A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Returning from the deathless palace, the prince rapidly ages as he crosses the changed countries of his outward journey. In his ruined childhood palace he eventually reaches the cellar and opens a dilapidated chest. A voice welcomes him, saying that a longer wait would have caused its own decay. His death, described as completely shrivelled inside the chest, seizes him; he falls lifeless and immediately crumbles into dust.

This is the prince’s particular waiting death, without a narrated scythe, skeleton or wider rule over other dead people. The aged voice and deteriorated confinement belong to the final encounter; the story does not explain how it entered the chest or assign it kinship with the three fairy sisters.

Voice from chestShrivelled personal deathSeizes returning princeBody crumbles into dust
01

Origins & earliest records

Roumanian Fairy Tales, collected by Mite Kremnitz, adapted and arranged by J. M. Percival (New York: Henry Holt, 1885), Youth Without Age and Life Without Death, pp. 42–55.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected English narrative and ending. The preface assigns tale 4 to P. Ispirescu’s collection; original Romanian and intermediate editions remain uncollated.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Roumanian Fairy Tales: Youth Without Age and Life Without Death, pp. 42–55

    Mite Kremnitz, collector; J. M. Percival, adapter and arranger · 1885

    Preface assigns tale 4 to P. Ispirescu. Complete English journey, return and fatal ending read.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary historical English adaptationKremnitz/Percival 1885: Youth Without Age and Life Without DeathResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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