This story comes from the Journal of the Folk-Song Society. Additional versions, plus the music, online at Hathi.
This is Roud 236. It's not exactly a chain tale, but it is fun!
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
I fun' a bird's nest, says Robin-a-bob-bing,
I fun' a bird's nest, says Richard to Robin,
I fun' a bird's nest, says Billy Baloo,
I fun' a bird's nest, says every one.
What will we do wi' ut? says Robin-a-bob-bing,
What will we do wi' ut? says Richard to Robin,
What will we do wi' ut? says Billy Baloo,
What will we do wi' ut? says every one.
We'll tak' ut to keepers, says Robin-a-bob-bing,
We'll tak' ut to keepers, says Richard to Robin,
We'll tak' ut to keepers, says Billy Baloo,
We'll tak' ut to keepers, says every one.
What shall we get for it? says Robin-a-bob-bing,
What shall we get for it? says Richard to Robin,
What shall we get for it? says Billy Baloo,
What shall we get for it? says every one.
Three ha-pence a piece, says Robin-a-bob-bing,
Three ha-pence a piece, says Richard to Robin,
Three ha-pence a piece, says Billy Baloo,
Three ha-pence a piece, says every one.
What shall we do wi' ut? says Robin-a-bob-bing,
What shall we do wi' ut? says Richard to Robin,
What shall we do wi' ut? says Billy Baloo,
What shall we do wi' ut? says every one.
We'll go and get drunk, says Robin-a-bob-bing,
We'll go and get drunk, says Richard to Robin,
We'll go and get drunk, says Billy Baloo,
We'll go and get drunk, says every one.
How shall we get home? says Robin-a-bob-bing,
How shall we get home? says Richard to Robin,
How shall we get home? says Billy Baloo,
How shall we get home? says every one.
We'll hire a cab, says Robin-a-bob-bing,
We'll hire a cab, says Richard to Robin,
We'll hire a cab, says Billy Baloo,
We'll hire a cab, says every one.
How shall we get in? says Robin-a-bob-bing,
How shall we get in? says Richard to Robin,
How shall we get in? says Billy Baloo,
How shall we get in? says every one.
We'll tumble in, says Robin-a-bob-bing,
We'll tumble in, says Richard to Robin,
We'll tumble in, says Billy Baloo,
We'll tumble in, says every one.
How shall we get out? says Robin-a-bob-bing,
How shall we get out? says Richard to Robin,
How shall we get out? says Billy Baloo,
How shall we get out? says every one.
Same way we got in, says Robin-a-bob-bing,
Same way we got in, says Richard to Robin,
Same way we got in, says Billy Baloo,
Same way we got in, says every one.
NOTES
2. Sung by Mr. Walter H. Birch, who learnt it from a Yorkshireman.
The second version was given to me by my brother-in-law, who heard it sun at Downton College by a fellow-student from Yorkshire. Cecil J. Sharp
Showing posts with label Sources: Various. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sources: Various. Show all posts
October 31. Story of the Day: Yekele
From Steve Bellovin's website: Apples Will Not Fall. See his notes below, and further information on the homepage of his site.
This is an example of ATU 2030. The Old Woman and her Pig.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
The Most High sent down Yekele to the world,
To the world a Yekele,
For Yekele to harvest the pears,
For Yekele to harvest the pears.
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down a dog to the world,
A dog to the world,
For the dog to bite Yekele,
For the dog to bite Yekele.
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down a stick to the world,
A stick to the world,For the stick to hit the dog,
For the stick to hit the dog.
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down fire to the world,
Fire to the world,
For the fire to burn the stick,
For the fire to burn the stick.
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The most high sent down water to the world,
Water to the world,
For the water to put out the fire,
For the water to put out the fire.
The water will not put out the fire
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down an ox to the world,
An ox to the world,
For the ox to drink the water,
For the ox to drink the water.
The ox will not drink the water;
The water will not put out the fire
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down a butcher to the world,
A butcher to the world,
For the butcher to slaughter the ox,
For the butcher to slaughter the ox.
The butcher will not slaughter the ox;
The ox will not drink the water;
The water will not put out the fire
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down the Angel of Death to the world,
The Angel of Death to the world,
For the Angel of Death to take the butcher,
For the Angel of Death to take the butcher.
The butcher now will slaughter the ox,
The ox now will drink the water,
The water now will put out the fire,
The fire now will burn the stick,
The stick now will hit the dog,
The dog now will bite Yekele,
Yekele now will harvest the pears:
The pears now will fall; the pears now will fall!
Der Oybershter's hinuntergeshicht die melech hamoves auf die weld,
Die melech hamoves auf die weld
Die melech hamoves zol die shochet nemen
Die melech hamoves zol die shochet nemen
Die shochet vill shoen exele koilen
Die exele vil shoen wasser trenken
Die wasser a vill shoen die fire lushen
Die fire vil shoen shtekele brennen
Die shtekelem vill shoen hintele shmisen
Die hintele vill shoen Yekelem bisen
Yekelem vill shoen perelech risen
Perelech vil shoen fallen; perelech vil shoen fallen
NOTES
For at least fifty years and probably longer my family has sung a Yiddish variation of the Passover "Chad Gadya" song we call "Yekele". There is no goat in ours, only a small boy ("Yekele") whom God has sent to pick the pears that will not fall from the tree themselves. The boy refuses, and for encouragement God sends a dog to bite the boy, then a stick to hit the dog, a fire to burn the stick, water to quench the fire, etc.
In the last stanza the Melech Hamoves (Angel of Death) is sent and suddenly everyone turns to do his duty, but the pears, of course, have already fallen. It's a wonderful story with a moral, sung to a minor key melody very different from "Chad Gadya"
Relatives as far back as my late great-grandfather have always claimed that it is a private family song. How can this be? Doesn't anyone else, particularly of eastern European origin, know this version?
HThisere is a transliteration of the song as I remember it from seders of many years ago.
This is an example of ATU 2030. The Old Woman and her Pig.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
The Most High sent down Yekele to the world,
To the world a Yekele,
For Yekele to harvest the pears,
For Yekele to harvest the pears.
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down a dog to the world,
A dog to the world,
For the dog to bite Yekele,
For the dog to bite Yekele.
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down a stick to the world,
A stick to the world,For the stick to hit the dog,
For the stick to hit the dog.
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down fire to the world,
Fire to the world,
For the fire to burn the stick,
For the fire to burn the stick.
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The most high sent down water to the world,
Water to the world,
For the water to put out the fire,
For the water to put out the fire.
The water will not put out the fire
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down an ox to the world,
An ox to the world,
For the ox to drink the water,
For the ox to drink the water.
The ox will not drink the water;
The water will not put out the fire
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down a butcher to the world,
A butcher to the world,
For the butcher to slaughter the ox,
For the butcher to slaughter the ox.
The butcher will not slaughter the ox;
The ox will not drink the water;
The water will not put out the fire
The fire will not burn the stick;
The stick will not hit the dog;
The dog will not bite Yekele;
Yekele will not harvest the pears;
The pears will not fall, the pears will not fall!
The Most High sent down the Angel of Death to the world,
The Angel of Death to the world,
For the Angel of Death to take the butcher,
For the Angel of Death to take the butcher.
The butcher now will slaughter the ox,
The ox now will drink the water,
The water now will put out the fire,
The fire now will burn the stick,
The stick now will hit the dog,
The dog now will bite Yekele,
Yekele now will harvest the pears:
The pears now will fall; the pears now will fall!
~ ~ ~
Der Oybershter's hinuntergeshicht die melech hamoves auf die weld,
Die melech hamoves auf die weld
Die melech hamoves zol die shochet nemen
Die melech hamoves zol die shochet nemen
Die shochet vill shoen exele koilen
Die exele vil shoen wasser trenken
Die wasser a vill shoen die fire lushen
Die fire vil shoen shtekele brennen
Die shtekelem vill shoen hintele shmisen
Die hintele vill shoen Yekelem bisen
Yekelem vill shoen perelech risen
Perelech vil shoen fallen; perelech vil shoen fallen
NOTES
For at least fifty years and probably longer my family has sung a Yiddish variation of the Passover "Chad Gadya" song we call "Yekele". There is no goat in ours, only a small boy ("Yekele") whom God has sent to pick the pears that will not fall from the tree themselves. The boy refuses, and for encouragement God sends a dog to bite the boy, then a stick to hit the dog, a fire to burn the stick, water to quench the fire, etc.
In the last stanza the Melech Hamoves (Angel of Death) is sent and suddenly everyone turns to do his duty, but the pears, of course, have already fallen. It's a wonderful story with a moral, sung to a minor key melody very different from "Chad Gadya"
Relatives as far back as my late great-grandfather have always claimed that it is a private family song. How can this be? Doesn't anyone else, particularly of eastern European origin, know this version?
HThisere is a transliteration of the song as I remember it from seders of many years ago.
October 17. Story of the Day: The Refrigerator
I could not resist including this wonderful bit of "Internet lore" here as part of the project. Especially if you have never seen this particular elephant-in-the-refrigerator joke before, you are in for a treat. And Wikipedia even has an article about elephant jokes for more amusement, including more elephants-in-the-refrigerator.
No, it's not a chain tale. But I'm not going to anything more about its "chain-like" quality lest I give too much away.
You will find many versions online, but they all go more or less something like the paraphrase that I have provided below in my own words.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and then close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.
2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?
Wrong Answer. The refrigerator has a giraffe in it already.
Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.
3. The lion is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend.... except one. Which animal does not attend?
Correct Answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory.
Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.
4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?
Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.
No, it's not a chain tale. But I'm not going to anything more about its "chain-like" quality lest I give too much away.
You will find many versions online, but they all go more or less something like the paraphrase that I have provided below in my own words.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
THE REFRIGERATOR
1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?
Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and then close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.
(Playbuzz)
~ ~ ~
2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?
Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator?
Wrong Answer. The refrigerator has a giraffe in it already.
Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.
~ ~ ~
3. The lion is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend.... except one. Which animal does not attend?
Correct Answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there. This tests your memory.
~ ~ ~
Okay, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.
4. There is a river you must cross but it is used by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat. How do you manage it?
Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.
October 8. Story of the Day: Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
This is a popular modern American folksong; the lyrics below are from Wikipedia.
It is cataloged as TMI Z49.14. The little old lady who swallowed a fly. See also Roud 9375.
I remember singing this song when I was little! Here is a version by Burl Ives:
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a bird;
How absurd to swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a cat;
Imagine that! She swallowed a cat!
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady that swallowed a dog;
What a hog, to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a goat;
She just opened her throat and swallowed a goat!
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a cow;
I don't know how she swallowed a cow!
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat,
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a horse;
...She died, of course!
It is cataloged as TMI Z49.14. The little old lady who swallowed a fly. See also Roud 9375.
I remember singing this song when I was little! Here is a version by Burl Ives:
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a bird;
How absurd to swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a cat;
Imagine that! She swallowed a cat!
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady that swallowed a dog;
What a hog, to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a goat;
She just opened her throat and swallowed a goat!
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a cow;
I don't know how she swallowed a cow!
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat,
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog,
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat,
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird,
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider;
That wriggled and jiggled and tickled inside her!
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly;
I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die!
There was an old lady who swallowed a horse;
...She died, of course!
September 29. Story of the Day: Red Herring.
This version of the song comes from the Journal of the Folk-Song Society. For additional versions, plus the music, online at Hathi.
This is Roud 128.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's head?
I made so good oven as ever baked bread.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's tail?
I made so good ship as ever set sail.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's ribs?
Made forty new cradles and fifty new cribs.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's guts?
I made so good dreshels as ever dreshed woats.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's navel?
As good an old putt as ever drawed gravel.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's whole?
I made as good waggon as ever hauled coal.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
NOTES
Sung by Mrs. Louie Hooper at Hambridge, Somerset, Aug. 18th, 1904. Noted by Cecil J. Sharp.
This is Roud 128.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
THE RED HERRING
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's head?
I made so good oven as ever baked bread.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's tail?
I made so good ship as ever set sail.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's ribs?
Made forty new cradles and fifty new cribs.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's guts?
I made so good dreshels as ever dreshed woats.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's navel?
As good an old putt as ever drawed gravel.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
O what do you think I made out of my red herring's whole?
I made as good waggon as ever hauled coal.
So it's beagles and long-dogs and a man to whip in;
And don't you think I done well with my jolly red herring?
NOTES
Sung by Mrs. Louie Hooper at Hambridge, Somerset, Aug. 18th, 1904. Noted by Cecil J. Sharp.
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.
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."
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.
"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."
September 24. Story of the Day: Nanny-Goat in the Garden
This is from W. A. Clouston writing about "Cumulative Nursery Stories" in Notes and Queries, series 7, vol. 8 1889 (online at Hathi).
It is another example of ATU 2030 The old woman and her pig.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
1. "Hilloa! Johnnie," says the master,
"Go chase me the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
2. Johnnie goes and returns not,
Nor chases the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
3. "Hilloa! Dog," says the master,
“Go bite me that Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
4. The Dog goes and returns not,
Nor bites our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
5. “Ho! Whip,” says the master,
“Go thrash me that Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
6. The Whip goes and returns not,
Nor thrashes the Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
7. “Ho! Fire," says the master,
“Go burn me that Whip there,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
8. The Fire goes and returns not,
Nor burns the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
9. “Ho! Water," says the master,
"Go drown me that Fire,
That goes not to burn Whip,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
10 The Water goes and returns not,
Nor drowns the Fire,
That burns not the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
11. "Ho! Ass," says the master,
"Go drink me that Water,
That goes not to drown Fire,
That goes not to burn Whip,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
12. The Ass goes and returns not,
Nor drinks the Water,
That drowns not the Fire,
That burns not the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
13. “Ho! Sword," says the master,
“Go sabre me that Ass there,
Who goes not to drink Water,
That goes not to drown Fire,
That goes not to burn Whip,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
14. The Sword goes and returns not,
Nor sabres the Ass,
That drinks not the Water,
That drowns not the Fire,
That burns not the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
15. “Then ‘tis I," says the master,
“That thither must hie me,”
And with a bound he is there.
So the Sword runs to sabre the Ass;
The Ass runs to drink the Water;
The Water runs to drown the Fire;
The Fire runs to burn the Whip;
The Whip runs to beat the Dog;
And the Dog runs to bite Johnnie;
And Johnnie chases the Nanny
That ate all the grape
And the master shuts the garden.
NOTES
Under the title of "Biquette dans le Jardin," M. Charles Marelle, Professor of French Literature in the University of Berlin, gives an interesting parallel to our "Old Woman and her Little Pig" in a small collection of oral variants of popular tales, French and foreign, but chiefly from Champagne, his native province, which begins thus:
"Hola! Jean," dit le maitre,
"Va m' chasser la biquette,
Qui mang' tout not' raisin,
La bas, dans l' grand jardin."
It is another example of ATU 2030 The old woman and her pig.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
1. "Hilloa! Johnnie," says the master,
"Go chase me the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
2. Johnnie goes and returns not,
Nor chases the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
3. "Hilloa! Dog," says the master,
“Go bite me that Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
4. The Dog goes and returns not,
Nor bites our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
5. “Ho! Whip,” says the master,
“Go thrash me that Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
6. The Whip goes and returns not,
Nor thrashes the Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
7. “Ho! Fire," says the master,
“Go burn me that Whip there,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
8. The Fire goes and returns not,
Nor burns the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
9. “Ho! Water," says the master,
"Go drown me that Fire,
That goes not to burn Whip,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
10 The Water goes and returns not,
Nor drowns the Fire,
That burns not the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
11. "Ho! Ass," says the master,
"Go drink me that Water,
That goes not to drown Fire,
That goes not to burn Whip,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
12. The Ass goes and returns not,
Nor drinks the Water,
That drowns not the Fire,
That burns not the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
13. “Ho! Sword," says the master,
“Go sabre me that Ass there,
Who goes not to drink Water,
That goes not to drown Fire,
That goes not to burn Whip,
That goes not to thrash Doggie,
Who goes not to bite Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden."
14. The Sword goes and returns not,
Nor sabres the Ass,
That drinks not the Water,
That drowns not the Fire,
That burns not the Whip,
That thrashes not Doggie,
That bites not our Johnnie,
Who chases not the Nanny,
That eats all our grapes
Down in the big garden.
15. “Then ‘tis I," says the master,
“That thither must hie me,”
And with a bound he is there.
So the Sword runs to sabre the Ass;
The Ass runs to drink the Water;
The Water runs to drown the Fire;
The Fire runs to burn the Whip;
The Whip runs to beat the Dog;
And the Dog runs to bite Johnnie;
And Johnnie chases the Nanny
That ate all the grape
And the master shuts the garden.
NOTES
Under the title of "Biquette dans le Jardin," M. Charles Marelle, Professor of French Literature in the University of Berlin, gives an interesting parallel to our "Old Woman and her Little Pig" in a small collection of oral variants of popular tales, French and foreign, but chiefly from Champagne, his native province, which begins thus:
"Hola! Jean," dit le maitre,
"Va m' chasser la biquette,
Qui mang' tout not' raisin,
La bas, dans l' grand jardin."
August 14. Story of the Day: The Hobyahs
This is an item from Journal of American Folklore vol. 4 (1891; online at Hathi): "The Hobyahs: a Scotch Nursery Tale" by S. V. Proudfit.
This does not have a tale type number, but there is a chain tail motif number from the Stith-Thompson classification: Z21.5 The Hobyahs.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
Once there was an old man and woman and a little girl, and they all lived in a house made of hempstalks.
Now the old man had a little dog named Turpie; and one night the Hobyahs came and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!"
But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off his tail."
So in the morning the old man cut off little dog Turpie's tail.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off one of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off one of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, " Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyah's came again and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off little dog Turpie's head." So in the morning the old man cut off little dog Turpie's head.
The next night the Hobyahs came and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" And when the Hobyahs found that little dog Turpie's head was off they tore down the hempstalks, ate up the old man and woman, and carried the little girl off in a bag.
And when the Hobyahs came to their home they hung up the bag with the little girl in it, and every Hobyah knocked on top of the bag and said, " Look me! look me!" and then they went to sleep until the next night, for the Hobyahs slept in the daytime.
The little girl cried a great deal, and a man with a big dog came that way and heard her crying. When he asked her how she came there and she had told him, he put the dog in the bag and took the little girl to his home.
The next night the Hobyahs took down the bag and knocked on the top of it and said, "Look me! look me!" and when they opened the bag the big dog jumped out and ate them all up; so there are no Hobyahs now.
NOTES
When a child, I used to hear the following story told in a Scotch family that came from the vicinity of Perth. Whether the story came with the family I am unable to say. I have spelled the word "Hobyah" as it was pronounced. The effectiveness of the story lies in a certain sepulchral monotone in rendering the cry of the Hobyah, and his terrible "look me." Washington, D. C.
This does not have a tale type number, but there is a chain tail motif number from the Stith-Thompson classification: Z21.5 The Hobyahs.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
Now the old man had a little dog named Turpie; and one night the Hobyahs came and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!"
But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off his tail."
So in the morning the old man cut off little dog Turpie's tail.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off one of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off one of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again, and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, " Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyah's came again and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off another of his legs." So in the morning the old man cut off another of little dog Turpie's legs.
The next night the Hobyahs came again and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" But little dog Turpie barked so that the Hobyahs ran off; and the old man said, "Little dog Turpie barks so that I cannot sleep nor slumber, and if I live till morning I will cut off little dog Turpie's head." So in the morning the old man cut off little dog Turpie's head.
The next night the Hobyahs came and said, "Hobyah! Hobyah! Hobyah! Tear down the hempstalks, eat up the old man and woman, and carry off the little girl!" And when the Hobyahs found that little dog Turpie's head was off they tore down the hempstalks, ate up the old man and woman, and carried the little girl off in a bag.
And when the Hobyahs came to their home they hung up the bag with the little girl in it, and every Hobyah knocked on top of the bag and said, " Look me! look me!" and then they went to sleep until the next night, for the Hobyahs slept in the daytime.
The little girl cried a great deal, and a man with a big dog came that way and heard her crying. When he asked her how she came there and she had told him, he put the dog in the bag and took the little girl to his home.
The next night the Hobyahs took down the bag and knocked on the top of it and said, "Look me! look me!" and when they opened the bag the big dog jumped out and ate them all up; so there are no Hobyahs now.
NOTES
When a child, I used to hear the following story told in a Scotch family that came from the vicinity of Perth. Whether the story came with the family I am unable to say. I have spelled the word "Hobyah" as it was pronounced. The effectiveness of the story lies in a certain sepulchral monotone in rendering the cry of the Hobyah, and his terrible "look me." Washington, D. C.
August 7. Story of the Day: Timbuctoo
This is a chain-game, rather than a story, and it comes from Games, Riddles, and Rhymes by A. L. Hately.
These types of games do not have an ATU tale type, but you can see that they follow the cumulative pattern. For a similar type of memory game, with information about the kinds of "forfeits" people might demand, see The Gaping, Wide-mouthed, Waddling Frog.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
All the players arrange themselves in a row seated except one who represents a Traveller from the great African city of Timbuctoo and, taking a stick in his hand, goes from player to player saying the following words. These must be accurately repeated by each person. Whoever laughs while repeating them or makes a mistake pays a forfeit.
The Traveller begins with the first player. He says In the city of Timbuctoo.
The first person in the row repeats these words and the Traveller then goes to the second the third the fourth and so on until everybody has had his or her turn.
He then begins at the head of the row again: In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street.
The third time he says: In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house. These words have to be repeated by every player in the same manner as before and forfeits are to be strictly exacted.
The game may be continued as long as the Traveller chooses and of course with each addition to the sentence he makes up, it gets more difficult as the players forget the proper words.
Perhaps the following sentence will be found long enough:
In the city of Timbuctoo.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber and in that chamber I saw a gold and silver bird cage.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber and in that chamber I saw a gold and silver bird cage and in that gold and silver birdcage I saw a magnificent purple and yellow Bengal cockatoo.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber and in that chamber I saw a gold and silver bird cage and in that gold and silver birdcage I saw a magnificent purple and yellow Bengal cockatoo and in the beak of that magnificent purple and yellow Bengal cockatoo I saw a ring made of emeralds, pearls, diamonds, and rubies.
These types of games do not have an ATU tale type, but you can see that they follow the cumulative pattern. For a similar type of memory game, with information about the kinds of "forfeits" people might demand, see The Gaping, Wide-mouthed, Waddling Frog.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
All the players arrange themselves in a row seated except one who represents a Traveller from the great African city of Timbuctoo and, taking a stick in his hand, goes from player to player saying the following words. These must be accurately repeated by each person. Whoever laughs while repeating them or makes a mistake pays a forfeit.
The Traveller begins with the first player. He says In the city of Timbuctoo.
The first person in the row repeats these words and the Traveller then goes to the second the third the fourth and so on until everybody has had his or her turn.
He then begins at the head of the row again: In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street.
The third time he says: In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house. These words have to be repeated by every player in the same manner as before and forfeits are to be strictly exacted.
The game may be continued as long as the Traveller chooses and of course with each addition to the sentence he makes up, it gets more difficult as the players forget the proper words.
Perhaps the following sentence will be found long enough:
In the city of Timbuctoo.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber and in that chamber I saw a gold and silver bird cage.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber and in that chamber I saw a gold and silver bird cage and in that gold and silver birdcage I saw a magnificent purple and yellow Bengal cockatoo.
In the city of Timbuctoo I saw a street and in that street I saw a house and in that house I saw a chamber and in that chamber I saw a gold and silver bird cage and in that gold and silver birdcage I saw a magnificent purple and yellow Bengal cockatoo and in the beak of that magnificent purple and yellow Bengal cockatoo I saw a ring made of emeralds, pearls, diamonds, and rubies.
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.
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.
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.
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 8. Story of the Day: Rattlin' Bog
Today's story is one you can sing along with (see music video at bottom of post).
The lyrics are from a a version of this traditional Irish folksong that I found in Hi! ho! The rattlin' bog, and other folk songs by John Langstaff (1969). You can find out more about "The Rattlin' Bog" at Wikipedia.
This is Roud 129, which also includes the song Green Grass Grew All Around; you can find a fun discussion of this song type, and "Rattlin' Bog" in particular, at Mudcat. I like the "rattling bog" version very much; the word "rattling" means "something very good of its kind (used for emphasis)."
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now in this bog,
there was a tree,
a rare tree, a rattlin' tree;
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now on this tree,
there was a limb,
a rare limb, a rattlin' limb;
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now on this limb,
there was a branch,
a rare branch, a rattlin' branch;
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now on this branch,
there was a nest,
a rare nest, a rattlin' nest;
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now in this nest,
there was a egg,
a rare egg, a rattlin' egg;
The egg in the nest,
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now in this egg,
there was a bird,
a rare bird, a rattlin' bird;
The bird in the egg,
The egg in the nest,
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
You will find lots of music videos at YouTube; here's one I liked by Rula Bula:
The lyrics are from a a version of this traditional Irish folksong that I found in Hi! ho! The rattlin' bog, and other folk songs by John Langstaff (1969). You can find out more about "The Rattlin' Bog" at Wikipedia.
This is Roud 129, which also includes the song Green Grass Grew All Around; you can find a fun discussion of this song type, and "Rattlin' Bog" in particular, at Mudcat. I like the "rattling bog" version very much; the word "rattling" means "something very good of its kind (used for emphasis)."
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now in this bog,
there was a tree,
a rare tree, a rattlin' tree;
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now on this tree,
there was a limb,
a rare limb, a rattlin' limb;
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now on this limb,
there was a branch,
a rare branch, a rattlin' branch;
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now on this branch,
there was a nest,
a rare nest, a rattlin' nest;
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now in this nest,
there was a egg,
a rare egg, a rattlin' egg;
The egg in the nest,
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
Now in this egg,
there was a bird,
a rare bird, a rattlin' bird;
The bird in the egg,
The egg in the nest,
The nest on the branch,
The branch on the limb,
The limb on the tree,
The tree in the bog,
And the bog down in the valley-O!
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O,
Hi! Ho! The rattlin' bog and the bog down in the valley-O.
You will find lots of music videos at YouTube; here's one I liked by Rula Bula:
July 4. Story of the Day: Anti-Slavery Alphabet
For the July 4th holiday, I thought this story in defense of liberty would be a good choice! The Anti-Slavery Alphabet was first published in 1846 (and subsequently reprinted); you can see the 1847 edition online at Project Gutenberg and at Internet Archive. The authors are Mary Townsend and her sister Hannah; you can learn more about their work as abolitionists here: Mary Townsend. Wikipedia also has an article about this book.
For a traditional children's alphabet poem, see A was an archer. This book was also intended for children, and very earnestly so, as you will see from the introductory verses which I've also included below.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
TO OUR LITTLE READERS.
Listen, little children, all,
Listen to our earnest call:
You are very young, 'tis true,
But there's much that you can do.
Even you can plead with men
That they buy not slaves again,
And that those they have may be
Quickly set at liberty.
They may hearken what you say,
Though from us they turn away.
Sometimes, when from school you walk,
You can with your playmates talk,
Tell them of the slave child's fate,
Motherless and desolate.
And you can refuse to take
Candy, sweetmeat, pie or cake,
Saying "no"—unless 'tis free—
"The slave shall not work for me."
Thus, dear little children, each
May some useful lesson teach;
Thus each one may help to free
This fair land from slavery.
A is an Abolitionist—
A man who wants to free
The wretched slave—and give to all
An equal liberty.
B is a Brother with a skin
Of somewhat darker hue,
But in our Heavenly Father's sight,
He is as dear as you.
C is the Cotton-field, to which
This injured brother's driven,
When, as the white-man's slave, he toils,
From early morn till even.
D is the Driver, cold and stern,
Who follows, whip in hand,
To punish those who dare to rest,
Or disobey command.
E is the Eagle, soaring high;
An emblem of the free;
But while we chain our brother man,
Our type he cannot be.
F is the heart-sick Fugitive,
The slave who runs away,
And travels through the dreary night,
But hides himself by day.
G is the Gong, whose rolling sound,
Before the morning light,
Calls up the little sleeping slave,
To labor until night.
H is the Hound his master trained,
And called to scent the track
Of the unhappy Fugitive,
And bring him trembling back.
I is the Infant, from the arms
Of its fond mother torn,
And, at a public auction, sold
With horses, cows, and corn.
J is the Jail, upon whose floor
That wretched mother lay,
Until her cruel master came,
And carried her away.
K is the Kidnapper, who stole
That little child and mother—
Shrieking, it clung around her, but
He tore them from each other.
L is the Lash, that brutally
He swung around its head,
Threatening that "if it cried again,
He'd whip it till 'twas dead."
M is the Merchant of the north,
Who buys what slaves produce—
So they are stolen, whipped and worked,
For his, and for our use.
N is the Negro, rambling free
In his far distant home,
Delighting 'neath the palm trees' shade
And cocoa-nut to roam.
O is the Orange tree, that bloomed
Beside his cabin door,
When white men stole him from his home
To see it never more.
P is the Parent, sorrowing,
And weeping all alone—
The child he loved to lean upon,
His only son, is gone!
Q is the Quarter, where the slave
On coarsest food is fed,
And where, with toil and sorrow worn,
He seeks his wretched bed.
R is the "Rice-swamp, dank and lone,"
Where, weary, day by day,
He labors till the fever wastes
His strength and life away.
S is the Sugar, that the slave
Is toiling hard to make,
To put into your pie and tea,
Your candy, and your cake.
T is the rank Tobacco plant,
Raised by slave labor too:
A poisonous and nasty thing,
For gentlemen to chew.
U is for Upper Canada,
Where the poor slave has found
Rest after all his wanderings,
For it is British ground!
V is the Vessel, in whose dark,
Noisome, and stifling hold,
Hundreds of Africans are packed,
Brought o'er the seas, and sold.
W is the Whipping post,
To which the slave is bound,
While on his naked back, the lash
Makes many a bleeding wound.
X is for Xerxes, famed of yore;
A warrior stern was he
He fought with swords; let truth and love
Our only weapons be.
Y is for Youth—the time for all
Bravely to war with sin;
And think not it can ever be
Too early to begin.
Z is a Zealous man, sincere,
Faithful, and just, and true;
An earnest pleader for the slave—
Will you not be so too?
For a traditional children's alphabet poem, see A was an archer. This book was also intended for children, and very earnestly so, as you will see from the introductory verses which I've also included below.
Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
TO OUR LITTLE READERS.
Listen, little children, all,
Listen to our earnest call:
You are very young, 'tis true,
But there's much that you can do.
Even you can plead with men
That they buy not slaves again,
And that those they have may be
Quickly set at liberty.
They may hearken what you say,
Though from us they turn away.
Sometimes, when from school you walk,
You can with your playmates talk,
Tell them of the slave child's fate,
Motherless and desolate.
And you can refuse to take
Candy, sweetmeat, pie or cake,
Saying "no"—unless 'tis free—
"The slave shall not work for me."
Thus, dear little children, each
May some useful lesson teach;
Thus each one may help to free
This fair land from slavery.
A is an Abolitionist—
A man who wants to free
The wretched slave—and give to all
An equal liberty.
B is a Brother with a skin
Of somewhat darker hue,
But in our Heavenly Father's sight,
He is as dear as you.
C is the Cotton-field, to which
This injured brother's driven,
When, as the white-man's slave, he toils,
From early morn till even.
D is the Driver, cold and stern,
Who follows, whip in hand,
To punish those who dare to rest,
Or disobey command.
E is the Eagle, soaring high;
An emblem of the free;
But while we chain our brother man,
Our type he cannot be.
F is the heart-sick Fugitive,
The slave who runs away,
And travels through the dreary night,
But hides himself by day.
G is the Gong, whose rolling sound,
Before the morning light,
Calls up the little sleeping slave,
To labor until night.
H is the Hound his master trained,
And called to scent the track
Of the unhappy Fugitive,
And bring him trembling back.
I is the Infant, from the arms
Of its fond mother torn,
And, at a public auction, sold
With horses, cows, and corn.
J is the Jail, upon whose floor
That wretched mother lay,
Until her cruel master came,
And carried her away.
K is the Kidnapper, who stole
That little child and mother—
Shrieking, it clung around her, but
He tore them from each other.
L is the Lash, that brutally
He swung around its head,
Threatening that "if it cried again,
He'd whip it till 'twas dead."
M is the Merchant of the north,
Who buys what slaves produce—
So they are stolen, whipped and worked,
For his, and for our use.
N is the Negro, rambling free
In his far distant home,
Delighting 'neath the palm trees' shade
And cocoa-nut to roam.
O is the Orange tree, that bloomed
Beside his cabin door,
When white men stole him from his home
To see it never more.
P is the Parent, sorrowing,
And weeping all alone—
The child he loved to lean upon,
His only son, is gone!
Q is the Quarter, where the slave
On coarsest food is fed,
And where, with toil and sorrow worn,
He seeks his wretched bed.
R is the "Rice-swamp, dank and lone,"
Where, weary, day by day,
He labors till the fever wastes
His strength and life away.
S is the Sugar, that the slave
Is toiling hard to make,
To put into your pie and tea,
Your candy, and your cake.
T is the rank Tobacco plant,
Raised by slave labor too:
A poisonous and nasty thing,
For gentlemen to chew.
U is for Upper Canada,
Where the poor slave has found
Rest after all his wanderings,
For it is British ground!
V is the Vessel, in whose dark,
Noisome, and stifling hold,
Hundreds of Africans are packed,
Brought o'er the seas, and sold.
W is the Whipping post,
To which the slave is bound,
While on his naked back, the lash
Makes many a bleeding wound.
X is for Xerxes, famed of yore;
A warrior stern was he
He fought with swords; let truth and love
Our only weapons be.
Y is for Youth—the time for all
Bravely to war with sin;
And think not it can ever be
Too early to begin.
Z is a Zealous man, sincere,
Faithful, and just, and true;
An earnest pleader for the slave—
Will you not be so too?
Hutton/Shaw. Dao-Sharpening
From William Shaw's Notes on the Thadou Kukis, edited by J. H. Hutton.
This is classified as ATU 2042. Chain of Accidents.
The dao-sharpener was sharpening his dao when the crawfish came and prodded his anus. Mr. Dao-Sharpener sliced off the tip of a bamboo end. The tip of bamboo pricked the cheek of a jungle-fowl. The jungle-fowl, scuttling off, scratched out a red ant, which ran and bit Mr. Wild Boar in the testicles. The wild boar dashing about kicked down the wild plantain tree which was the bat's home. The bat flew out and fluttered into Mr. Elephant's ear. The elephant dashed off and knocked over the widow's house.
"Mr. Elephant," said she, "why have you knocked down my house?"
Said the elephant, "The bat flew into my ear."
"Bat, why did you fly into Mr. Elephant's ear?"
"Mr. Wild Boar threw down the wild plantain tree I live in."
"Mr. Boar, why did you do that?"
"The red ant bit my testicles."
"Red Ant, why did you bite the boar's testicles?"
"The jungle-fowl scratched me up."
"Jungle-Fowl, why did you scratch up the ant?"
"The bamboo tip pricked my cheek."
"Bamboo Tip, why did you prick the jungle-fowl's cheek?"
"Mr. Dao-Sharpener sliced me off."
"Mr. Dao-Sharpener, why did you slice off the bamboo tip?"
"The crawfish prodded my posterior."
"Crawfish, why did you prod the dao-sharpener?"
The crawfish did not know what to answer. He said, "You can do nothing by toasting me at a fire. If you put me in a deep pool, I shall turn very red, and the boy will be charmed to see it." He jumped into the pool. "The pool I live in is very deep," said he, and in the pool he stayed.
NOTES
One cannot help suspecting condensation here and the loss of some such incident as that of Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit and the briar patch.
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.
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."
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.
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."
Twelve Days of Christmas
This 18th-century version of the song comes from Mirth Without Mischief published in London by J. Davenport, circa 1780, online at the Hymns and Carols of Christmas. See also the detailed article at the website: Notes on the Twelve Days of Christmas. There is also a detailed article at Wikipedia.
This is ATU 2010A Twelve Days (Gifts) of Christmas.
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me1
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Four colley birds,1a
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Nine drummers drumming,2
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Twelve lords a leaping,
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
NOTES (from the website):
This is ATU 2010A Twelve Days (Gifts) of Christmas.
;_Abraham_cast_into_fire_by_Nimrod_(bottom).jpg){kind=link}
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me1
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Four colley birds,1a
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Nine drummers drumming,2
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Twelve lords a leaping,
Eleven ladies dancing,
Ten pipers piping,
Nine drummers drumming,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings.
Four colley birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree.
NOTES (from the website):
Identical lyrics are printed by James Orchard Halliwell, The Nursery Rhymes of England. Fifth Edition. (London and New York: Frederick Warne and Co., 1886), pp. 184-188, With Illustrations by W. B. Scott. The version published by William Henry Husk, Songs of the Nativity (London: John Camden Hotten, 1868) is substantially the same, differing only in the fifth day: Five golden rings.
However, the version in Halliwell's Second Edition (1843) is markedly different:
Twelve bells ringing,
Eleven ladies spinning,
Ten ships a sailing,
Nine lords a leaping,
Eight ladies dancing,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings,
Four canary birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
In the Second Edition, Halliwell notes:
Each child in succession repeats the gifts of the day, and forfeits for each mistake. This accumulative process is a favourite with children ; in early writers, such as Homer, the repetition of messages, &c. pleases on the same principle.
In the Second Edition, "The First Day of Christmas" was rhyme # CCLXXII, and was found on pp. 155-156. In the Fifth Edition, it was rhyme # CCCXLVI, on pages 184-188. I haven't seen any other edition.
1. In the version collected by John Jacob Niles, "... my true love gave to me." Niles did not state the source or date of his version, although much of what he collected was from Southern Appalachia in 1912 1913 and 1932-1934. The version reprinted by Lomax gives "my true love sent to me."
1a. Or: "four calling birds."
2. In the version collected by John Jacob Niles, it was nine pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, eleven lords a leaping, and twelve fiddlers fiddling. Lomax gives nine pipers piping, ten drummers drumming, eleven lords a leaping, and twelve ladies dancing. Other versions have a different sorting of personnel.
However, the version in Halliwell's Second Edition (1843) is markedly different:
Twelve bells ringing,
Eleven ladies spinning,
Ten ships a sailing,
Nine lords a leaping,
Eight ladies dancing,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five gold rings,
Four canary birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves, and
A partridge in a pear tree.
In the Second Edition, Halliwell notes:
Each child in succession repeats the gifts of the day, and forfeits for each mistake. This accumulative process is a favourite with children ; in early writers, such as Homer, the repetition of messages, &c. pleases on the same principle.
In the Second Edition, "The First Day of Christmas" was rhyme # CCLXXII, and was found on pp. 155-156. In the Fifth Edition, it was rhyme # CCCXLVI, on pages 184-188. I haven't seen any other edition.
1. In the version collected by John Jacob Niles, "... my true love gave to me." Niles did not state the source or date of his version, although much of what he collected was from Southern Appalachia in 1912 1913 and 1932-1934. The version reprinted by Lomax gives "my true love sent to me."
1a. Or: "four calling birds."
2. In the version collected by John Jacob Niles, it was nine pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, eleven lords a leaping, and twelve fiddlers fiddling. Lomax gives nine pipers piping, ten drummers drumming, eleven lords a leaping, and twelve ladies dancing. Other versions have a different sorting of personnel.
The Twelve Days of Christmas Version 2 (Sabine Baring Gould, 1889)
The Twelve Days of Christmas Version 3 (Cecil J. Sharp, 1916, with notes)
The Twelve Days of Christmas Version 3 (Cecil J. Sharp, 1916, with notes)
See the website for sheet music as follows:
Sheet Music from Sabine Baring Gould, Folk Songs of the West (1889)
Sheet Music from J. Collingwood Bruce and John Stokoe, Northumbrian Minstrelsy: A Collection of the Ballads, Melodies, and Small pipe Tunes of Northumbria. (Published by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1882), "The Twelve Days of Christmas," pp. 129 131.
Sheet Music from Cecil J. Sharp, ed., One Hundred English Folksongs (Oliver Ditson Company, Boston, 1916), #96, pp, 224-225.
Sheet Music from Cecil J. Sharp and Charles L. Marson, eds., Folk Songs from Somerset. Second Series. (London: Simpkin & Co., Ltd, et al., 1911), pp. 52-55.
Sheet music to five tunes from Cecil J. Sharp, et al., "Forfeit Songs," Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. 5., No. 20 (1916), pp. 277-279.
W. G. Whittaker, ed., North Countrie Ballads, Songs and Pipe-Tunes. Part I. (London: J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd., 1921), pp. 120-123.
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:
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.
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."
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.
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."
June 15. Story of the Day: Uncle Rat's Cap
Provided from the Marathi by Shrimati Jayashreedevi Shirole, via Suniti Namjoshi (more of her contributions). As you can see from the video at the bottom of this post, the story is alive and well in India. In the video title the king is mockingly called "Raja Bhikari," "The King Who Begs" (bhiksha are the alms you might give to a beggar) -- you'll see why at the end of the story, and after reading the English version, you'll be able to follow along with the video in the Marathi language.
I do not have a folktale type classification number for this, although there are other stories that include a series-of-professions. The ambitious rat in this story might remind you of the rat in the Punjabi story, The Rat's Wedding.
Want more? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
One day Uncle Rat found a piece of cloth. He took it to the dhobi [washerman] and said, “Please wash it for me.”
“Won’t,” said the dhobi. “Shan’t,” said the dhobi. “I have better things to do than washing your rag.”
“Well,” said the Rat.
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who‘ll beat you blue.
And then you’ll wish you had washed my rag.”
So the dhobi washed Uncle Rat’s rag.
Then the Rat took his rag to the dyer and said, “Please dye it for me.”
“Won’t,” said the dyer. “Can’t,” said the dyer.
And Uncle Rat said,
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who’ll beat you blue.
And then you’ll wish you had dyed my rag.”
So the dyer dyed Uncle Rat’s rag.
Uncle Rat went to the tailor next, and said, “Please make a cap for me.”
“Shan’t,” said the tailor, to which Uncle Rat replied,
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who’ll beat you blue.
And then you’ll wish you had made my cap.”
The tailor made Uncle Rat’s cap.
The Rat now wanted a tassel for it, so he went to the tassel maker and asked him to make a tassel for it.
“No,” said the tassel maker.
Uncle Rat said,
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who’ll beat you blue.
And you’ll wish you had fixed a tassel on my cap.”
So the tassel maker made a tassel for Uncle Rat’s cap.
Uncle Rat now had a splendid cap. He put it on, and sat in a doorway watching the King go by.
The King happened to see the cap. He told his courtiers to fetch it for him.
There wasn’t much the Rat could do, but he sang as loudly as he could,
“The King is a beggar
And has run away with my beautiful cap.
The King is a beggar.
The King is a beggar
And has run away with my beautiful cap.”
The King felt silly when he heard this, so he returned the cap.
Uncle Rat put it on and now he sang more loudly than ever,
“The King is a coward
And given me back my beautiful cap.
The King is a coward.
The King is a coward
And has given me back my beautiful cap.”
In this version, the rat goes to a dhobi, then a tailor, and then a woman who makes him a tassel (there is no dyer in this version). He then goes banging his drum into the presence of King Bhikari and makes fun of him: that drum is definitely a good accompaniment to the little rat's personality!
I do not have a folktale type classification number for this, although there are other stories that include a series-of-professions. The ambitious rat in this story might remind you of the rat in the Punjabi story, The Rat's Wedding.
Want more? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.
UNCLE RAT'S CAP
One day Uncle Rat found a piece of cloth. He took it to the dhobi [washerman] and said, “Please wash it for me.”
“Won’t,” said the dhobi. “Shan’t,” said the dhobi. “I have better things to do than washing your rag.”
“Well,” said the Rat.
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who‘ll beat you blue.
And then you’ll wish you had washed my rag.”
So the dhobi washed Uncle Rat’s rag.
Then the Rat took his rag to the dyer and said, “Please dye it for me.”
“Won’t,” said the dyer. “Can’t,” said the dyer.
And Uncle Rat said,
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who’ll beat you blue.
And then you’ll wish you had dyed my rag.”
So the dyer dyed Uncle Rat’s rag.
Uncle Rat went to the tailor next, and said, “Please make a cap for me.”
“Shan’t,” said the tailor, to which Uncle Rat replied,
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who’ll beat you blue.
And then you’ll wish you had made my cap.”
The tailor made Uncle Rat’s cap.
The Rat now wanted a tassel for it, so he went to the tassel maker and asked him to make a tassel for it.
“No,” said the tassel maker.
Uncle Rat said,
“I’ll go to the police and tell on you.
They’ll send four men who’ll beat you blue.
And you’ll wish you had fixed a tassel on my cap.”
So the tassel maker made a tassel for Uncle Rat’s cap.
Uncle Rat now had a splendid cap. He put it on, and sat in a doorway watching the King go by.
The King happened to see the cap. He told his courtiers to fetch it for him.
There wasn’t much the Rat could do, but he sang as loudly as he could,
“The King is a beggar
And has run away with my beautiful cap.
The King is a beggar.
The King is a beggar
And has run away with my beautiful cap.”
The King felt silly when he heard this, so he returned the cap.
Uncle Rat put it on and now he sang more loudly than ever,
“The King is a coward
And given me back my beautiful cap.
The King is a coward.
The King is a coward
And has given me back my beautiful cap.”
In this version, the rat goes to a dhobi, then a tailor, and then a woman who makes him a tassel (there is no dyer in this version). He then goes banging his drum into the presence of King Bhikari and makes fun of him: that drum is definitely a good accompaniment to the little rat's personality!
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