Post by beokguk on Jun 25, 2007 10:09:43 GMT 3
the Turandot Story and more children's stories from different cultures
silverpine.forest.net/~whootie/stories/
More Thousand and One Nights Stories
silverpine.forest.net/%7Ewhootie/stories/3_riddles_china.html
The Three Riddles
(China)*
Note: This story is long, but good! say what you think
PRINCE CALAF grew up as a Khan's son on the shores of the Caspian Sea,in a Tartar kingdom known as Astrakhan. When he was a young prince hisparents suddenly died. No long after he assumed control of the land,the kingdom was attacked by the wicked Sultan of Carizme, who ruled allthe land from the Persian Gulf to the borders of India. The Sultan's'army was brutal and huge, and everyone in Astrakhan, including theyoung Prince, fled for their lives. The prince's only comfort in exilewas his determination that someday he would return and reclaim hiskingdom.
In the meantime, young Calaf decided to seek adventure in farawaylands. So he journeyed eastward until he arrived at China and wentstraightaway to its capital city, called Peking in those days, andtoday is known as Beijing.
As he approached the castle gates of Peking, a sad processionapproached from the distance. Leading the procession was a man whosehands were bound in chains behind him, and whose head was bowed low.
"What's going on?" whispered Calaf to an old man beside him as the procession passed to a slow marching drumbeat.
"Ah, to see this happen yet again!" wailed the man, dabbing his eyes with his handerchief.
"What do you mean?" said Calaf, as the procession passed.
"You must be a stranger," said the old man, "or you would know. Here inthis city we are fortunate to be ruled by a king of exalted dignity.His beautiful daughter is no doubt the loveliest young woman of theland, yet she has taken it upon herself never to marry unless tosomeone who can answer three riddles that she poses to them. If thepoor soul cannot answer her riddles correctly, he is put in chains andled to the place of execution. In such a way 99 men of the noblestblood have been taken away, and the 99th just passed before us, all ofthem sons of kings and other noblemen. Such a waste of young life, andfor what?"
"Is she really as beautiful as all that?" said Prince Calaf.
"See for yourself!" said he, and he took from his pocket a small water-color portrait of the princess.
It was more than beauty. Calaf sensed in the eyes of Princess Turandotsomething deeper, something riveting. He was seized with a feeling ofconfidence that if 99 other suitors had failed before him, that hewould be the one to succeed.
"Oh, no!" said the old man, snatching back the portrait. "Not you, too!I should have known better than to show this to you! I beg you, do notdare to approach this princess, for she has already slain fourscore andnineteen others!"
But Prince Calaf never more certain of anything. With fire in his heart, he strode to the castle door and knocked.
A chamberlain wearing a golden helmet opened the door.
Prince Calaf announced that he would answer the princess' threeriddles. The chamberlain bid him to wait. After awhile he returned andled the young prince through a wide hallway to a room where an oldwoman sat.
"I am a maidservant of the Princess Turandot," said the old woman withpride. "You must first answer two preliminary questions to see if youare worthy to appear in the royal throne room before the Emperor andthe Princess and receive her three questions. If you are not, you willbe permitted to leave now and no harm will come to you. Does this meetwith your satisfaction?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Then," said she, "my lady directs you to inform her what may be thetree bearing a dozen branches, each branch covered with thirty leavesand each leaf having two colors, one half white and the other black?"
He thought for a moment, then said, "Now that tree is the year, and itstwelve branches are the dozen months, while the thirty leaves upon eachof these are the thirty light days and the thirty dark nights."
She smiled. Said she, "Inform me of the two Stationaries and the twoMoveables and the two Conjoineds and the twain which are eternal Foes."
He answered, saying, "The two Stationaries are Heaven and Earth and thetwo Moveables are the Sun and the Moon; the two Conjoineds are Nightand Day and the twain which are eternal foes are Life and Death."
"Very well," said the old woman. At that moment the door opened, andtwo pages led Prince Calaf down a wide corridor that ended at a goldendouble door. The door opened to a magnificent royal hall draped on allsides with shimmering rich silks from floor to ceiling. At the far endof the room was a high throne made of pure silver in the shape of adragon, and perched on a silken cushion was the Emperor himself.
"Can it be true," sighed the Emperor, "that the dust has barely settledoutside from the procession and yet another suitor stands before me toseek the hand of my daughter?"
"Sire," said Prince Calaf, "with all due respect I believe I can win the hand of your daughter."
"Son, you are clearly of noble, perhaps royal birth," said the Emperor."Are you fully aware that my daughter - for reasons that make sense toher alone - has stipulated that any suitor must correctly answer threeriddles of her posing before she will marry? And that any man whofails…" Here the Emperor leaned forward and lowered his voice, "will beput in chains and delivered to the place of execution."
"I know this," said Calaf. "I am ready."
"Not so fast," said the Emperor. "This is a serious step indeed, andyou must have time to consider it, whether you think you need that timeor not. You will stay overnight as our guest. If you feel the same waywhen the sun rises tomorrow, then my daughter will pose the threeriddles to you in this throne room at noon, before my mandarins and thewhole court. If you change your mind, I can only applaud your goodsense and you will be free to go."
Prince Calaf was then led to a sumptuous guest room, where he waspresented with a hearty meal and given silken pajamas in which to sleep.
Yet sleep came fitfully, if at all. A thought nagged at the corners ofhis mind - was it right to risk everything for a princess he had nevermet? What about his people from Astrakhan, now scattered to partsunknown, and who counted on him to return someday and restore theirhomeland? By daybreak he had decided it was the right thing to do toleave. Then the sunlight cast an early morning shadow against the wallsthat struck a strikingly similar profile to the outline of PrincessTurandot, and his whole being flooded with longing for her. Thefeeling, nay, the certainty that he would prevail flooded over him.
In the morning a chamberlain entered and said in a loud voice, "HisImperial Majesty, the Great Khan of China, sends me to ask if you havenow reflected upon your intentions and have reconsidered." Calafresponded in a clear and certain voice that he intended to stay.
Servants arrived. They bathed the young prince, rubbed his body withscented ointments, and dressed him in white silk robes that werecustomary in the palace. They fed him a delicious meal, glancing athim, he felt, as if they felt pity for him. Finally, when the sunreached the top of the sky, the servants led Calaf down many widecorridors to the huge golden double door that opened to the emperor'sthrone room. The room was already full of mandarins and ministers ofstate, and a dense crowd of onlookers surrounded the room and were heldin place by a line of armed guards. The executioner, sword in hand,stood straight and tall by the golden door. Calaf bowed before theemperor and the Khan spoke.
"I must say I was disheartened to hear that you have chosen to remain.Somehow I thought you had more sense than that. Are you certain thatyou are willing to risk everything - and I mean everything - for mydaughter, Princess Turandot?"
The Emperor's eyes glanced to the side where his daughter stood, hereyes blazing. Yet in those eyes young Calaf was sure he caught aglimpse of that hidden something that had entranced him before.
"Yes," said Calaf, not taking his eyes off the princess.
"Then we begin," said the Emperor. "Daughter, you know what to do."
"Indeed I do, father," said the princess. As she spoke the prince'sheart pounded all the more, as her voice, cold and icy as it was, heldwithin it that same glimmer of promise he had sensed from her eyes.
"Listen carefully, for I shall not repeat what I say," said the princess, and recited in a clear voice these words:
This bridge is built of pearls most fair,
High-arching over waters gray.
It rises swiftly in the air,
To the heavens it makes its way.
The tallest ships can pass below,
Yet of all burdens it is free.
Broad as this bridge may seem to grow,
When you draw near it still will flee.
Young Calaf's mind raced from image to image. …A bridge built of pearlsmost fair…high-arching…tall ships can pass below… when you draw near itwill flee… Suddenly he smiled, and answered:
It arches over the water and it is built of pearls
Ships pass under it, yet it gains no woe.
The "pearls" are water, too, that rises swiftly to the sky
And runs as you draw near - this must be a rainbow!
The princess shot a look to the chief mandarin, who arched one eyebrow.He announced to the Khan, "The young man's poetry may be lacking," andhere he coughed, "but his answer is not. The rainbow is correct!"
The crowd burst forth in a cheer, which was instantly silenced by the princess.
"Perhaps the first riddle is answered," said the princess stiffly."There are two more." She turned to Calaf, "Hear me carefully.According to the rules I have devised, you may hear it twice if yourequired:
What is that thing few value much,
And yet it graces any hand?
Formed to do hurt, its power is such
As, like the sword's, none can withstand.
It makes wounds, though no blood is shed.
Robs none, yet brings prosperity.
Through all the world its rule has spread,
Softening life's severity.
A feeling of panic raced through the young prince. It graces anyhand?…its power is such none can withstand?…makes wounds though noblood is shed?… " He had no idea. "If it may please the royal court,may I hear the riddle a second time?"
The princess snickered. "So I thought," she said, and repeated the riddle.
His mind raced. What has spread its rule through the world, bringingprosperity? In an instant, the answer washed over him. He spoke thus:
Few value it though it brings prosperity - why?
It makes wounds yet sheds no blood - how?
Its rule has spread and I am led
To say the answer must be - the plow!
The chief mandarin stood to make an announcement. "We can only assumethis poetry reflects the short time the young man has to craft it.Nevertheless, I must report that the second answer is - correct!"
The crowd was abuzz until Turandot stamped her foot, and all were instantly silenced.
"Daughter, daughter!" the Emperor rebuked her. "This is the first youngman who has answered two of your riddles correctly. No one wants to seehim die. You should offer him your hand right now in marriage - hedeserves it!"
"Father, with all due respect," said Princess Turandot, "the rule isfor three riddles, and three riddles it will be. No exceptions." Shestared at the young man. "No special treatment."
"Very well," said her father. "Yet I am prepared to offer him special treatment of my own. Young man, what is your name?"
"I prefer to keep my name to myself, if you like, your majesty," said Calaf.
"Very well then, whoever you are, you have proven yourself brave andintelligent. If you resign from this test right now, I am prepared tooffer you a position as imperial counselor of state. Do you accept?"
"Your majesty, indeed I am honored," said the prince. The princess'mouth opened in protest but before she could speak the prince added,"yet I decline. Our agreement was for three riddles, and three riddlesit shall be."
The princess looked satisfied. "The last riddle you will not find soeasy," she said. "As it is the third riddle, three times you may hearit, then you must answer. And here it is:
I know a picture fair to see,
A picture full of fire and light,
This picture changes constantly,
Yet it is ever fresh and bright.
A narrow frame contains it all,
Yet all great things that move the heart -
Although this picture is so small -
They reach us only by its art.
Fear washed over Prince Kalaf's body. A picture fair to see…full offire and light…all great things reach us only by its art? He couldn'tremember the middle part at all. None of it made any sense. "One moretime, if you please," said he.
Then he asked for a third reading, which was granted. "You must have itmemorized by now, clever young man," said Princess Turandot. "Now youmust respond."
Indeed he could repeat it by heart but what good did that do? Yetsomehow he suspected the key to the riddle itself was the key to theprincess' heart. Had she hidden a clue in it, or was he imagining that?What was it about her that first drew captured his heart?
Suddenly, he knew what the answer must be. With his heart pounding, he said this:
The riddle's cunning, I admit!
And yet to solve it I will try.
By its art I, too, was transfixed
This little picture is - the eye!
At these words, the chief mandarin gasped. The other mandarins cheered,and at once the crowd exploded with joy and relief. Some in the crowdfainted and needed to be carried outside for fresh air. Trumpets,drumrolls, whistles - everything was pandemonium until the emperorcalled: "Silence!" At once, an instant hush fell upon the crowd.
The emperor stood, strode toward Prince Calaf, and embraced him."Welcome to our family, young man, no one deserves this place more thanyou."
"Father, wait!" called Princess Turandot. "Just one more riddle - please!"
"What?" he thundered. "I have been patient. 'Stick to the rules,' yousaid, and I agreed. We have stuck to the rules, your rules. Threeriddles was the rule, three riddles the young man has answered. Youwill issue no more riddles! He will have your hand in marriage, and thewedding will take place tomorrow night!"
The princess rushed to her father, falling on her knees and clutched his robes. "Father, please!" she said desperately.
silverpine.forest.net/~whootie/stories/
More Thousand and One Nights Stories
silverpine.forest.net/%7Ewhootie/stories/3_riddles_china.html
The Three Riddles
(China)*
Note: This story is long, but good! say what you think
PRINCE CALAF grew up as a Khan's son on the shores of the Caspian Sea,in a Tartar kingdom known as Astrakhan. When he was a young prince hisparents suddenly died. No long after he assumed control of the land,the kingdom was attacked by the wicked Sultan of Carizme, who ruled allthe land from the Persian Gulf to the borders of India. The Sultan's'army was brutal and huge, and everyone in Astrakhan, including theyoung Prince, fled for their lives. The prince's only comfort in exilewas his determination that someday he would return and reclaim hiskingdom.
In the meantime, young Calaf decided to seek adventure in farawaylands. So he journeyed eastward until he arrived at China and wentstraightaway to its capital city, called Peking in those days, andtoday is known as Beijing.
As he approached the castle gates of Peking, a sad processionapproached from the distance. Leading the procession was a man whosehands were bound in chains behind him, and whose head was bowed low.
"What's going on?" whispered Calaf to an old man beside him as the procession passed to a slow marching drumbeat.
"Ah, to see this happen yet again!" wailed the man, dabbing his eyes with his handerchief.
"What do you mean?" said Calaf, as the procession passed.
"You must be a stranger," said the old man, "or you would know. Here inthis city we are fortunate to be ruled by a king of exalted dignity.His beautiful daughter is no doubt the loveliest young woman of theland, yet she has taken it upon herself never to marry unless tosomeone who can answer three riddles that she poses to them. If thepoor soul cannot answer her riddles correctly, he is put in chains andled to the place of execution. In such a way 99 men of the noblestblood have been taken away, and the 99th just passed before us, all ofthem sons of kings and other noblemen. Such a waste of young life, andfor what?"
"Is she really as beautiful as all that?" said Prince Calaf.
"See for yourself!" said he, and he took from his pocket a small water-color portrait of the princess.
It was more than beauty. Calaf sensed in the eyes of Princess Turandotsomething deeper, something riveting. He was seized with a feeling ofconfidence that if 99 other suitors had failed before him, that hewould be the one to succeed.
"Oh, no!" said the old man, snatching back the portrait. "Not you, too!I should have known better than to show this to you! I beg you, do notdare to approach this princess, for she has already slain fourscore andnineteen others!"
But Prince Calaf never more certain of anything. With fire in his heart, he strode to the castle door and knocked.
A chamberlain wearing a golden helmet opened the door.
Prince Calaf announced that he would answer the princess' threeriddles. The chamberlain bid him to wait. After awhile he returned andled the young prince through a wide hallway to a room where an oldwoman sat.
"I am a maidservant of the Princess Turandot," said the old woman withpride. "You must first answer two preliminary questions to see if youare worthy to appear in the royal throne room before the Emperor andthe Princess and receive her three questions. If you are not, you willbe permitted to leave now and no harm will come to you. Does this meetwith your satisfaction?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Then," said she, "my lady directs you to inform her what may be thetree bearing a dozen branches, each branch covered with thirty leavesand each leaf having two colors, one half white and the other black?"
He thought for a moment, then said, "Now that tree is the year, and itstwelve branches are the dozen months, while the thirty leaves upon eachof these are the thirty light days and the thirty dark nights."
She smiled. Said she, "Inform me of the two Stationaries and the twoMoveables and the two Conjoineds and the twain which are eternal Foes."
He answered, saying, "The two Stationaries are Heaven and Earth and thetwo Moveables are the Sun and the Moon; the two Conjoineds are Nightand Day and the twain which are eternal foes are Life and Death."
"Very well," said the old woman. At that moment the door opened, andtwo pages led Prince Calaf down a wide corridor that ended at a goldendouble door. The door opened to a magnificent royal hall draped on allsides with shimmering rich silks from floor to ceiling. At the far endof the room was a high throne made of pure silver in the shape of adragon, and perched on a silken cushion was the Emperor himself.
"Can it be true," sighed the Emperor, "that the dust has barely settledoutside from the procession and yet another suitor stands before me toseek the hand of my daughter?"
"Sire," said Prince Calaf, "with all due respect I believe I can win the hand of your daughter."
"Son, you are clearly of noble, perhaps royal birth," said the Emperor."Are you fully aware that my daughter - for reasons that make sense toher alone - has stipulated that any suitor must correctly answer threeriddles of her posing before she will marry? And that any man whofails…" Here the Emperor leaned forward and lowered his voice, "will beput in chains and delivered to the place of execution."
"I know this," said Calaf. "I am ready."
"Not so fast," said the Emperor. "This is a serious step indeed, andyou must have time to consider it, whether you think you need that timeor not. You will stay overnight as our guest. If you feel the same waywhen the sun rises tomorrow, then my daughter will pose the threeriddles to you in this throne room at noon, before my mandarins and thewhole court. If you change your mind, I can only applaud your goodsense and you will be free to go."
Prince Calaf was then led to a sumptuous guest room, where he waspresented with a hearty meal and given silken pajamas in which to sleep.
Yet sleep came fitfully, if at all. A thought nagged at the corners ofhis mind - was it right to risk everything for a princess he had nevermet? What about his people from Astrakhan, now scattered to partsunknown, and who counted on him to return someday and restore theirhomeland? By daybreak he had decided it was the right thing to do toleave. Then the sunlight cast an early morning shadow against the wallsthat struck a strikingly similar profile to the outline of PrincessTurandot, and his whole being flooded with longing for her. Thefeeling, nay, the certainty that he would prevail flooded over him.
In the morning a chamberlain entered and said in a loud voice, "HisImperial Majesty, the Great Khan of China, sends me to ask if you havenow reflected upon your intentions and have reconsidered." Calafresponded in a clear and certain voice that he intended to stay.
Servants arrived. They bathed the young prince, rubbed his body withscented ointments, and dressed him in white silk robes that werecustomary in the palace. They fed him a delicious meal, glancing athim, he felt, as if they felt pity for him. Finally, when the sunreached the top of the sky, the servants led Calaf down many widecorridors to the huge golden double door that opened to the emperor'sthrone room. The room was already full of mandarins and ministers ofstate, and a dense crowd of onlookers surrounded the room and were heldin place by a line of armed guards. The executioner, sword in hand,stood straight and tall by the golden door. Calaf bowed before theemperor and the Khan spoke.
"I must say I was disheartened to hear that you have chosen to remain.Somehow I thought you had more sense than that. Are you certain thatyou are willing to risk everything - and I mean everything - for mydaughter, Princess Turandot?"
The Emperor's eyes glanced to the side where his daughter stood, hereyes blazing. Yet in those eyes young Calaf was sure he caught aglimpse of that hidden something that had entranced him before.
"Yes," said Calaf, not taking his eyes off the princess.
"Then we begin," said the Emperor. "Daughter, you know what to do."
"Indeed I do, father," said the princess. As she spoke the prince'sheart pounded all the more, as her voice, cold and icy as it was, heldwithin it that same glimmer of promise he had sensed from her eyes.
"Listen carefully, for I shall not repeat what I say," said the princess, and recited in a clear voice these words:
This bridge is built of pearls most fair,
High-arching over waters gray.
It rises swiftly in the air,
To the heavens it makes its way.
The tallest ships can pass below,
Yet of all burdens it is free.
Broad as this bridge may seem to grow,
When you draw near it still will flee.
Young Calaf's mind raced from image to image. …A bridge built of pearlsmost fair…high-arching…tall ships can pass below… when you draw near itwill flee… Suddenly he smiled, and answered:
It arches over the water and it is built of pearls
Ships pass under it, yet it gains no woe.
The "pearls" are water, too, that rises swiftly to the sky
And runs as you draw near - this must be a rainbow!
The princess shot a look to the chief mandarin, who arched one eyebrow.He announced to the Khan, "The young man's poetry may be lacking," andhere he coughed, "but his answer is not. The rainbow is correct!"
The crowd burst forth in a cheer, which was instantly silenced by the princess.
"Perhaps the first riddle is answered," said the princess stiffly."There are two more." She turned to Calaf, "Hear me carefully.According to the rules I have devised, you may hear it twice if yourequired:
What is that thing few value much,
And yet it graces any hand?
Formed to do hurt, its power is such
As, like the sword's, none can withstand.
It makes wounds, though no blood is shed.
Robs none, yet brings prosperity.
Through all the world its rule has spread,
Softening life's severity.
A feeling of panic raced through the young prince. It graces anyhand?…its power is such none can withstand?…makes wounds though noblood is shed?… " He had no idea. "If it may please the royal court,may I hear the riddle a second time?"
The princess snickered. "So I thought," she said, and repeated the riddle.
His mind raced. What has spread its rule through the world, bringingprosperity? In an instant, the answer washed over him. He spoke thus:
Few value it though it brings prosperity - why?
It makes wounds yet sheds no blood - how?
Its rule has spread and I am led
To say the answer must be - the plow!
The chief mandarin stood to make an announcement. "We can only assumethis poetry reflects the short time the young man has to craft it.Nevertheless, I must report that the second answer is - correct!"
The crowd was abuzz until Turandot stamped her foot, and all were instantly silenced.
"Daughter, daughter!" the Emperor rebuked her. "This is the first youngman who has answered two of your riddles correctly. No one wants to seehim die. You should offer him your hand right now in marriage - hedeserves it!"
"Father, with all due respect," said Princess Turandot, "the rule isfor three riddles, and three riddles it will be. No exceptions." Shestared at the young man. "No special treatment."
"Very well," said her father. "Yet I am prepared to offer him special treatment of my own. Young man, what is your name?"
"I prefer to keep my name to myself, if you like, your majesty," said Calaf.
"Very well then, whoever you are, you have proven yourself brave andintelligent. If you resign from this test right now, I am prepared tooffer you a position as imperial counselor of state. Do you accept?"
"Your majesty, indeed I am honored," said the prince. The princess'mouth opened in protest but before she could speak the prince added,"yet I decline. Our agreement was for three riddles, and three riddlesit shall be."
The princess looked satisfied. "The last riddle you will not find soeasy," she said. "As it is the third riddle, three times you may hearit, then you must answer. And here it is:
I know a picture fair to see,
A picture full of fire and light,
This picture changes constantly,
Yet it is ever fresh and bright.
A narrow frame contains it all,
Yet all great things that move the heart -
Although this picture is so small -
They reach us only by its art.
Fear washed over Prince Kalaf's body. A picture fair to see…full offire and light…all great things reach us only by its art? He couldn'tremember the middle part at all. None of it made any sense. "One moretime, if you please," said he.
Then he asked for a third reading, which was granted. "You must have itmemorized by now, clever young man," said Princess Turandot. "Now youmust respond."
Indeed he could repeat it by heart but what good did that do? Yetsomehow he suspected the key to the riddle itself was the key to theprincess' heart. Had she hidden a clue in it, or was he imagining that?What was it about her that first drew captured his heart?
Suddenly, he knew what the answer must be. With his heart pounding, he said this:
The riddle's cunning, I admit!
And yet to solve it I will try.
By its art I, too, was transfixed
This little picture is - the eye!
At these words, the chief mandarin gasped. The other mandarins cheered,and at once the crowd exploded with joy and relief. Some in the crowdfainted and needed to be carried outside for fresh air. Trumpets,drumrolls, whistles - everything was pandemonium until the emperorcalled: "Silence!" At once, an instant hush fell upon the crowd.
The emperor stood, strode toward Prince Calaf, and embraced him."Welcome to our family, young man, no one deserves this place more thanyou."
"Father, wait!" called Princess Turandot. "Just one more riddle - please!"
"What?" he thundered. "I have been patient. 'Stick to the rules,' yousaid, and I agreed. We have stuck to the rules, your rules. Threeriddles was the rule, three riddles the young man has answered. Youwill issue no more riddles! He will have your hand in marriage, and thewedding will take place tomorrow night!"
The princess rushed to her father, falling on her knees and clutched his robes. "Father, please!" she said desperately.