The Lord of Death
A road existed in the past, and everyone who traveled on it died. They all died, regardless of what people claimed caused their deaths—some claimed a snake, others a scorpion. However, the fact was that all of them died.
An aged man was now walking along the path, and because he was exhausted, he sat down on a stone to rest. Suddenly, a scorpion the size of a cock appeared near by, and as he stared at it, it transformed into a terrifying serpent. He was in awe, and when an object went away, he made the decision to follow it from a distance in order to learn more about it.
The snake continued to move quickly day and night, casting a shadow behind it that followed the old man. It once entered an inn and killed a number of travelers there, and it also once snuck into the King's palace and killed him. Then it made its way up the waterspout to the palace of the Queen, where it murdered the King's youngest daughter. The old guy pursued it, silent as a shadow, and wherever it went, a sound of weeping and wailing could be heard.
The road abruptly changed into a wide, deep, and quick river, and several broke travelers who desperately wanted to cross the river but lacked the funds to pay for the ferry sat on its banks. The snake then transformed into a gorgeous buffalo with bells around its neck and a brass necklace, and it stood at the edge of the stream. The unfortunate travelers observed this and thought, "Let us jump on its back and hold on to its tail so that we too may cross the stream. The creature is going to swim to its home across the river."
The buffalo fiercely swam out with them as they jumped upon its back and were held by its tail, but as it neared the middle, it started to kick, causing them to fall off or let go and drown.
The buffalo had vanished, and a stunning ox stood in its place when the old man, who had crossed the river in a boat, arrived on the opposite side. A peasant who was jealously impressed saw this charming creature prowling around and drew it to his house. It was very gentle, allowing itself to be chained up with the other animals. However, in the middle of the night, it transformed into a snake, biting all the cattle and herds before sneaking into the home, where it slaughtered everyone who was asleep before slinking away. However, the old guy continued to follow, silent as a shadow.
They eventually arrived at another river, where the snake transformed into the form of a stunningly attractive young woman who was decked out in pricey jewels. After some time, two brothers who were soldiers passed by; as they drew near, the girl started sobbing loudly.
The brothers wondered, "What's wrong, and why do you, so young and gorgeous, sit by the river by yourself?"
The snake-girl then responded, "My husband was even now taking me home, and walking down to the stream to seek for the ferry-boat, he fell to washing his face, at which point he slipped in and passed away. Therefore, I do not have husband anymore and no relations.
The elder of the two brothers, who had fallen in love with her beauty, said, "Do not fear! Come with me, and I will marry you."
The girl said, "On a single stipulation: you must never ask me to do any of the household chores, and whatever I ask for, you must give it to me."
The young man declared, "I will obey you like a slave!"
"Then immediately bring me a cup of water from the well. "You can let your brother stay with me," the girl said.
When the elder brother left, however, the snake-girl turned to the younger and pleaded, "Fly with me because I love you! The promise I made to your brother was a ruse to induce him to leave."
The young guy responded, "Not so! You are his promised wife, and I consider you to be my sister."
The girl was upset by this and began to cry and moan until her older brother got back there, at which point she said, "O husband, what an evil person is here! I was asked by your brother to fly away from you and go with him.”
The elder brother then took his sword and challenged the younger to fight out of intense rage at this betrayal. Then, after a day of fighting that ended with their deaths by the time dusk fell, the girl once more assumed the shape of a snake, followed by the elderly man, who was silent as a shadow. But eventually it took on the appearance of an old man with a white beard, and when the person who had been following for so long spotted someone who looked like him, he mustered up the confidence to inquire, "Who and what are you?"
"Some people call me the Lord of Death, since I go about bringing death to the world," the old man responded with a smile.
The other cried out, "Give me death! I have followed you so far, silent as a shadow, and I am exhausted."
The Lord of Death, however, shook his head and remarked, "No, thus! You still have sixty years left in your life, and I only give to those who have used up their years." Then the old man with the white beard disappeared; however, it is unclear whether he was actually the Lord of Death or a devil.
