014. The Yellow Water (El Agua Amarilla)
A king who had become king when he was still very young, was in love with the daughter of one of the guards who looked after the lands next to the palace. This guard’s house was within the boundaries of the palace’s gardens and the king used to take strolls through them with the hope of running into the girl that he loved, but he never did manage to see her alone and had to settle for gazing at her and her two sisters through the few gaps in the thick hedge surrounding the house.Thus the days went by and the king’s mood oscillated between anxiety and melancholy.
On one of those occasions when he whiled away the time looking through the hedge, he saw that the guard’s three daughters were at the door of the house quietly sewing. Then the king pricked up his ears and could hear the following conversation.
Aye, how I would like to marry a handsome young man who works as a baker, because I would have bread guaranteed for myself and for my children for the rest of my life!
said the eldest of the sisters.
As for me – said the middle – I would like to marry a chef, young and handsome, because then I would have bread and food for life.
And then he heard the little one spoke, who was [also] the one he loved:
Well, I don’t want either of those two as my husband, because what I would like is to marry the king!
and she said this knowing that it was impossible [to happen].
And the king heard this, went around the hedge behind which he had watched them, presented himself in front of the girls and said to them:
I have heard your three wishes, and whenever you wish, I will see to it that those three weddings are celebrated in the palace. You -he said to the oldest- you will marry my baker; you -he said to the middle one- you will marry my chef; and you -he added, addressing the little one- you will marry me, because I am the king and you are the chosen one of my heart.
The guard’s three daughters, though they found him very handsome and cute, thought that he was one of the servants of the king and laughed at him, but then the father arrived, who recognized the king, and the three [of them] understood that what he said was true.
So the three of them were very happy and content when they got married. But after a short time, envy began to nest in the hearts of the two older sisters, to the point that they ended up hating the youngest to death for this reason.
Time passed and, a year after the day of the wedding, the queen gave birth to a baby boy. The sisters, whose envy had only grown, took advantage of an oversight, stole the child, put him in a basket and threw it in the river with the hope that the child would drown. In his place, they presented to the king a beautifully adorned basket, with a wrapped newborn puppy in it, and they told the king that their sister had given birth to it.
The king, although he loved her very much, was so upset that he decided to divorce her, but his councilors convinced him not to do this, as they did not know what this [event] signified. So the king decided to wait and reconciled with the queen.
In the meantime, the basket that the child was placed in floated down the river along the valley until it was stranded in a pool of water, and there it was found by one of the king’s guards who lived furthest away from the palace. And as this guard was wanting to have a son, for his wife was barren, he picked him up and took him home, where his wife received him with great joy and they agreed to raise him without telling anyone how they had found him.
And it happened that the queen became pregnant again. The sisters, who hated her even more because their plan had not worked out as they had hoped, resolved to do the same thing again, confident that the plan would work this time, and they exchanged the child with a newborn kitten and presented it to the king. The king, this time around, was furious and wanted to kill the queen, but the councilors told him again not to do this, as nature at times manifested itself in extraordinary ways and that the new event seemed to them even more mysterious than the previous one, so that it was necessary to wait, at least once more, before deciding that the queen was culpable. And the king reluctantly agreed.
The sisters, as in the previous time, had thrown the child into the same river in a basket and this basket was found by the same guard, who thought it was a gift from heaven and he hastened to carry him back to his wife to bring him up as well; and in this way they found themselves with two sons.
The queen became pregnant [yet] again and, a year later, gave birth to a girl. As the sisters lacked the time to do with the child as they had done with her brothers, for they did not find either puppy nor kitten, they put a piece of cork smeared with blood in the basket and threw the newborn girl into the river in another basket. And it happened that the same guard again found her and, on seeing that this time it was a girl, he went mad with joy and hastened to take her back to his wife so that she could raise her up.
Meanwhile, the king, who no longer wanted to listen to his councilors, had an iron cage made, locked the queen in it and ordered the cage to be hung at the palace door by the day so that everyone who entered or left the palace could make fun of and throw food at her as they would some animals, and at night they would keep it in the stables.
Time passed and the children grew up in the guard’s home who took them in, and neither he nor his wife said anything to anyone about the children’s origin, so that everyone who knew them took the children to be their own. But one day the guard died and the wife had to move to a much smaller house [on land] much further away, which also belonged to the king, on the edge of the forest. And when the girl turned fifteen, the wife died and the children were orphaned. Then she [the youngest child] took charge of the house and organized and maintained it while the brothers earned a living, sometimes from hunting, other times from an [honest] day’s work, to support the three of them.
Until one day an old woman came to the house and was talking to the girl while the brothers were away [from the house], and she said to her at the end of the conversation:
You will not be happy if you do not possess these three things: the yellow water, the talking bird, and the singing tree.
The girl was concerned and confused and when her brothers returned she told them what the old woman had said to her. Then the eldest told her that they had also met an old woman who was talking to them and at the end [of the conversation] gave them a mirror and a knife, warning them that when the mirror got fogged up or the knife got stained with blood, it would mean that its owner had gotten into great danger.
So the eldest decided to go search for the three things that the old woman mentioned and, before setting out, he handed the knife to his siblings and [then] went into the forest.
After much walking, he saw a hermit at the door of his hermitage and decided to ask him if he knew where to find the yellow water, the talking bird, and the singing tree. The hermit replied that he did know, but all who searched for those three things became enchanted [cursed] and never returned.
The eldest brother replied that he was determined to obtain them and the hermit then gave him a ball with these instructions: that when he saw the road was sloping downward, he would let it roll and it would only stop once it reached [the foot] a mountain, and he should go up this mountain and must never look back.
The young man took the ball and, when he saw that the road sloped downward, he did as the hermit had told him and began to climb the mountain, but half way through his ascent he heard voices that called his name, [upon which] he turned back to look and was turned into stone.
The other two siblings were keeping an eye on the knife and, suddenly, they saw that it was filled with blood. Then the second brother said:
This means that my elder brother is in danger, so I’m going to his aid.
He handed his mirror to his sister and went to the forest.
After a long walk, he found the hermitage and asked the hermit the same question as his brother, and the hermit handed him another ball and gave him the same instructions, but it happened to the young man exactly the same as to his brother and he, too, was turned into stone.
The sister, who was watching the mirror, saw suddenly that it fogged up and became turbid and she knew that her second brother was also in danger, so she determined to set out [in search of them] and entered the forest.
When she got to the hermitage, she asked the hermit:
Have you seen two young men looking so-and-so passing through here?
And the hermit said:
Two young men who were searching for the yellow water?
That is them -she replied.
Well, I told those two what I am going to tell you now – to take this ball, and when you see the road slopes downward, let the ball roll, and it will stop on its own before a mountain; then climb up to its peak without looking back, because at the top of the mountain is a bird which speaks and, when you have your hand on it, you’d be able to look back without [any] danger.
Then she asked him for a ball and also some cloth to cover her ears, and started out and did everything the hermit told her [to do]. As she had covered her ears with little pieces of cloth, she did not hear the voices calling out her name, and so she arrived at the peak of the mountain, where she saw a bird and put her hand on it; then the bird spoke:
A woman had caught me! – it said.
And the girl sweetly petted it and spoke to it in the same [gentle] manner, and then she asked it about the yellow water and the singing tree, and the bird, satisfied [with her treatment for it], explained to her where they could be found and also that if she watered the stones in which her brothers had turned into with the yellow water, she would disenchant them.
The girl cut off a branch from the singing tree, filled a pitcher which she had with her with the yellow water, wet the branch and sprinkled the stones with it, and disenchanted her brothers. Then they joyfully went back to their house where they planted the branch of the tree. And the branch took root and began to grow, and songs came out from every new leaf that sprouted, as if the tree were full of little birds.
The next day, the two brothers went hunting for food and ran into the king, but he was not recognized by them because they had never seen him [before], as isolated as they had lived [up until now].
So they chatted with the king and he found the boys to be so pleasant that he invited them over to dine [at his place]. They thanked him from the bottom of their hearts, but told him that they could not leave their sister by herself, and the king then said:
Well, let her come too.
So they went to look for her and then they came to [the palace to] eat with the king. When they entered the palace, they were overcome with grief when they saw a woman in a cage, but out of prudence they did not want to ask anything [regarding the matter]. After eating, the king showed them around the palace and the gardens and, when they were bidding goodbye to one another, they begged the king to agree to go and eat with them at their house, to repay him in some way, on which the king readily agreed to do. And as they left the palace their hearts shrank [once more] when they again saw the woman in the cage.
So they returned to their house, began to think about what they would treat the king to, and they were discussing among themselves when they heard the talking bird said:
Give him cucumbers stuffed with pearls.
What did you say? -they replied in astonishment.
Give him cucumbers stuffed with pearls.
And where are we going to find pearls? -they asked.
And the bird said to them:
At the foot of the singing tree you will find a chest full of pearls.
They searched for it, and sure enough, there it was.
So the king arrived the next day, accompanied by some of his councilors as was his custom. They all sat down at the table that the brothers had prepared with great care and the girl served [them] the first plate of cucumbers. The king opened one and, on seeing the pearls, he said aloud [while] showing it to his councilors:
Where have you seen someone eating cucumbers with pearls?
And the talking bird then said:
And where have you seen a woman who can give birth to a dog, a cat, and a cork?
And everyone was amazed when they heard this; and the king then said:
Well, if not that, then what did the queen give birth to?
And the bird spoke again:
To the three youths [standing] before you here.
The girl, on hearing this, said to the bird:
Wasn’t the guard’s wife our mother?
And the bird replied:
Your real mother is the woman who is [currently] in a cage, who is [also] the queen; and the queen’s sisters, out of envy on seeing her being better married than they, exchanged each of you with a puppy, a kitten, and a piece of cork and threw you all into the river in a basket.
Then the king rose, and his councilors with him, filled with astonishment at what they had just learned, and the king embraced the siblings with great joy on knowing that his three children were [still] alive and sent his councilors to the palace immediately to take down the queen and to announce to her that he was returning with their children, for whom he hoped to obtain her forgiveness. And by the same means, he ordered them to detain the sisters and to lock them in the same cage which the queen had been in. And having said this, he embraced his children again with tears in his eyes and together they returned to the palace, where they lived happily [together] just as the old woman had predicted.
—– VOCABULARY —–
Acabar – (to complete) to finish; (to come to an end) to end
Acariciar – to pet, to caress, to stroke
Acceder – to agree
Acordar – to agree; acordarse – to remember
Acostumbrar – (to normally do) to be used to
Agradable – nice, pleasant, agreeable
Agradecer – to thank, to be grateful, to appreciate
Aguzar – (to intensify) to sharpen, to prick up (ears)
Ahogarse – to drown, to choke
Aislado – isolated
Alejado – remote, distant; away from
Al menos – at least
Al otro día – the next day
Amar – to love
Añadir – to add
Andar – (to be in a certain state) to go, to be
Aprovechar – to take advantage of, to make the most of
Apuesto – handsome, good-looking
A punto de – (very close to) about to; almost, nearly, on the verge of
A regañadientes – reluctantly, unwillingly
Arqueta – (small box for valuables) casket, small chest
Arrojar – to throw, to hurl; (to cast out) to throw out
Asegurar – (to promise) to assure, to guarantee
A solas – alone, by oneself
Asombro – amazement, surprised, fright
Atónito – astonished; amazed
Atrás – behind
A través de – through
Aunque – even though, although
Auxilio – assistance, help
A veces – (occasionally) sometimes, at times
Avecillas – little birds
Bola – ball
Brotar – to sprout, to bud
Buena gana – willingly, readily, gladly
Burla – taunt, jibe
Caballerizas – stables
Cachorro – puppy, cub
Canastilla – small basket; (clothes and accessories for a baby) layette
Cantarillo – small jar or pitcher
Cara – face
Caza – hunting
Cestillo – small basket
Cierto – true, certain
Coger – (to take hold of) to take, to catch
Colgar – (to suspend) to hang
Comprender – to understand
Conformase con – to be satisfied with, to be happy with
Conque – so, so then
Conseguir – (to realize an objective) to achieve; (to acquire) to get, to obtain
Consejero – counselor, councilor
Con tales y tales señas – with such and such signs
Contemplar – (to observe) to gaze at, to contemplate, to study
Convencer – to convince, to persuade
Corcho – cork
Corresponder – to repay, to return
Coser – to sew, to stitch
Cría – (offspring) litter (of dogs); brood (of birds)
Criarse – to be brought up, to grow up; criar – to raise, to bring up
Criatura – kid, child; creature
Cuánto – how much, how many; exclamatory
Cuesta – slope, incline
Cuidar – to take care of, to look after
Dar a luz a – to give birth to
Dar de comer – to feed
Decidirse – to make up one’s mind
De forma que – so that
Dejar – to leave; (to allow) to let; (to loan) to lend
Delante – in front
De modo que – so that
De nuevo – again, once again
Departir – to converse, to talk, to chat
Descolgar – to take down; to lower
Descuido – carelessness, negligence
Descutir – to argue; to discuss
Despedir – to say goodbye; to fire, to dismiss
Detenerse – to stop
Dirigirse – (to talk to) to address; (to move toward) to walk toward
Efectivamente – truly, indeed
Elegido – (picked) chosen, selected
Embarazada – pregnant, expecting
Empañar – (to cover with steam) to mist up, to steam up; to tarnish
Enamorado – in love
Encargar – to order
Encerra – to lock up, to shut in
Encima – above, on top
Encoger – (to reduce in size) to shrink; to make bleed
Encontrarse – (to be situated) to be
Encontrarse con – to meet with; to discover, to find, to come across
Entregar – to give, to hand over; (to transport) to deliver
Entretener – to entertain, to amuse
Envidia – envy, jealousy
Envuelto – wrapped; (surrounded) enveloped; (implicated) involved
Esmero – care, great care, diligence
Estar pendiente de – to keep an eye on; to be waiting for
Faltar tiempo – missing time; wasting time
Fuera – outside, out, away
Había hecho – I had done
Hallarse – (to be situated) to be; (to be part of) to be; (to experience a state or emotion) to feel, to find oneself; (to discover oneself) to find oneself
Hermosamente – beautifully
Humedecer – to moisten, to dampen
Internarse – to penetrate, to advance deep
Jaula – cage, prison
Jornal – (day’s wage) day’s work
Lagrimas – tears
Lástima – (sadness) shame, pity
El/la linde – boundary
Mancharse – to get dirty; to stain, to tarnish
Mantenerse – (to provide for oneself) to support oneself, to live on
Meterse en/por – to go in
Mimo – (show of affection) cuddle, caress; pamper
Mostrar – (to exhibit) to show, to display; mostrarse – to appear, to seem
Mozo – young boy
Mudarse – (to relocate) to move
Naturaleza – nature
Navegar – (to travel by vessel) to sail, to fly
Nido – nest, den
Ocuparse – (to tackle) to deal with; (to take responsibility) to be in charge; (to look after) to take care of gather
Odiar – to detest, to hate
Pájaro – bird
Panadero – baker
Pararse – (to halt) to stop; to stand up, to get up
Parir – to give birth
Partir – to cut, to slice, to split, to break
Pedacito – small piece, tiny piece
Pedazo – (portion) piece
Pepino – cucumber
Perdón – forgiveness; pardon
Perla – pearl; pearl of wisdom
Pertenecer – to belong to
Ponerse – (to become) to get, to turn
Predecir – to predict, to forecast
Prender – (botany) to take root; to catch, to arrest, to capture
Preocupado/a – worried, concerned
Prudencia – (carefulness) care, caution
Rama – (botany) branch
Recoger – to pick up, to gather
Reconocer – to recognize
Regañadientes – reluctantly
Regar – to water, to irrigate
Reírse – to laugh, to laugh at
Relleno – filled, stuffed, padded
Remanso – (a quiet place) haven, oasis; (body of water) pool
Replicar – to retort; to respond to
Repudiar – to condemn, to repudiate
Riendas – control, rein
Rociar – to spray, to sprinkle
Rodar – (to spin) to roll, to go round; (film) to shoot
Rodear – to surround
Sacar dinero – (to gain income) to earn money, to make money
Servidor – servant
Seto – hedge, fence
Siendo aún – still, while
Significar – to mean, to signify
Sí que – certainly, really, of course
Suplicar – to beg, to plead
Taparse – to cover up, to wrap up
Tela – fabric, cloth
Tras – after, behind
Tupido – thick, dense
Turbio – cloudy, muddy
Untar – (to cover) to spread, to smear
Varado – aground, stranded