Godfather Death (Grimm)
Short summary
A poor man with twelve children sought a godfather for his thirteenth child. He rejected God for favoring the rich and the Devil for deceiving mankind. He chose Death, who treated all equally.
Death made the boy a famous physician, giving him an herb and a rule: if Death stood by a patient's head, the patient would recover; if by the feet, the patient must die.
The physician cheated Death twice - first saving the King, then the beautiful princess he wished to marry. Death warned him after the first betrayal.
All is over with thee, and now the lot falls on thee... and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist.
Death led him to a cave where candles represented human lives. The physician's candle was nearly extinguished. When Death pretended to replace it, he let it fall, and the physician died.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The search for a godfather: choosing Death over God and Devil
A poor man struggled to feed his twelve children, working day and night just to provide them with bread. When his thirteenth child was born, desperation drove him to seek help. He ran to the great highway, resolved to ask the first person he met to become the child's godfather.
The first to meet him was God, who already knew what filled his heart and offered to be godfather, promising to make the child happy on earth. However, the poor man rejected this offer.
Then I do not desire to have thee for a godfather... thou givest to the rich, and leavest the poor to hunger.
Next came the Devil, offering gold and worldly joys, but the man refused him too, saying he deceived men and led them astray. Finally, Death appeared with withered legs. When Death declared he made all equal, the poor man found his answer.
I am Death, and I make all equal... Thou art the right one, thou takest the rich as well as the poor, without distinction; thou shalt be godfather.
Deaths gift: the power to heal and the warning
Death promised to make the child rich and famous, declaring that those who had him as a friend could lack nothing. On the appointed Sunday, Death appeared at the christening and stood godfather in the usual way. When the boy grew up, Death appeared and led him to a forest, showing him a special herb.
Death explained the gift: when called to a patient, Death would always appear. If Death stood by the patient's head, the physician could confidently heal them with the herb. But if Death stood by the patient's feet, no remedy could save them.
But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with thee.
First defiance: saving the King and Deaths warning
The youth quickly became the world's most famous physician. People said he only needed to look at a patient to know their condition and whether they would recover or die. From far and wide, people came seeking his help, paying him so much money that he soon became wealthy.
When the King fell ill, the physician was summoned. Upon arriving at the bedside, he saw Death standing by the King's feet, meaning no herb could save him. However, the physician decided to defy Death for the first time.
If I could but cheat Death for once... he is sure to take it ill if I do, but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye; I will risk it.
The physician lifted the sick King and turned him around so Death now stood by his head. He gave the King the herb, and the ruler recovered completely. Death appeared to the physician, looking black and angry, threatening him with his finger. He pardoned this first transgression only because the physician was his godson, but warned that another attempt would cost him his life.
Second defiance: love conquers fear of Death
Soon afterward, the King's daughter fell severely ill. She was his only child, and the King wept day and night until he began losing his sight. He proclaimed that whoever saved her from death would become her husband and inherit the crown.
When the physician came to the princess's bedside, he again saw Death standing by her feet. He should have remembered his godfather's warning, but he was completely infatuated by her great beauty and the prospect of becoming her husband. He ignored Death's angry glances and threatening gestures, lifted the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had been. After giving her the herb, her cheeks flushed red and life returned to her.
Deaths judgment: the cave of candles and final punishment
Seeing himself defrauded a second time, Death strode up to the physician and declared that all was over with him. Death seized him with his ice-cold hand and led him into an underground cave. There, thousands of candles burned in countless rows - some large, others half-sized, others small, constantly being extinguished and rekindled.
These are the lights of men's lives... Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burnt up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither.
When the physician asked to see his own life's light, Death pointed to a tiny end threatening to go out. The horrified physician begged Death to light a new candle for him, pleading for love's sake so he could enjoy life as King and husband to the beautiful princess. Death refused, explaining that one must go out before a new one could be lighted. The physician then begged Death to place the old candle on a new one. Death pretended to fulfill this wish but purposely made a mistake in fixing it. The little piece fell and was extinguished, and immediately the physician fell dead, now in Death's hands forever.