October 24. Story of the Day: Brahmana's Kitten

This story comes from Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon by H. Parker, volume 2: 171.

It's an example of ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE STORY OF THE BRAHMANA'S KITTEN

(maxpixel)

In a certain country a Brahmana reared a kitten, it is said. He said that he reared the kitten in order to give it [in marriage] to the greatest person of all in this world. After the kitten became big he took it to give to the Sun, the Divine King. Having taken it there he gave it to the Sun, the Divine King. 

The Sun, the Divine King, asked, "What is the reason why you brought this kitten?" 

Then the Brahmana said, "Rearing this kitten since the day when it was little, I have brought it to give to the greatest person of all in this world." 

Then the Sun, the Divine King, said, "Although I fall as sun-heat (awwa) like fire, into the world, there is a greater person than I. Mr. Rain-cloud having come, when he has spread his car for himself I am unable to do anything. The gentleman is greater than I. Because of it, having taken it, give it to the gentleman." 

After that, the Brahmana having taken the kitten gave it to the Rain-cloud. Then the Rain-cloud asked, "What is the reason why you brought this kitten?" 

Then the Brahmana said, "I reared this kitten since the day when it was little, to give it [in marriage] to the Sun, the Divine King. When I brought and gave it to the Sun, the Divine King, he said, 'There is a greater person than I. Give it to Mr. Rain-cloud.' Because of it, I brought this kitten to give it to you to marry." 

Then the Rain-cloud says, "I, the Rain-cloud, having come, what of my car's spreading out and remaining! The Wind-cloud having come, and smashed and torn me into bits, throws me down. He is greater than I. Because of it give it to him." 

After that, the Brahmana having taken the kitten gave it to the Wind-cloud. Then the Wind-cloud asked, "What did you bring this kitten for?" 

Then the Brahmana said, "I reared this kitten since the day when it was little, to give it [in marriage] to [His Majesty of] the Sun race. The Sun, the Divine King, told me to give it to the Rain-cloud. The Rain-cloud told me to give it to the Wind-cloud. Because of it, I brought it to give it to you to marry." 

Then the Wind-cloud says, "I, the Wind-cloud, having gone, what of my going throwing down the Rain-cloud and smashing the trees! I am unable to do anything to the Ground-Ant-hill. However much wind blows, the Ant-hill does not even shake. Because of it he is greater than I. Take it and give it to him." 

After that, the Brahmana having taken the kitten gave it to the Ground-Ant-hill. Then the Ground-Ant-hill asked, "What have you brought this kitten for?" 

Then the Brahmana says, "I reared this kitten to give it [in marriage] to His Majesty the Sun. When I brought it near the Sun, the Divine King, he told me to give it to the Rain-cloud. The Rain-cloud told me to give it to the Wind-cloud. The Wind-cloud said, 'There is a greater than I, the Ground-Ant-hill. Give it to him.' Because of it I brought it to give it to you." 

Then the Ground-Ant-hill said, "The Sun, the Divine King, can do nothing to me, the Rain-cloud can do nothing to me, the Wind-cloud can do nothing to me, but there is a greater person than I, the Bull (gon-madaya). He having come and gored me, smashes me and throws me down. Because of that give it to the Bull." 

After that, the Brahmana having taken the kitten gave it to the Bull. Then the Bull asked, "What did you bring this kitten for?" 

The Brahmana says, "To give this kitten [in marriage] to His Majesty the Sun, I reared it since the day when it was little. When I brought it there, the Sun, the Divine King, told me to give it to the Rain-cloud. When I brought it near the Rain-cloud he told me to give it to the Wind-cloud. When I brought it there he told me to give it to the Ground-Ant-hill. When I brought it there he said, 'The Bull is greater than I; give it to him.' Because of it I brought it to give it to you."

Then the Bull says, "There is a greater person than I, the Leopard. It is true that I trample on the Ant-hill, and gore it and throw it down; but the Leopard chases me, and tears me, and eats my flesh, therefore he is greater than I. Because of it give it to him." 

After that, the Brahmana having taken the kitten gave it to the Leopard. Then the Leopard asked, "What did you bring this kitten for?" 

The Brahmana says, "This kitten reared I to give [in marriage] to His Majesty the Sun. Well then, having walked from there in this and this manner, the Bull told me to give it to you. On account of that I brought it to give it to you." 

Then the Leopard says, "The Cat is greater than I; my Preceptor is the Cat. He taught me to climb up trees, but I have not yet learnt how to descend. Because of it give it to the Cat." 

After that, the Brahmana having taken the kitten gave it to the Cat. Then the Cat asked, "What did you bring this kitten for?" 

The Brahmana says, "For you I did not rear this kitten. Having reared it to give [it in marriage] to the most powerful person of all in the world, I took it to give to the Sun, the Divine King. Then he told me to give it to the Rain-cloud. When I took it near him he told me to give it to the Wind-cloud. When I took it near him he told me to give it to the Ground-Ant-hill. When I took it near him he said, 'There is a greater person than I, the Bull.' When I took it near him he told me to give it to the Leopard. When I took it near him the Leopard said, 'Because the Cat is my Preceptor give it to the Cat.' Therefore I brought this kitten to give it to you." 

After that, the Cat having said, "It is good," marrying the kitten it remained there. 

NOTES

North-western Province. 

The leopard often climbs up trees, but cannot descend more than a few feet down the trunk; from any considerable height it always jumps down. My tame leopard would climb down backwards for about six feet only.

In the Literary Supplement to The Examiner of Ceylon for 1875. it was stated that the cheetah (leopard) applied to the cat to teach him the art of climbing, but the cat forgot to show him how to descend. From that time the cheetah never spares the cat if he can catch him, but out of veneration for his old teacher he places the body on some elevation and worships it [that is, makes obeisance to it], instead of eating it. (Quoted by Mr. J. P. Lewis in The Orientalist, vol. ii, p. 149). 

In the short tales at the end of The Adventures of Raja Rasalu. (Panjab, Swynnerton), p. 179, the tiger was taught by the cat. When he thought he had learnt everything the cat knew, the tiger sprang at it, intending to eat it; but the cat climbed up a tree, and the tiger was unable to follow it. The story is repeated in Indian Nights' Entertainment, p. 350. 

In the Katha Sarit Sagara (Tawney), vol. ii, p. 56, an ambitious Candala girl who determined to marry a universal monarch saw the supreme King bow down to a hermit. She followed the latter, but when he prostrated himself at a temple of Siva she attached herself to that God. A dog behaved in such a manner at the shrine that she followed the dog, which entered a Candala's house and rolled at the feet of a young Candala; the girl therefore was married to him. 

In the same work, vol. ii, p. 72, a hermit transformed a young mouse into a girl, and reared her. When she had grown up he offered her to the Sun, saying he wished to marry her to some mighty one. He was referred in turn to the Cloud and the Mountains, but the Himalaya said that the Mice were stronger than he and dug holes in him. She was then transformed into a mouse once more, and married a forest mouse. 

This latter form of the tale is given in The Fables of Pilpay, in which it was the girl who wished to be married to a powerful and invincible husband. 

In Folklore of the Santal Parganas (collected by Rev. Dr. Bodding), p. 168, the parents of a beautiful girl of a semi-aboriginal caste determined to marry her to the greatest person in the world. They took her in turn to the Sun, the Cloud, the Wind, the Mountain, and the Ground Rat. When they applied to the rat it informed them that their own people were more powerful than the rats, as they dug out and ate them; so in the end the girl was married to a man of their own caste.

September 26. Story of the Day: Abraham and Nimrod

This is a passage from the Jewish Encyclopedia article on Abraham (1906, online); see the Encyclopedia for the sources of the story. You can read more about the legends of both Abraham and Nimrod at Wikipedia also.

This story is classified as ATU 2031B. Abraham learns to worship God, where you will find also another Jewish legend plus a version of this story from the Koran.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

ABRAHAM AND NIMROD

(Leipzig Machzor, circa 1300)

Terah was a manufacturer of idols and had them for sale. One day when Terah was absent and Abraham was left to take charge of the shop, an old, yet vigorous, man came in to buy an idol. Abraham handed him the one on top, and he gave him the price asked. "How old art thou?" Abraham asked.

"Seventy years," was the answer.

"Thou fool," continued Abraham, "how canst thou adore a god so much younger than thou? Thou wert born seventy years ago and this god was made yesterday."

The buyer threw away his idol and received his money back.

The other sons of Terah complained to their father that Abraham did not know how to sell the idols, and so Abraham was told to attend to the idols as priest.

One day a woman brought a meal-offering for the idols, and, as they would not eat, he exclaimed: "A mouth have they but speak not, eyes but see not, ears but hear not, hands but handle not. May their makers be like them, and all who trust in them," and he broke them to pieces and burned them.

Abraham was brought before Nimrod, who said: "Knowest thou not that I am god and ruler of the world? Why hast thou destroyed my images?"

Then Abraham said: "If thou art god and ruler of the world, why dost thou not cause the sun to rise in the west and set in the east? If thou art god and ruler of the world, tell me all that I have now at heart, and what I shall do in the future." Nimrod was dumfounded, and Abraham continued: "Thou art the son of Cush, a mortal like him. Thou couldst not save thy father from death, nor wilt thou thyself escape it."

Nimrod said: "Worship the fire!"

"Why not water that quenches the fire?" asked Abraham.

"Very well, worship the water!"

"Why not the clouds which swallow the water?"

"So be it; worship the clouds!"

Then Abraham said: "Rather let me adore the wind which blows the clouds about!"

"So be it; pray to the wind!"

"But," said Abraham, "man can stand up against the wind or shield himself behind the walls of his house."

"Then adore me!" said Nimrod.

Thereupon Nimrod ordered Abraham to be cast into a furnace. He had a pile of wood five yards in circumference set on fire, and Abraham was cast into it. But God Himself went down from heaven to rescue him. Wherefore the Lord appeared to him later, saying: "I am the Lord who brought thee out of the fire of the Chaldeans."

(lower: Abraham in fire)

August 13. Story of the Day: The Little Ant

This story is from Folktales of Mexico by Americo Paredes. The story was told by Petra Guzman in Barron, Mexico in 1948. I have provided a paraphrase of the story in my own words below, with an emphasis on the formulaic structure of this cumulative tale.

This is an example of ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE LITTLE ANT

(retold by Laura Gibbs)

(ant)

One winter, the ant went walking, and she broke her leg in the snow.

She went to the judge and said, "I want to sue the snow for breaking my leg."

The judge summoned the snow. "Snow, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with breaking the ant's leg!"

The snow replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The sun is the one who is high and mighty because it melts me."

The judge summoned the sun. "Sun, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with melting the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The sun replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The cloud is the one who is high and mighty because it hides me."

The judge summoned the cloud. "Cloud, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with hiding the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The cloud replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The wind is the one who is high and mighty because it pushes me."

The judge summoned the wind. "Wind, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with pushing the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The wind replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The wall is the one who is high and mighty because it stops me."

The judge summoned the wall. "Wall, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with stopping the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The wall replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The mouse is the one who is high and mighty because he gnaws me."

The judge summoned the mouse. "Mouse, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with gnawing the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The mouse replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The cat is the one who is high and mighty because she eats me."

The judge summoned the cat. "Cat, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with eating the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The cat replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The dog is the one who is high and mighty because he chases me."

The judge summoned the dog. "Dog, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with chasing the cat who ate the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The dog replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The stick is the one who is high and mighty because it beats me."

The judge summoned the stick. "Stick, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with beating the dog who chased the cat who ate the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The stick replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The fire is the one who is high and mighty because it burns me."

The judge summoned the fire. "Fire, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with burning the stick that beat the dog who chased the cat who ate the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The fire replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The water is the one who is high and mighty because it extinguishes me."

The judge summoned the water. "Water, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with extinguishes the fire that burnt the stick that beat the dog who chased the cat who ate the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The water replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The cow is the one who is high and mighty because she drinks me."

The judge summoned the cow. "Cow, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with drinking the water that extinguished the fire that burnt the stick that beat the dog who chased the cat who ate the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The cow replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The knife is the one who is high and mighty because it kills me."

The judge summoned the knife. "Knife, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with killing the cow who drank the water that extinguished the fire that burnt the stick that beat the dog who chased the cat who ate the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The knife replied, "I am not so high and mighty. The blacksmith is the one who is high and mighty because he forged me."

The judge summoned the blacksmith. "Blacksmith, you think you are so high and mighty: I charge you with forging the knife that killed the cow who drank the water that extinguished the fire that burnt the stick that beat the dog who chased the cat who ate the mouse who gnawed the wall that stopped the wind that pushed the cloud that hid the sun that melted the snow that broke the ant's leg!"

The blacksmith replied, "I am not so high and mighty. God is the one who is high and mighty because he made me."

And there the trial ended because the judge could not summon God to his court.

July 20. Story of the Day: Ibotity

This story from Madagascar is reported in Malagasy Folktales by James Sibree, in The Folk-lore Journal, volume 2 (1884; online at Hathi Trust). You can find out more about Madagascar and the people who live there at Wikipedia.

This is an example of TMI Z42. Stronger and Strongest = ATU 2031. After fire tells about the strength of water, our author gives up ("But it would be tedious to give every detail in full"), so I took the liberty of filling in the sequence using the preceding formula.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

IBOTITY

(Madagascar forest)

Once upon a time this Ibotity went and climbed a tree; and when the wind blew hard the tree was broken; whereupon Ibotity fell and broke his leg. So he said, “The tree indeed is strong, for it can break the leg of Ibotity.”

Then said the tree, “I am not strong, for it is the wind that is strong.”

Then said Ibotity, “The wind it is which is strong! For the wind broke tree, and the tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“I am not strong,” said the wind, “for if I were strong should I be stopped by the hill?”

“Ah, it is the hill which is strong!" said Ibotity; “for the hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, the tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the hill, “for if I were strong I should not be burrowed by the mice.”

“Ah, it is the mouse which is strong!" said Ibotity; “for mouse burrowed into hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the mouse, “for am I strong who can be killed by the cat?”

“Ah, it is the cat which is strong!” said Ibotity; “for the cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed into hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the cat, “for am I strong who am caught by the rope and cannot escape?”

“Ah, it is the rope which is strong,” said Ibotity, “for the rope caught the cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed into hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the rope, “for am I strong and am
cut by the iron?"

“Then it is the iron which is strong,” said Ibotity, “for the iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the iron, “for am I strong which am softened by the fire?”

“Ah, it is the fire which is strong,” said Ibotity.

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the fire, “for am I strong and am put out by water?"

“Ah, it is the water which is strong," said Ibotity, “for water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the water, “for am I strong and am crossed by the canoe?"

“Ah, it is the canoe which is strong," said Ibotity, “for canoe crossed water, water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the canoe, “for the rock breaks me."

“Ah, it is the rock which is strong," said Ibotity, “for rock broke canoe, canoe crossed water, water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the rock, “for the man breaks me."

“Ah, it is the man which is strong," said Ibotity, “for man broke rock, rock broke canoe, canoe crossed water, water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the man, “for the sorcerer overcomes me."

“Ah, it is the sorcerer which is strong," said Ibotity, “for sorcerer overcame man, man broke rock, rock broke canoe, canoe crossed water, water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the sorcerer, “for the poison ordeal of the tangena kills me"

“Ah, it is the tangena which is strong," said Ibotity, “for tangena killed sorcerer, sorcerer overcame man, man broke rock, rock broke canoe, canoe crossed water, water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

“Nay, I am not strong,” said the tangéna, “for God overcomes me.”

“Ah, it is God who is strong,” said Ibotity, “for God overcame tangéna, tangéna killed sorcerer, sorcerer overcame man, man broke rock, rock broke canoe, canoe crossed water, water quenched fire, fire softened iron, iron cut rope, rope caught cat, cat killed mouse, mouse burrowed hill, hill stopped wind, wind broke tree, tree broke the leg of Ibotity.”

So Ibotity and all things agreed that God is the strongest of all, and governs all things in the world, whether in the heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or underneath the earth, or to the verge of the sky, for God will bear rule for ever and ever.

July 17. Story of the Day: Rat Princess

The story comes from How to tell stories to children by Sara Cone Bryant, and her source was Frank Rinder's Old World Japan.

The story is classified as ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest. This form of the folktale in which there is a groom-quest goes back to ancient India (you can find it in the Panchatantra), and from India it then spread both east throughout Asia, and also to Europe. In some versions, the story is about a mouse-turned-into-a-woman, but there is no metamorphosis in this story; instead, the story is about a rat princess whose parents reject all the rat princes as her suitors. Instead, they want to find the strongest husband... and the chain of choices leads to a surprising happily-ever-after!

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE RAT PRINCESS

(MetMuseum: Yashima Gakutei)

Once upon a time, there was a Rat Princess, who lived with her father, the Rat King, and her mother, the Rat Queen, in a rice field in faraway Japan. The Rat Princess was so pretty that her father and mother were quite foolishly proud of her, and thought no one good enough to play with her.

When she grew up, they would not let any of the rat princes come to visit her, and they decided at last that no one should marry her till they had found the most powerful person in the whole world; no one else was good enough. And the Father Rat started out to find the most powerful person in the whole world.

The wisest and oldest rat in the rice field said that the Sun must he the most powerful person, because he made the rice grow and ripen; so the Rat King went to find the Sun. He climbed up the highest mountain, ran up the path of a rainbow, and traveled and traveled across the sky till he came to the Sun's house.

"What do you want, little brother?" the Sun said, when he saw him.

"I come," said the Rat King, very importantly, " to offer you the hand of my daughter, the princess, because you are the most powerful person in the world; no one else is good enough."

"Ha, ha!" laughed the jolly round Sun, and winked with his eye. "You are very kind, little brother, but if that is the case the princess is not for me; the Cloud is more powerful than I am; when he passes over me I cannot shine."

"Oh, indeed," said the Rat King, "then you are not my man at all; " and he left the Sun without more words. The Sun laughed and winked to himself. And the Rat King traveled and traveled across the sky till he came to the Cloud's house.

"What do you want, little brother?" sighed the Cloud when he saw him.

"I come to offer you the hand of my daughter, the princess," said the Rat King, " because you are the most powerful person in the world; the Sun said so, and no one else is good enough."

The Cloud sighed again. "I am not the most powerful person," he said; "the Wind is stronger than I — when he blows, I have to go wherever he sends me."

"Then you are not the person for my daughter," said the Rat King proudly; and he started at once to find the Wind. He traveled and traveled across the sky, till he came at last to the Wind's house, at the very edge of the world.

When the Wind saw him coming he laughed a big, gusty laugh, "Ho, ho !" and asked him what he wanted; and when the Rat King told him that he had come to offer him the Rat Princess's hand because he was the most powerful person in the world, the Wind shouted a great gusty shout, and said, "No, no, I am not the strongest; the Wall that man has made is stronger than I; I cannot make him move, with all my blowing; go to the Wall, little brother!"

And the Rat King climbed down the skypath again, and traveled and traveled across the earth till he came to the Wall. It was quite near his own rice field.

"What do you want, little brother?" grumbled the Wall when he saw him.

"I come to offer you the hand of the princess, my daughter, because you are the most powerful person in the world, and no one else is good enough."

"Ugh, ugh," grumbled the Wall, " I am not the strongest; the big gray Rat who lives in the cellar is stronger than I. When he gnaws and gnaws at me I crumble and crumble, and at last I fall; go to the Rat, little brother."

And so, after going all over the world to find the strongest person, the Rat King had to marry his daughter to a rat, after all; but the princess was very glad of it, for she wanted to marry the gray Rat all the time.

June 27. Story of the Day: The Man in the Moon

This is from Laos Folk-Lore of Farther India by Katherine Neville Fleeson. You can find out more about Laos at Wikipedia.

This is an unusual form of ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest; there's a similar story in Andrew Lang's Crimson Fairy Book (The Stonecutter), but I like this one even better.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE MAN IN THE MOON

There was a blacksmith once who complained, “I am not well, and my work is too warm. I want to be a stone on the mountain. There it must be cool, for the wind blows and the trees give a shade.”

A wise man, who had power over all things, replied, “Go thou, be a stone.”

And he was a stone, high up on the mountain-side.

It happened a stone-cutter came that way for stone, and, when he saw the one that had been the blacksmith, he knew it was what he sought and he began to cut it.

The stone cried out: “This hurts. I no longer want to be a stone. A stone-cutter I want to be. That would be pleasant.”

The wise man, humoring him, said, “Be a cutter.”

Thus he became a stone-cutter and, as he went seeking suitable stone, he grew tired, and his feet were sore.

He whimpered, “I no longer want to cut stone. I would be the sun, that would be pleasant.”

The wise man commanded, “Be the sun.”

And he was the sun.

But the sun was warmer than the blacksmith, than a stone, than a stone-cutter, and he complained, “I do not like this. I would be the moon. It looks cool.”

The wise man spake yet again, “Be the moon.”

And he was the moon.

“This is warmer than being the sun,” murmured he, “for the light from the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a smith again. That, verily, is the best life.”

But the wise man replied, “I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain.”

And in yon high heaven lives he to this day.

(moon)

June 24. Story of the Day: A Rat's Swayamvara

This story comes from Indian Fables and Folklore by Shovona Devi, a Bengali author who was the niece of Rabindranath Tagore. She is also the author of another collection of Indian stories, The Orient Pearls. Here is her portrait, circa 1915:

This story is classified as ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest. It goes back to the Panchatantra in the Indian tradition, and from India it spread both throughout Asia and also West to Europe. The word swayamvara refers to the ancient Indian for choosing a bridegroom; you can find out more at Wikipedia.

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A RAT'S SWAYAMVARA

A mighty Sage was Yagnavalkya. He would stand in water even in the coldest winter, worshipping the Sun with hands uplifted. One day, as he stood in the Ganges chanting his hymn to the Sun, a baby rat dropped into his hands from the talons of a hawk flying overhead. The Sage gave the wee creature to his wife and asked her to rear it.

"Rear a ratl" exclaimed his wife, laughing. "What a queer idea!"

To please her the Sage turned the rat into a beautiful little girl, for such superhuman powers he had acquired by his austerities.

They had no child of their own, so the woman took great delight in rearing the child. The girl grew up little by little till she bloomed to womanhood, and then the Sage thought of her marriage.

"Let the girl marry the golden Sun," said the Sage to his wife. "There is none mightier than he." 

(Sun Carriage; Murudeshwar India)

So the Sun was summoned, but the girl asked him, "Is there no one mightier than thou, O Sun?"

The Sun was puzzled by the question. However, he said, "The Cloud seems mightier than I, O maiden, for he can obscure my brightness."

So the Sun was dismissed, and the Cloud summoned; but the girl said to it, "Is there no one mightier than thou, O Cloud?"

The Cloud was astounded, but after a pause it made answer. "The Wind seems mightier than I, O maiden, for he drives me whither he likes."

So the Cloud was dismissed, and the Wind summoned; and the girl repeated the same question to it. "Is there no one mightier than thou, O Wind?"

The Wind, too, was taken aback, but said, "The Mountain seems mightier than I, O maiden, for he can stay my blast as none else can."

So the Wind was dismissed, and Mount Himalaya summoned; and the maiden put the same query to it. "Is there no one mightier than thou, O Mountain?"

The Mountain frowned, and thus replied. "The Rat seems mightier than I, O maiden, for he bores holes through me with his teeth."

So the Mountain was dismissed, and a jungle Rat summoned.

"Marry the Rat and be happy," said the Sage to the girl, "for he is of thine own race," and he turned her back into the rat she was at first.

So ended the Rat's Svayamvara.

June 23. Story of the Day: Abraham and the Star, Moon, and Sun

This story of Abraham comes from the Quran, Surah 6, verses 74-79, which I have presented below in three different English translations. To learn more about Abraham in Islam, see Wikipedia.

This story is classified as ATU 2031B. Abraham learns to worship God (which is a subtype of the Stronger and Strongest class of stories). This story is not part of the Hebrew Bible, but it is part of Hebrew extra-Biblical tradition as you can see in these stories: The True Believer and Abraham and Nimrod.

Want more? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

ABRAHAM AND THE STAR, MOON, AND SUN

(Abraham destroying idols)

From Clear Quran:

74. Abraham said to his father Azar, “Do you take idols for gods? I see that you and your people are in evident error.”

75. Thus We showed Abraham the empire of the heavens and the earth, that he might be one of those with certainty.

76. When the night fell over him, he saw a planet. He said, “This is my lord.” But when it set, he said, “I do not love those that set.”

77. Then, when he saw the moon rising, he said, “This is my lord.” But when it set, he said, “If my Lord does not guide me, I will be one of the erring people.”

78. Then, when he saw the sun rising, he said, “This is my lord, this is bigger.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, I am innocent of your idolatry.

79. I have directed my attention towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth—a monotheist—and I am not of the idolaters.”


From the Wright House site:

74. Lo! Abraham said to his father Azar: "Takest thou idols for gods? For I see thee and thy people in manifest error."

75. So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, that he might (with understanding) have certitude.

76. When the night covered him over, He saw a star: He said: "This is my Lord." But when it set, He said: "I love not those that set."

77. When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord." But when the moon set, He said: "unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray."

78. When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set, he said: "O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah.

79. "For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah."


From quran.com (which also has the Arabic text and audio):

74 And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."

75 And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith]

76 So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "I like not those that disappear."

77 And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray."

78 And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah.

79 Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah."

La Fontaine. Mouse Metamorphosed into a Maid

This is from the poems of La Fontaine (9.7), translated into English by Elizur Wright.

The story is classified as ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest, specifically 2031C. The Mightiest Being as Husband for the Daughter.

THE MOUSE METAMORPHOSED INTO A MAID


(illustration by Grandville)

A mouse once from an owl's beak fell;
I'd not have pick'd it up, I wis;
A Brahmin did it: very well;
Each country has its prejudice.
The mouse, indeed, was sadly bruised.
Although, as neighbours, we are used
To be more kind to many others,
The Brahmins treat the mice as brothers.
The notion haunts their heads, that when
The soul goes forth from dying men,
It enters worm, or bird, or beast,
As Providence or Fate is pleased;
And on this mystery rests their law,
Which from Pythagoras they're said to draw.
And hence the Brahmin kindly pray'd
To one who knew the wizard's trade,
To give the creature, wounded sore,
The form in which it lodged before.
Forthwith the mouse became a maid,
Of years about fifteen;
A lovelier was never seen.
She would have waked, I ween,
In Priam's son, a fiercer flame
Than did the beauteous Grecian dame.
Surprised at such a novelty,
The Brahmin to the damsel cried,
'Your choice is free;
For every he
Will seek you for his bride.'
Said she, 'Am I to have a voice?
The strongest, then, shall be my choice.'
'O sun!' the Brahmin cried, 'this maid is thine,
And thou shalt be a son-in-law of mine.'
'No,' said the sun, 'this murky cloud, it seems,
In strength exceeds me, since he hides my beams;
And him I counsel you to take.'
Again the reverend Brahmin spake—
'O cloud, on-flying with thy stores of water,
Pray wast thou born to wed my daughter?'
'Ah, no, alas! for, you may see,
The wind is far too strong for me.
My claims with Boreas' to compare,
I must confess, I do not dare.'
'O wind,' then cried the Brahmin, vex'd,
And wondering what would hinder next,—
'Approach, and, with thy sweetest air,
Embrace—possess—the fairest fair.'
The wind, enraptured, thither blew;—
A mountain stopp'd him as he flew,
To him now pass'd the tennis-ball,
And from him to a creature small.
Said he, 'I'd wed the maid, but that
I've had a quarrel with the rat.
A fool were I to take the bride
From one so sure to pierce my side.'
The rat! It thrill'd the damsel's ear;
To name at once seem'd sweet and dear.
The rat! 'Twas one of Cupid's blows;
The like full many a maiden knows;
But all of this beneath the rose.
One smacketh ever of the place
Where first he show'd the world his face.
Thus far the fable's clear as light;
But, if we take a nearer sight,
There lurks within its drapery
Somewhat of graceless sophistry;
For who, that worships e'en the glorious sun,
Would not prefer to wed some cooler one?
And doth a flea's exceed a giant's might,
Because the former can the latter bite?
And, by the rule of strength, the rat
Had sent his bride to wed the cat;
From cat to dog, and onward still
To wolf or tiger, if you will:
Indeed, the fabulist might run
A circle backward to the sun.—
But to the change the tale supposes,—
In learned phrase, metempsychosis.
The very thing the wizard did
Its falsity exposes—
If that indeed were ever hid.
According to the Brahmin's plan,
The proud aspiring soul of man,
And souls that dwell in humbler forms
Of rats and mice, and even worms,
All issue from a common source,
And, hence, they are the same of course.—
Unequal but by accident
Of organ and of tenement,
They use one pair of legs, or two,
Or e'en with none contrive to do,
As tyrant matter binds them to.
Why, then, could not so fine a frame
Constrain its heavenly guest
To wed the solar flame?
A rat her love possess'd.
In all respects, compared and weigh'd,
The souls of men and souls of mice
Quite different are made,—
Unlike in sort as well as size.
Each fits and fills its destined part
As Heaven doth well provide;
Nor witch, nor fiend, nor magic art,
Can set their laws aside.

Ginzberg. The True Believer

This story comes from Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews. It is a story about the patriarch Abraham and his father Terah. You can read more about the Biblical and extra-Biblical legends of Abraham and Terah at Wikipedia, and there is also an article about this story: Abraham and the Idol Shop.

This story is classified as ATU 2031B. Abraham learns to worship God, where you will find also another Jewish legend plus a version of this story from the Koran.

THE TRUE BELIEVER

(Haggadah, early 18th century)

Once Abraham went into the temple of the idols in his father's house, to bring sacrifices to them, and he found one of them, Marumath by name, hewn out of stone, lying prostrate on his face before the iron god of Nahor. The idol was too heavy for him to raise it alone, and he called his father to help him put Marumath back in his place. While they were handling the image, its head dropped off, and Terah took a stone, and chiselled another Marumath, setting the head of the first upon the new body. Then Terah continued and made five more gods, and all these he delivered to Abraham, and bade him sell them in the streets of the city.

Abraham saddled his mule, and went to the inn where merchants from Fandana in Syria put up on their way to Egypt. He hoped to dispose of his wares there. When he reached the inn, one of the camels belonging to the merchants belched, and the sound frightened his mule so that it ran off pell-mell and broke three of the idols. The merchants not only bought the two sound idols from him, they also gave him the price of the broken ones, for Abraham had told them how distressed he was to appear before his father with less money than he had expected to receive for his handiwork.

This incident made Abraham reflect upon the worthlessness of idols, and he said to himself: "What are these evil things done by my father? Is not he the god of his gods, for do they not come into being by reason of his carving and chiselling and contriving? Were it not more seemly that they should pay worship to him than he to them, seeing they are the work of his hands?"

Meditating thus, he reached his father's house, and he entered and handed his father the money for the five images, and Terah rejoiced, and said, "Blessed art thou unto my gods, because thou didst bring me the price of the idols, and my labor was not in vain."

But Abraham made reply: "Hear, my father Terah, blessed are thy gods through thee, for thou art their god, since thou didst fashion them, and their blessing is destruction and their help is vanity. They that help not themselves, how can they help thee or bless me?"

Terah grew very wrathful at Abraham, that he uttered such speech against his gods, and Abraham, thinking upon his father's anger, left him and went from the house.

But Terah called him back, and said, "Gather together the chips of the oak wood from which I made images before thou didst return, and prepare my dinner for me."

Abraham made ready to do his father's bidding, and as he took up the chips he found a little god among them, whose forehead bore the inscription "God Barisat." He threw the chips upon the fire, and set Barisat up next to it, saying: "Attention! Take care, Barisat, that the fire go not out until I come back. If it burns low, blow into it, and make it flame up again."

Speaking thus, he went out. When he came in again, he found Barisat lying prone upon his back, badly burnt. Smiling, he said to himself, "In truth, Barisat, thou canst keep the fire alive and prepare food," and while he spoke, the idol was consumed to ashes.

Then he took the dishes to his father, and he ate and drank and was glad and blessed his god Marumath. But Abraham said to his father, "Bless not thy god Marumath, but rather thy god Barisat, for he it was who, out of his great love for thee, threw himself into the fire that thy meal might be cooked."

"Where is he now?" exclaimed Terah, and Abraham answered, "He hath become ashes in the fierceness of the fire."

Terah said, "Great is the power of Barisat! I will make me another this day, and tomorrow he will prepare my food for me."

These words of his father made Abraham laugh in his mind, but his soul was grieved at his obduracy, and he proceeded to make clear his views upon the idols, saying: "Father, no matter which of the two idols thou blessest, thy behavior is senseless, for the images that stand in the holy temple are more to be worshipped than thine. Zucheus, the god of my brother Nahor, is more venerable than Marumath, because he is made cunningly of gold, and when he grows old, he will be worked over again. But when thy Marumath becomes dim, or is shivered in pieces, he will not be renewed, for he is of stone. And the god Joauv, who stands above the other gods with Zucheus, is more venerable than Barisat, made of wood, because he is hammered out of silver, and ornamented by men, to show his magnificence. But thy Barisat, before thou didst fashion him into a god with thy axe, was rooted in the earth, standing there great and wonderful, with the glory of branches and blossoms. Now he is dry, and gone is his sap. From his height he has fallen to the earth, from grandeur he came to pettiness, and the appearance of his face has paled away, and he himself was burnt in the fire, and he was consumed unto ashes, and he is no more. And thou didst then say, 'I will make me another this day, and to-morrow he will prepare my food for me.'

"Father," Abraham continued, and said, "the fire is more to be worshipped than thy gods of gold and silver and wood and stone, because it consumes them. But also the fire I call not god, because it is subject to the water, which quenches it. But also the water I call not god, because it is sucked up by the earth, and I call the earth more venerable, because it conquers the water. But also the earth I call not god, because it is dried out by the sun, and I call the sun more venerable than the earth, because he illumines the whole world with his rays. But also the sun I call not god, because his light is obscured when darkness cometh up. Nor do I call the moon and the stars gods, because their light, too, is extinguished when their time to shine is past.

"But hearken unto this, my father Terah, which I will declare unto thee, The God who hath created all things, He is the true God, He hath empurpled the heavens, and gilded the sun, and given radiance to the moon and also the stars, and He drieth out the earth in the midst of many waters, and also thee hath He put upon the earth, and me hath He sought out in the confusion of my thoughts."

Bible. The Esdras Chain

The "Esdras Chain" is the name typically given to the story found in 1 Esdras 3-4, an apocryphal book of the Bible (online at Sacred Texts). It is also sometimes called "The Tale of the Three Guards" or "The Tale of the Three Guardsmen." You can find out more at Wikipedia about 1 Esdras, and there is also an article about Zerubbabel.

The story has its own classification type: ATU 2031A. The Esdras Chain. I've included a summary of William Hansen's notes on the story below.

Here is the story:

THE THREE GUARDS:

WHAT IS STRONGEST?

1 Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media and Persia,
2 And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.
3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.

4 Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king's body, spake one to another;
5 Let every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, and whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall the king Darius give great gifts, and great things in token of victory:
6 As, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck:
7 And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin.

8 And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow;
9 And said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the writings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as was appointed.
10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.
11 The second wrote, The king is strongest.
12 The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory.

13 Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them unto him, and so he read them:
14 And sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and Media, and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief officers;
15 And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them.
16 And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own sentences. So they were called, and came in.
17 And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the writings.

Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine;
18 And he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it causeth all men to err that drink it:
19 It maketh the mind of the king and of the fatherless child to be all one; of the bondman and of the freeman, of the poor man and of the rich:
20 It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt:
21 And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by talents:
22 And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords:
23 But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have done.
24 O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.

1 Then the second, that had spoken of the strength of the king, began to say,
2 O ye men, do not men excel in strength that bear rule over sea and land and all things in them?
3 But yet the king is more mighty: for he is lord of all these things, and hath dominion over them; and whatsoever he commandeth them they do.
4 If he bid them make war the one against the other, they do it: if he send them out against the enemies, they go, and break down mountains walls and towers.
5 They slay and are slain, and transgress not the king's commandment: if they get the victory, they bring all to the king, as well the spoil, as all things else.
6 Likewise for those that are no soldiers, and have not to do with wars, but use husbundry, when they have reaped again that which they had sown, they bring it to the king, and compel one another to pay tribute unto the king.
7 And yet he is but one man: if he command to kill, they kill; if he command to spare, they spare;
8 If he command to smite, they smite; if he command to make desolate, they make desolate; if he command to build, they build;
9 If he command to cut down, they cut down; if he command to plant, they plant.
10 So all his people and his armies obey him: furthermore he lieth down, he eateth and drinketh, and taketh his rest:
11 And these keep watch round about him, neither may any one depart, and do his own business, neither disobey they him in any thing.
12 O ye men, how should not the king be mightiest, when in such sort he is obeyed? And he held his tongue.

13 Then the third, who had spoken of women, and of the truth, (this was Zorobabel) began to speak.
14 O ye men, it is not the great king, nor the multitude of men, neither is it wine, that excelleth; who is it then that ruleth them, or hath the lordship over them? are they not women?
15 Women have borne the king and all the people that bear rule by sea and land.
16 Even of them came they: and they nourished them up that planted the vineyards, from whence the wine cometh.
17 These also make garments for men; these bring glory unto men; and without women cannot men be.
18 Yea, and if men have gathered together gold and silver, or any other goodly thing, do they not love a woman which is comely in favour and beauty?
19 And letting all those things go, do they not gape, and even with open mouth fix their eyes fast on her; and have not all men more desire unto her than unto silver or gold, or any goodly thing whatsoever?
20 A man leaveth his own father that brought him up, and his own country, and cleaveth unto his wife.
21 He sticketh not to spend his life with his wife. and remembereth neither father, nor mother, nor country.
22 By this also ye must know that women have dominion over you: do ye not labour and toil, and give and bring all to the woman?
23 Yea, a man taketh his sword, and goeth his way to rob and to steal, to sail upon the sea and upon rivers;
24 And looketh upon a lion, and goeth in the darkness; and when he hath stolen, spoiled, and robbed, he bringeth it to his love.
25 Wherefore a man loveth his wife better than father or mother.
26 Yea, many there be that have run out of their wits for women, and become servants for their sakes.
27 Many also have perished, have erred, and sinned, for women.
28 And now do ye not believe me? is not the king great in his power? do not all regions fear to touch him?
29 Yet did I see him and Apame the king's concubine, the daughter of the admirable Bartacus, sitting at the right hand of the king,
30 And taking the crown from the king's head, and setting it upon her own head; she also struck the king with her left hand.
31 And yet for all this the king gaped and gazed upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure at him, the king was fain to flatter, that she might be reconciled to him again.
32 O ye men, how can it be but women should be strong, seeing they do thus?

33 Then the king and the princes looked one upon another: so he began to speak of the truth.
34 O ye men, are not women strong? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the sun in his course, for he compasseth the heavens round about, and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day.
35 Is he not great that maketh these things? therefore great is the truth, and stronger than all things.
36 All the earth crieth upon the truth, and the heaven blesseth it: all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing.
37 Wine is wicked, the king is wicked, women are wicked, all the children of men are wicked, and such are all their wicked works; and there is no truth in them; in their unrighteousness also they shall perish.
38 As for the truth, it endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore.
39 With her there is no accepting of persons or rewards; but she doeth the things that are just, and refraineth from all unjust and wicked things; and all men do well like of her works.
40 Neither in her judgment is any unrighteousness; and she is the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty, of all ages. Blessed be the God of truth.

41 And with that he held his peace. And all the people then shouted, and said, Great is Truth, and mighty above all things.

42 Then said the king unto him, Ask what thou wilt more than is appointed in the writing, and we will give it thee, because thou art found wisest; and thou shalt sit next me, and shalt be called my cousin.

43 Then said he unto the king, Remember thy vow, which thou hast vowed to build Jerusalem, in the day when thou camest to thy kingdom,
44 And to send away all the vessels that were taken away out of Jerusalem, which Cyrus set apart, when he vowed to destroy Babylon, and to send them again thither.
45 Thou also hast vowed to build up the temple, which the Edomites burned when Judea was made desolate by the Chaldees.
46 And now, O lord the king, this is that which I require, and which I desire of thee, and this is the princely liberality proceeding from thyself: I desire therefore that thou make good the vow, the performance whereof with thine own mouth thou hast vowed to the King of heaven.

47 Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, and wrote letters for him unto all the treasurers and lieutenants and captains and governors, that they should safely convey on their way both him, and all those that go up with him to build Jerusalem.

48 He wrote letters also unto the lieutenants that were in Celosyria and Phenice, and unto them in Libanus, that they should bring cedar wood from Libanus unto Jerusalem, and that they should build the city with him.
49 Moreover he wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry, concerning their freedom, that no officer, no ruler, no lieutenant, nor treasurer, should forcibly enter into their doors;
50 And that all the country which they hold should be free without tribute; and that the Edomites should give over the villages of the Jews which then they held:
51 Yea, that there should be yearly given twenty talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were built;
52 And other ten talents yearly, to maintain the burnt offerings upon the altar every day, as they had a commandment to offer seventeen:
53 And that all they that went from Babylon to build the city should have free liberty, as well they as their posterity, and all the priests that went away.
54 He wrote also concerning. the charges, and the priests' vestments wherein they minister;
55 And likewise for the charges of the Levites, to be given them until the day that the house were finished, and Jerusalem builded up.
56 And he commanded to give to all that kept the city pensions and wages.
57 He sent away also all the vessels from Babylon, that Cyrus had set apart; and all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also to be done, and sent unto Jerusalem.

58 Now when this young man was gone forth, he lifted up his face to heaven toward Jerusalem, and praised the King of heaven,
59 And said, From thee cometh victory, from thee cometh wisdom, and thine is the glory, and I am thy servant.
60 Blessed art thou, who hast given me wisdom: for to thee I give thanks, O Lord of our fathers.
61 And so he took the letters, and went out, and came unto Babylon, and told it all his brethren.
62 And they praised the God of their fathers, because he had given them freedom and liberty
63 To go up, and to build Jerusalem, and the temple which is called by his name: and they feasted with instruments of musick and gladness seven days.

(Zerubabbel and the King)

NOTES from William Hansen

In his book Ariadne's Thread, William Hansen has a long discussion of this story type, pointing out that it does not work as a chain in the form in which we have it here; a chain would normally go A is strong, B is stronger than A, C is stronger than B, D is stronger than C, and so on, but that is not what we see here in the Biblical text where the argument does not adhere strictly to the chain. One helpful suggestion that Hansen makes is to see this as a five-part chain, adding "men" into the mix: wine - men - king - women - truth. But he points out that the bigger problem is the way the game is played: because the guards do not know what the others have written, they cannot craft their answers based on the answer of the guard before. He concludes: "we have the chain men-king-women which is framed on the one side by wine and on the other side by truth, neither of which gradates coherently with its neighbor."

Mitra. The Cockroach's Relatives

From Sarat Chandra Mitra in Man in India, volume 10 (1930, online at Internet Archive), and The story was offered in a presentation to the Anthropology section of the Indian Science Congress in January 1926.

This is an example of ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest.

THE COCKROACH'S RELATIVES

(Cabinet of Oriental Entomology)

The Cockroach regretted that, though they possessed wings, nobody ever called them birds. They therefore made up their minds to enter into matrimonial relationship with animals who were superior to them in status.

Thinking the Flittermouse to be superior to them, the Cockroaches, in a body, went to him and said, "We have got a very beautiful-looking girl of marriageable age; we possess wings and are, therefore, called Cockroach-birds, but you are superior to us. So be good enough to marry our girl."

But the Flittermouse refused to marry her, saying, "I am not superior to you; you know that I am the servant of the Musk-rat and get from him a salary of three and a half rupees. As the Musk-rat is my superior, be good enough to go to him and request him to marry your girl."

Thereupon the Cockroaches, in a body, went to the Musk-rat and, addressing him, said, "We have got a very beautiful-looking girl of marriageable age; we possess wings and are, therefore, called Cockroach-birds, but you are superior to us. So be good enough to marry our girl."

But the Musk-rat refused to marry her, saying, "I am not superior to you. You know that I am preyed upon by the water-snake who makes a meal of me. Therefore the Water-snake is my superior. So be good enough to go to him and request him to marry your girl."

Thereupon the Cockroaches, in a body, went to the Water-snake and, addressing him, said, "We have got a very beautiful-looking girl of marriageable age; we possess wings and are, therefore, called Cockroach-birds, but you are superior to us. So be good enough to marry our girl."

But the Water-snake refused to marry the girl, saying, "I am not superior to you. You know that I possess but little renown, and cannot inflict any mortal bite upon the hairy Mongoose. Therefore the Mongoose is my superior. So be good enough to go to him and request him to marry your girl."

Thereupon the Cockroaches, in a body, went to the Mongoose and, addressing him, said, "We have got a very beautiful-looking girl of marriageable age; we possess wings and are, therefore, called Cockroach-birds, but you are superior to us. So be good enough to marry our girl."

But the Mongoose refused to marry the girl, saying, "I am not superior to you. You know that I serve the tiger's maternal uncle -- the Jackal -- in a menial capacity. Therefore the Jackal is my superior. So be good enough to go to him and request him to marry your girl."

Thereupon the Cockroaches, in a body, went to the Jackal and, addressing him, said, "We have got a very beautiful-looking girl of marriageable age; we possess wings and are, therefore, called Cockroach-birds, but you are superior to us. So be good enough to marry our girl."

But the Jackal refused to marry the girl, saying, "I am not superior to you. You know that we are inferior to the Dogs; for, on hearing their yelping, we skidaddle with headlong rapidity. Therefore the Dog is superior to us.So be good enough to go to him and request him to marry your girl."

Thereupon the Cockroaches, in a body, went to the Dog and, addressing him, said, "We have got a very beautiful-looking girl of marriageable age; we possess wings and are, therefore, called Cockroach-birds, but you are superior to us. So be good enough to marry our girl."

But the Dog refused to marry the girl, saying, "I am not superior to you. You know that the Chamars (leather-curriers) manufacture the leather collars which are tied on our necks. So we are mortally afraid of the Chamars. Therefore the Chamar is our superior. So be good enough to go to him and request him to marry your girl."

Thereupon the Cockroaches, in a body, went to a Chamar and, addressing him, said, "We have got a very beautiful-looking girl of marriageable age; we possess wings and are, therefore, called Cockroach-birds, but you are superior to us. So be good enough to marry our girl."

But the Chamar refused to marry the girl, saying, "I am not superior to you. We Chamars are mortally afraid of you  because you seriously damage our leather, clothes, and various other articles of domestic use by gnawing them. You do not even spare the oil which we use for anointing our bodies, for you suck the same up. Can there be more destructive vermin than you? You have made our lives intolerable. Under these circumstances, you are our superiors. So be good enough to look out for a suitable bridegroom from amongst yourselves, and marry your girl to him."

On hearing these words of the Chamar, the scales fell from the eyes of the Cockroaches who now realized that no tribe was superior to them, and that by going in search of a suitable bridegroom from among those other tribes, they had gone on a wild-goose chase. Thereafter, they selected a suitable bridegroom from amongst themselves and married the girl to him.



NOTES

This folktaleis current in Bengal. It does not appear to have been published ever before. But the Bengali text of this story has been very recently published in a Bengali monthly magazine (Bengali Monthly Magazine Sishu Sathi publish by the Ashutosh Library for Oct-Nov 1924). The title of this tale is Arsolar Kutumba, or The Cockroach's Relatives. As this story is very interesting and has not been translated into English before, I give below an English translation therefore for the benefit of European and American storislogists.

June 6. Story of the Day: Bridegroom for Miss Mole

This story comes from The Unmannerly Tiger and Other Korean Tales by William Elliot Griffis. The book has some lovely illustrations, but the name of the illustrator is not provided.

The usual spelling for the name of this Korean god is Mireuk, and you can read about him at Wikipedia. The name Mireuk can also refer to Maitreya (a bodhisattva), and Mireuksa is the name of one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Korea, built at a site where the king had a vision of Maitreya.

The story is classified as ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest, specifically 2031C. The Mightiest Being as Husband for the Daughter. This is one of my favorite folktales, and it is found in both Asia and Europe, having spread both east and west from India. I'll have more versions of this story type to share later on!

Want more? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

A BRIDEGROOM FOR MISS MOLE

By the river Kingin stands the great stone image, or Miryek, that was cut out of the solid rock ages ago. Its base lies far beneath the ground and around its granite cap, many feet square, the storm clouds gather and play as they roll down the mountain.

Down under the earth, near this mighty colossus, lived a soft-furred mole and his wife. One day a daughter was born to them. It was the most wonderful mole baby that ever was known. The father was so proud of his lovely offspring that he determined to marry her only to the grandest thing in the whole universe. Nothing else would satisfy his pride in the beautiful creature he called his own.

Father Mole sought long and hard to find out where and what, in all nature, was considered the most wonderful. He called in his neighbors and talked over the matter with them. Then he visited the king of the moles and asked the wise ones in his court to decide for him. One and all agreed that the Great Blue Sky was above everything else in glory and greatness.

So up to the Sky the Mole Father went and offered his daughter to be the bride of the Great Blue, telling how, with his vast azure robe, the Sky had the reputation, both on the earth and under it, of being the greatest thing in the universe.

But, much to the Mole Father's surprise, the Sky declined. "No, I am not the greatest. I must refer you to the Sun. He controls me, for he can make it day or night as he pleases. Only when he rises, can I wear my bright colors. When he goes down, darkness covers the world, and men do not see me at all, but the stars instead. Better take your charming daughter to him."

So to the Sun went Mr. Mole and though afraid to look directly into his face, he made his plea. He would have the Sun marry his attractive daughter. But the mighty luminary, that usually seemed so fierce, dazzling men's eyesight and able to burn up the very grass of the field, seemed suddenly very modest.

Instead of accepting at once the offer, the Sun said to the father, "Alas! I am not master. The Cloud is greater than I, for he is able to cover me up and make me invisible for days and weeks. I am not as powerful as you think me to be. Let me advise you to offer your daughter to the Cloud."

Surprised at this, the Mole Father looked quite disappointed. Now he was in doubt as to what time he had best propose to the Cloud, -- when it was silvery white and glistening in a summer afternoon, or when it was black and threatening a tempest. However, his ambition to get for his daughter the mightiest possible bridegroom prompted him to wait until the lightnings flashed and the thunder rolled. Then, appearing before the terrible dark Cloud that shot out fire, he told of the charms of his wonderful daughter and offered her as bride.

"And why do you come to me?" asked the Cloud, its face inky black with the wrath of a storm and its eyes red with the fires of lightning.

"Because you are not only the greatest thing in the universe, but you have proved it by your terrible power," replied the Father Mole.

At this the Cloud ceased its rolling, stopped its fire and thunder and almost laughed. "So far from being the greatest thing in the world, I am not even my own master. See already how the Wind is driving me. Soon I shall be invisible, dissolved in air. Let me commend you to the Wind. The Master of the Cloud will make a grand son-in-law."

Thereupon Papa Mole waited until the Wind calmed down, after blowing away the clouds. Then telling of his daughter's accomplishments and loveliness, he made proffer of his only child as bride to the Wind. But the Wind was not half so proud as the Mole Father had expected to find him. Very modest, almost bashful seemed the Wind, as he confessed that before Miryek, the colossal stone image, his power was naught.

"Why, I smite that Great Stone Face and its eyes do not even blink. I roar in his ears, but he minds it not. I try to make him sneeze, but he will not. Smite him as I may, he still stands unmoved and smiling. Alas, no. I am not the grandest thing in the universe, while Miryek stands. Go to him. He alone is worthy to marry your daughter."

By this time the Mole Father was not only footsore and weary, but much discouraged also. Evidently all appreciated his shining daughter; but would he be able, after all, to get her a worthy husband?

He rested himself a while and then proceeded to Miryek, the colossus of granite as large as a lighthouse, its head far up in the air, but with ears ready to hear. The Mole Father squeaked out compliments to the image as being by common confession the greatest thing on earth. He presented his request for a son-in-law and then in detail mentioned the accomplishments of his daughter, sounding her praises at great length. Indeed, he almost ruined his case by talking so long.

With stony patience, Miryek listened to the proud father with a twinkle in his white granite eyes. When his lips moved, he was heard to say, "Fond Parent, what you say is true. I am great. I care not for the sky day or night, for I remain the same in daylight and darkness. I fear not the sun, that cannot melt me, nor the frost that is not able to make me crumble. Cold or hot, in summer or in winter time, I remain unchanged. The clouds come and go, but they cannot move me. Their fire and noise, lightning and thunder, I fear not. Yes, I am great." Then the stone lips closed again.

"You will make, then, a good bridegroom for my daughter? You will marry her, I understand?" asked the proud father as his hopes began to rise, though he was still doubtful.

"I would gladly do so, if I were greatest. But I am not," said Miryek. "Down under my feet is the Mole. He digs with his shovel-like hands and makes burrows day and night. His might I cannot resist. Soon he shall undermine my base and I shall topple down and lie like common stone along the earth. Yes I by universal confession, the Mole is the greatest thing in the universe and to him I yield. Better marry your daughter to him."

So after all his journeying, the lovely daughter's father sought no further. Advised on all sides, and opinion being unanimous, he found out that the Mole was the greatest thing in the universe. His daughter's bridegroom was found at home and of the same family of creatures. He married her to a young and handsome Mole, and great was the joy and rejoicing at the wedding. The pair were well-mated and lived happily ever afterward.


CHAIN: sky - sun - cloud - wind - stone god - mole

May 30. Story of the Day: The Little Ant That Went to Jerusalem

Today's story is an item in old booklet by George Alexander Kohut: Some Passover rhymes and their parallels. This is Kohut's English translation of the French nursery rhyme known as La petite fourmi qui allait à Jérusalem; for the French original, see the bottom of the page. I also found a YouTube video with the French story.

This is an example of ATU 2031. Stronger and Strongest. To get a sense of the variety of stories included in this type, see the Korean story, A Bridegroom for Miss Mole.

Want more? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

THE LITTLE ANT THAT WENT TO JERUSALEM

(book cover by Pierre Denieuil)

There was once a little ant that went to Jerusalem. She met the snow, and the snow froze off the paw of the little ant that went to Jerusalem. 

Oh! snow, how strong you are, you who freeze off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the snow answered: Much stronger is the sun that melts me. 

Oh! sun, how strong you are, you who melt the snow that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the sun answered: Much stronger is the cloud that hides me. 

Oh! cloud, how strong you are, you who hide the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the cloud answered: Much stronger is the wind that drives me away. 

Oh! wind, how strong you are, you who drive away the cloud that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the wind answered: Much stronger is the mountain that stops me. 

Oh! mountain, how strong you are, you who stop the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the mountain answered: Much stronger is the mouse that pierces me. 

Oh! mouse, how strong you are, you who pierce the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the mouse answered: Much stronger is the cat that eats me. 

Oh! cat, how strong you are, you who eat the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the cat answered: Much stronger is the dog that frightens me. 

Oh! dog, how strong you are, you who frighten the cat, that eats the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the dog answered: Much stronger is the stick that strikes me. 

Oh! stick, how strong you are, you who strike the dog. that frightens the cat, that eats the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the stick answered: Much stronger is the fire that burns me. 

Oh! fire, how strong you are, you who burn the stick, that strikes the dog, that frightens the cat, that eats the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the fire answered: Much stronger is the water that quenches me. 

Oh! water, how strong you are, you who quench the fire, that burns the stick, that strikes the dog, that frightens the cat, that eats the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the water answered: Much stronger is the cow that drinks me. 

Oh! cow, how strong you are, you who drink the water, that quenches the fire, that burns the stick, that strikes the dog, that frightens the cat, that eats the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the cow answered: Much stronger is the man that kills me. 

Oh! man, how strong you are, you who kill the cow, that drinks the water, that quenches the fire, that burns the stick, that strikes the dog, that frightens the cat, that eats the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem. 

And the man answered: Much stronger still is God, who created the man, that kills the cow, that drinks the water, that quenches the fire, that burns the stick, that strikes the dog, that frightens the cat, that eats the mouse, that pierces the mountain, that stops the wind, that drives away the cloud, that hides the sun, that melts the snow, that freezes off the paw of the little ant that goes to Jerusalem.

~   ~  ~

You can see a French-English interlinear version of the nursery rhyme here: Hachette's illustrated French primer.

With a video from Anna Urbani:

CHAIN: snow - sun - cloud - wind - mountain - mouse - cat - dog - stick - fire - water - cow - man - God