English Original
Once upon a time, three brothers and their sister lived together in a small cottage, loving each other dearly. One day, the eldest brother, who had spent his days in amusement, proposed, "Let us all work hard. Perhaps we shall grow rich and build a palace."
His siblings joyfully agreed, and they worked with all their might until they became rich and built a magnificent palace. Visitors came from afar to admire it, finding no fault until an old woman remarked, "It is splendid, but it still needs something—a church."
So the brothers worked again, earning enough to build a church as grand as the palace. Crowds flocked to see both wonders. Yet one day, an old man told them, "It is all beautiful, but it still needs something: a pitcher of the Water of Life, a branch from the tree whose flowers grant eternal beauty, and the Talking Bird."
When asked where to find these, he pointed to a distant mountain. The eldest brother vowed to go. His sister, worried about his safety, asked how they would know if harm befell him. They sought the old man's advice, and he gave them a knife, saying, "Keep this. As long as the blade is bright, all is well. If it turns bloody, evil has befallen him."
The eldest brother set out. After a long journey, he met a giant who warned him about the mountain path, covered with stones that would mock and jeer. "Do not stop, do not heed them, and above all, do not turn around," the giant said. "If you do, you will become a stone yourself."
The brother thanked him and climbed the mountain. Despite the rising clamor of scornful voices, he pressed on until the noise became unbearable. In a moment of impatience, he bent to pick up a stone to hurl back—and instantly turned to stone.
At home, his sister checked the knife. The blade was red with blood. The second brother then set out to find him. He received the same warning from the giant but, upon hearing what he thought was his brother's voice among the taunts, he turned to look and also became a stone.
The sister, finding the blade red again, watched as the youngest brother departed. He, too, met the giant, was given the same counsel, and began the climb. He resisted the storm of jeers until, just short of the summit, he clearly heard his brothers' cries. He turned—and became another stone.
Now alone, the sister saw the blade turn red once more. "Now it is my turn," she said. She journeyed to the giant, who gave her the same warning: ignore the mocking stones, do not turn, and reach the top.
She climbed steadfastly. The cries and screams around her intensified, and the voices of her brothers rang out above all others. She remembered the giant's words and did not turn. Finally, she reached the summit.
There, she found a pool of the Water of Life, the Tree of Beauty, and the Talking Bird perched on a bough. She filled her brazen pitcher, captured the bird, and broke off a branch. As she descended, a few drops of the water spilled onto the stones, transforming them back into youths and maidens. Realizing the water broke the spell, she carefully sprinkled every stone, freeing all who were enchanted, including her brothers.
Back at the palace, she planted the branch, which grew instantly into a tree heavy with flowers when watered with the Water of Life. The Talking Bird nestled in its branches. The fame of these marvels spread, attracting many visitors, including a prince. He admired the treasures but was most captivated by the maiden's beauty and courage. He sought her hand in marriage, and they were wed in the church beside the palace, living happily ever after.
中文翻译
从前，三兄弟和他们的妹妹相亲相爱，住在一间小屋里。一天，终日玩乐的大哥提议：“我们一起努力工作吧，或许能变得富有，为自己建一座宫殿。”
弟妹们欣然同意，他们竭尽全力工作，最终变得富有，建起了一座宏伟的宫殿。远近的访客都来赞叹，无人挑剔，直到一位老妇人说：“它很辉煌，但还缺一样东西——一座教堂。”
于是兄弟们再次工作，赚够了钱，建造了一座与宫殿一样宏伟的教堂。人们蜂拥前来观赏这两处奇观。然而有一天，一位老人告诉他们：“这一切都很美，但还缺几样东西：一罐生命之水、一枝其花香能赋予永恒美貌的树枝，以及会说话的鸟。”
当被问及何处可寻时，他指向远方的一座山。大哥发誓要去。妹妹担心他的安全，询问如何得知他是否遭遇不测。他们请教老人，他给了他们一把刀，说：“保管好它。只要刀刃明亮，一切安好。如果它变得血迹斑斑，厄运就已降临。”
大哥出发了。长途跋涉后，他遇到一个巨人。巨人警告他，山路布满石头，它们会嘲笑讥讽。“不要停步，不要理会，最重要的是不要回头，”巨人说。“否则，你就会变成它们中的一块石头。”
大哥谢过他，开始爬山。尽管身后嘲弄的声音越来越大，他仍坚持前行，直到噪音变得无法忍受。一时失去耐心，他弯腰想捡起一块石头扔回去——瞬间，他自己也变成了石头。
家中，妹妹查看刀身，发现刀刃已染血。二哥于是出发去寻找大哥。他从巨人那里得到了同样的警告，但在攀爬时，他仿佛在嘲弄声中听到了哥哥的声音，回头一看，也变成了石头。
妹妹再次发现刀刃变红，看着最小的弟弟出发。他也遇到了巨人，得到同样的忠告，开始攀登。他顶住了四面八方的讥讽风暴，直到即将登顶时，清晰地听到了哥哥们的呼喊。他回过头——也变成了又一块石头。
如今孤身一人，妹妹看到刀刃再次变红。“现在轮到我了，”她说。她找到巨人，得到了同样的警告：无视嘲笑的石头，不要回头，直达山顶。
她坚定地攀登。周围的哭喊尖叫声越来越响，哥哥们的声音盖过了一切。她牢记巨人的话，没有回头。终于，她登上了山顶。
在那里，她找到了生命之泉、美貌之树，以及栖息在枝头的会说话的鸟。她用黄铜罐装满了生命之水，捉住鸟，折下一根树枝。下山时，几滴水溅到石头上，石头立刻变回了青年男女。意识到这水能破除魔法，她仔细地洒向每一块石头，解救了所有被诅咒的人，包括她的哥哥们。
回到宫殿，她种下树枝，并用生命之水浇灌，树枝瞬间长成一棵鲜花累累的大树。会说话的鸟栖息在枝头。这些奇迹的名声传开了，吸引了众多访客，其中包括一位王子。他赞叹这些珍宝，但最为这位少女的美丽和勇气所倾倒。他向她求婚，他们在宫殿旁的教堂成婚，从此幸福地生活在一起。