The Twin Brothers
by Andrew Lang
The Twin Brothers' Adventure
Once upon a time, there were two brothers. They had a fisherman father and a mother. They had no children. They were sad. An old lady came to see them. She had a kind wish for them. She said, "Catch a little gold fish." The father caught the fish. It was magic. The mother and father ate a little piece. Soon, they had two baby boys. The boys looked the same. They were twins. They had two puppy friends and two horse friends. They had two magic trees by their door. The trees were green and strong.
The two brothers grew up. They were happy. Tom wanted to go on a trip. He said, "I will go and see the world." Tim stayed home. He was sad to see Tom go. Tom said, "Look at the trees. If they stay green, I am safe." Tom took his horse and his dog. He went away.
Tom went far. He saw a big house. He met an old lady there. He saw a castle on a hill. He asked, "Who lives there?" The old lady said, "The Princess lives there." Tom said, "I want to see her." He played his music. It was very pretty. The Princess heard the music. She liked it.
The next day, the Princess called Tom. She asked him many questions. She said, "I like your music. We can be friends." Tom was happy. He wanted to marry the Princess. The Princess said, "First, you must talk to my father, the King." Tom went to the King. The King said, "You can marry my Princess if you do one task." The King said, "You must run a race. Do not spill any water." Tom was worried. He did not know how.
Tom went back to the old lady's house. He was sad. He forgot his music. The Princess came to her window. She asked, "Why are you sad?" Tom told her about the race. The Princess smiled. She said, "Do not worry. I will help you." The next day, the Princess gave Tom a magic word. She said, "Say this word. You will not spill." Tom said the magic word. He ran the race. He did not spill any water. He won! The King was happy. He said, "You can marry my Princess."
Tom said, "I must go away for a few days. Then I will come back." He went away. He went to a new place. He met an old lady there. She was not kind. She had a magic wand. She touched Tom's dog with her wand. The dog became very still. He could not move. She touched Tom and his horse. They also became very still. They were stuck. The magic trees at home saw this. They started to look sick. Their leaves fell.
Tim saw the trees. He knew something was wrong. He said, "Tom needs my help!" Tim went to find Tom. He went to the same town. He met the same old lady. She thought he was Tom. She said, "Hello again!" Tim did not say anything. He went to the castle. The King and the Princess thought he was Tom. They said, "We are happy to see you!" At night, Tim slept in the same room as the Princess. He was very kind.
In the morning, Tim went to find Tom. He found Tom. He was very still. He found the old lady. He asked, "Please help my brother." The old lady said, "No. I will trick you too." Tim's dog barked at the old lady. The old lady was scared. She said, "Okay! I will help!" She had two wands. One was green. One was red. The green wand made things still. The red wand made things move. Tim took the red wand. He waved it at Tom. Tom moved again! His horse and dog moved too. The old lady said she was sorry. She ran away.
The two brothers walked back together. Tom was happy. He said, "I am safe! I had a big adventure!" He told Tim about meeting the Princess. He said, "I won a race! I will marry the Princess!" Tim felt sad and angry. He said, "But they thought I was you!" Tim said, "I slept in your room. I was kind." Tom looked surprised. He did not understand. The brothers felt hurt. They did not talk. They walked quietly. They were not happy.
They went to see the Princess. The Princess saw their faces. She asked, "Why are you sad?" Tom told her everything. The Princess smiled kindly. She said, "Tim, you were very brave and good." She said, "Tom, your brother saved you. You are both special." She helped them talk. They listened. Tim said, "I am happy you are safe, Tom." Tom said, "Thank you for helping me, Tim." They were not angry anymore. They became friends again. Tom married the Princess. They had a big party. The brothers brought their parents to live with them. They all lived together. They were very happy.
Being loyal and helping each other makes everyone happy. And they all lived happily ever after, with their family and friends.
Original Story
The Twin Brothers Once there was a fisherman who had plenty of money but no children. One day an old woman came to his wife and said: ‘What use is all your prosperity to you when you have no children?’ ‘It is God’s will,’ answered the fisherman’s wife. ‘Nay, my child, it is not God’s will, but the fault of your husband; for if he would but catch the little gold-fish you would surely have children. To-night, when he comes home, tell him he must go back and catch the little fish. He must then cut it in six pieces--one of these you must eat, and your husband the second, and soon after you will have two children. The third piece you must give to the dog, and she will have two puppies. The fourth piece give to the mare, and she will have two foals. The fifth piece bury on the right of the house door, and the sixth on the left, and two cypress trees will spring up there.’ When the fisherman came home at evening his wife told him all that the old woman had advised, and he promised to bring home the little gold-fish. Next morning, therefore, he went very early to the water, and caught the little fish. Then they did as the old woman had ordered, and in due time the fisherman’s wife had two sons, so like each other that no one could tell the difference. The dog had two puppies exactly alike, the mare had two foals, and on each side of the front door there sprang up two cypress trees precisely similar. When the two boys were grown up, they were not content to remain at home, though they had wealth in plenty; but they wished to go out into the world, and make a name for themselves. Their father would not allow them both to go at once, as they were the only children he had. He said: ‘First one shall travel, and when he is come back then the other may go.’ So the one took his horse and his dog, and went, saying to his brother: ‘So long as the cypress trees are green, that is a sign that I am alive and well; but if one begins to wither, then make haste and come to me.’ So he went forth into the world. One day he stopped at the house of an old woman, and as at evening he sat before the door, he perceived in front of him a castle standing on a hill. He asked the old woman to whom it belonged, and her answer was: ‘My son, it is the castle of the Fairest in the Land!’ ‘And I am come here to woo her!’ ‘That, my son, many have sought to do, and have lost their lives in the attempt; for she has cut off their heads and stuck them on the post you see standing there.’ ‘And the same will she do to me, or else I shall be victor, for to-morrow I go there to court her.’ Then he took his zither and played upon it so beautifully that no one in all that land had ever heard the like, and the princess herself came to the window to listen. The next morning the Fairest in the Land sent for the old woman and asked her, ‘Who is it that lives with you, and plays the zither so well?’ ‘It is a stranger, princess, who arrived yesterday evening,’ answered the old woman. And the princess then commanded that the stranger should be brought to her. When he appeared before the princess she questioned him about his home and his family, and about this and that; and confessed at length that his zither-playing gave her great pleasure, and that she would take him for her husband. The stranger replied that it was with that intent he had come. The princess then said: ‘You must now go to my father, and tell him you desire to have me to wife, and when he has put the three problems before you, then come back and tell me.’ The stranger then went straight to the king, and told him that he wished to wed his daughter. And the king answered: ‘I shall be well pleased, provided you can do what I impose upon you; if not you will lose your head. Now, listen; out there on the ground, there lies a thick log, which measures more than two fathoms; if you can cleave it in two with one stroke of your sword, I will give you my daughter to wife. If you fail, then it will cost you your head.’ Then the stranger withdrew, and returned to the house of the old woman sore distressed, for he could believe nothing but that next day he must atone to the king with his head. And so full was he of the idea of how to set about cleaving the log that he forgot even his zither. In the evening came the princess to the window to listen to his playing, and behold all was still. Then she called to him: ‘Why are you so cast down this evening, that you do not play on your zither?’ And he told her his trouble. But she laughed at it, and called to him: ‘And you grieve over that? Bring quickly your zither, and play something for my amusement, and early to-morrow come to me.’ Then the stranger took his zither and played the whole evening for the amusement of the princess. Next morning she took a hair from her locks and gave it to him, saying: ‘Take this hair, and wind it round your sword, then you will be able to cleave the log in two.’ Then the stranger went forth, and with one blow cleft the log in two. But the king said: ‘I will impose another task upon you, before you can wed my daughter.’ ‘Speak on,’ said the stranger. ‘Listen, then,’ answered the king; ‘you must mount a horse and ride three miles at full gallop, holding in each hand a goblet full of water. If you spill no drop then I shall give you my daughter to wife, but should you not succeed then I will take your life.’ Then the stranger returned to the house of the old woman, and again he was so troubled as to forget his zither. In the evening the princess came to the window as before to listen to the music, but again all was still; and she called to him: ‘What is the matter that you do not play on your zither?’ Then he related all that the king had ordered him to do, and the princess answered: ‘Do not let yourself be disturbed, only play now, and come to me to-morrow morning.’ Then next morning he went to her, and she gave him her ring, saying: ‘Throw this ring into the water and it will immediately freeze, so that you will not spill any.’ The stranger did as the princess bade him, and carried the water all the way. Then the king said: ‘Now I will give you a third task, and this shall be the last. I have a negro who will fight with you to-morrow, and if you are the conqueror you shall wed my daughter.’ The stranger returned, full of joy, to the house of the old woman, and that evening was so merry that the princess called to him; ‘You seem very cheerful this evening; what has my father told you that makes you so glad?’ He answered: ‘Your father has told me that to-morrow I must fight with his negro. He is only another man like myself, and I hope to subdue him, and to gain the contest.’ But the princess answered: ‘This is the hardest of all. I myself am the black man, for I swallow a drink that changes me into a negro of unconquerable strength. Go to-morrow morning to the market, buy twelve buffalo hides and wrap them round your horse; fasten this cloth round you, and when I am let loose upon you to-morrow show it to me, that I may hold myself back and may not kill you. Then when you fight me you must try to hit my horse between the eyes, for when you have killed it you have conquered me.’ Next morning, therefore, he went to the market and bought the twelve buffalo hides which he wrapped round his horse. Then he began to fight with the black man, and when the combat had already lasted a long time, and eleven hides were torn, then the stranger hit the negro’s horse between the eyes, so that it fell dead, and the black man was defeated. Then said the king: ‘Because you have solved the three problems I take you for my son-in-law.’ But the stranger answered: ‘I have some business to conclude first; in fourteen days I will return and bring the bride home.’ So he arose and went into another country, where he came to a great town, and alighted at the house of an old woman. When he had had supper he begged of her some water to drink, but she answered: ‘My son, I have no water; a giant has taken possession of the spring, and only lets us draw from it once a year, when we bring him a maiden. He eats her up, and then he lets us draw water; just now it is the lot of the king’s daughter, and to-morrow she will be led forth.’ The next day accordingly the princess was led forth to the spring, and bound there with a golden chain. After that all the people went away and she was left alone. When they had gone the stranger went to the maiden and asked her what ailed her that she lamented so much, and she answered that the reason was because the giant would come and eat her up. And the stranger promised that he would set her free if she would take him for her husband, and the princess joyfully consented. When the giant appeared the stranger set his dog at him, and it took him by the throat and throttled him till he died; so the princess was set free. Now when the king heard of it he gladly consented to the marriage, and the wedding took place with great rejoicings. The young bridegroom abode in the palace one hundred and one weeks. Then he began to find it too dull, and he desired to go out hunting. The king would fain have prevented it, but in this he could not succeed. Then he begged his son-in-law at least to take sufficient escort with him, but this, too, the young man evaded, and took only his horse and his dog. He had ridden already a long way, when he saw in the distance a hut, and rode straight towards it in order to get some water to drink. There he found an old woman from whom he begged the water. She answered that first he should allow her to beat his dog with her little wand, that it might not bite her while she fetched the water. The hunter consented; and as soon as she had touched the dog with her wand it immediately turned to stone. Thereupon she touched the hunter and also his horse, and both turned to stone. As soon as that had happened, the cypress trees in front of his father’s house began to wither. And when the other brother saw this, he immediately set out in search 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.
Moral of the Story
Loyalty and perseverance can overcome great challenges, and true love often requires sacrifice and cunning.
Characters
First Twin Brother ★ protagonist
Identical to his brother, handsome and strong
Attire: Traveling clothes, tunic, leather boots, sword belt
Brave, initially successful, trusting, quick to anger
Second Twin Brother ★ protagonist
Identical to his brother, handsome and strong
Attire: Traveling clothes, tunic, leather boots, sword belt
Loyal, resourceful, cautious, forgiving
The Fairest in the Land ◆ supporting
Beautiful, desired by many
Attire: Richly embroidered gown, jeweled accessories
Intelligent, resourceful, decisive
The King (Father of the Fairest) ◆ supporting
Regal bearing, imposing presence
Attire: Royal robes, crown, scepter
Demanding, skeptical, ultimately fair
Old Woman (Enchantress) ⚔ antagonist
Hunched, wrinkled, seemingly harmless
Attire: Ragged clothes, shawl
Deceptive, malicious, cruel
Princess (Rescued from Giant) ◆ supporting
Beautiful, damsel in distress
Attire: Fine gown, golden chain
Grateful, agreeable
Locations
Fisherman's House
A prosperous home, indicated by the fisherman's wealth, with a front door where cypress trees are planted.
Mood: peaceful, familial
The old woman gives the fisherman's wife instructions about the goldfish; the cypress trees wither when one brother is in danger.
Castle on a Hill
The castle of the Fairest in the Land, visible from a distance, with the heads of unsuccessful suitors displayed on posts.
Mood: dangerous, alluring
The first brother woos the princess; he completes the king's tasks.
Giant's Spring
A spring controlled by a giant, where a maiden is sacrificed annually to ensure the town's water supply; the princess is bound with a golden chain.
Mood: oppressive, fearful
The first brother slays the giant and rescues the princess.
Old Woman's Hut in the Woods
A seemingly innocuous hut in the woods, inhabited by a witch who turns people and animals to stone with a magic wand.
Mood: deceptive, dangerous
The first brother is turned to stone; the second brother confronts the witch.
Roadside Clearing
A nondescript location on the road between the castle and the hut, where the brothers argue and one is killed.
Mood: tense, remorseful
The first brother is murdered; the princess revives him with water.
Story DNA
Moral
Loyalty and perseverance can overcome great challenges, and true love often requires sacrifice and cunning.
Plot Summary
Born miraculously with a twin brother, twin animals, and twin trees, the first brother leaves home to seek adventure. He wins a princess by completing three impossible tasks with her secret magical aid, then leaves for another adventure where he is turned to stone by an evil old woman. His twin, alerted by the withering trees, sets out to find him, is mistaken for his brother, and eventually rescues him by outsmarting the old woman. In a fit of rage, the second brother kills the first, but the princess revives him, leading to reconciliation and a happy ending for all.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to wisdom
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, novelist, and literary critic, known for collecting and publishing fairy tales from various European traditions in his 'Fairy Books' series. This story reflects common European folk tale motifs.
Plot Beats (15)
- A childless fisherman and wife are advised by an old woman to eat parts of a magical goldfish, resulting in twin sons, twin puppies, twin foals, and twin cypress trees.
- The twin sons grow up, and the first brother decides to travel the world to make a name for himself, establishing a magical link to his brother via the cypress trees.
- The first brother arrives at a castle and falls in love with the princess, 'the Fairest in the Land'.
- The king sets three impossible tasks for the first brother to win his daughter's hand: cleaving a log with one sword stroke, riding three miles with full goblets without spilling, and defeating a powerful negro.
- The princess secretly helps the first brother complete each task using her magic (a hair, a ring, and instructions for fighting her transformed self).
- After winning the princess, the first brother leaves for fourteen days to conclude business, promising to return for the wedding.
- The first brother encounters a town terrorized by a giant who demands maidens for water; he defeats the giant and marries that king's daughter.
- After a long stay, the first brother goes hunting, is lured by an evil old woman, and is turned to stone along with his horse and dog.
- The cypress trees wither, alerting the second brother, who sets out to find his twin.
- The second brother is mistaken for his twin by the old woman and the king/princess in the town where his brother married.
- The second brother discovers his petrified twin and, by threatening the evil old woman with his dog, forces her to reveal the magic to reverse the spell.
- The second brother uses the red wand to revive his twin, his horse, and dog, then orders his dog to kill the evil old woman.
- On the way back, the first brother recounts his adventures, including claiming the princess as his wife, which enrages the second brother, who kills him.
- The princess, realizing the deception, takes the second brother to the site of the murder and revives the first brother with a magical potion.
- The brothers reconcile, the first brother marries the princess he originally courted, and they bring their parents to live with them, living happily ever after.
