    荒    芜   ， 民    不    聊    生   ， 人    们    都    以    为    这    个    国    家    就    要    灭    亡    了   。 但    小    王    子    把    那    块    面    包    借    给    那    个    国    王   ， 使    他    的    臣    民    摆    脱    了    饥    饿   ， 又    用    那    把    宝    剑    杀    败    了    敌    国    的    军    队   ， 使    这    个    王    国    恢    复    了    和    平   ， 过    上    了    富    裕    的    生    活   。 一    路    上   ， 他    又    以    同    样    的    方    式    帮    助    了    他    们    所    经    过    的    另    外    两    个    国    家   ， 把    他    们    从    危    难    之    中    解    救    出    来   ， 使    那    里    的    人    民    得    以    安    居    乐    业   。

 最    后   ， 他    们    来    到    海    边   ， 一    起    上    了    一    艘    船   。 当    船    在    海    上    航    行    的    时    候   ， 两    个    哥    哥    私    下    说   ：" 弟    弟    找    到    了    我    们    没    能    找    到    的    生    命    之    水   ， 因    此   ， 父    亲    一    定    会    看    轻    我    们   ， 并    且    会    把    属    于    我    们    的    王    位    传    给    他   。" 他    们    充    满    妒    忌    和    报    复    心    理   ， 一    起    商    定    怎    样    才    能    毁    了    他   。 他    们    等    他    睡    觉    后   ， 偷    偷    地    把    那    杯    生    命    之    水    倒    出    来    自    己    藏    着   ， 在    杯    子    里    换    上    了    海    水   。

 当    他    们    回    到    王    宫    时   ， 小    儿    子    把    他    的    杯    子    端    给    病    重    的    父    亲   ， 满    以    为    他    喝    了    就    会    恢    复    健    康   。 可    是    国    王    只    尝    了    一    点    点    海    水   ， 病    情    就    更    加    严    重    了   。 这    时   ， 两    个    大    儿    子    进    来    斥    责    小    弟    弟   ， 说    他    这    样    做    是    想    毒    害    自    己    的    父    亲   ， 他    们    才    真    正    找    到    了    生    命    之    水   ， 并    带    了    回    来   。 说    完   ， 他    们    把    水    端    给    国    王    喝   。 国    王    刚    喝    一    点   ， 就    觉    得    病    好    了   ， 而    且    身    体    变    得    和    他    自    己    年    青    时    一    样    强    健   。 两    个    哥    哥    走    到    弟    弟    身    边    嘲    笑    他    说   ：" 哎    哟   ！ 弟    弟   ， 你    不    是    找    到    了    生    命    之    水    吗   ？ 你    千    辛    万    苦    跋    涉   ， 却    让    我    们    得    到    了    回    报   ， 你    要    是    聪    明    一    点    的    话   ， 为    什    么    不    把    眼    睛    放    亮    一    点    呢   ？ 明    年   ， 我    们    俩    人    会    有    一    个    去    娶    你    那    美    丽    的    公    主   。 要    是    你    不    留    点    神   ， 把    这    事    说    了    出    去   ， 不    仅    父    亲    不    会    再    相    信    你    的    话   ， 我    们    也    会    要    你    的    命   。

 要    是    你    安    静    一    些    不    做    声   ， 我    们    倒    是    可    以    饶    你    性    命   。"

 老    国    王    的    病    好    了    之    后   ， 对    小    儿    子    仍    然    很    生    气   ， 以    为    他    是    想    害    他    的    命   。 于    是   ， 他    召    集    大    臣    一    起    问    他    们    应    该    怎    么    处    理    这    事   ， 最    后    商    定    的    结    果    是    要    将    他    的    小    儿    子    处    死   ， 而    小    王    子    对    此    事    一    点    也    不    知    道   。 一    天   ， 国    王    的    猎    手    去    打    猎   ， 他    们    单    独    一    起    在    树    林    中    时   ， 王    子    看    见    猎    人    一    付    愁    眉    苦    脸    的    样    子   ， 就    问    道   ：" 我    的    朋    友   ， 你    有    什    么    心    事    吗   ？" 猎    人    回    答    说   ：" 我    不    能    够   ， 也    不    敢    告    诉    你   。" 王    子    听    了    这    话   ， 苦    苦    地    请    求    他    说   ：" 你    只    管    说   ，-- 难    道    你    认    为    我    会    生    气    吗   ？ 没    关    系   ， 我    原    谅    你    就    是    了   。" 猎    人    叹    口    气    说    道   ：" 哎   --！ 国    王    要    我    射    杀    你   。" 王    子    听    了    大    吃    一    惊   ， 说    道   ：" 你    就    饶    了    我    吧   ， 我    把    衣    服    脱    下    来    给    你   ， 你    拿    着    这    套    王    室    衣    服    给    我    父    亲    看   。 再    请    你    给    我    一    件    你    的    旧    衣    服   。" 猎    人    说   ：" 从    内    心    来    说   ， 我    能    救    你    是    很    高    兴    的   ， 因    为    我    并    不    想    射    杀    你   。" 接    着   ， 他    脱    下    自    己    的    旧    衣    服    给    了    王    子   ， 拿    着    王    子    的    衣    服   ， 穿    过    树    林    走    了   。

 过    了    一    段    时    间   ， 有    三    个    王    国    的    大    使    带    着    金    子    和    宝    石    等    丰    盛    的    礼    物    来    到    了    老    国    王    的    王    宫    大    院   ， 说    这    是    他    们    三    个    国    家    的    国    王    送    给    他    小    儿    子    的    礼    物   。 因    为    他    的    小    儿    子    把    宝    剑    和    面    包    借    给    他    们   ， 使    他    们    的    国    家    打    败    了    敌    人   ， 人    民    不    再    挨    饿   。 老    国    王    了    解    到    这    些   ， 心    里    一    合    计   ， 他    想    自    己    的    儿    子    可    能    没    有    罪   ， 就    对    朝    臣    们    说   ：" 哎    呀   ！ 我    竟    派    人    把    他    杀    死    了   ， 多    么    令    人    伤    心    啊   ！ 但    愿    我    的    儿    子    还    活    着    就    好    了   。" 这    时   ， 那    位    猎    人    说    道   ：" 陛    下   ， 他    真    的    还    活    着   ， 因    为    当    时    我    很    同    情    他   ， 在    树    林    没    有    射    杀    他   ， 而    是    让    他    平    平    安    安    地    走    了   ， 只    带    回    了    他    的    外    衣   。 现    在    我    很    高    兴    我    当    时    救    了    他   。" 国    王    一    听   ， 立    即    欣    喜    若    狂    地    传    令    全    国   ， 如    果    他    的    儿    子    回    来    了   ， 他    会    原    谅    他   。

 也    就    是    在    这    个    时    候   ， 那    位    公    主    正    急    切    地    盼    望    着    她    的    救    命    恩    人    的    归    来   。 她    铺    了    一    条    通    向    王    宫    的    路   ， 路    全    部    是    用    闪    闪    发    光    的    黄    金    筑    成    的   。 并    告    知    她    的    臣    民   ， 只    要    是    骑    在    马    背    上   、 直    接    沿    着    路    面    跑    进    门    的    人    就    是    她    真    正    的    爱    人   ， 一    定    要    放    他    进    来   。 如    果    来    人    是    骑    着    马    从    路    旁    边    进    来    的    话   ， 他    就    不    是    真    的   ， 一    定    要    立    即    把    他    赶    走   。

 约    定    的    一    年    期    限    很    快    就    要    到    了   。 大    王    子    想   ， 他    应    该    抢    先    去    见    公    主   ， 告    诉    她    说    是    他    解    救    了    她   ， 他    就    可    以    娶    她    作    妻    子   ， 并    得    到    那    个    王    国    了   。 当    他    来    到    王    宫    前    看    到    金    子    铺    成    的    路    时   ， 他    停    了    下    来   ， 心    里    暗    想   ：" 骑    着    马    在    这    么    漂    亮    的    路    上    跑    多    可    惜    呀   ！" 于    是   ， 他    拔    转    马    头   ， 从    路    的    右    边    骑    了    过    去   。 可    当    他    走    到    宫    门    口    时   ， 卫    兵    对    他    说    他    不    是    真    的   ， 要    他    走    开   。 不    久   ， 二    王    子    也    抱    着    同    样    的    心    理    出    发    了   ， 当    他    来    到    金    子    路    前   ， 那    匹    马    的    一    只    脚    还    只    是    刚    踏    上    路    面   ， 他    便    立    即    把    马    勒    住   。 望    着    这    闪    闪    发    光    的    道    路   ， 他    心    想   ， 这    路    真    漂    亮   ， 禁    不    住    自    言    自    语    地    说   ：" 要    是    有    什    么    东    西    踩    在    这    上    面    就    太    煞    风    景    了   ！" 他    说   ， 所    以   ， 他    也    拨    转    马    头    从    路    的    左    边    骑    了    进    去   。 但    当    他    来    到    宫    门    时   ， 卫    兵    说    他    不    是    真    王    子   ， 也    把    他    轰    走    了   。

 现    在   ， 一    年    的    正    式    期    限    到    了   ， 小    王    子    离    开    森    林    要    去    找    他    的    未    婚    新    娘   。 这    之    前   ， 他    因    害    怕    自    己    的    父    亲    不    原    谅    他   ， 所    以    一    直    躲    在    树    林    里   。 一    路    上   ， 他    老    是    想    着    她   ， 快    马    加    鞭    不    停    地    飞    驰   ， 甚    至    到    了    金    子    路    也    没    有    注    意    到   ， 仍    然    骑    着    马    直    接    从    路    上    跑    去   。 待    他    来    到    宫    门    时   ， 门    立    即    打    开    了   ， 那    位    公    主    非    常    高    兴    地    来    欢    迎    他    的    到    来   ， 说    他    就    是    自    己    的    救    命    恩    人   ， 现    在   ， 他    是    自    己    的    丈    夫   ， 也    是    这    个    王    国    的    君    主    了   。 婚    礼    在    盛    大    的    宴    会    中    举    行    了   ， 当    一    切    办    完    之    后   ， 公    主    告    诉    他   ， 说    她    听    说    了    他    的    父    亲    已    经    原    谅    了    他   ， 希    望    他    能    再    回    家    去   。 新    国    王    听    了    之    后   ， 回    去    见    了    父    亲   ， 将    他    的    两    个    哥    哥    如    何    欺    骗    他   ， 抢    去    生    命    之    水    的    事    情    都    告    诉    了    父    亲   ， 并    说    明    是    出    于    对    父    亲    的    爱   ， 他    才    忍    受    了    所    有    的    冤    屈   。 老    国    王    听    了    异    常    震    怒   ， 要    惩    罚    他    的    两    个    劣    子   。 但    两    个    儿    子    听    到    风    声    后    逃    跑    了   ， 他    们    上    了    一    条    船    扬    帆    出    海    去    了   ， 从    此   ， 再    也    没    有    听    到    过    他    们    的    消    息   。

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