Episode 12: The Quail's Friends

Welcome to Episode 12 of Public Domain Radio: Mythology and Folklore.  Today I am reading a story from Jataka Tales out of Old India by Marguerite Aspinwall, with illustrations by Arnold Hall. This book was published in 1927 which puts it in the public domain in the United States. You can find the book online at Hathi Trust.

The story I will be reading is called The Quail's Friends. You can listen to the embedded audio file below, or with this audio link.

Laura Gibbs · PDRE 12. The Quail's Friends

THE QUAIL'S FRIENDS

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a young elephant, and growing up to be a fine, handsome beast, he became the leader of a herd that dwelt in the Himalayas. So large was this herd that the young leader had under his command no less than eighty thousand elephants.

Now at that time, a mother quail had laid her eggs in the feeding ground of the elephants. When the eggs were ready to be hatched, the young birds broke the shells and came out, but before their wings had grown strong enough to fly, the leader of the herd and his eighty thousand elephants came that way, searching for food.

On seeing them, the mother quail was frightened and thought to herself, "This royal elephant will trample on my young ones and kill them. Lo! I will implore his righteous protection for the defense of my brood."

Then she raised her two wings, and standing before the elephant leader, repeated this stanza:
Elephant of sixty years,
Forest lord among your peers,
I am but a feeble bird,
You the leader of a herd;
With my wings I homage pay,
Spare my little ones, I pray!

The great elephant replied kindly, "O Quail, be not troubled! I will protect your offspring." Whereupon he took his stand over the nest of the young birds and kept them safe, until his eighty thousand elephants had passed by. Before he followed them, he once more addressed the mother bird, "Behind us comes a solitary rogue elephant. He will not do our bidding nor recognize our promise of protection. When he comes, therefore, entreat him, too, and so insure the safety of your offspring."

With this advice he departed, and the mother quail went forth to meet the rogue elephant who travelled by himself and recognized no leader or law except his own desires. Finding him, she made respectful salutation, and spoke a second stanza:
Roaming over hill and dale,
Following your lonely way,
You, O forest king, I hail,
And with wings my homage pay.
I am but a wretched quail;
Spare my tender brood to slay!

On hearing her words the elephant spoke a third stanza:
I will slay your young ones, Quail!
What can your poor help avail?
My left foot can crush with ease
Many thousand birds like these.

So saying, he cruelly crushed the tender young birds to atoms and went off, trumpeting loudly.

The poor mother quail sat on the bough of a tree and cried after him, heart-brokenly, "Trumpet away! You shall soon see, however, what even a helpless bird can do. You little know what a difference there is between strength of body and strength of mind. Well, I will teach you a lesson!" She ended her threats by repeating a fourth stanza:
Power abused is not all gain;
Power is often folly's bane.
Beast, that did my young ones kill,
I will work you mischief still.

It happened that a short while afterward, the mother quail was able to do a good turn to a crow. When the crow, who was highly pleased, asked, "What can I do for you in return?" the quail said, "I shall expect you to strike with your beak and peck out the eyes of this wicked rogue elephant who has killed my children."

The crow readily agreed to do this, and soon after the compact between them was made, the quail was also able to do a kindness to a frog. The frog was as grateful as the crow had been and begged to be allowed to repay the friendly deed with another. The quail therefore told the frog of the crow's agreement to peck out the rogue elephant's eyes, and added, "When he becomes blind and shall be searching for water to drink, then take your stand on the top of a mountain, and utter a croak loud enough for him to hear you. He will climb to the mountain top, and then do you come down and croak again at the foot of a precipice. This much I shall look for at your hands." The frog agreed at once to do as she had asked.

So one day the crow, flying at the rogue elephant's eyes, pecked them both out with his sharp beak, and the elephant, maddened with pain and thirst, wandered about blindly, seeking for water to drink.

At this moment, the frog, standing on top of a nearby mountain, uttered a loud croak. Thought the elephant, "There must be water up there, for frogs always live in pools." And he climbed the mountain. But no sooner was he at the summit than the frog descended and, standing at the bottom, croaked again.

The elephant thought, "There will surely be water there," and moved forward toward the precipice, following the sound. Not being able to see the edge, he missed his footing and, rolling over, fell to the bottom of the mountain and was instantly killed.

Thus did the friends of the mother quail avenge her upon the murderer of her young. The wicked elephant passed away to fare according to his deserts, and all the helpless creatures of the forest were safe from his evil deeds for the rest of their days.

illustration by Arnold Hall

THE END

Episode 11: The Birds who Befriended a King

Welcome to Episode 11 of Public Domain Radio: Mythology and Folklore. Today I am reading a story from Wonder Tales of the World by Anne Armfield with illustrations by Maxwell Armfield. This book was published in 1920 which puts it in the public domain in the United States. You can find the book online at the Internet Archive.

The story I will be reading is called The Birds who Befriended a King: A Tale of Arabia. This is only the first part of the story; the second part of the story is about Solomon and the King of Sheba, and you can read that continuation of the story online if you want to know more about King Solomon and the hoopoes.

You can listen to the embedded audio file below, or with this audio link.

Laura Gibbs · PDRE 11. The Birds Who Befriended A King

This is how the Hoopoes came to know the great King Solomon.

Once he was far out in the wilderness — for there was no part of his kingdom that Solomon did not visit — he had seen that the great store city was finished to his liking, even Tadmor in the desert, and across the sand, the King’s cavalcade made its way, with the camels and the dromedaries and their broidered saddle-cloths bright as flowers, and jewelled bridles flashing as brightly as the sun itself.

But the heat smote down on the King’s head, and Solomon yearned for shade. As if in answer to his longing, who should appear but a flock of Hoopoes. Being curious by nature, they circled round until they reached the King’s camel and kept just overhead, so that they might watch this most famous of all monarchs and perchance overhear some word of wisdom. Thus the little birds cast a grateful shadow over the King for his whole journey and richly repaid they were, for Solomon, who was always polite to the humblest creature in his kingdom, conversed freely with them during the whole time.

illustration by Maxwell Armfield

When they reached his palace, he thanked them for the service they had done him and asked what he could do in return. Now the Hoopoes had begun their conversation with Solomon modestly enough; in fact, they had been very surprised that he had spoken to them at all. But he had questioned them so kindly about their ways of living, and their likes and preferences and relations, that they lost their fear of him and they came to this wonderful palace and saw all the servants in their shining robes standing behind the King’s throne and waiting at his table and lining the great court-yard, and when they beheld the walls of ivory inlaid with gold and the golden lions guarding the steps and the white peacocks on the silver terraces, it quite turned their heads to think they had journeyed right across the desert with the owner of these riches.

So instead of answering Solomon with thanks on their part and telling him his words of wisdom were rich reward for any shelter they had given, the Hoopoes begged leave to consult together and withdrew to the palace roof where they discussed what they would ask for. Finally they decided they would like golden crowns such as the King himself wore; then they could return to the other birds and reign over them. Thereupon the little birds flew down with a rush and made their request to the King as he walked in his wonderful garden.

"What the King has said, the King has said," Solomon replied. "The gift you desire shall be granted! Yet, because you rendered me true service, when you wish to get rid of your crowns, you may return and exchange them for wisdom."

"Nay, King!" said the Hoopoes. "Well we know that wisdom has brought you great renown, but no one would bow down to you or give attention to your words, unless you wore your golden crown. We shall be able to repeat your wise words profitably now, for all will listen when they see gold crowns on our heads too."

"All the same, return to me without fear or shame, if your crowns do not satisfy," said King Solomon kindly and ordered his goldsmiths to supply the Hoopoes with crowns of the finest gold procurable.

Off flew the silly little birds, therefore, with the shining crowns upon their heads, prouder than the peacocks and chattering more loudly than the parrots and macaws. They could scarcely wait to get back to their friends and hear their exclamations.

But when the Hoopoes informed their friends they were now Kings of the Bird World, their friends only laughed and said that they were quite satisfied with Solomon, and that he was the only King they wished or needed. Then they drove the Hoopoes from the trees, for their golden crowns were always catching in the branches and the other birds became tired of helping them out.

But the Hoopoes decided the other birds were jealous and, rather flattered, they gathered round the pools so that they could admire themselves in the water.

Very soon people began to notice the queer antics of the silly little things as they strutted up and down, cocking their heads first this side, then that, and finally a man caught one and discovered the wonderful golden crown it wore. He hurried off with it to a goldsmith who gave him so high a price for it that the man rushed back to the pool and laid snares for the Hoopoes, who were so taken up with admiring themselves that they walked straight into them.

Then came the saddest time for the Hoopoes. Every one began to hunt them. The poor little birds could not go to the wells and the pools for they were thick with nets! They could not go into the gardens for fowlers lurked behind the flowers! They could not fly up onto the housetops for even there the people had set traps for them! There did not seem a spot on the earth where they could rest and, at last, the wretched little birds flew back to the palace and waited till they beheld the great King Solomon coming along his terrace, listening to his singers as they performed in the cool of the evening.

"Oh, King," said the Hoopoes, "we have found that golden crowns are vanity! We know not what you do to keep yourself from being chased about and hunted, and so we have come to ask you to remove ours from us."

"Beloved Hoopoes," said the King, "a crown that people are expected to bow down to always sits heavy on the head, and a crown that excites envy is a net for the feet. The only crown that can be worn with comfort is the crown of service, and that crown should spring up naturally so that no one takes any particular notice of it."

"Give us that crown of service, O wise King," said the poor little Hoopoes very humbly, for they wanted nothing better now than to be taken no notice of.

"May it shelter you even as it sheltered me," said the great King; and on their heads, the Hoopoes beheld crowns of feathers.

And with these crowns came quite a new feeling to the Hoopoes; they no longer wished to rule but to serve.

Now the Arabian legend has it, Solomon had a wonderful flying carpet, where he sat on a golden throne with all his attendants round him. Mindful of the Hoopoes’ usefulness, he summoned all the birds to make a flying canopy: the Eagle was placed at their head, but the Hoopoes were placed immediately over Solomon as he sat in the centre of his court. Thus shadowed, Solomon and his friends and servants would rise from the ground and travel across the desert and over sea and land, in cool and comfort.

THE END

Episode 10: Jack the Giant Killer

Welcome to Episode 10 of Public Domain Radio: Mythology and Folklore. Today I am reading a story from Stories for Children by Mrs. M. R. Allen, which is a collection of African American folktales. This book was published in 1912 which puts it in the public domain in the United States. You can find the book online at Internet Archive.

The story I will be reading is called Jack the Giant Killer. You can listen to the embedded audio file below, or with this audio link.

Laura Gibbs · Public Domain Radio Episode 10. Jack The Giant Killer

JACK THE GIANT KILLER

Long time ago there lived a Giant named Nero. He lived in a fine house and had everything that heart could wish. But he was a mean old fellow. He would carry off people’s children, and steal their hogs and sheep, and do all kinds of mischief to annoy and distress his neighbors. So after he had taken the rounds and caused all the women and children to stay hid for days, a brave little boy named Jack said he was going to kill the Giant. So one fine morning when the Giant was away from home, Jack took his hatchet and started to the Giant’s house.

On the way he met up with a Rooster, and the Rooster said, "Where are you going, Master Jack?" "I am going to the Giant’s house," said Jack. "Let me go with you?" said the Rooster. So Jack said, "Well, come on."

He went on a little farther and met a Cat, and the Cat said, "Where are you going, Master Jack?" "Going to the Giant’s house," said Jack. "Let me go with you?"’ said the Cat. So Jack said, "Well, come on."

So he went on a little farther and he met a Bee, and the Bee said, "Where are you going, Master Jack?" "Going to the Giant’s house," said Jack. "Let me go with you?" said the Bee. So Jack said, "All right, come on."’

So he went on a little farther and met a Ram, and the Ram said, "Where are you going, Master Jack?" "Going to the Giant’s house," said Jack. "Let me go with you?" said the Ram. So Jack said, "All right, come on."

He went on and met a Bull, and the Bull said, "Where are you going, Master Jack?" "Going to the Giant’s house," said Jack. "Let me go with you?" said the Bull. So Jack said, "All right, come on."

So they all went on, and soon got to the Giant’s house.

Then Jack said, "Now, Rooster, where will you sleep?" "On the gate post," said the Rooster.

"Now, Bee, where will you sleep?" said Jack. "In the candlestick," said the Bee.

"Now, Cat, where will you sleep?" said Jack. "In the fireplace," said the Cat.

"Now, Bull, where will you sleep?" said Jack. "At the foot of the stairs," said the Bull.

"Now, Ram, where will you sleep?" said Jack. "At the top of the stairs," said the Ram.

So Jack took up his hatchet and went upstairs.

After a while the Rooster began to say, "Yonder he comes, yonder he comes!" And the Giant caught him and pulled his head off.

So he went in and started to light the candle, and the Bee stung him. So he killed the Bee.

He went to make a fire, and the Cat scratched him. So he stamped the Cat, and killed it.

So he went to go upstairs, and the Bull butted him up, and the Ram butted him down. The Bull butted him up, and the Ram butted him down, until the old Giant was nearly dead.

Then Jack run out with his hatchet and cut his head off. So the Giant’s house and all of his gold belonged to Jack. And he was always called Jack the Giant Killer. And the people all loved him, because he was so brave.

THE END

Picryl

Episode 9: How Come Brer Bear Sleeps in the Winter

Welcome to Episode 9 of Public Domain Radio: Mythology and Folklore.  Today I am reading a story from "Animal Tales from North Carolina" by Emma Backus, an article published in the Journal of American Folklore in 1898, which puts it in the public domain in the United States. You can find the article online at the Internet Archive.

The story I will be reading is called How Come Brer Bear Sleeps in the Winter. The story was written down in African American English, but I've told the story in literary English here; you can read the dialect version online.

You can listen to the embedded audio file below, or with this audio link.

Laura Gibbs · Public Domain Radio Episode 9. How Come Brer Bear Sleeps In The Winter

How Come Brer Bear Sleeps in the Winter

When the animals were young, Brer Bear, he never slept in the winter, no more than the rest. The way it was in those days, old man Bear was parading around more so than the other creatures, and he was the meanest one in the lot. And, because he was the biggest, he got in his mind that he was king of the country, and the way he bossed the other animals around was scandalous, that it was.

Well, they were all crossways with the old man a long time, but they were bound to step up when he told them to step up. You can see in these times that old Brer Bear isn't a powerful man; he's just ornery, but he was a powerful man in the old times.

So they talked it over amongst themselves many and many a day, talking about how they were going to take down Mr. Bear. They knew he was mighty inclined to sleep in the dark, and one day Brer Rabbit allowed that they should stop the old man up when he was sleeping in a dark tree. That way, Mr. Bear would take a mighty long nap, and the animals would get a little comfort. So they all watched out, and when the old man was sleeping that night in a hollow tree, they all chipped in and toted rocks and brush, and they stopped up the hole.

And sure enough, when morning came, Brer Bear didn't know it, and he just slept on. When he woke up, he saw it was all dark, and he said, "Day hasn't come yet," and he turned over and went to sleep, and there the old man slept just that way till the leaves turned on the trees, and I expect the old man would be sleeping there to this day, but the animals, they all figured the old man was dead for sure, and they just felt a meddlesomeness to move those rocks.

And when they let the light in, old Brer Bear, he just cracked his eye open and stretched himself and came out, and when he saw the spring had come he said, the old man did, that he sure had enjoyed a mighty comfortable winter, and from that time every year, when the cold comes, old Brer Bear goes to sleep.

THE END

Wikimedia

Episode 8: The Hidden Folk

Welcome to Episode 8 of Public Domain Radio: Mythology and Folklore. Today I am reading a story from Icelandic Legends by Jon Arnason translated by George Powell and Eirikur Magnusson. This book was published in 1864 which puts it in the public domain in the United States. You can find the book online at the Internet Archive.

The story I will be reading is called The Genesis of the Hidden Folk. The hidden folk are also called elves, and this story explains where the elves come from, plus there is another story about a traveler who meets one of these hidden folk. You can listen to the embedded audio file below, or with this audio link.

Laura Gibbs · Public Domain Radio Episode 0008 The Hidden Folk

THE GENESIS OF THE HIDDEN FOLK

Once upon a time, God Almighty came to visit Adam and Eve. They received him with joy, and showed him everything they had in the house. They also brought their children to him, to show him, and these He found promising and full of hope.

Then God asked Eve whether she had no other children than these whom she now showed him.

She said "None."

But it so happened that she had not finished washing them all and, being ashamed to let God see them dirty, had hidden the unwashed ones. This God knew well, and said therefore to her, "What man hides from God, God will hide from man."

These unwashed children became forthwith invisible, and took up their abode in mounds, and hills, and rocks. From these children are the elves descended, but we men are descended from those of Eve's children whom she had openly and frankly shown to God.

And it is only by the will and desire of the elves themselves that men can ever see them. For example:

A traveler once lost his way and knew not whither to turn or what to do. At last, after wandering about for some time, he came to a hut, which he had never seen before, and on his knocking at the door, an old woman opened it, and invited him to come in, which he gladly did.

Inside, the house seemed to be a clean and good one. The old woman led him to the warmest room, where were sitting two young and beautiful girls. Besides the old woman and these girls, no one else was in the house.

The traveler was well received and kindly treated, and having eaten a good supper, he was shown to bed. He asked whether one of the girls might stay with him, as his companion for the night, and his request was granted.

And now wishing to kiss her, the traveler turned towards her, and placed his hand upon her, but his hand sank through her, as if she had been of mist! And though he could well see her lying beside him, he could grasp nothing but the air.

So he asked what this all meant, and she said, "Be not astonished, for I am a spirit. When the devil, in times gone by, made war in heaven, he, with all his armies, was driven into outer darkness. Those who turned their eyes to look after him as he fell were also driven out of heaven, but those who were neither for nor against him were sent to the earth and commanded to dwell there in the rocks and mountains. These are called elves and hidden people. They can live in company with none but their own race. They do either good or evil, whichever they will, but what they do they do thoroughly. They have no bodies as you other mortals, but they can take a human form and be seen of men when they wish. I am one of these fallen spirits, and so you can never hope to embrace me."

To this fate the traveler yielded himself, and he has handed down to us this story.

THE END