The twin brothers

arch of his twin. He came first to the town where his brother had slain the giant, and there fate led him to the same old woman where his brother had lodged. When she saw him she took him for his twin brother, and said to him: `Do not take it amiss of me, my son, that I did not come to wish you joy on your marriage with the king`s daughter.`
The stranger perceived what mistake she had made, but only said: `That does not matter, old woman,` and rode on, without further speech, to the king`s palace, where the king and the princess both took him for his twin brother, and called out: `Why have you tarried so long away? We thought something evil had befallen you.`
When night came and he slept with the princess, who still believed him to be her husband, he laid his sword between them, and when morning came he rose early and went out to hunt. Fate led him by the same way which his brother had taken, and from a distance he saw him and knew that he was turned to stone. Then he entered the hut and ordered the old woman to disenchant his brother. But she answered: `Let me first touch your dog with my wand, and then I will free your brother.`
He ordered the dog, however, to take hold of her, and bite her up to the knee, till she cried out: `Tell your dog to let me go and I will set your brother free!`
But he only answered: `Tell me the magic words that I may disenchant him myself;` and as she would not he ordered his dog to bite her up to the hip.
Then the old woman cried out: `I have two wands, with the green one I turn to stone, and with the red one I bring to life again.`
So the hunter took the red wand and disenchanted his brother, also his brother`s horse, and his dog, and ordered his own dog to eat the old woman up altogether.
While the brothers went on their way back to the castle of the king, the one brother related to the other how the cypress tree had all at once dried up and withered, how he had immediately set out in search of his twin, and how he had come to the castle of his father-in-law, and had claimed the princess as his wife. But the other brother became furious on hearing this, and smote him over the forehead till he died, and returned alone to the house of his father-in-law.
When night came and he was in bed the princess asked him: `What was the matter with you last night, that you never spoke a word to me?`
Then he cried out: `That was not me, but my brother, and I have slain him, because he told me by the way that he had claimed you for his wife!`
`Do you know the place where you slew him?` asked the princess, `and can you find the body?`
`I know the place exactly.`
`Then to-morrow we shall ride thither,` said the princess. Next morning accordingly they set out together, and when they had come to the place, the princess drew forth a small bottle that she had brought with her, and sprinkled the body with some drops of the water so that immediately he became alive again.
When he stood up, his brother said to him: `Forgive me, dear brother, that I slew you in my anger.` Then they embraced and went together to the Fairest in the Land, whom the unmarried brother took to wife.
Then the brothers brought their parents to live with them, and all dwelt together in joy and happiness.