终于，国王打完仗，回到家，第一件事就是要见她的妻子和孩子。他母亲一听就哭起来，说：“你这凶残的人啊，你凭什么写信给我，要我害死两个清白无辜的善良人，”说着让他看那两封被魔鬼做了假的信，继续说：“我已经按你的命令做了。”并且把物证给他：一条舌头，两颗眼珠。国王也开始哭泣，哭他可怜的妻子和小儿子，哭得比她还要悲痛得多。老母亲忍不住怜悯起他来，对他说：“放心吧，她还活着。我偷偷让人宰了一头母鹿，取来这些凭证，而把婴儿绑在你妻子背上，让她远走他乡了，临行我强迫她保证永不回来，因为你恨死了她。”国王听罢说道：“我要走遍蓝天下的所有角落，不吃也不喝，直到找回我亲爱的妻子和孩子期间，只要她们没有被杀死，没有饿死。”
Thereupon the king traveled about for seven long years，and sought her in every cleft of the rocks and in every cave，but he found her not，and thought she had died of want.During the whole time he neither ate nor drank，but God supported him.At length he came into a great forest，and found therein the little house whose sign was，here all dwell free.Then forth came the white maiden，took him by the hand，led him in，and said，“Welcome，lord king.”And asked him from whence he came.He answered，“Soon shall I have traveled about for the space of seven years，and I seek my wife and her child，but cannot find them.”The angel offered him meat and drink，but he did not take anything，and only wished to rest a little.Then he lay down to sleep，and laid a handkerchief(handkerchief n.手帕)over his face.
随后国王便四处漂泊，差不多有七年之久，找遍了所有石缝和岩洞，可哪里也找不着妻子和儿子，心想她们已饿死了。在整个七年里，他不吃不喝，然而上帝保护着他。最后，他走进一片大森林，发现林中有一幢小屋，门上挂着块小牌子，牌子上写着：人人可以自由居住。这时屋里走出来一位白衣少女，拉住他的手领他进屋，说：“欢迎您，国王陛下。”并且问他从什么地方来，国王回答：“我四处漂泊快七年啦，寻找我的妻子和孩子，可是找不到她们。”天使给他拿来肉和水，他却没有动，只希望休息一下。他躺下睡觉，用一块帕子盖住了脸。
Thereupon the angel went into the chamber where the queen sat with her son，whom she usually called Sorrowful，and said to her，“Go out with your child，your husband has come.”So she went to the place where he lay，and the handkerchief fell from his face.Then said she，“Sorrowful，pick up your father"s handkerchief，and cover his face again.”The child picked it up，and put it over his face again.The king in his sleep heard what passed，and had pleasure in letting the handkerchief fall once more.But the child grew impatient，and said，“Dear mother，how can I cover my father"s face when I have no father in this world.I have learnt to say the prayer—Our Father，which art in heaven—you have told me that my father was in heaven，and was the good God，and how can I know a wild man like this.He is not my father.”When the king heard that，he got up，and asked who they were.Then said she，“I am your wife，and that is your son，Sorrowful.”And he saw her living hands，and said，“My wife had silver hands.”She answered，“The good God has caused my natural hands to grow again.”And the angel went into the inner room，and brought the silver hands，and showed them to him.Hereupon he knew for a certainty that it was his dear wife and his dear child，and he kissed them，and was glad，and said，“A heavy stone has fallen from off my heart.”Then the angel of God ate with them once again，and after that they went home to the king"s aged mother.There were great rejoicings everywhere，and the king and queen were married again，and lived contentedly to their happy end.
随后，天使便去了王后和她孩子住的房间，她总把她孩子叫作“苦儿”，对她说：“领着孩子出来吧，你丈夫来了。”她走向躺卧着他的地方，正好帕子从他脸上掉了下来。她于是说：“苦儿，替爸爸把帕子拣起来，再给他把脸盖上。”孩子拣起手帕，盖好了。国王在迷迷糊糊中听明白了，故意让手帕又掉到地上。小男孩不耐烦起来，说：“妈妈，我在世界上根本没爸爸呀，怎么能盖上他的脸呢？我只学会了祈祷：‘我们在天上的圣父，’你曾告诉我，我父亲在天上，他就是仁慈的上帝。现在怎么能叫我认这个野人做爸爸？他不是我爸爸。”国王听见了坐起来，问他们是谁。她回答：“我是你妻子，那是你儿子苦儿。”“我妻子有一双银手。”国王盯着她活动自如的真手说。她回答：“真手是仁慈的上帝让我重新长出来的。”这时候，天使去王后房里取来了银手让他看。他看了才确切地相信找到了自己心爱的妻子和孩子，吻了她们，高兴地说：“我总算可以喘口气了！”天使还请他们一起吃了饭，然后她们就回家去见老奶奶。全国上下欢天喜地，国王和王后又举行了一次婚礼，他们快乐地生活着，一直到老。