Saints: The Ballad of Saint Giles and the Deer

This story is part of the Saints and Animals unit. Story source: The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown (1900).

(Saint Giles and the deer)

The Ballad of Saint Giles and the Deer

All in the forest far away

Where no one ever came,

There dwelt a good man, old and gray,—

Saint Giles the hermit's name.

His forest home a rocky cave

Beneath an aspen tree;

And for his friend Saint Giles did have

A Deer, who wandered free.

A gentle red and mottled Deer

Who made her home close by.

Who at his call came without fear.

Forgetting to be shy.

Sure never all in lovely France

Was there a Deer so tame;

Ah, but to see her start and prance

When he would call her name!

She gave him milk, his simple fare,

And browsed upon the green,

Ah, such a gentle, loving pair

I wis was never seen.

And he was happy in his cell,

And joyous 'neath his trees,

Content with woodland beasts to dwell,

His only neighbors these.

The wood was dark, the wood was grim,

And never till one day

Had human voices troubled him,

Or world-folk passed that way.

But on a dewy springtime morn

When April climbed the hill,

There came the wind of silver horn,

Halloos and whistles shrill;

The galloping of horses' feet,

The bloody bay of hounds,

Broke through the forest silence sweet

And echoed deadly sounds.

Saint Giles (National Gallery, London)

Saint Giles sat in his lonely cell,

Whenas the rout drew nigh;

But at the noise his kind heart fell

And sorrow dimmed his eye.

He loved not men who hunt to kill,

Loved not the rich and grand,

For in those days the Pagans still

Held lordship in the land.

But scarcely had he reached the door

And seized his staff of oak,

When like a billow with a roar

The chase upon him broke.

With one last hope of dear escape,

Into the open space

Bounded a light and graceful shape,

The quarry of the chase.

All flecked with foam, all quivering

With weariness and fear,

Crouched at his feet the hunted thing,

His gentle friend, the Deer.

Behind her bayed the pack of hounds,

Their cruel teeth gleamed white,

Nearing with eager leaps and bounds;

He turned sick at the sight.

Saint Giles looked down upon the Deer.

Saint Giles looked up again,

He saw the danger drawing near,

The death, with all its pain.

He laid his hand upon her head,

The soft head of his friend,—

"And shall I let thee die?" he said,

"And watch thy hapless end?"

He stooped and gently murmured, "Nay!"

Stroking her mottled side,

He stepped before her where she lay;

"They slay me first!" he cried.

Her frightened eyes looked up at him,

Her little heart beat high,

She trembled sore in every limb,—

The bushes parted nigh.

"Halloo! Halloo!" the huntsmen cried

As through the hedge they burst;

An archer all in green espied

The crouching quarry first.

Swift as a thought his arrow flew,

Saint Giles threw out his arm,

Alack! the aim was all to true,

Saint Giles must bear the harm.

The arrow pierced too well, too well;

All in that mournful wood

Saint Giles upon the greensward fell,

And dyed it with his blood.

He fell, but falling laid his hand

Upon the trembling Deer,—

"My life for hers, dost understand?"

He cried so all could hear.

Now as upon the green he lay

All in a deathly swound,

The King dashed up with courtiers gay

And looked upon his wound;

The King rode up, and "Ho!" he cried,

"Whom find we in our wood?

Who spares the deer with mottled hide?

Who sheds an old man's blood?"

The King looked down with ruthful eye

When all the thing was told,

"Alack!" he cried, "he must not die,

So kind a man and bold.

"Bear me the Saint into his cave;

Who falls to save his friend

Deserves for leech his King to have;

I will his pallet tend."

They spared to him the sore-bought Deer;

And in that lowly cell

For many weary days and drear

The King came there to dwell.

The King, who was a godless man,

A pagan, heart and soul,

Played nurse until the wound began

To heal, and Giles was whole.

But in the little forest cave

The King learned many things

Known to the meanest Christian slave,

But secrets from the kings.

For good Saint Giles had won his heart

By his brave deed and bold,

And ere the great King did depart

His Christian faith he told.

And while the red Deer stood beside,

The King gave Giles his word

That e'er a Christian he would bide,

And keep what he had heard.

And so the monarch rode away

And left the two alone,

Saint Giles a happy man that day,

The good Deer still his own.

Safe from the eager hunting horde

The Saint would keep his friend,

Protected by the King's own word

Thenceforth unto the end.

For unmolested in his cell,

Careless of everything

Giles with his friendly Deer could dwell

Liege to a Christian King.

Next: Saint Francis of Assisi

(Saint Giles fresco)

(800 words)

Noah: The Tower of Babel (Genesis)

This story is part of the Noah unit. Story source: The King James Bible (1611), Genesis 10-11 [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

(Tower of Babel)

The Tower of Babel

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, "Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, and Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazar-maveth, and Jerah, And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan. And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east. These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, "Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly." And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

And they said, "Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."

And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, "Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Next: The Birth of Noah

(700 words)

Noah: The Holy Book

Samael is a mysterious figure in Jewish tradition; you can read more about him at Wikipedia. One of his roles is to be the angel of death, but some scholars have identified him as the angel who restrained Abraham's hand to stop him from sacrificing his own son Isaac. The story below contains a legend about Samael's own son.

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Noah unit. Story source: The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909): Book 1, Chapter 4 Noah [LIBRIVOX AUDIO].

The Holy Book

Great wisdom was needed for building the ark, which was to have space for all beings on earth, even the spirits. Only the fishes did not have to be provided for. Noah acquired the necessary wisdom from the book given to Adam by the angel Raziel, in which all celestial and all earthly knowledge is recorded.

While the first human pair were still in Paradise, it once happened that Samael, accompanied by a lad, approached Eve and requested her to keep a watchful eye upon his little son until he should return. Eve gave him the promise. When Adam came back from a walk in Paradise, he found a howling, screaming child with Eve, who, in reply to his question, told him it was Samael's.

Adam was annoyed, and his annoyance grew as the boy cried and screamed more and more violently. In his vexation he dealt the little one a blow that killed him. But the corpse did not cease to wail and weep, nor did it cease when Adam cut it up into bits.

To rid himself of the plague, Adam cooked the remains, and he and Eve ate them. Scarcely had they finished, when Samael appeared and demanded his son. The two malefactors tried to deny everything; they pretended they had no knowledge of his son. But Samael said to them: "What! You dare tell lies, and God in times to come will give Israel the Torah in which it is said, 'Keep thee far from a false word'?"

While they were speaking thus, suddenly the voice of the slain lad was heard proceeding from the heart of Adam and Eve, and it addressed these words to Samael: "Go hence! I have penetrated to the heart of Adam and the heart of Eve, and never again shall I quit their hearts, nor the hearts of their children, or their children's children, unto the end of all generations."

Samael departed, but Adam was sore grieved, and he put on sackcloth and ashes, and he fasted many, many days, until God appeared unto him, and said: "My son, have no fear of Samael. I will give thee a remedy that will help thee against him, for it was at My instance that he went to thee."

Adam asked, "And what is this remedy?"

God: "The Torah."

Adam: "And where is the Torah?"

God then gave him the book of the angel Raziel, which he studied day and night. After some time had passed, the angels visited Adam, and, envious of the wisdom he had drawn from the book, they sought to destroy him cunningly by calling him a god and prostrating themselves before him, in spite of his remonstrance, "Do not prostrate yourselves before me, but magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together."

However, the envy of the angels was so great that they stole the book God had given Adam from him, and threw it in the sea. Adam searched for it everywhere in vain, and the loss distressed him sorely.

Again he fasted many days, until God appeared unto him, and said: "Fear not! I will give the book back to thee," and He called Rahab, the Angel of the Sea, and ordered him to recover the book from the sea and restore it to Adam. And so he did.

Upon the death of Adam, the holy book disappeared, but later the cave in which it was hidden was revealed to Enoch in a dream. It was from this book that Enoch drew his knowledge of nature, of the earth and of the heavens, and he became so wise through it that his wisdom exceeded the wisdom of Adam. Once he had committed it to memory, Enoch hid the book again.

Now, when God resolved upon bringing the flood on the earth, He sent the archangel Raphael to Noah, as the bearer of the following message: "I give thee herewith the holy book, that all the secrets and mysteries written therein may be made manifest unto thee, and that thou mayest know how to fulfil its injunction in holiness, purity, modesty, and humbleness. Thou wilt learn from it how to build an ark of the wood of the gopher tree, wherein thou, and thy sons, and thy wife shall find protection."

Noah took the book, and when he studied it, the holy spirit came upon him, and he knew all things needful for the building of the ark and the gathering together of the animals. The book, which was made of sapphires, he took with him into the ark, having first enclosed it in a golden casket. All the time he spent in the ark it served him as a time-piece, to distinguish night from day. Before his death, he entrusted it to Shem, and he in turn to Abraham. From Abraham it descended through Jacob, Levi, Moses, and Joshua to Solomon, who learnt all his wisdom from it, and his skill in the healing art, and also his mastery over the demons.

Next: The Inmates of the Ark

(Torah in Koln, Germany)

(800 words)

Odyssey: The Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis

After obtaining the information he needed from Teiresias in the land of the dead, Odysseus returns to Circe's island, and she gives him advice for how to evade the danger posed by the Sirens and then by Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus shares the information with his men: in order to escape the lure of the Sirens' song, Odysseus's men will stuff wax in their ears, but Odysseus wants to hear the song for himself, which means he will not use the wax. Instead, he will command the men to tie him to the mast. They manage to sail safely past the Sirens, but the encounter with Scylla and Charybdis is disastrous! Remember, Odysseus alone of all his men washed ashore on the island of Phaeacia, where he is telling this story of his adventures.

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Odyssey unit. Story source: Homer's Odyssey, translated into English by Tony Kline. (2004).

Passing the Sirens

So I explained everything to my friends, while our well-built vessel, borne on a gentle breeze, quickly neared the island of the Sirens. Suddenly the wind dropped, and a breathless calm followed, as some god lulled the waves. My comrades rose and furled the sail, then stowed it, then sat to their oars and thrashed the water with the blades of polished pine.

I, in the meantime, sliced a large cake of beeswax with my sword-edge, and kneaded the slivers in my strong hands until the pressure and the rays of Lord Helios Hyperion heated it. Then I plugged the ears of each of my friends, and they tied me hand and foot and stood me upright in the mast housing, and fastened the rope ends round the mast itself. Then sitting down again, they struck the grey water with their oars.

We drove past swiftly, but when we were within hail of the shore, the Sirens could not fail to see our speeding vessel, and began their clear singing: “Famous Odysseus, great glory of Achaea, draw near, and bring your ship to rest, and listen to our voices. No man rows past this isle in his dark ship without hearing the honeysweet sound from our lips. He delights in it and goes his way a wiser man. We know all the suffering the Argives and the Trojans endured, by the gods’ will, on the wide plains of Troy. We know everything that comes to pass on the fertile Earth.”

(Odysseus and the Sirens, Roman mosaic)

This was the haunting song the Sirens sang, and I longed to listen, commanding my crew by my expression to set me free. But they bent to their oars and rowed harder, while Perimedes and Eurylochus rose and tightened my bonds and added more rope. Not till they had rowed beyond the Sirens, so we no longer heard their voices and song, did my loyal friends clear the wax that plugged their ears, and untie me.

Scylla and Charybdis

No sooner had we left the isle behind than I saw spray, and huge breakers, and heard their thunder. The oars springing from my crew’s grasp in their terror slid into the sea, and the ship lost way without my comrades’ arms tugging at the tapered blades. Still I paced up and down the deck encouraging them with calm words, speaking to every man in turn: “Friends, we are not unused to trouble: and this hardship is no worse than when the Cyclops used brute strength to pen us in his echoing cave. I used my courage, intelligence and tactics, to get us out of there, and some day these dangers too will be only a memory. Now listen to my orders and all obey. Stick to your oars and smite the deep sea breakers, and pray that Zeus may allow us to run from death. Steersman, here are my orders, and take them to heart, since the hollow ship’s steering oar is in your control. Keep the ship out of the surf and spray, and hug the cliff, or before you know it the ship will veer to the far side, and plunge us to destruction.”

They quickly responded to my words. I chose not to speak of the intractable problem of Scylla, lest gripped by terror they left the oars to huddle in the hold. And now I forgot Circe’s stern command not to arm myself, instead I donned my splendid armour and grasped two long spears in my hand. Then I ran to the foredeck, expecting to see rock-bound Scylla first from there bringing disaster to my comrades. But I could not sight her and my eyes grew weary searching the mist-draped cliff face.

(Scylla, by John Flaxman)

So we sailed on through the narrow straits, crying aloud for fear of Scylla on the one hand while divine Charybdis sucked the sea in terribly on the other. Whenever she spewed it out again, it bubbled and seethed in turmoil like a cauldron on a vast fire, and high overhead the spray rained down on the crags on either side. When she swallowed the seas, her inner vortex could be seen, and the rock echoed savagely round about, while below the seabed showed its dark-blue sand.

My crew turned pale as we gazed at her, fearing destruction, but even as we did so Scylla seized six of my strongest and ablest men from the deck. As I looked along the swift ship towards my friends I saw their arms and legs dangling above me. In anguish they cried my name aloud one last time, then each of Scylla’s heads dragged a man writhing towards the rock, as a fisherman on a jutting crag casts his bait to lure small fish, lowers an ox-horn on a long pole into the sea, and catching a fish flings it ashore. There at the entrance to her cave she devoured them, as they shrieked and reached out their hands to me in their last dreadful throes. It was the most pitiable sight of all I saw exploring the pathways of the sea.


[If you want to keep on reading, you can find the complete Odyssey as translated by Kline at his Poetry in Translation website.]

(900 words)

Jataka: The Wise Physician

The story of Kisagotami is a famous Buddhist parable; you can read more about the story at Wikipedia.

The verses at the end are not part of the original jataka (although the jatakas do traditionally contain verses). Instead, Marie Shedlock added them to the story, as she explains in her note: "The following lines, ascribed to some of her Sisters in the Order and given in the Psalms (translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids), would apply to Kisagotami."

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Jataka Tales unit. Story source: Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie L. Shedlock (1920).

The Wise Physician

KISAGOTAMI is the name of a young girl whose marriage with the only son of a wealthy man was brought about in true fairy-tale fashion. She had one child, but when the beautiful boy could run alone, it died. The young girl in her love for it carried the dead child clasped to her bosom, and went from house to house of her pitying friends asking them to give her medicine for it.

But a Buddhist mendicant, thinking, "She does not understand," said to her: "My good girl, I myself have no such medicine as you ask for, but I think I know of one who has."

"Oh, tell me who that is!" said Kisagotami.

"The Buddha can give you medicine: go to him," was the answer.

She went to Gautama and, doing homage to him, said: "Lord and Master, do you know any medicine that will be good for my child?"

"Yes, I know of some," said the Teacher.

Now it was the custom for patients or their friends to provide the herbs which the doctors required, so she asked what herbs he would want.

"I want some mustard-seed," he said; and when the poor girl eagerly promised to bring some of so common a drug, he added: "You must get it from some house where no son, or husband, or parent, or slave has died."

"Very good," she said, and went to ask for it, still carrying her dead child with her.

The people said: "Here is mustard-seed, take it."

But when she asked, "In my friend’s house has any son died, or a husband, or a parent, or slave?" they answered: "Lady! what is this that thou sayest; the living are few, but the dead are many."

Then she went to other houses, but one said: "I have lost a son"; another, "We have lost our parents"; another, "I have lost my slave."

At last, not being able to find a single house where no one had died, her mind began to clear, and, summoning up resolution, she left the dead body of her child in a forest, and returning to the Buddha paid him homage.

He said to her: "Have you the mustard-seed?"

"My Lord," she replied, "I have not; the people tell me that the living are few, but the dead are many."

Then he talked to her on that essential part of his system—the impermanency of all things, till her doubts were cleared away, and, accepting her lot, she became a disciple and entered the first Path.

"Lo! from my heart the hidden shaft is gone,
The shaft that nestled there hath he removed;
And that consuming grief for my dear child,
Which poisoned all the life of me, is dead.
To-day my heart is healed, my yearning stayed,
Perfected the deliverance wrought in me."

(statue of Buddha in Ladakh, by J. Choe)

(500 words)

West Africa: How Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race

Anansi is a trickster... but he is also a familiy man, as you will see. Here you meet his son Kweku Tsin. If you are a fan of Neil Gaiman, you might enjoy his novel Anansi Boys, which is a story about two sons of Mr. Nancy — and Mr. Nancy is the West African trickster living in modern times. And yes, this is the same Mr. Nancy you might know from Gaiman's earlier novel, American Gods.

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the West African Folktales unit. Story source: West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with drawings by Cecilia Sinclair (1917).

How Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race

[LIBRIVOX AUDIO]

THERE once lived, in Fanti-land, a man named Father Anansi. He possessed all the wisdom in the world. People came to him daily for advice and help.

One day the men of the country were unfortunate enough to offend Father Anansi, who immediately resolved to punish them. After much thought he decided that the severest penalty he could inflict would be to hide all his wisdom from them. He set to work at once to gather again all that he had already given. When he had succeeded, as he thought, in collecting it, he placed all in one great pot. This he carefully sealed, and determined to put it in a spot where no human being could reach it.

Now, Father Anansi had a son, whose name was Kweku Tsin. This boy began to suspect his father of some secret design, so he made up his mind to watch carefully. Next day he saw his father quietly slip out of the house, with his precious pot hung round his neck. Kweku Tsin followed.

Father Anansi went through the forest till he had left the village far behind. Then, selecting the highest and most inaccessible-looking tree, he began to climb. The heavy pot, hanging in front of him, made his ascent almost impossible. Again and again he tried to reach the top of the tree, where he intended to hang the pot. There, he thought, Wisdom would indeed be beyond the reach of every one but himself. He was unable, however, to carry out his desire. At each trial the pot swung in his way.

For some time Kweku Tsin watched his father's vain attempts. At last, unable to contain himself any longer, he cried out: "Father, why do you not hang the pot on your back? Then you could easily climb the tree."

Father Anansi turned and said: "I thought I had all the world's wisdom in this pot. But I find you possess more than I do. All my wisdom was insufficient to show me what to do, yet you have been able to tell me."

In his anger he threw the pot down. It struck on a great rock and broke. The wisdom contained in it escaped and spread throughout the world.

Next: Anansi and Nothing

(Roadside pottery in Ghana)

(400 words)

Jataka Tales: How the Turtle Saved His Own Life

If you are familiar with the story of Brer Rabbit, you will recognize this story as being very similar to the tale of Brer Rabbit and the Brier Patch (a story that is part of the Brer Rabbit unit for this class).

[Notes by LKG]

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This story is part of the Jataka Tales unit. Story source: Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt, illustrated by Ellsworth Young (1912).

How the Turtle Saved His Own Life

[LIBRIVOX AUDIO]

A KING once had a lake made in the courtyard for the young princes to play in. They swam about in it, and sailed their boats and rafts on it. One day the king told them he had asked the men to put some fishes into the lake.

Off the boys ran to see the fishes.

Now, along with the fishes, there was a Turtle. The boys were delighted with the fishes, but they had never seen a Turtle, and they were afraid of it, thinking it was a demon. They ran back to their father, crying, "There is a demon on the bank of the lake."

The king ordered his men to catch the demon, and to bring it to the palace. When the Turtle was brought in, the boys cried and ran away.

The king was very fond of his sons, so he ordered the men who had brought the Turtle to kill it.

"How shall we kill it?" they asked.

"Pound it to powder," said some one.

"Bake it in hot coals," said another.

So one plan after another was spoken of.

Then an old man who had always been afraid of the water said: "Throw the thing into the lake where it flows out over the rocks into the river. Then it will surely be killed."

When the Turtle heard what the old man said, he thrust out his head and asked: "Friend, what have I done that you should do such a dreadful thing as that to me? The other plans were bad enough, but to throw me into the lake! Don't speak of such a cruel thing!"

When the king heard what the Turtle said, he told his men to take the Turtle at once and throw it into the lake.

The Turtle laughed to himself as he slid away down the river to his old home. "Good!" he said, "those people do not know how safe I am in the water!"

Next: The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking

(400 words)

Aesop's Fables: Lions

Here are some more poems by Sir Brooke Boothby and, as poetry can sometimes be harder to follow than prose, I have provided a brief note for each poem to help make the plot more clear.

[Notes by LKG]

---

These fables are part of the Aesop's Fables (English) unit. Story source: Fables and Satires by Sir Brooke Boothby (1809).

Aesop's Fables: Lions

(illustration from Bewick's Aesop)

In this fable, the lion is able to hold a conversation with the man, but that does not mean the lion is able to do all that a human can. In particular, lions cannot create sculptures!

The Lion and the Man

Lion and Man, on some pretense,
Disputed for preeminence.
In marble wrought, the latter show'd
A man who o'er a lion strode.

"If that be all," the beast replied,
"A lion on a man astride
You soon assuredly would view,
The sculptor's art if lions knew."

Each nation would the rest excel,
If their own tale allow'd to tell.


This story shows the lion as a more crafty and dangerous creature, using a strategy of "divide and conquer" to defeat the bulls.

The Lion and the Bulls

This tale a double moral bears:
'Gainst calumny to shut our ears —
And that on unity of friends,
Their common safety oft depends.

Four Bulls in friendly league agreed
Together they would always feed;
With rage a hungry Lion saw
They were too powerful for his paw,
And sent out mischief-making spies,
Well vers'd in calumnies and lies.

The simple beasts they circumvent,
Sow jealousy and discontent
Till lost affection ends in hate
And by consent they separate.

The Lion now his ends had gain'd,
And easily his prey obtain'd.


While the bulls in the previous fable fell victim to the scheming lion, the goat in this fable proves more wise!

The Lion and the Goats

Prefer a safe and humble lot
To luxuries by danger got.

A Lion, seeing from below
Goats feeding on a craggy brow,
"Come down," he says; "you here will find
Grass of a much superior kind."

"We thank you for your royal care,"
Says one, "but here we better are;
The pasture, if not quite so good,
In safety we can crop our food."


Here the lion poses a danger to his own courtiers because it proves fatal both to tell the truth and to likewise to tell flattering lies! Not surprisingly, it is the fox who manages to find a solution.

The Lion King

Than truth we nought more useful know,
And yet the following tale may show
The danger to be too sincere,
With those all-powerful who are.

A Lion o'er the beasts who reign'd
An equitable conduct feign'd,
And, satisfied with moderate food,
Appear'd to seek the nation's good.

But weary, nature to restrain,
Yet show of justice to maintain,
He with this plot his courtiers snar'd:
That he was sick, the King declar'd,
That sleep and appetite he wanted,
And he believ'd his breath was tainted.

The Bear was ask'd; who, blunt and rough,
Says, "Yes, you stink, Sir, sure enough."
Decided quick poor Bruin's fate is;
Guilty of Laesus Majestatis.

The Ape then swore that to his nose
"'Twas cassia, cinnamon, and rose;"
And by the law was doom'd to swing,
For lies and flattery to the King.

The Fox came next, who from the scrape
Did by this subterfuge escape:
"I with a cold am so unwell,"
He says, "I've neither taste nor smell;
But here's the Fox-hound, who for scent,
As we all know is excellent."

True courtier, he avoids the snare
To place his adversary there.


Finally, in this famous lion fable, you will see a better side of the mighty beast.

The Lion and the Mouse.

The following fable may advise
Never inferiors to despise
Or harm the weak.

                     Some Mice at play,
Where once a slumb'ring Lion lay,
A young one, giddier than the rest,
Leapt on and wak'd the royal beast.
Caught in his paws, she grace implor'd.

Leo forgave her, and restor'd
To liberty. Ere many days
The woodlands as by night he strays,
Caught in a toil, the hills around
Rebellow with his roar.

                                     The sound
Soon draws the grateful Mouse, who said,
"Fear nothing, Sir; I bring you aid,
"For kindness past," and with these words,
She set to work to gnaw the cords
That bound the toil, and persever'd
Till Leo was from durance clear'd.

Next: A Lion and a Man

(illustration from Baby's Book of Fables)

(500 words)

Japanese Fairy Tales: The Stonecutter

This story is part of the Japanese Fairy Tales unit. Story source: The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang and illustrated by H. J. Ford (1903).

The Stonecutter

LIBRIVOX AUDIO: The Stone-cutter

Once upon a time there lived a stonecutter who went every day to a great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for gravestones or for houses. He understood very well the kinds of stones wanted for the different purposes, and as he was a careful workman he had plenty of customers. For a long time he was quite happy and contented, and asked for nothing better than what he had.

Now in the mountain dwelt a spirit which now and then appeared to men, and helped them in many ways to become rich and prosperous. The stonecutter, however, had never seen this spirit and only shook his head, with an unbelieving air, when anyone spoke of it. But a time was coming when he learned to change his opinion.

One day the stonecutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich man and saw there all sorts of beautiful things of which he had never even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow harder and heavier, and he said to himself: 'Oh, if only I were a rich man and could sleep in a bed with silken curtains and golden tassels, how happy I should be!'

And a voice answered him: 'Your wish is heard; a rich man you shall be!'

At the sound of the voice the stonecutter looked round but could see nobody. He thought it was all his fancy, and picked up his tools and went home for he did not feel inclined to do any more work that day. But when he reached the little house where he lived, he stood still with amazement, for instead of his wooden hut was a stately palace filled with splendid furniture, and most splendid of all was the bed, in every respect like the one he had envied. He was nearly beside himself with joy, and in his new life the old one was soon forgotten.

It was now the beginning of summer, and each day the sun blazed more fiercely. One morning the heat was so great that the stonecutter could scarcely breathe, and he determined he would stay at home till the evening. He was rather dull, for he had never learned how to amuse himself, and was peeping through the closed blinds to see what was going on in the street when a little carriage passed by, drawn by servants dressed in blue and silver. In the carriage sat a prince, and over his head a golden umbrella was held to protect him from the sun's rays.

'Oh, if I were only a prince!' said the stonecutter to himself as the carriage vanished round the corner. 'Oh, if I were only a prince, and could go in such a carriage and have a golden umbrella held over me, how happy I should be!'

And the voice of the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; a prince you shall be.'

And a prince he was. Before his carriage rode one company of men and another behind it; servants dressed in scarlet and gold bore him along, the coveted umbrella was held over his head, everything a heart could desire was his.

But yet it was not enough. He looked round still for something to wish for, and when he saw that in spite of the water he poured on his grass, the rays of the sun scorched it, and that in spite of the umbrella held over his head, each day his face grew browner and browner, he cried in his anger: 'The sun is mightier than I; oh, if I were only the sun!'

And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; the sun you shall be.'

And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot his beams above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the grass in the fields and scorched the faces of princes as well as of poorer folk.

But in a short time, he began to grow tired of his might for there seemed nothing left for him to do. Discontent once more filled his soul, and when a cloud covered his face and hid the earth from him, he cried in his anger: 'Does the cloud hold captive my rays, and is it mightier than I? Oh, that I were a cloud, and mightier than any!'

And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; a cloud you shall be!'

And a cloud he was, and lay between the sun and the earth. He caught the sun's beams and held them, and to his joy the earth grew green again and flowers blossomed.

But that was not enough for him, and for days and weeks he poured forth rain till the rivers overflowed their banks and the crops of rice stood in water. Towns and villages were destroyed by the power of the rain; only the great rock on the mountain side remained unmoved. The cloud was amazed at the sight, and cried in wonder: 'Is the rock, then, mightier than I? Oh, if I were only the rock!'

And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard; the rock you shall be!

And the rock he was, and gloried in his power. Proudly he stood, and neither the heat of the sun nor the force of the rain could move him. 'This is better than all!' he said to himself.

But one day he heard a strange noise at his feet, and when he looked down to see what it could be, he saw a stonecutter driving tools into his surface. Even while he looked, a trembling feeling ran all through him, and a great block broke off and fell upon the ground.

Then he cried in his wrath: 'Is a mere child of earth mightier than a rock? Oh, if I were only a man!'

And the mountain spirit answered: 'Your wish is heard. A man once more you shall be!'

And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at his trade of stone-cutting. His bed was hard and his food scanty, but he had learned to be satisfied with it and did not long to be something or somebody else. And as he never asked for things he had not got, or desired to be greater and mightier than other people, he was happy at last and heard the voice of the mountain spirit no longer.

Next: The Maiden with the Wooden Helmet

(1100 words)

Persian Tales: The Sad Tale of the Mouse's Tail

This is another cumulative tale, and you can see from the all-caps at the end that the story leaves off with the mouse feeling quite frustrated. As the story ends, she has still not managed to get her tail sewn back on!

The story makes reference to the Jews of Iran, and you can find out more about the Persian Jews at Wikipedia.

The story also makes reference to Gypsies or Roma people, who have also lived in Iran for many centuries. You can read in Wikipedia about the legend in the Persian epic Shahnameh about how the Roma came to Iran.

Explore: For another cumulative story about a mouse, see Susku and Mushu. For another animal story, see The Tortoise and the Fox.

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Persian Tales unit. Story source: Persian Tales, translated by D.L.R. Lorimer and E.O. Lorimer and illustrated by Hilda Roberts (1919).

(photo by George Shuklin)

The Sad Tale of the Mouse's Tail

Once upon a time there was a time when there was no one but God.

The Mouse went out a-stealing and fell into a trap, and her tail got torn off.

Away she went to the Cobbler and said:
Cobbler, Cobbler, sew on my tail!

The Cobbler said: "Run away and bring me some thread so that I can sew on your tail."

The Mouse ran to the Jew and said:
Jew, Jew, give me a thread
To give to the Cobbler to sew on my tail.

"Bring me an egg," said the Jew, "and I'll give you a thread." So she came to the Hen and said:
Tutoo, Tutoo, give me an egg
To give to the Jew, who'll give me a thread
To give to the Cobbler to sew on my tail.

The Hen said: "Go and bring me a grain of corn and I'll give you an egg." So she came to the Corn Heap and said:
Corn Heap, Corn Heap, give me a grain
To give to the Hen, who'll give me an egg
To give to the Jew, who'll give me a thread
To give to the Cobbler to sew on my tail.

"Bring me a sieve," said the Corn Heap, "so that I can get you a grain of corn." So she came to the Tinker and said:
Gipsy, Gipsy, give me a sieve
To give to the Corn Heap, who'll give me a grain
To give to the Hen, who'll give me an egg
To give to the Jew, who'll give me a thread
To give to the Cobbler to sew on my tail.

"Go and bring me a goat-skin," said the Tinker, "so that I may make a sieve1 for you." So she came to the Goat and said:
Goat, Goat, give me a skin
To give to the Tinker, who'll make me a sieve
To give to the Corn Heap, who'll give me a grain
To give to the Hen, who'll give me an egg
To give to the Jew, who'll give me a thread
To give to the Cobbler to sew on my tail.

The Goat said: "Go and bring me some grass, and I'll give you a skin." So she came to the Farmer and said:
Farmer, Farmer, give me some grass
To give to the Goat, who'll give me a skin
To give to the Tinker, who'll make me a sieve
To give to the Corn Heap, who'll give me a grain
To give to the Hen, who'll give me an egg
To give to the Jew, who'll give me a thread
To give to the Cobbler to sew on my tail.

"Go and bring me a spade," said the Farmer, "so that I can dig you up some grass." So she came to the Blacksmith and said:
Blacksmith, Blacksmith, give me a spade
To give to the Farmer, who'll give me some grass
To give to the Goat, who'll give me a skin
To give to the Tinker, who'll make me a sieve
To give to the Corn Heap, who'll give me a grain
To give to the Hen, who'll give me an egg
To give to the Jew, who'll give me a thread
To give to the Cobbler
TO SEW ON MY TAIL!

And now my story has come to an end, but the sparrow never got home.

Next: Fayiz and the Peri Wife

(600 words)

Aesop's Fables: Asses

The donkey is usually a figure of mockery in Aesop's fables, often became he aspires to be more than an ass, as here in the story of The Ass in the Lion's Skin, The Ass's Brains, and The Ass and the Lapdog. At the same time, the donkey's lowly status can grant him an honesty and humility that other creatures lack, as in the story of The Horse and the Ass.

For the two-fable illustration, you will get the story of The Cock, The Ass, and The Lion later.

[Notes by LKG]

---

These fables are part of the Aesop's Fables (Jacobs) unit. Story sources: The prose fables are from The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs (1894) and the limericks and illustrations are from The Baby's Own Aesop by W. J. Linton and illustrated by Walter Crane (1887).

Asses

Jacobs 49. The Ass in the Lion's Skin (Perry 188)

An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on and went towards his native village. All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day.

In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he had caused.

And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said: "Ah, I knew you by your voice."

Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.

Crane 29. The Ass in the Lion's Skin (Perry 358)

"What pranks I shall play!" thought the Ass,
"In this skin for a Lion to pass."
But he left one ear out,
And a hiding, no doubt,
"Lion" had - on the skin of an Ass!

IMPOSTORS GENERALLY FORGET SOMETHING

~ ~ ~

Jacobs 74. The Ass's Brains (Perry 336)

The Lion and the Fox went hunting together. The Lion, on the advice of the Fox, sent a message to the Ass, proposing to make an alliance between their two families.

The Ass came to the place of meeting, overjoyed at the prospect of a royal alliance. But when he came there the Lion simply pounced on the Ass, and said to the Fox: "Here is our dinner for to-day. Watch you here while I go and have a nap. Woe betide you if you touch my prey."

The Lion went away and the Fox waited but, finding that his master did not return, ventured to take out the brains of the Ass and ate them up.

When the Lion came back he soon noticed the absence of the brains and asked the Fox in a terrible voice: "What have you done with the brains?"

"Brains, your Majesty! it had none, or it would never have fallen into your trap."

Wit has always an answer ready.

~ ~ ~

Jacobs 10. The Ass and the Lapdog (Perry 91)

A Farmer one day came to the stables to see to his beasts of burden: among them was his favourite Ass, that was always well fed and often carried his master.

With the Farmer came his Lapdog, who danced about and licked his hand and frisked about as happy as could be. The Farmer felt in his pocket, gave the Lapdog some dainty food, and sat down while he gave his orders to his servants. The Lapdog jumped into his master's lap, and lay there blinking while the Farmer stroked his ears.

The Ass, seeing this, broke loose from his halter and commenced prancing about in imitation of the Lapdog. The Farmer could not hold his sides with laughter, so the Ass went up to him, and putting his feet upon the Farmer's shoulder attempted to climb into his lap.

The Farmer's servants rushed up with sticks and pitchforks and soon taught the Ass: clumsy jesting is no joke.

Crane 60. The Ass and The Lap Dog (Perry 91)

"How Master that little Dog pets!"
Thinks the Ass, and with jealousy frets,
So he climbs Master's knees,
Hoping dog-like to please,
And a drubbing is all that he gets.

ASSES MUST NOT EXPECT TO BE FONDLED.

~ ~ ~

Jacobs 78. The Horse and the Ass (Perry 357)

A Horse and an Ass were travelling together, the Horse prancing along in its fine trappings, the Ass carrying with difficulty the heavy weight in its panniers.

"I wish I were you," sighed the Ass; "nothing to do and well fed, and all that fine harness upon you."

Next day, however, there was a great battle, and the Horse was wounded to death in the final charge of the day.

His friend, the Ass, happened to pass by shortly afterwards and found him on the point of death. "I was wrong," said the Ass: "Better humble security than gilded danger."

Next page: Deer

(600 words)

Golden Legend: Saint Martha

If you are a fan of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, you already know about the saint's legend of Mary Magdalene which tells how she traveled to France after the death of Jesus. Saint Martha is Mary's sister, and she also traveled to France where she was venerated as a saint. The story of Saint Martha as told in The Golden Legend is rather long, so I have included only the first part here.

Like Saint Margaret, Saint Martha is famous for defeating a dragon, and this particular dragon - the Tarasque - has been named by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. You can read more at Wikipedia about Saint Martha and about the Tarasque. You can also learn more about the parents of the Tarasque dragon at Wikipedia: the dragon is the product of interbreeding between Leviathan and the Bonnacon, a mythical beast that supposedly attacked its pursuers by spewing massive quantities of fiery dung from its behind, as you can see in this image of the Bonnacon:

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Women Saints unit. Story source: The Golden Legend edited by F. S. Ellis (1900).

(Saint Martha and the Tarasque)

Here followeth the Life of S. Martha

S. Martha, hostess of our Lord Jesu Christ, was born of a royal kindred. Her father was named Syro and her mother Encharia. The father of her was duke of Syria and places maritime, and Martha with her sister possessed by the heritage of their mother three places, that was, the castle Magdalen, and Bethany and a part of Jerusalem. It is nowhere read that Martha had ever any husband ne fellowship of man, but she as a noble hostess ministered and served our Lord, and would also that her sister should serve him and help her, for she thought that all the world was not sufficient to serve such a guest.

After the ascension of our Lord, when the disciples were departed, she with her brother Lazarus and her sister Mary, also S. Maximin which baptized them, and to whom they were committed of the Holy Ghost, and many others, were put into a ship without sail, oars, or rudder governail, of the paynims, which by the conduct of our Lord they came all to Marseilles, and after came to the territory of Aquense or Aix, and there converted the people to the faith. Martha was right facound of speech, and courteous and gracious to the sight of the people.

There was that time upon the river of Rhone, in a certain wood between Arles and Avignon, a great dragon, half beast and half fish, greater than an ox, longer than an horse, having teeth sharp as a sword, and horned on either side, head like a lion, tail like a serpent, and defended him with two wings on either side, and could not be beaten with cast of stones ne with other armour, and was as strong as twelve lions or bears; which dragon lay hiding and lurking in the river, and perished them that passed by and drowned ships. He came thither by sea from Galicia, and was engendered of Leviathan, which is a serpent of the water and is much wood, and of a beast called Bonacho, that is engendered in Galicia. And when he is pursued he casts out of his belly behind, his ordure, the space of an acre of land on them that follow him, and it is bright as glass, and what it toucheth it burneth as fire.

To whom Martha, at the prayer of the people, came into the wood, and found him eating a man. And she cast on him holy water, and showed to him the cross, which anon was overcome, and standing still as a sheep, she bound him with her own girdle, and then was slain with spears and glaives of the people.

The dragon was called of them that dwelled in the country Tarasconus, whereof, in remembrance of him that place is called Tarasconus, which tofore was called Nerluc, and the Black Lake, because there be woods shadowous and black.

And there the blessed Martha, by licence of Maximin her master, and of her sister, dwelled and abode in the same place after, and daily occupied in prayers and in fastings, and thereafter assembled and were gathered together a great convent of sisters, and builded a fair church at the honour of the blessed Mary virgin, where she led a hard and a sharp life. She eschewed flesh and all fat meat, eggs, cheese and wine; she ate but once a day. An hundred times a day and an hundred times a night she kneeled down and bowed her knees.

On a time, at Avignon, when she preached between the town and the river of Rhone, there was a young man on that other side of the river desiring to hear her words, and had no boat to pass over. He began to swim naked, but he was suddenly taken by the strength of the water, and anon suffocate and drowned, whose body unnethe was found the next day.

And when it was taken up, it was presented at the feet of Martha for to be raised to life. She then, in manner of a cross, fell down to the ground and prayed in this manner: O Adonay, Lord Jesu Christ, which raisedst sometime my well-beloved brother, behold my most dear guest to the faith of them that stand here, and raise this child.

And she took him by the hand, and forthwith he arose living and received the holy baptism.

Next: Saint Theodora

(15th-century painting of Saint Martha)

(800 words)

SW/CA: How Bluebird and Coyote Got Their Colors

Like the previous story, this is another Pima story about the Coyote, explaining why he is now the color of dirt, while the Bluebird, who was once ugly, is now a beautiful blue color.

[Notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Southwestern and California Legends unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912).

How Bluebird and Coyote Got Their Colors

Pima (Arizona)

A long time ago, the bluebird was a very ugly color. But Bluebird knew of a lake where no river flowed in or out, and he bathed in this four times every morning for four mornings. Every morning he sang a magic song:

There's a blue water. 
It lies there.
I went in.
I am all blue.

On the fourth morning Bluebird shed all his feathers and came out of the lake just in his skin. But the next morning when he came out of the lake he was covered with blue feathers.

(Bluebird)

Now all this while Coyote had been watching Bluebird. He wanted to jump in and get him to eat, but he was afraid of the water. But on that last morning Coyote said, "How is it you have lost all your ugly color, and now you are blue and gay and beautiful? You are more beautiful than anything that flies in the air. I want to be blue, too." Now Coyote at that time was a bright green.

"I only went in four times on four mornings," said Bluebird.

He taught Coyote the magic song, and Coyote went in four times, and the fifth time he came out as blue as the little bird.

Then Coyote was very, very proud because he was a blue coyote. He was so proud that as he walked along he looked around on every side to see if anybody was looking at him now that he was a blue coyote and so beautiful. He looked to see if his shadow was blue, too.

But Coyote was so busy watching to see if others were noticing him that he did not watch the trail. By and by he ran into a stump so hard that it threw him down in the dirt and he was covered with dust all over. You may know this is true because even today coyotes are the color of dirt.

Next: Coyote's Eyes

(Coyote, by Justin Johnsen)

(300 words)

Indian Fairy Tales: The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal

This story is part of the Indian Fairy Tales unit. Story source: Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by John D. Batten (1912).

The Tiger, The Brahman, and the Jackal

LIBRIVOX AUDIO: The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal

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 pious one!" cried the tiger.

"Nay, 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 sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious Brahman's heart softened, 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 abide 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 papal-tree what it thought of the matter, but the papal-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 buffalo turning a well-wheel, but he fared no better from it, for it answered, "You are a fool to expect gratitude! Look at me! Whilst I gave milk, they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!"

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, trample 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 miserable as a fish out of water!"

The Brahman told him all that had occurred. "How very confusing!" said the jackal, when the recital 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 judgment."

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!" growled the savage beast; "but now let us begin our dinner."

"Our dinner!" thought the wretched Brahman, as his knees knocked together with fright. "What a remarkably 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 yarn as possible.

"Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!" cried the jackal, wringing 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?"

"Perfectly! " grinned the jackal, as he dexterously shut the door, "and if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they were!"

Next: Harisarman

(800 words)

Tibetan Folk Tales: The Tiger and the Frog

The proverbs that Shelton adds to the folktales are sometimes a really close match, and sometimes the connection is very loose. In this case, the proverb fits perfectly: the frog really will go far with the help of the strong tiger!

Explore: For another story about a tricky frog, see How the Sacred Duck Got His Yellow Breast, and for another story about a tiger, see How the Fox Fell a Victim to His Own Deceit.

[notes by LKG]

---

This story is part of the Tibetan Folktales unit. Story source: Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton with illustrations by Mildred Bryant (1925).

The Tiger and the Frog

The tall strong pine is a great help, for with its support the weak vine may climb as high.
Tibetan Proverb.

ONCE upon a time, in the days when the world was young and all animals understood each other's languages, an old, old tiger named Tsuden went out hunting for some food. As he was creeping quietly along the banks of a stream a frog saw him and was badly scared. He thought, "This tiger is coming to eat me up." He climbed up on a little bunch of sod and when the tiger came near, called out, "Hello, where are you going?"

The tiger answered, "I am going up into the forest to hunt something to eat. I haven't had any food for two or three days and I am very weak and hungry. I guess I'll eat you up. You're awfully small, but I can't find anything else. Who are you anyway?"

The frog replied, swelling up as big as he could, "I am the king of the frogs. I can jump any distance and can do anything. Here's a river; let's see who can jump across."

The tiger answered, "All right," and as he crouched ready to jump, the frog slipped up and got hold of the end of his tail with his mouth, and when the tiger jumped he was thrown away up the bank across the river.

After Tsuden got across he turned around and looked and looked into the river for the frog. But as the tiger turned, the frog let loose of his tail and said, "What are you looking for, old tiger, down there?"

The tiger whirled quickly, very much surprised to see the frog away up the bank behind him.

Said the frog, "Now I beat you in that test; let's try another. Suppose we both vomit." The tiger being empty could only throw up a little water, but the frog spit up some tiger hair.

The tiger much astonished asked, "How do you happen to be able to do that?"

The frog replied, "Oh, yesterday I killed a tiger and ate him, and these are just a few of the hairs that aren't yet digested."

The tiger began to think to himself, "He must be very strong. Yesterday he killed and ate a tiger, and now he has jumped farther than I did over the river. Guess I'd better slip away before he eats me." Then he sidled away a little piece, quickly turned and began to run away as fast as he could, up the mountain.

He met a fox coming down who asked, "What's the matter? Why are you running away so fast?"

"Say," the old tiger said, "I met the king of all the frogs, who is very strong. Why, he has been eating tigers and he jumped across the river and landed farther up the bank than I did."

The fox laughed at him and said, "What, are you running away from that little frog? He is nothing at all. I am only a little fox, but I could put my foot on him and kill him."

The tiger answered, "I know what this frog can do, but if you think you can kill him, I'll go back with you. I am afraid you will get frightened and run away, however, so we must tie our tails together."

So they tied their tails fast in a lot of knots and went down to see the frog, who still sat on his piece of sod, looking as important as he could. He saw them coming and called out to the fox, "You're a great fox. You haven't paid your toll to the king to-day nor brought any meat either. Is that a dog you've got tied to your tail and are you bringing him for my dinner?"

Then the tiger was frightened, for he thought the fox was taking him to the king to be eaten. So he turned and ran and ran as fast as he could go, dragging the poor fox with him, and if they are not dead, they are still running to-day.

Next: The Cony Who Got into Bad Company

(700 words)