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placed in the emperor's room。
Now when the emperor lay down in it he seemed as if he had grown
a hundred times heavier than usual； yet he felt a kind of calm
that was quite new to him。 But the empress felt as if she was
lying on thorns and nettles； and could not close her eyes。
When the emperor was fast asleep； the bed began to crack loudly；
and to the empress each crack had a meaning。 She felt as if she
were listening to a language which no one but herself could
understand。
'Is it too heavy for you； little brother？' asked one of the beds。
'Oh； no； it is not heavy at all；' answered the bed in which the
emperor was sleeping。 'I feel nothing but joy now that my
beloved father rests over me。'
'It is very heavy for me！' said the other bed； 'for on me lies an
evil soul。'
And so they talked on till the morning； the empress listening all
the while。
By daybreak the empress had determined how to get rid of the
beds。 She would have two others made exactly like them； and when
the emperor had gone hunting they should be placed in his room。
This was done and the aspen beds were burnt in a large fire； till
only a little heap of ashes was left。
Yet while they were burning the empress seemed to hear the same
words； which she alone could understand。
Then she stooped and gathered up the ashes； and scattered them to
the four winds； so that they might blow over fresh lands and
fresh seas； and nothing remain of them。
But she had not seen that where the fire burnt brightest two
sparks flew up； and； after floating in the air for a few moments；
fell down into the great river that flows through the heart of
the country。 Here the sparks had turned into two little fishes
with golden scales； and one was so exactly like the other that
everyone could tell at the first glance that they must be twins。
Early one morning the emperor's fishermen went down to the river
to get some fish for their master's breakfast； and cast their
nets into the stream。 As the last star twinkled out of the sky
they drew them in； and among the multitude of fishes lay two with
scales of gold； such as no man had ever looked on。
They all gathered round and wondered； and after some talk they
decided that they would take the little fishes alive as they
were； and give them as a present to the emperor。
'Do not take us there； for that is whence we came； and yonder
lies our destruction；' said one of the fishes。
'But what are we to do with you？' asked the fisherman。
'Go and collect all the dew that lies on the leaves； and let us
swim in it。 Then lay us in the sun； and do not come near us till
the sun's rays shall have dried off the dew；' answered the other
fish。
The fisherman did as they told himgathered the dew from the
leaves and let them swim in it； then put them to lie in the sun
till the dew should be all dried up。
And when he came back； what do you think he saw？ Why； two boys；
two beautiful young princes； with hair as golden as the stars on
their foreheads； and each so like the other； that at the first
glance every one would have known them for twins。
The boys grew fast。 In every day they grew a year's growth； and
in every night another year's growth； but at dawn； when the stars
were fading； they grew three years' growth in the twinkling of an
eye。 And they grew in other things besides height； too。 Thrice
in age； and thrice in wisdom； and thrice in knowledge。 And when
three days and three nights had passed they were twelve years in
age； twenty…four in strength； and thirty…six in wisdom。
'Now take us to our father；' said they。 So the fisherman gave
them each a lambskin cap which half covered their faces； and
completely hid their golden hair and the stars on their
foreheads； and led them to the court。
By the time they arrived there it was midday； and the fisherman
and his charges went up to an official who was standing about。
'We wish to speak with the emperor；' said one of the boys。
'You must wait until he has finished his dinner；' replied the
porter。
'No； while he is eating it；' said the second boy； stepping across
the threshold。
The attendants all ran forward to thrust such impudent youngsters
outside the palace； but the boys slipped through their fingers
like quicksilver； and entered a large hall； where the emperor was
dining； surrounded by his whole court。
'We desire to enter；' said one of the princes sharply to a
servant who stood near the door。
'That is quite impossible；' replied the servant。
'Is it？ let us see！' said the second prince； pushing the
servants to right and left。
But the servants were many； and the princes only two。 There was
the noise of a struggle； which reached the emperor's ears。
'What is the matter？' asked he angrily。
The princes stopped at the sound of their father's voice。
'Two boys who want to force their way in；' replied one of the
servants； approaching the emperor。
'To FORCE their way in？ Who dares to use force in my palace？
What boys are they？' said the emperor all in one breath。
'We know not； O mighty emperor；' answered the servant； 'but they
must surely be akin to you； for they have the strength of lions；
and have scattered the guards at the gate。 And they are as proud
as they are strong； for they will not take their caps from their
heads。'
The emperor； as he listened； grew red with anger。
'Thrust them out；' cried he。 'Set the dogs after them。'
'Leave us alone； and we will go quietly；' said the princes； and
stepped backwards； weeping silently at the harsh words。 They had
almost reached the gates when a servant ran up to them。
'The emperor commands you to return；' panted he： 'the empress
wishes to see you。'
The princes thought a moment： then they went back the way they
had come； and walked straight up to the emperor； their caps still
on their heads。
He sat at the top of a long table covered with flowers and filled
with guests。 And beside him sat the empress； supported by twelve
cushions。 When the princes entered one of the cushions fell
down； and there remained only eleven。
'Take off your caps；' said one of the courtiers。
'A covered head is among men a sign of honour。 We wish to seem
what we are。'
'Never mind；' said the emperor； whose anger had dropped before
the silvery tones of the boy's voice。 'Stay as you are； but tell
me WHO you are！ Where do you come from； and what do you want？'
'We are twins； two shoots from one stem； which has been broken；
and half lies in the ground and half sits at the head of this
table。 We have travelled a long way； we have spoken in the
rustle of the wind； have whispered in the wood； we have sung in
the waters； but now we wish to tell you a story which you know
without knowing it； in the speech of men。'
And a second cushion fell down。
'Let them take their silliness home；' said the empress。
'Oh； no； let them go on；' said the emperor。 'You wished to see
them； but I wish to hear them。 Go on； boys； sing me the story。'
The empress was silent； but the princes began to sing the story
of their lives。
'There was once an emperor；' began they； and the third cushion
fell down。
When they rea