The widow and her son

Like many in the world, there was once a widow and her son. This son was so good to his mother that they loved each other more than anything that can be said. One day this son told his mother that he had to go to Rome. The mother was in great pain, but let him go. (When he left) she gave him three apples and said:
"If you get to know (someone) on the way and if you're thirsty, have them cut one of those apples and whoever gives you the most will be a good friend for you on the trip." "

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So he left. After walking a bit, he met three men. They got to know each other and told him that they were going to Rome. They continued on their way, for a long time, and as talking makes you thirsty, the widow's son said to them:
“I have an apple in my pocket that my mother gave me when I left; let's eat it. Here, share it. "

One of them shared it and gave him the smaller part. When he saw this, he made up an excuse and took leave of his companions. He continued to walk for a long time, along the path, when he met three monks. They told him that they were going to Rome and offered to travel together. When they had walked for a while, they too were thirsty. The widow's son said to them:
“I have an apple my mother gave me when I left. Here, share it. "

They were no better comrades than the others either. They only gave him a small portion. Fortunately he remembered his mother's recommendation and left them. He walked for a bit on his own and saw something in the distance shining under an oak tree, and as he approached he saw that he was a king. He asked him where he was going and learned that he too was going to Rome.

The king urged her to rest with him and he stayed there a long time and in the long run they were thirsty and the widow's son gave him the last apple, telling him that it was his mother who had given it to him in leaving. The king's son divided it and gave it the greater part. The widow's son was delighted to have found a good friend and they promised each other a great friendship under the oak tree. The widow's son promised to take the king's son to Rome dead or alive, and the other himself pledged to serve and help him as long as a drop of blood ran through his veins.

They resumed their journey and walked for a long time until the night surprised them and they did not know where to go. They met a young girl who was going to the fountain. They asked him if they would be given shelter in the house they could see in the distance.

She answered yes and then, lowering her voice, she added: "Yes, to your misfortune." "
Only the widow's son heard these last words. So they went and entered and were very well received. They were entitled to a good dinner and a good bed on the third floor. THE

The widow's son left the prince on the edge of the bed and he himself went to the wall. The king's son fell asleep immediately because he was very tired; but fear kept the widow's son awake, and just as midnight struck he heard someone coming up the stairs and saw the master of the house enter the bedroom with a large knife in his hand. The mistress held the light and the maid a basin. They came up and cut off the king's son on the neck and let him down.

In this interval the widow's son came out onto the roofs and from there he cried out and begged for justice. When he made his voice heard, he told people what had happened in the house. As they had never before heard anything like it about the people of this house, they would not believe him and put him in jail.

The next day he was condemned to death.

Before he died he asked for a favor. It was granted to him. He then asked two sleuths to go search the house. This was granted to him, and he went with the righteous people. After having inspected the whole castle, without finding a drop of blood, they went down to the cellar. The dogs continued to sniff, but the master refused to open the door, saying that there was only dirt there. He was told that he had to open it anyway and it was there that the king's son was found with his crown. They only asked for that.

The widow's son was freed and he asked for the body of the king's son and put it in a sack. He took the bag over his shoulders and left for Rome where he arrived exhausted; but he had kept his word.

He went to see the holy father and told him everything that had happened and what had happened to his friend.

Our holy father said to him: “Tomorrow, at the time of the Elevation, you will lay your head on your body. "

He did so and at the same time the body of the king's son was seized with a tremor and he cried:
" Where am I ? "

The widow's son replied: “In Rome. Don't you remember how you got your neck slashed yesterday? And I myself carried you, as I had promised you, to Rome. "

The king's son went to visit our holy father and (then) they returned (to the house). And after having traveled a long way, they arrived under the oak tree where they had met and it was there that they also had to leave each other.

They renewed their promises (to each other). The king's son took off his ring and gave it to him in remembrance of him. And the king's son, counting his money, noticed that he had exactly the same amount that he had when he was under the oak tree the last time. And they left each other to return home.

When the widow's son arrived home, his mother was delighted to see her son again and the son too (to see his mother again). But the next day he suffered from a terrible disease, which looked a lot like leprosy and gave off a foul odor, but luckily his mother did not. This poor mother was doing all she could to heal her son, but nothing relieved him.

She heard that there was a monk in the neighborhood, a great saint, who healed diseases. She summoned him and the widow's son recounted his trip to Rome and all that had happened there and he also recounted the promises he and the king's son had made to each other.

Then the monk said to him: “If you want to be cured, there is only one remedy: you must wash yourself in the blood of this king. "

This news greatly saddened the young man, but his mother decided to leave the next day and they traveled in an old wagon. Everyone they passed covered their noses and said, “Pooh! pooh! After a while they arrived at the king's house. The mother asked permission to speak to the king, but a servant sent her away, because of the smell, telling her not to come any closer.

So she couldn't say anything to the king. But one day the king went out and saw the chariot and asked what it was. He was told that he was a sick man, who smelled like rotten fish and wanted to see the king. The king got angry that he had not been given the commission before.

This king had meanwhile married and already had a son. He asked the people in the chariot to come to his house and the widow's son told him who he was and showed him the ring he had given him once. Without paying the slightest attention to his illness, the king hugged him and kissed him. The widow's son told him of the pain he had felt at the news of the monk.

The king went to his wife and told her what had happened to the sick man at the door and that this sick man had already saved his life in the past and that now it was his turn and he could not be cured. that by washing in his blood and (he ordered her) to choose between his child and him. The poor mother sacrificed her son. He was killed. The sick man immediately washed himself (in blood) and was healed at the same time.

The queen, in pain, entered her child's room and there she found her son full of life. Mad with joy, she took her son and went shouting to everyone, showing her child. Judge what happiness for them all! The widow and her son lived happily in the king's palace and never left each other again.