The Three Snake-Leaves

Once upon a time there was a poor man who could no longer feed his only son. The son said: "Dear father, you are so miserable, I am a burden to you, I would rather go away myself and see how I earn my bread. Then the father gave him his blessing and took leave of him with great sadness. At that time the king of a powerful empire was at war. The youth took service with him and went with him into the field. And when he came before the enemy, a battle was fought, and there was great danger, and rained blue beans, that his comrades fell down on every side. And when the leader also stayed, the rest wanted to flee, but the youth stepped out and spoke courage to them, shouting, "we will not let our fatherland perish." Then the others followed him, and he entered and struck the enemy. The king, hearing that he alone had to thank him for the victory, raised him above all others, gave him great treasures and made him the first in his kingdom.

The king had a daughter who was very beautiful, but she was also very strange. She had made a vow not to take anyone as her lord and husband who would not promise, if she died first, to be buried alive with her. "If he loves me dearly," she said, "what use is life to him?" Against this she would do a like, and if he died first, enter the grave with him. This strange vow had so far frightened off all suitors, but the youth was so taken in by her beauty that he paid no attention to anything, but asked for her from her father. "Do you also," said the king, "know what you must promise?". "I must go with her to the grave," he answered, "if I outlive her, but my love is so great that I am heedless of the danger." Then the king consented, and the wedding was celebrated with great splendor.