Would'st thou have water for thy good money?
Shall it protect thee against noxious beasts ?--shall it help thee to reach down a star?
Shall it guide thee to secret paths ?--It is thy duty to lead the way.

Shall it make heat cold, or cold warm?
Shall it give thee the power of reading hearts, or shall it beget beautiful dreams?
Wilt thou drink of the water of knowledge and see whether thy friend or thine enemy--ha! if thine enemy shall die?
Would'st thou a drink to strengthen thy memory?
Shall the water make thee invisible?
or remove the 6th toe from thy left foot ?" "You know me ?" asked Paaker.
"How should I ?" said the old woman, "but my eyes are sharp, and I can prepare good waters for great and small." "Mere babble!" exclaimed Paaker, impatiently clutching at the whip in his girdle; "make haste, for the lady for whom--" "Dost thou want the water for a lady ?" interrupted the old woman.

"Who would have thought it ?--old men certainly ask for my philters much oftener than young ones--but I can serve thee." With these words the old woman went into the cave, and soon returned with a thin cylindrical flask of alabaster in her hand.
"This is the drink," she said, giving the phial to Paaker.

"Pour half into water, and offer it to the lady.

If it does not succeed at first, it is certain the second time.