Reading Notes: Death's Messengers

Long ago there was a giant walking along a path when a stranger jumped towards him and said "Stop! Not one step further!"

The giant said, "You, a creature that I could crush between my fingers, you want to block my way? Who are you that you dare to speak so boldly?"

The stranger introduced himself as "Death". Then, he said, "No one resists me, and you too must obey my orders."

The giant refused.

The giant and Death began to wrestle. It proved to be a long and violent battle. 

The giant finally got the upper hand and defeated Death, leaving him collapsed by a stone. 

Death was so weak he couldn't get up.

Death began to think about the implications his absence would have on Earth.

Out of nowhere, a young man walked down the same path.

The young man saw and gave help to Death; Death regained his strength.

Death asked if the man knew he was, and the man said no.

Then, Death said he couldn't make any sort of exemptions for the young man but still promised to send his messengers before the young man's death, rather than the usual abrupt extraction.

The young man was happy and saw this as a good thing; having a sign before his death would be helpful. 

Eventually, the time had come for the man's departure from the world of the living.

Death tapped his shoulder and told the man to follow him.

The man protested saying that he had not received any signs.

Death listed off the litany of signs/messengers he had given/sent: fevers, dizziness, gout, ear-ringing, toothaches, darkened eyes, nightmares, sleep paralysis, etc.

The man finally understood and surrendered to his fate.

The Angel of Death. Source

Bibliography: D. L. Ashliman, The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales, Source