Two Brothers 
By Hans Christian Andersen 
Translated f rom the Danish hy Gudrtjn Friis-Holm 
On one of the Danish islands where Vikings’ graves rise above 
the corn in the fields and majestic trees stand in the beechwoods, there 
lies a little town with low houses and red roofs. 
In one of these houses peculiar substances were boiled in glass 
tubes over live coals on the stove, while still others were mixed and 
distilled. Herbs were ground in mortars, and an elderly man was 
absorbed in the work: “One must be very accurate in small matters; 
right must rule,” said he, “truth in all things created shall be known 
and truth in material things adhered to.” 
In the living room with the brave housemother were the two sons, 
still small but with thoughts expanding. The mother also talked to 
them of right and justice, about clinging to the truth, the face of God 
in this world. The eldest boy, fearless and frolicsome, had the desire 
to study the powers of nature, to read of the sun and the stars. To 
him no fairy tale was more beautiful. “Oh, how wonderful to go on 
an exploring expedition, oh, to be able to imitate bird’s wings and fly. 
Yes, it is to find the way, mother is right, father is right, it is the 
truth that binds the world together.” 
The younger brother was absorbed in books; he read about Jacob, 
whose mother dressed him in the skins of kids to be like Esau and 
thereby deprive his brother of the first born’s right. In childish indig¬ 
nation he clenched his little hand, angry with the traitor. As he read 
about the injustice of tyrants and the wickedness of the world, the 
tears came to his eyes. The thought of what is right, the truth that 
both must and will conquer, filled his little soul to the brim. 
One evening the little one had already gone to bed, but the cur¬ 
tains were not drawn so tightly that they excluded the light, and he was 
able to finish the story about Solon. His thoughts lifted and bore 
him to remote parts of the world. The bed seemed to him a boat flying 
full sail. Did he dream or what was it? He floated over the rolling 
waters of time. He heard Solon’s voice—he understood him when 
he in foreign words said: “Law shall build the land.” The genius of 
immortal man stood by his side, bent over him and kissed his forehead: 
“Be strong in mind and body, be strong and conquer in the struggle 
for life; with truth in your heart, fly toward the land of truth. 
The elder brother was not yet in bed; he stood at the window and 
saw the mist rise from the meadow. It was not the elves that danced, 
as an old servant had told him; he knew better. It was the vapor, now r 
warmer than the air, which lifted. A star fell across the sky, and the 
