Note 15 — Chapter VI · The Grateful Dead and The Water of Life or Kindred Themes.

This simple form of The Water of Life is not that with which The Grateful Dead has combined. Indeed, the opinion that this union was secondary to that of The Grateful Dead with The Poison Maiden and The Ransomed Woman15 is strengthened by the fact that it is found with both of these compound types, and that The Water of Life almost invariably appears in a somewhat distorted form. In point of fact, the latter tale seems to have lent itself with remarkable facility to combination with other themes. Thus it is frequently found mixed with The Skilful Companions16 (both with and without The Grateful Dead), The Lady and the Monster,17 and The Thankful Beasts.