Death's Messengers

by The Brothers Grimm

　　In ancient times a giant was once travelling on a great highway, whensuddenly an unknown man sprang up before him, and said, "Halt, not onestep farther!" "What!" cried the giant, "a creature whom I can crushbetween my fingers, wants to block my way? Who art thou that thou darestto speak so boldly?" "I am Death," answered the other. "No one resists me,and thou also must obey my commands." But the giant refused, and began tostruggle with Death. It was a long, violent battle, at last the giant gotthe upper hand, and struck Death down with his fist, so that he droppedby a stone. The giant went his way, and Death lay there conquered, andso weak that he could not get up again. "What will be done now," saidhe, "if I stay lying here in a corner? No one will die in the world,and it will get so full of people that they won't have room to standbeside each other." In the meantime a young man came along the road,who was strong and healthy, singing a song, and glancing around on everyside. When he saw the half-fainting one, he went compassionately to him,raised him up, poured a strengthening draught out of his flask for him,and waited till he came round. "Dost thou know," said the stranger,whilst he was getting up, "who I am, and who it is whom thou hast helpedon his legs again?" "No," answered the youth, "I do not know thee." "I amDeath," said he. "I spare no one, and can make no exception with thee,but that thou mayst see that I am grateful, I promise thee that I willnot fall on thee unexpectedly, but will send my messengers to thee beforeI come and take thee away." "Well," said the youth, "it is somethinggained that I shall know when thou comest, and at any rate be safe fromthee for so long." Then he went on his way, and was light-hearted, andenjoyed himself, and lived without thought. But youth and health did notlast long, soon came sicknesses and sorrows, which tormented him by day,and took away his rest by night. "Die, I shall not," said he to himself,"for Death will send his messengers before that, but I do wish thesewretched days of sickness were over." As soon as he felt himself wellagain he began once more to live merrily. Then one day some one tapped himon the shoulder. He looked round, and Death stood behind him, and said,"Follow me, the hour of thy departure from this world has come." "What,"replied the man, "wilt thou break thy word? Didst thou not promise methat thou wouldst send thy messengers to me before coming thyself? I haveseen none!" "Silence!" answered Death. "Have I not sent one messenger tothee after another? Did not fever come and smite thee, and shake thee,and cast thee down? Has dizziness not bewildered thy head? Has notgout twitched thee in all thy limbs? Did not thine ears sing? Did nottooth-ache bite into thy cheeks? Was it not dark before thine eyes? Andbesides all that, has not my own brother Sleep reminded thee every nightof me? Didst thou not lie by night as if thou wert already dead? The mancould make no answer; he yielded to his fate, and went away with Death.