There was once a poor fisherman and his wife who lived in a small cottage. One day, the man caught a fish made entirely of gold. The fish spoke: "If you throw me back, I will turn your hut into a splendid castle with a cupboard full of food. But you must never tell anyone your secret, or all will be lost."
The fisherman agreed. When he returned home, his hut was gone, and in its place stood a magnificent castle. His wife was dressed in fine clothes, and a cupboard overflowed with delicacies. Overjoyed, she asked how this happened. The fisherman warned her not to ask, for revealing the secret would end their fortune.
However, the wife's curiosity was relentless. She pestered her husband until, in frustration, he told her about the golden fish. Instantly, the castle vanished, and they were back in their old hut.
The fisherman returned to the sea and caught the golden fish again. The fish granted the castle once more, with the same warning. Yet again, the wife's nagging led the man to betray the secret, and they lost everything.
When the fisherman caught the fish a third time, it said: "I see I am fated to be caught by you. Take me home, cut me into six pieces. Give two to your wife to eat, two to your horse, and bury two in the ground. This will bring you a blessing."
The fisherman did as instructed. From the buried pieces grew two golden lilies. The horse gave birth to two golden foals. And his wife bore two children made entirely of gold.
The golden children grew tall and handsome. One day, they wished to ride their golden steeds and see the world. Their father was sorrowful, fearing for their safety. The children comforted him: "The two golden lilies will show our condition. If they are fresh, we are well; if withered, we are ill; if they perish, we are dead."
The brothers set out. At an inn, people mocked their golden appearance. One brother, ashamed, turned back home. The other continued, disguising himself and his horse with bear skins to pass safely through a forest full of robbers.
He arrived at a village and saw a maiden of unparalleled beauty. They fell in love and were married immediately. When the bride's father returned and saw the groom in bear skins, he was furious, thinking him a vagabond. The bride pleaded for her husband, and the father relented.
The next morning, the father peeked into their room and saw a magnificent golden man, the bear skins cast aside. He was glad he had not acted rashly.
Soon after, the gold-child dreamed of hunting a splendid stag. Despite his wife's pleas, he rode into the forest to hunt. He chased a stag all day until it vanished at dusk, leaving him before a witch's cottage. The witch's dog barked at him, and when he threatened it, the witch, enraged, turned him to stone.
At home, his brother saw one golden lily droop and knew his twin was in peril. He mounted his golden horse and rode to rescue him. He found the witch and threatened to shoot her unless she restored his brother. Reluctantly, she touched the stone, and the gold-child returned to life.
The brothers rejoiced and returned home—one to his bride, the other to his father. The father said, "I knew you had saved him, for the golden lily bloomed again." They all lived happily and prospered for the rest of their days.