When I came into my palace with my retinue, we were shocked to find a man lying on my bed. He had fallen fast asleep. My soldiers were ready to kill him right away, but he was hardly older than a boy. “Leave him alone,” I told my men, and I slid onto my seat.

“Wake him gently,” I said.

He sat up and saw snakes all around him, but he did not seem frightened. “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am the King of the Snakes, and this is my palace,” I said. “Who are you, and where do you come from?”

“My name is Hassebu, but I do not know from whence I come, nor whither I go.”

“Then stay a little with me,” I said. I bid my soldiers to bring water from the spring and fruit from the forest, and to set them before our guest.

After days of resting and feasting with us, Hassebu began to long for his mother and his own country.

But I said, “When you go home, you will do me evil.”

He refused to believe that he would do anything to harm the King of Snakes, but he did not know the healing powers of my flesh, nor how desirable my body would be to his people.

At last I said, “Swear that when you get home you will not go to bathe where many people are gathered.”

Hassebu swore, and so I ordered my soldiers to lead him back to his native city.

King of Snakes with Healing Power, The Story of Hassebu, Violet Fairy Book.