The Riddle_The Shepherd, the Tiger, and the
The Riddle
once upon a time...
a king's son once had a great desire to travel through the world, so he started off, taking no one with him but one trusty servant. one day he came to a great forest, and as evening drew on he could find no shelter, and could not think where to spend the night. all of a sudden he saw a girl going towards a little house, and as he drew nearer he remarked that she was both young and pretty. he spoke1 to her, and said, 'dear child, could i and my servant spend the night in this house?'
'oh yes,' said the girl in a sad tone, 'you can if you like, but i should not advise you to do so. better not go in.'
'why not?' asked the king's son.
the girl sighed and answered, 'my stepmother deals in black arts, and she is not very friendly to strangers.'
the prince guessed easily that he had fallen on a witch's house, but as by this time it was quite dark and he could go no further, and as moreover he was not at all afraid, he stepped in.
an old woman sat in an armchair near the fire, and as the strangers entered she turned her red eyes on them. 'good evening,' she muttered, and pretending to be quite friendly. 'won't you sit down?'
she blew up the fire on which she was cooking something in a little pot, and her daughter secretly warned the travellers to be very careful not to eat or drink anything, as the old woman's brews2 were apt to be dangerous.
they went to bed, and slept soundly till morning. when they were ready to start and the king's son had already mounted his horse the old woman said: 'wait a minute, i must give you a stirrup cup.' whilst she went to fetch it the king's son rode off, and the servant who had waited to tighten3 his saddle-girths was alone when the witch returned.
'take that to your master,' she said; but as she spoke the glass cracked and the poison spurted4 over the horse, and it was so powerful that the poor creature sank down dead. the servant ran after his master and told him what had happened, and then, not wishing to lose the saddle as well as the horse, he went back to fetch it. when he got to the spot he saw that a raven5 had perched on the carcase and was pecking at it. 'who knows whether we shall get anything better to eat to-day!' said the servant, and he shot the raven and carried it off.
then they rode on all day through the forest without coming to the end. at nightfall they reached an inn, which they entered, and the servant gave the landlord the raven to dress for their supper. now, as it happened, this inn was a regular resort of a band of murderers, and the old witch too was in the habit of frequenting it.
as soon as it was dark twelve murderers arrived, with the full intention of killing6 and robbing the strangers. before they set to work, however, they sat down to table, and the landlord and the old witch joined them, and they all ate some broth7 in which the flesh of the raven had been stewed8 down. they had hardly taken a couple of spoonfuls when they all fell down dead, for the poison had passed from the horse to the raven and so into the broth. so there was no one left belonging to the house but the landlord's daughter, who was a good, well-meaning girl, and had taken no part in all the evil doings.
she opened all the doors, and showed the strangers the treasures the robbers had gathered together; but the prince bade her keep them all for herself, as he wanted none of them, and so he rode further with his servant.
after travelling about for some length of time they reached a town where lived a lovely but most arrogant9 princess. she had given out that anyone who asked her a riddle10 which she found herself unable to guess should be her husband, but should she guess it he must forfeit11 his head. she claimed three days in which to think over the riddles12, but she was so very clever that she invariably guessed them in a much shorter time. nine suitors had already lost their lives when the king's son arrived, and, dazzled by her beauty, determined13 to risk his life in hopes of winning her.
so he came before her and propounded14 his riddle. 'what is this?' he asked. 'one slew15 none and yet killed twelve.'
she could not think what it was! she thought, and thought, and looked through all her books of riddles and puzzles, but she found nothing to help her, and could not guess; in fact, she was at her wits' end. as she could think of no way to guess the riddle, she ordered her maid to steal at night into the prince's bedroom and to listen, for she thought that he might perhaps talk aloud in his dreams and so betray the secret. but the clever servant had taken his master's place, and when the maid came he tore off the cloak she had wrapped herself in and hunted her off with a whip.
on the second night the princess sent her lady-in-waiting, hoping that she might succeed better, but the servant took away her mantle16 and chased her away also.
on the third night the king's son thought he really might feel safe, so he went to bed. but in the middle of the night the princess came herself, all huddled17 up in a misty18 grey mantle, and sat down near him. when she thought he was fast asleep, she spoke to him, hoping he would answer in the midst of his dreams, as many people do; but he was wide awake all the time, and heard and understood everything very well.
then she asked: 'one slew none--what is that?' and he answered: 'a raven which fed on the carcase of a poisoned horse.'
she went on: 'and yet killed twelve--what is that?' 'those are twelve murderers who ate the raven and died of it.'
as soon as she knew the riddle she tried to slip away, but he held her mantle so tightly that she was obliged to leave it behind.
next morning the princess announced that she had guessed the riddle, and sent for the twelve judges, before whom she declared it. but the young man begged to be heard, too, and said: 'she came by night to question me, otherwise she never could have guessed it.'
the judges said: 'bring us some proof.' so the servant brought out the three cloaks, and when the judges saw the grey one, which the princess was in the habit of wearing, they said: 'let it be embroidered19 with gold and silver; it shall be your wedding mantle.'
The Shepherd, the Tiger, and the
a shepherd brought his sheep into the field to graze1, and sat down under a tree to rest. suddenly a tiger came out of the woods. the shepherd picked up his staff and jumped up.
the tiger was just about to spring at the man when he saw the staff and got frightened. he thought it was a gun. they stared at each other, and neither dared to make the first move.
at that moment, a fox came running by. he saw that the tiger and the shepherd were afraid of each other and decided2 to turn the situation to his own advantage.
he ran up to the tiger and said: "cousin tiger, there is no reason to be afraid of a man. jump on him, get him down, and have a good meal."
"you're cunning," growled3 the tiger, "but you have no brains. look at him---he has a gun. he'll fire, and that will be the end of me. be off with your stupid advice."
"well, if that's the case, i'll go and ask him not to shoot you. what will you give me if i save you?"
"anything you ask."
the fox ran to the shepherd and said: "uncle shepherd, why are you standing4 here? the tiger wants to make a meal of you. i just persuaded him to wait a while. what will you give me if i save you?"
and the shepherd promised: "anything you ask."
the fox ran to the tiger and said:
"cousin tiger, you'll have a long life. i just persuaded the shepherd not to shoot you. hurry up and run now! i'll see you later. if he gets angry again, he'll fire his gun and it will be the end of you."
the tiger turned and leaped away as fast as he could
and the fox came back to the shepherd. "uncle shepherd, you did not forget your promise?"
"no," said the shepherd. "tell me what you want."
"i don't want much, only a bite out of your leg. that will be enough for me."
the shepherd stretched out his leg. but just as the fox was about to sink his teeth into it, the shepherd screamed. the fox jumped back.
"who made that noise?"
"what do you care? take your bite, and be done with it."
"oh, no! i won't come near you before you tell me who made that noise," said the frightened fox.
"in that case, i will tell you," answered the shepherd. "last year we had a bad winter in the village. we had nothing to eat. and then my sheep dog had two puppies5. well . . . i was so hungry, i ate them. now the pups have grown up in my stomach. i guess they smell you and want to get at you, so they are barking."
the fox got even more frightened, but he would not show it. he said with dignity: "i'd have no trouble handling your pups. but i must run and see the tiger on some urgent business. hold back your sheep dogs for a while. when i come back, i'll teach them such a lesson that they will never attack foxes again.
"very well, make it quick," said the shepherd.
and the fox went streaking6 off into the woods, happy to get away with his life.
after he caught his breath, he set out to look for the tiger: perhaps he would have better luck with him.
"well, cousin tiger," the fox said when he found him. "i saved your life when you were frightened of the shepherd, and you made a promise. now you must keep it!"
"what promise?" roared the tiger. "i am no cousin to you. i am the shah of these woods. who dares to say that i was frightened?"
and he raised his paw to strike the fox down.
"there is no gratitude7 in this world," the fox said to himself, and slunk into his hole to teach his children to stay away from men and tigers.
The Tiger, the Brahman, and the
once upon a time, a tiger was caught in a trap. he tried in vain to get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when he failed.
by chance a poor brahman came by. "let me out of this cage, oh pious1 one!" cried the tiger.
"nay2, my friend," replied the brahman mildly, "you would probably eat me if i did."
"not at all!" swore the tiger with many oaths; "on the contrary, i should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!"
now when the tiger sobbed3 and sighed and wept and swore, the pious brahman's heart softened4, and at last he consented to open the door of the cage. out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried, "what a fool you are! what is to prevent my eating you now, for after being cooped up so long i am just terribly hungry!"
in vain the brahman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a promise to abide5 by the decision of the first three things he chose to question as to the justice of the tiger's action.
so the brahman first asked a pipal tree what it thought of the matter, but the pipal tree replied coldly, "what have you to complain about? don't i give shade and shelter to every one who passes by, and don't they in return tear down my branches to feed their cattle? don't whimper--be a man!"
then the brahman, sad at heart, went further afield till he saw a buffalo6 turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it answered, "you are a fool to expect gratitude7! look at me! whilst i gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now i am dry they yoke8 me here, and give me refuse as fodder9!"
the brahman, still more sad, asked the road to give him its opinion.
"my dear sir," said the road, "how foolish you are to expect anything else! here am i, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great and small, trample10 on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!"
on this the brahman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a jackal, who called out, "why, what's the matter, mr. brahman? you look as miserable11 as a fish out of water!"
the brahman told him all that had occurred. "how very confusing!" said the jackal, when the recital12 was ended; "would you mind telling me over again, for everything has got so mixed up?"
the brahman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
"it's very odd," said he, sadly, "but it all seems to go in at one ear and out at the other! i will go to the place where it all happened, and then perhaps i shall be able to give a judgment13."
so they returned to the cage, by which the tiger was waiting for the brahman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
"you've been away a long time!" growled14 the savage15 beast, "but now let us begin our dinner."
"our dinner!" thought the wretched brahman, as his knees knocked together with fright; "what a remarkably16 delicate way of putting it!"
"give me five minutes, my lord!" he pleaded, "in order that i may explain matters to the jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits."
the tiger consented, and the brahman began the whole story over again, not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn17 as possible.
"oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!" cried the jackal, wringing18 its paws. "let me see! how did it all begin? you were in the cage, and the tiger came walking by--"
"pooh!" interrupted the tiger, "what a fool you are! i was in the cage."
"of course!" cried the jackal, pretending to tremble with fright; "yes! i was in the cage--no i wasn't--dear! dear! where are my wits? let me see--the tiger was in the brahman, and the cage came walking by--no, that's not it, either! well, don't mind me, but begin your dinner, for i shall never understand!"
"yes, you shall!" returned the tiger, in a rage at the jackal's stupidity; "i'll make you understand! look here--i am the tiger--"
"yes, my lord!"
"and that is the brahman--"
"yes, my lord!"
"and that is the cage--"
"yes, my lord!"
"and i was in the cage--do you understand?"
"yes--no--please, my lord--"
"well?" cried the tiger impatiently.
"please, my lord!--how did you get in?"
"how!--why in the usual way, of course!"
"oh, dear me!--my head is beginning to whirl again! please don't be angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?"
at this the tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried, "this way! now do you understand how it was?"
"perfectly19!" grinned the jackal, as he dexterously20 shut the door, "and if you will permit me to say so, i think matters will remain as they were!"
The dolphins, the whales and the
the dolphins quarrelled with the whales, and before very long they began fighting with one another. the battle was very fierce1, and had lasted some time without any sign of coming to an end, when a sprat thought that perhaps he could stop it; so he stepped in and tried to persuade them to give up fighting and make friends. but one of the dolphins said to him contemptuously, "we would rather go on fighting till we're all killed than be reconciled2 by a sprat like you!"
海豚与鲸争吵起来，他们之间已经争斗了很久，战争一步步升级，并且越打越猛烈，根本没有一点要停的迹象，有一条西鲱鱼认为自己或许能够调停他们的战争，便过去准备劝他们停止斗争，成为朋友。但是，海豚轻蔑地对他说：“我们宁可争斗到同归于尽，也不会让一条像你这样的西鲱鱼来调解”。
The Wolf,the Fox and the Ape
a wolf charged a fox with theft, which he denied, and the case was brought before an ape to be tried. when he had heard the evidence on both sides, the ape gave judgment1 as follows::i do not think," he said, "that you, o wolf, over lost what you claim; but all the same i believe that you, fox are guilty of the theft, in spite of all your denials."
the dishonest get no credit, even if they act honestly.
The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox
two thieves having stolen a piano and being unable to spanide it
fairly without a remainder went to law about it and continued the
contest as long as either one could steal a dollar to bribe1 the
judge. when they could give no more an honest man came along and
by a single small payment obtained a judgment2 and took the piano
home, where his daughter used it to develop her biceps muscles,
becoming a famous pugiliste.
The Kite, the Pigeons, and the H
some pigeons exposed to the attacks of a kite asked a hawk1 to
defend them. he consented, and being admitted into the cote waited
for the kite, whom he fell upon and devoured2. when he was so
surfeited3 that he could scarcely move, the grateful pigeons
scratched out his eyes.
The Stag, the Wolf, and the Shee
a stag asked a sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, and said
that the wolf would be his surety. the sheep, fearing some fraud
was intended, excused herself, saying, "the wolf is accustomed to
seize what he wants and to run off; and you, too, can quickly
outstrip me in your rapid flight. how then shall i be able to
find you, when the day of payment1 comes?'
two blacks do not make one white.
The Man, the Horse, the Ox, and
a horse, ox, and dog, driven to great straits by the cold, sought
shelter and protection from man. he received them kindly,
lighted a fire, and warmed them. he let the horse make free with
his oats, gave the ox an abundance of hay, and fed the dog with
meat from his own table. grateful for these favors, the animals
determined to repay him to the best of their ability. for this
purpose, they spanided the term of his life between them, and each
endowed one portion of it with the qualities which chiefly
characterized himself. the horse chose his earliest years and
gave them his own attributes: hence every man is in his youth
impetuous, headstrong, and obstinate1 in maintaining his own
opinion. the ox took under his patronage2 the next term of life,
and therefore man in his middle age is fond of work, devoted3 to
labor, and resolute4 to amass5 wealth and to husband his resources.
the end of life was reserved for the dog, wherefore the old man
is often snappish, irritable6, hard to please, and selfish,
tolerant only of his own household, but averse7 to strangers and
to all who do not administer to his comfort or to his
necessities.
The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey
a man and his son were once going with their donkey to market.
as they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them
and said: "you fools, what is a donkey for but to ride upon?"
so the man put the boy on the donkey and they went on their
way. but soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "see
that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."
so the man ordered his boy to get off, and got on himself.
but they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom
said to the other: "shame on that lazy lout1 to let his poor little
son trudge2 along."
well, the man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his
boy up before him on the donkey. by this time they had come to
the town, and the passers-by began to jeer3 and point at them. the
man stopped and asked what they were scoffing4 at. the men said:
"aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading5 that poor donkey
with you and your hulking son?"
the man and boy got off and tried to think what to do. they
thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied
the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to
their shoulders. they went along amid the laughter of all who met
them till they came to market bridge, when the donkey, getting one
of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the boy to drop his end
of the pole. in the struggle the donkey fell over the bridge, and
his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.
"that will teach you," said an old man who had followed them:
"please all, and you will please none."
