Once on a time there was a man, so surly and cross he never thought his wife did anything right in the house. So, one evening, in hay making time, he came home, scolding and swearing, and showing his teeth and making a dust. " Dear Love, do'nt be so angry; there's a good man, " said his goody; " tomorrow let's change our work. I'll go out with the mowers and mow, and you shall mind the house at home. "
Yes! the husband thought that would do very well. He was quite willing, he said.
So, early next morning, his goody took a scythe over her neck, and went out into the hay-field with the mowers, and began to mow; but the man was to mind the house, and do the work at home.
First of all, he wanted to churn the butter; but when he had churned a while, he got thirsty, and went down to the cellar to tap a barrel of ale. So, just when he had knocked in the bung, and was putting the tap into the cask, he heard over head the pig come into the kitchen. Then off he ran up the cellar steps, with the tap in his hands, as fast as he could, to look after the pig, lest it should upset the churn; but when he got up, and saw the pig had already knocked the churn over, and stood there, rooting and grunting amongst the cream which was running all over the floor, he got so wild with rage that he quite forgot the ale-barrel, and ran at the pig as hard as he could. He caught it, too, just as it ran out of doors, and gave it such a kick, that piggy lay for dead on the spot. Then all at once he remembered he had the tap in his hand; but when he got down to the cellar, every drop of the ale had run out of the cask.
Then he went into the dairy and found enough cream left to fill the churn again, and so he began to churn, for butter they must have at dinner. When he had churned a bit, he remembered that their milking cow was still shut up in the byre, and hadn't a bit to eat or a drop to drink all the morning, though the sun was high. Then all at once he thought' twas too far to take her down to the meadow, so he'd just get her up on the house-top ----for the house, you must know, was thatched with sods, and a fine crop of grass was growing there. now their house lay close up against a steep down, and he'd thought if he laid a plank across to the thatch at the back he'd easily get the cow up.
But still he couldn't leave the churn, for there was his litlle babe crawling about the floor, and " if I leave it, " he thought, " the child is sure to upset it. " so he took the churn on his back, and went out with it; but then he thought he'd better first water the cow before he turned her out of the thatch; so he took up a bucket to draw water out of the well; but as he stooped down at the well's brink, all the cream ran out of the churn over his shoulders, and so down into the well.
Now it was near dinner-time, and he hadn't even got the butter yet; so he thought he'd best boil the porridge, and filled the pot with water and hung it over the fire. When he had done that, he thought the cow might perhaps fall off the thatch and break her legs or her neck. So he got up on the house to tie her up. One end of the rope he made fast to the cow's neck and the other he slipped down the chimney and tied round on his thigh; and he had to make haste, for the water now began to boil in the pot, and he had still to grind the oatmeal.
So he began to grind away; but while he was hard at it, down fell the cow off the house-top after all, and as she fell, she dragged the man up the chimney by the rope
Friday, August 8, 2008
Fish In The Forest
In tilling the ground a laborer found a treasure, and carrying it home, said to his wife, " see! Heaven has sent us a fortune. But where can we conceal it ? " she suggested he should bury it under the floor, which he did accordingly. Soon after this the wife went out to fetch water, and the laborer reflected that his wife was a dreadful gossip, and by tomorrow night of the village would know their secret. So he removed the treasure from its hiding-place and buried it in his barn, beneath a heap of corn. When the wife came back from the well, he said to her quite gravely, " Tomorrow we shall go to the forest to seek fish; they say there's plenty there at present."
" What ! fish in the forest ? " she exclaimed. " of course, " he rejoined; "and you'll see them there " very early next morning he got up, and took some fish, which he had concealed in a basket. He went to the grocers and bought a quantity of sweet cakes. He also caught hare and killed it. The fish and the cakes he disposed of in different parts of the wood, and the hare he hooked on a fishing-line, and then throw it in the river. after breakfast he took his wife with him in the wood, which they had scarcely entered when she found a pike, then a perch, and then a roach, on the ground. which many exclamation of surprise, she gathered up the fish and put them in her basket.
Presently they came to a pear-tree , from the branches of which hungs sweet cakes. " See ! " she cried. " cakes on a pear-tree!
"Quite natural, " replied he." it has rained the cakes , and some had remained on this tree; travellers have picked up the rest." Continuing their way to the village, they passed near a stream. " Wait a little, " said the husband; " I set my line early this morning, and I'll look if anything is caught on it. " He then pulled in the line, and behold, there was a hare hooked on to it!
" How extraordinary! " cries the good wife; " a hare in the water! "
" Why, " says he, " don't you know there are hares in the water as well as rats! "
" No, indeed, I knew it not."
They now returned home, and the wife set about preparing all the nice eatables for supper. In a day or two the laborer learned from the talk of his acquaintances that his finding the treasure was no secret in the village, and in less than a week he was summoned to the castle.
" Is it true, " says the lord, " that you have found a treasure?"
" It is not true, " was the reply.
" But your wife has told me all. "
" My wife does not know what she say-she is mad, my lord. "
Hereupon the woman cries, " it is the truth, my lord! he has found a treasure and buried it beneath the floor of our cottage. "
" When ?"
" On the eve before the day when we went into the forest to look for fish. "
" What do you say? "
" Yes; it was on the day that it rained cakes. We gathered a basketful of them, and coming home, my husband fished a fine hare out of the river. "
My lord declared the woman to be an idiot; Nevertheless the caused his servant to search under the laborer's cottage floor, but nothing was found there, and so the shrewd fellow secured his treasure.
" What ! fish in the forest ? " she exclaimed. " of course, " he rejoined; "and you'll see them there " very early next morning he got up, and took some fish, which he had concealed in a basket. He went to the grocers and bought a quantity of sweet cakes. He also caught hare and killed it. The fish and the cakes he disposed of in different parts of the wood, and the hare he hooked on a fishing-line, and then throw it in the river. after breakfast he took his wife with him in the wood, which they had scarcely entered when she found a pike, then a perch, and then a roach, on the ground. which many exclamation of surprise, she gathered up the fish and put them in her basket.
Presently they came to a pear-tree , from the branches of which hungs sweet cakes. " See ! " she cried. " cakes on a pear-tree!
"Quite natural, " replied he." it has rained the cakes , and some had remained on this tree; travellers have picked up the rest." Continuing their way to the village, they passed near a stream. " Wait a little, " said the husband; " I set my line early this morning, and I'll look if anything is caught on it. " He then pulled in the line, and behold, there was a hare hooked on to it!
" How extraordinary! " cries the good wife; " a hare in the water! "
" Why, " says he, " don't you know there are hares in the water as well as rats! "
" No, indeed, I knew it not."
They now returned home, and the wife set about preparing all the nice eatables for supper. In a day or two the laborer learned from the talk of his acquaintances that his finding the treasure was no secret in the village, and in less than a week he was summoned to the castle.
" Is it true, " says the lord, " that you have found a treasure?"
" It is not true, " was the reply.
" But your wife has told me all. "
" My wife does not know what she say-she is mad, my lord. "
Hereupon the woman cries, " it is the truth, my lord! he has found a treasure and buried it beneath the floor of our cottage. "
" When ?"
" On the eve before the day when we went into the forest to look for fish. "
" What do you say? "
" Yes; it was on the day that it rained cakes. We gathered a basketful of them, and coming home, my husband fished a fine hare out of the river. "
My lord declared the woman to be an idiot; Nevertheless the caused his servant to search under the laborer's cottage floor, but nothing was found there, and so the shrewd fellow secured his treasure.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The judgment of Paris
This is one of the dialogues of the Gods.
According to the greek legends, Paris was the son of priam, King of Troy. His mother having dreamed that her child would ruin his country, when paris was born he was exposed of Mt. Ida
in Phrygia. But his life was saved by the herdsmen and he grew up among them. distinguished for beauty and strenght. when the Godesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite quarreled as so which one of them was the most beautiful, Paris was selected as the judge. He decided in favor of Aphrodite, who had promised him the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife. In order to obtain his bride, Paris went to Lacedaemon where he was hospitably received by menelaus, whose kindness who repaid by persuading helen, the wife of menelaus, to flee with him to Troy.
The siege of Troy by the united Greeks followed. Hera and Athena, the unsuccesful rivals of Aphrodite, Naturally became the bitter enemies of the trojans.
It should be observed that the Greek names of the divinities differ from the Latin names which are more familiar to us. Jupiter, appears as Zeus,
Mercury, as hermes, Juno, as Hera, Minerva, as Athena, Venus, as Aphrodite, Mars, as Ares.
ZEUS: Hermes, Take this apple and go to Phrygia, to Priams son, the cowherd-----he is pasturing his drove on Ida-- ans say to him that since he is handsome himself and connoisseur in matters of love, he has been appointed by Zeus to judge which is the fairest of that three Godesses. The apple is to be the victor's prize. (to the Godesses.) It is time now that you ladies were off to the judge. I have delegated the office of umpire because I am equally attached to you all, and if it were possible i should gladly see you all win. more over, then man who gives the prize of beauty to one must in the nature of things be detested by the others. This reason disqualify me as umpire; but the young man in Phrygia to whom you are going is of a royal house----being in fact a cousin of Ganymede, Whom you know ---- and he has the simple manner of the mountains.
APHRODITE: For my part, Zeus, you might make Momus himself the umpire and i should still go confidently to trial; for what could he find to criticize in me? And the others must needs put up with the man.
HERA: We are not afraid either, Aphrodite, even if your Ares were to settle the question. We are satisfied with this man, whoever he is, ---this Paris.
ZEUS: (To Athena) well, daughter, are you of the same mind? what do you say? you turn away blushing? it is natural for you virgins to be coy in such matters. But you might at least nod.
(ATHENA nods.) off with you, then; and the defeated, mind you, are not to be angry with the judge nor to do any harm to the young man. It is impossible for all to be equal in beauty. (They start.)
HERMES: Let us make straight for Phrygia. I will go first, and do you follow smartly. And don't be uneasy. I know Paris; He is a handsome young fellow. a lover by temperament, and a most competent judge in such cases as this. His decision will certainly be correct.
APHRODITE: That is good news, and all in my favor. ( To Hermes, apart.) Is this person a bachelor, or has he a wife?
HERMES: Not exactly a bachelor.
APHRODITE: What do you mean?
HERMES: Apparently a woman of Ida is his mate a good enough creature, but crude and extremely rustic. He does not seem to care much about her. But why do you ask?
APHRODITE: Oh! I just asked.
ATHENA: (To Hermes) This is a breach of trust, sirrah. You are a having private understanding with aphrodite.
HERMES: It's nothing terrible, and has nothing to do with you. She was asking me whether Paris is a bachelor.
ATHENA: Why is that any business of hers?
HERMES: I don't know; she says she asked casually, without any object.
ATHENA: Well, is he a bachelor?
HERMES: Apparently not.
ATHENA: has he any leaning towards war? Is he an ambitious person, or a coeherd merely?
HERMES: I can't say certainly; but it is safe to guess that a man of his age will hanker after fighting and long too distinguish himself in the field.
APHRODITE: See now, I don't find any fault with you for talking apart with him. Fault-finding is not natural to aphrodite.
HERMES: She was asking me also almost exactly what you did, so don't take it amiss or think you are badly treated. I answered her just as simply as I did you.
--But while we are talking we have come a long way. We have left the stars behind and almost reached Phrygia. I see Ida and the whole range of gargarus clearly; and unless I am mistaken, I can even make out Paris, your judge.
HERA: Where is He? I don't see him.
HERMES: Look off to the left-not at the summit of the mountain, but along the flank where the cave is. there you see the herd.
HERA: But not the herdsman.
HERMES: What? Look along my finger, so. don't you see the cows coming from among the rocks, and a man a crook running down the bluff to hem them in and keep them from scattering farther?
HERA: I see now, if that is he.
HERMES: That's he. when we are close at hand we will take to the ground, if you please, and come up to him walking, so as not to frighten him by dropping from the unseen.
HERA: Very good, we will do so. ( they alight.) Now that we are on earth, aphrodite, you had better go ahead and lead the way. You are probably familiar with the spot. The story goes that you have visited Anchises here more than once.
APHRODITE: Those jokes don't bother me very much. Hera.
HERMES: I will lead the way myself. here is the umpire close by; let us address him.(Paris.)
Good Morning, cowherd!
PARIS: Good Morning, my lad. Who are you? and who are these women whom you are escorting?-not mountain-bred: they are too pretty.
HERMES: And not a women. Paris, you see before you Hera and Athena and Aphrodite; and I am Hermes, bearing a message from Zeus. Why do you tremble and lose color? don't be frightened; it's nothing bad. he bids you judge which of them is fairest? " for," says Zeus, " you are fair yourself and wise in lover's love, so I turn over the case to you. You will know what the prize is when you read the legend on the apple." ( Hands him the apple.)
PARIS: Let me see what it all means. FOR THE FAIREST, the apple says. How in the world, lord Hermes, can I, a mortal man and a rustic, be judge of this marvelous spectacle, which is beyond a cowherd's powers? judgment in such matters belongs rather to the dainty folk in towns. As for me, I have the art to judge between goat to goat, as between heifer and heifer, in point of beauty.
But this ladies are beautiful alike. I do not know how a man could drag his sight from one to rest it on another. wherever my eye falls first, there it clings and approves what it finds. I am fairly bathed in their beauty. it's surrounds me altogether. I wish I were all eyes, like Argus. I think I should judge wisely if i gave the apple to them all. And here is something to consider too: one of them is sister and wife of Zeus, while the others are his daughters. Doesn't this make the decision hard?
HERMES: I can't say. I only know that you can't shirk what Zeus commands.
PARIS: Make them promise one thing, Hermes: that the losers will not be angry with me, but only consider my sight defective.
HERMES: they say they will do so; but it is time you made your decision.
PARIS: I will try; for what else can i do? Good heavens, what a sight! what beauty! how fair the maiden Goddess is! and how queenly, glorious, and worthy of her station is the wife of Zeus! and how sweet is Aphrodite's glance, with her soft, winning smile! Bah! I can hold no more leisure. If you please, I should like to study each separately; as it is, I look two ways at once.
( Emily James Smith )
According to the greek legends, Paris was the son of priam, King of Troy. His mother having dreamed that her child would ruin his country, when paris was born he was exposed of Mt. Ida
in Phrygia. But his life was saved by the herdsmen and he grew up among them. distinguished for beauty and strenght. when the Godesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite quarreled as so which one of them was the most beautiful, Paris was selected as the judge. He decided in favor of Aphrodite, who had promised him the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife. In order to obtain his bride, Paris went to Lacedaemon where he was hospitably received by menelaus, whose kindness who repaid by persuading helen, the wife of menelaus, to flee with him to Troy.
The siege of Troy by the united Greeks followed. Hera and Athena, the unsuccesful rivals of Aphrodite, Naturally became the bitter enemies of the trojans.
It should be observed that the Greek names of the divinities differ from the Latin names which are more familiar to us. Jupiter, appears as Zeus,
Mercury, as hermes, Juno, as Hera, Minerva, as Athena, Venus, as Aphrodite, Mars, as Ares.
ZEUS: Hermes, Take this apple and go to Phrygia, to Priams son, the cowherd-----he is pasturing his drove on Ida-- ans say to him that since he is handsome himself and connoisseur in matters of love, he has been appointed by Zeus to judge which is the fairest of that three Godesses. The apple is to be the victor's prize. (to the Godesses.) It is time now that you ladies were off to the judge. I have delegated the office of umpire because I am equally attached to you all, and if it were possible i should gladly see you all win. more over, then man who gives the prize of beauty to one must in the nature of things be detested by the others. This reason disqualify me as umpire; but the young man in Phrygia to whom you are going is of a royal house----being in fact a cousin of Ganymede, Whom you know ---- and he has the simple manner of the mountains.
APHRODITE: For my part, Zeus, you might make Momus himself the umpire and i should still go confidently to trial; for what could he find to criticize in me? And the others must needs put up with the man.
HERA: We are not afraid either, Aphrodite, even if your Ares were to settle the question. We are satisfied with this man, whoever he is, ---this Paris.
ZEUS: (To Athena) well, daughter, are you of the same mind? what do you say? you turn away blushing? it is natural for you virgins to be coy in such matters. But you might at least nod.
(ATHENA nods.) off with you, then; and the defeated, mind you, are not to be angry with the judge nor to do any harm to the young man. It is impossible for all to be equal in beauty. (They start.)
HERMES: Let us make straight for Phrygia. I will go first, and do you follow smartly. And don't be uneasy. I know Paris; He is a handsome young fellow. a lover by temperament, and a most competent judge in such cases as this. His decision will certainly be correct.
APHRODITE: That is good news, and all in my favor. ( To Hermes, apart.) Is this person a bachelor, or has he a wife?
HERMES: Not exactly a bachelor.
APHRODITE: What do you mean?
HERMES: Apparently a woman of Ida is his mate a good enough creature, but crude and extremely rustic. He does not seem to care much about her. But why do you ask?
APHRODITE: Oh! I just asked.
ATHENA: (To Hermes) This is a breach of trust, sirrah. You are a having private understanding with aphrodite.
HERMES: It's nothing terrible, and has nothing to do with you. She was asking me whether Paris is a bachelor.
ATHENA: Why is that any business of hers?
HERMES: I don't know; she says she asked casually, without any object.
ATHENA: Well, is he a bachelor?
HERMES: Apparently not.
ATHENA: has he any leaning towards war? Is he an ambitious person, or a coeherd merely?
HERMES: I can't say certainly; but it is safe to guess that a man of his age will hanker after fighting and long too distinguish himself in the field.
APHRODITE: See now, I don't find any fault with you for talking apart with him. Fault-finding is not natural to aphrodite.
HERMES: She was asking me also almost exactly what you did, so don't take it amiss or think you are badly treated. I answered her just as simply as I did you.
--But while we are talking we have come a long way. We have left the stars behind and almost reached Phrygia. I see Ida and the whole range of gargarus clearly; and unless I am mistaken, I can even make out Paris, your judge.
HERA: Where is He? I don't see him.
HERMES: Look off to the left-not at the summit of the mountain, but along the flank where the cave is. there you see the herd.
HERA: But not the herdsman.
HERMES: What? Look along my finger, so. don't you see the cows coming from among the rocks, and a man a crook running down the bluff to hem them in and keep them from scattering farther?
HERA: I see now, if that is he.
HERMES: That's he. when we are close at hand we will take to the ground, if you please, and come up to him walking, so as not to frighten him by dropping from the unseen.
HERA: Very good, we will do so. ( they alight.) Now that we are on earth, aphrodite, you had better go ahead and lead the way. You are probably familiar with the spot. The story goes that you have visited Anchises here more than once.
APHRODITE: Those jokes don't bother me very much. Hera.
HERMES: I will lead the way myself. here is the umpire close by; let us address him.(Paris.)
Good Morning, cowherd!
PARIS: Good Morning, my lad. Who are you? and who are these women whom you are escorting?-not mountain-bred: they are too pretty.
HERMES: And not a women. Paris, you see before you Hera and Athena and Aphrodite; and I am Hermes, bearing a message from Zeus. Why do you tremble and lose color? don't be frightened; it's nothing bad. he bids you judge which of them is fairest? " for," says Zeus, " you are fair yourself and wise in lover's love, so I turn over the case to you. You will know what the prize is when you read the legend on the apple." ( Hands him the apple.)
PARIS: Let me see what it all means. FOR THE FAIREST, the apple says. How in the world, lord Hermes, can I, a mortal man and a rustic, be judge of this marvelous spectacle, which is beyond a cowherd's powers? judgment in such matters belongs rather to the dainty folk in towns. As for me, I have the art to judge between goat to goat, as between heifer and heifer, in point of beauty.
But this ladies are beautiful alike. I do not know how a man could drag his sight from one to rest it on another. wherever my eye falls first, there it clings and approves what it finds. I am fairly bathed in their beauty. it's surrounds me altogether. I wish I were all eyes, like Argus. I think I should judge wisely if i gave the apple to them all. And here is something to consider too: one of them is sister and wife of Zeus, while the others are his daughters. Doesn't this make the decision hard?
HERMES: I can't say. I only know that you can't shirk what Zeus commands.
PARIS: Make them promise one thing, Hermes: that the losers will not be angry with me, but only consider my sight defective.
HERMES: they say they will do so; but it is time you made your decision.
PARIS: I will try; for what else can i do? Good heavens, what a sight! what beauty! how fair the maiden Goddess is! and how queenly, glorious, and worthy of her station is the wife of Zeus! and how sweet is Aphrodite's glance, with her soft, winning smile! Bah! I can hold no more leisure. If you please, I should like to study each separately; as it is, I look two ways at once.
( Emily James Smith )
Hymn to Venus
Immortal Venus, throned above
In radiant beauty, child of jove,
O skilled in every art of love
And artful snare;
Dread power, to whom i bend the knee,
Release my soul and set it free
From bonds of piercing agony
And gloomy care.
Yet come thyself, if e'er, benign,
Thy listening ears thou didst encline
to my rude lay, the starry shine
Of jove's court leaving,
In chariot yoked with coursers fair,
Thine own immortal birds that bear
Thee swift to earth, the middle air
With bright wings cleaving.
Soon they were sped-and though, most blest,
In thine own smiles ambrosial dressed,
Didst us what griefs my mind oppressed-
What meant my song-
What end my frenziedthoughts pursue-
For what loved youth i spread anew
My amorous nets-"who, Sappho, who
Hath done thee wrong?
What though he fly, he'll soon return-
Still press thy gifts, though now he spurn;
Heed not his coldness-soon he'll burn,
E'en though thou chide."
_ And saidst thou thus, dread goddess? O,
Come then once more to ease my woe;
Grant all, and thy great self bestow,
My shield and guide!
( j.h. Marivale)
In radiant beauty, child of jove,
O skilled in every art of love
And artful snare;
Dread power, to whom i bend the knee,
Release my soul and set it free
From bonds of piercing agony
And gloomy care.
Yet come thyself, if e'er, benign,
Thy listening ears thou didst encline
to my rude lay, the starry shine
Of jove's court leaving,
In chariot yoked with coursers fair,
Thine own immortal birds that bear
Thee swift to earth, the middle air
With bright wings cleaving.
Soon they were sped-and though, most blest,
In thine own smiles ambrosial dressed,
Didst us what griefs my mind oppressed-
What meant my song-
What end my frenziedthoughts pursue-
For what loved youth i spread anew
My amorous nets-"who, Sappho, who
Hath done thee wrong?
What though he fly, he'll soon return-
Still press thy gifts, though now he spurn;
Heed not his coldness-soon he'll burn,
E'en though thou chide."
_ And saidst thou thus, dread goddess? O,
Come then once more to ease my woe;
Grant all, and thy great self bestow,
My shield and guide!
( j.h. Marivale)
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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