The Six Swans

Once upon a time, a kind and just king marries a queen, and together they have six sons and a daughter named Elisa. The queen falls gravely ill, and on her deathbed, she makes the king promise to remarry only if he finds a woman as beautiful as she is. The king agrees to this promise.

Eventually, the king does remarry, but unfortunately, his new queen is an evil sorceress. She is envious of the king's children, especially Elisa, who is more beautiful than she is. The sorceress transforms the six princes into swans and sends them away to live in a distant land.

Elisa, determined to save her brothers, embarks on a quest. She discovers that to break the curse and transform her brothers back, she must knit each of them a shirt from nettles and not utter a single word until the task is complete.

Elisa faces numerous challenges during her quest. She endures hardships, is falsely accused of witchcraft, and faces the threat of execution. Despite these trials, she remains silent and continues to knit the shirts with determination and perseverance.

Finally, Elisa's shirts are completed, and she throws them over her brothers, breaking the spell. The swans are transformed back into princes, and Elisa's silence is broken. The reunited family returns to their kingdom, where the evil queen is punished for her deeds.

"The Six Swans" is a tale of love, sacrifice, and the triumph of good over evil. It highlights the enduring bond between siblings and the importance of unwavering determination in the face of adversity.