Syrenian/Texts

The North Wind and the Sun

The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger, when a traveler came along wrapped in a warm cloak. They agreed that the one who first succeeded in making the traveler take his cloak off should be considered stronger than the other. Then the North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the more he blew the more closely did the traveler fold his cloak around him; and at last the North Wind gave up the attempt. Then the Sun shined out warmly, and immediately the traveler took off his cloak. And so the North Wind was obliged to confess that the Sun was the stronger of the two.

Once upon a time, there was yon Cold Blower and yon Warmer. These two were on-again- off-again fighting, talking about being more powerful, when yon lying-down coming-here person made and donned in order to get warm. These two made-peace, talking about he who triumphs, the person being-made-bare. This is being more powerful. Regarding the Cold Blower, he blew the most. But more-and-more-blowing more-and-more donning. Not triumphing, he called. Regarding the Warmer, he warmed-more-and-more. Immediately, that person un-donned. Finally, that Cold Blower made peace, saying, ”You are more powerful.” There is force. Kindness is better.

The Donkey Beater Story

There was once a man who beat his donkey every day. One day, a second man, who was a neighbor, came to the donkey-beater and asked, “Why do you beat your donkey?” The donkey- beater said, “Beating is all the donkey knows, I must beat him until he learns how to behave.” The donkey-beater then went into his home and discovered his dinner wasn’t ready, so he beat his wife. His neighbor heard the screams of the donkey-beater’s wife and came to the door. “You should not beat your wife so much,” said the neighbor. “I beat her until she learns to have dinner ready on time.” Some time later, the neighbor saw the donkey-beater beating his son in a field. This time, he did not say anything, but seized the donkey beater and began to beat him with a heavy cudgel. When the donkey-beater asked why his neighbor was beating him, his neighbor replied, “I will beat you until you learn not to beat others.”