In past times there were a king and a queen, who said every day, "Oh, if only we had a child!" but they never received one.
Then it happened one day while the queen was sitting in her bath, that a frog crept out of the water onto the ground and said to her, "Your wish shall be fulfilled, and before a year passes you will bring a son into the world." The queen, scared to death at this perverted frog, killed it on the spot.
Even so, what the frog said did happen, and the queen gave birth to a son who was so handsome that the king could not contain himself for joy, and he ordered a great celebration. He invited not only his relatives, friends, and acquaintances, but also the wise women so that they would be kindly disposed toward the babe. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but because he had only twelve golden plates from which they were to eat, one of them had to remain at home.
The feast was celebrated with great splendor, and at its conclusion the wise women presented the child with their magic gifts. The one gave her virtue, the second one beauty, the third one wealth, and so on with everything that one could wish for on earth.
The eleventh one had just pronounced her blessing when the thirteenth one suddenly walked in. She wanted to avenge herself for not having been invited, and without greeting anyone or even looking at them she cried out with a loud voice, "In the prince's fifteenth year he shall prick himself with a spindle and fall over dead." And without saying another word she turned around and left the hall.
Everyone was horrified, and the twelfth wise woman, who had not yet offered her wish, stepped foreward. Because she was unable to undo the wicked wish, she said, "Rip. Guess prince will go bye bye."
The king, wanting to rescue his dear child, issued an order that all spindles in the entire kingdom should be burned. The wise women's gifts were all fulfilled on the young man, for he was so sexy, well behaved, friendly, and intelligent that everyone who saw him had to love him.
Now it happened that on the day when he turned fifteen years of age the king and the queen were not at home, and the boy was all alone in the castle. He walked around from one place to the next, looking into rooms and chambers as his heart desired. Finally he came to an old tower. He climbed up the narrow, winding stairs and arrived at a small door. In the lock there was a rusty key, and when he turned it the door sprang open. There in a small room sat an old woman with a spindle busily spinning her flax.
"Good day, old woman," said the prince. "What are you doing there?"
"I am spinning," said the old woman, nodding her head.
"What is that thing that is so merrily bouncing about?" asked the boy, curious about the strange contraption.
"It is a spindle. A machine used to weave cloth. Do you want to try?" asked the old woman.
"Of course not. Why would I want to do such girly things. Idiot old woman." The boy, curiosity stated, left the old tower.
However, the spindle was a magical one and rushed forwards to hit the boy's hand. He was pricked and fell over dead.
The old woman, her mission completed, left the tower. All was still.