SHORT STORY - THE MAN, HIS SON AND THEIR DONKEY - Ali and The Donkey / Ali a osel + MUŽ, JEHO SYN A JEJICH OSEL

1. Abu Ali and the Donkey

2. Ali and The Donkey

In a certain village in the land of Kutch, there lived a young man called Ali.

Ali worked as a carpenter and all the villagers liked him. 

His parents had died when he was a small boy and so he lived alone.

Every evening, after he had finished with his chores, Ali would sit alone by the village pond and wonder what it would be like to have a family of his own. 

His only other living relative was an elderly aunt who stayed four villages away. 

Ali had met her just once, many years ago.

One day Ali decided that he would visit his aunt. After all, she was quite old and might be unwell. He was sure she would welcome a cmpanion in her old age. 

Ali began to picture in his mind her joy on seeing him, and the tears of happiness that would come to her eyes.

The very next morning, before sunrise, he set out for his aunt’s village. 

His friend, Vimal, the potter, tried his best to dissuade Ali not to go. “Think once again,” Vimal told him, “it has been ages since you have met your aunt. 

She may not be that pleased to see you. I have heard from a cousin who stays 

in her village that she is a wealthy widow who hates to spend even a single paise. She may even think that you are visiting her just for her money.”
Ali, however, was determined to make the trip and nothing Vimal said could stop him.

He did not own a mule of his own and so he walked the whole way along the hot and dusty road, stopping only at noon to rest for a while under the shade of a few palm trees. Tired and hungry, he arrived at his aunt’s village at dusk. As he entered the village, he saw a cobbler who was gathering his tools together at the end of the day, and asked him the way to the home of his aunt. The cobbler looked at him curiously.

“You walk straight down this road until you come to a huge mansion which looks as if it will collapse any moment,” he said. “I hope you are not expecting a warm welcome and a hot meal,” he added. 
“The widow who stays there is a terrible miser who chases away even the children who try to pick the fruit that has fallen in her garden.”

Ali continued slowly towards his aunt’s house. Suddenly he was unsure of himself. Had Vimal been right after all? As the house came into sight, his heart sank. The walls of the house were a dirty yellow, and the paint was peeling off. The tiles had fallen off the roof, and the courtyard was littered with rubbish. There were weeds all over the garden which had evidently not been swept for a long time. 

A thin, sad, brooding donkey was tied to a pole near the gate which was broken. The donkey looked starved. It had the unhappiest-looking eyes Ali had ever seen, and when it looked directly at Ali, it seemed to be pleading for food. Ali took pity on the donkey. He felt he just had to gn back down the street to the nearest shop and buy the donkey a bundle of hay. When he returned and placed it in front of the donkey, it ate the hay hungrily as if it had not eaten in days.

“Who is out there?” he heard a shrill voice demand.

 “What do you want with my donkey?”
Ali turned around and saw a thin, white-haired woman. 

‘So this is my aunt,’ he thought to himself.

 She was clad in a dull, white sari, and had deep liness etched on her forehead from constant frowning.
Ali introduced himself, but his aunt was not at all pleased to see him. 

Just as Vimal had warned, the aunt assumed that Ali had come for her money.
“I am a very poor woman,” she said. “I have no money.

 I have hardly enough to feed myself. 

What can I offer you if you turn up like this on my doorstep?”

Ali was terribly disappointed but did not show it. All that he wanted was a little warmth and affection. That night he slept on the kitchen floor, feeling hungry and very much alone in the world. His aunt had fed him with just a bowl of thin, lukewarm gruel and, when he had told her that he would return home the next morning, she had not tried to change his mind.

At dawn, just as Ali was about to leave, his aunt decided that she would walk with him till the next village.
“Today is Tuesday—it is market day in the village,” she said. “I am going to sell that useless donkey of mine. That creature costs me a fortune to feed, and is just a lazy bag of bones.”

Ali and his aunt led the poor donkey (which was too thin to carry either of them!) to the market. People from all over the countryside had gathered there. Buyers and sellers were bargaining at the top of their voices. There were crowds of people milling around stalls with all kinds of colourful wares on display; bright clothes, decorated pots, different kinds of fruits and vegetables, and wooden toys for children.

Ali and the old woman went towards the centre of the market where several other sellers had brought their animals. In her shrill ‘voice, she announced that she was willing to give the donkey to the highest bidder.

Ali was surprised to see quite a few traders come forward and bid for the animal. He realized that the donkey was, in fact, quite well-built with a broad back. If fed properly, it would be of great use to whoever bought it. A rich merchant with a loud, arrogant voice made a good offer for the donkey.

The donkey raised its head and looked straight at Ali. It was as if the creature was begging Ali to buy it for himself. “Look at the rich man,” the donkey seemed to say. “He has such a cruel look and he will surely whip me and treat me even worse than your aunt.”

“I will take your donkey,” Ali suddenly said to his aunt.
“Then give me fifty rupees more than the rich man’s offer,” the widow replied, realizing thatAli wanted the donkey badly, and would pay all that he had for it. 

That was indeed all the money that Ali had with him but he could not resist 

the plea in the donkey’s eyes, and so he gave his aunt what she demanded.

Ali walked back to his village leading the skinny donkey. As soon as Vimal saw them, he burst into laughter. “You went to find your aunt and returned with a donkey so thin I can see its bones,” he chuckled. “Perhaps next time you will listen to my advice, Ali!”

Ali went about feeding the animal properly. Soon it put on weight and became strong. He began to use the donkey to help him carry loads. He would spend his time talking with the creature which seemed to understand not only what he said, but his feelings, too.

The expression in the donkey’s eyes was always one of gratitude. Ali did not regret the purchase, for the donkey became a very important part of his life. He no longer felt lonely in the evenings, when all the other villagers had retired into their homes.

A few months later, Ali received news that his aunt had died. Since he was her only relative, Ali felt duty-bound to see that she got a proper funeral. He left immediately on his donkey to attend to all the arrangements. After the funeral was over, Ali spent the night at his aunt’s house for the last time. He walked across the courtyard to untie the donkey from the tree to which it was tethered. It had been restless since morning, and Ali felt that the place perhaps brought back unhappy memories of the times that his aunt had ill-treated it.

As he loosened the rope, the donkey walked across to a far corner of the courtyard and began to paw the earth.
`It must be hungry,’ Ali thought and gave it fresh hay.
The donkey continued to paw the earth.
`It must be thirsty,’ Ali decided, and gave it some water.
The donkey did not drink the water.

 Instead it continued to dig the ground in front of it.

“What do you want?” asked Ali growing irritated for he had had a tiring day.
The donkey looked at Ali helplessly.
Suddenly, Ali thought of a spade. ‘Spade? What do I need a spade for at this time of the night?’ he asked himself. Then a wild hope grew in his mind. Was the donkey trying to tell him something? Was it trying to persuade him to dig the ground?

A very excited Ali then began to dig exactly where the donkey had been continuously pawing. He had dug about a metre when the spade hit 

against a hard object and Ali heard the clang of metal.

He continued to dig frantically, until he finally spied a metal chest. Binding it with rope, Ali managed to hoist it up. He opened it, his heart beating rapidly. The trunk was full of silver vessels and gold jewellery. Ali realized that this was the treasure chest in which his aunt had hidden all her wealth. The donkey must have seen his aunt burying it in the ground.

Ali threw his arms around the donkey’s neck. “My friend,” he cried out in joy,

 “thank you for such good fortune.”
The gentle eyes of the donkey expressed gratitude.

Ali returned to his village with the trunk on the donkey’s back. He started a shop and soon became a prosperous and honest businessman. He never forgot that it was a simple act of kindness that had led him to such good fortune in life.

3. The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey

Aesop

A man and his son were once going with their donkey to market. As they were walking along by his side a countryman passed them and said, "You fools, what is a donkey for but to ride upon?" So the man put the boy on the donkey, and they went on their way.

But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said, "See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."

So the man ordered his boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other, "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along."

Well, the man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his boy up before him on the donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passersby began to jeer and point at them. The man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at.

The men said, "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours -- you and your hulking son?"

The man and boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, until at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them until they came to a bridge, when the donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the donkey fell over the bridge, and his forefeet being tied together, he was drowned.

Mariza is a funny short 3d animated film

The fisherman and golden fish + film CZ / O rybáři a jeho ženě / Level 1,2

The fisherman and the fish part 1/2

Fisherman and the Golden Fish by Alexander Pushkin - level 1

There once lived an old man and his good-wife on the shore of the deep blue ocean; They lived in a tumble-down hovel for thirty-three summers and winters. 

The old man used to fish for his living, and his wife spun yarn on her distaff.

He once cast his net in the ocean, and pulled it up with mud from the bottom; 

He again cast his net in the ocean, and this time caught nothing but seaweed; When he cast his net for the third time, one fish was all that he landed, No common fish, though, but a goldfish. Now the goldfish began to implore him, and it spoke like a real human being: "Put me back, old man, into the ocean. I will pay you a right royal ransom, I will give you whatever you ask me."

The old man was astonished and frightened - He'd been fishing for thirty-three summers, bat had not heard of any fish talking. So with care he untangled the goldfish and tenderly said as he did so: "God bless you, my dear little goldfish! Thank you kindly, I don't want your ransom. Go back to your home in the ocean, And roam where you will without hindrance."

To his wife the old fisherman hastened to tell her about this great marvel.

 "I caught only one fish this morning - A goldfish it was, most uncommon; It spoke like a Christian, and begged me To put it back into the ocean, And promised to pay a rich ransom, To give me whatever I asked for. But how could I ask for a ransom?

 I released it without any payment."

His wife started scolding her husband: "Oh you simpleton! Oh yon great silly! Couldn't make a mere fish pay a ransom! You at least might have asked for a wash-tub - For ours is all falling to pieces!"

The old man returned to the seashore, where the blue waves were frolicking lightly. He called out aloud for the goldfish, and the goldfish swam up and demanded: "What is it, old man, you are wanting?"

With a bow, the old man said in answer: "Forgive me, Your Majesty Goldfish! My old woman has scolded me roundly- Won't leave me alone for a minute, She says that she wants a new wash-tub, For ours is all falling to pieces."

The goldfish murmured in answer: "Do not worry, go home, God be with you - Very well, you shall have a new wash-tub."

To his wife the old fisherman hastened, and behold - there it was, the new wash-tub. But she scolded him louder than ever: "Oh you simpleton! Oh you great silly! 

 To ask for a tub-a mere wash-tub! What good can you get from a wash-tab? 

 Return to the goldfish, you silly, Bow down low and ask for a cottage."

Again he went back to the seashore, and this time the blue sea was troubled. 

He called out aloud for the goldfish, and the goldfish swam up and demanded: "What is it, old man, you are wanting?"

With a bow, the old man said in answer: "Forgive me, Your Majesty Goldfish! My old woman is angrier than ever, Won't leave me alone for a minute- The old scold says she wants a new cottage."

The goldfish murmured in answer: "Do not worry, go home, God be with you! 

 So be it! You'll have a new cottage!"

So back the old man turned his footsteps; not a sign did he see of his hovel. 

In its place stood a new gabled cottage, with a chimney of brick, newly whitewashed, A fence with oak gates stood around it; and there sat his wife at 

a window; When she saw him, she scolded him roundly: "Oh you simpleton! 

Oh you great silly! To ask for no more than a cottage! Go and bow to the goldfish, and tell it That I'm tired of being a peasant, That I want to be made a fine lady."

The old man then returned to the seashore, where the ocean was restlessly foaming, he called out aloud for the goldfish. The goldfish swam up and demanded: "What is it, old man, you are wanting?"

With a bow, the old man said in answer: "Forgive me, Your Majesty Goldfish! 

 My old woman is madder than ever, She gives me no rest for a second, 

 Says she's tired of being a peasant, And wants to be made a fine lady."

The goldfish murmured in answer: "Do not worry, go home, God be with you."

To his wife the old fisherman hastened, and what did he see? - a tall mansion; 

On its white marble stairs - his old woman. She was wearing a rich sable jacket, and s head-dress, in gold all embroidered; Her neck was with pearls heavy laden; She wore golden rings on her fingers; She was shod in the softest red leather; Zealous servants bowed meekly before her, as she cuffed them and rated them roundly. The old man then approached his wife, saying. "Greetings, your ladyship, greetings, fine lady! Now I hope that your soul is contented!"

She angrily bade him be silent and sent him to serve in the stables.

First a week slowly passed, then another, the old woman grew prouder than ever. One morning she sent for her husband, and said: "Bow to the goldfish and tell it 

 I am tired of being a lady, And I want to be made a Tsaritsa."

Her husband implored her in terror, saying: "Woman-you've surely gone crazy! 

 You can't even talk like a lady! You'd be mocked at all over the kingdom!"

His old woman grew madder than ever, slapped his face and then shouted in passion: "How dare you, muzhik, stand and argue, Stand and argue with me,

 a fine lady? Go at once - if you don't, then I warn you, You'll be dragged to the shore, willy-nilly."

The old man went down to the seashore (The ocean was swollen and sullen). 

He called out aloud for the goldfish, and the goldfish swam up and demanded: "What is it, old man, yon are wanting?"

With a bow, the old man said in answer: "Forgive me, Your Majesty Goldfish! 

 Again my old woman's gone crazy! Now she's tired of being a lady! 

 She wants to be made a Tsaritsa."

The goldfish murmured in answer: "Do not worry, go home, God be with you! Very well! She shall be a Tsaritsa!"

To his wife the old fisherman hastened, and what did he see? A grand palace;

 In the palace he saw his old woman, at the table she sat, a Tsaritsa, attended by nobles and boyards; They were pouring choice wines in her goblet, she was nibbling sweet gingerbread wafers; Around her, grim guards stood in silence, with halberds upon their broad shoulders. The old man was aghast when he saw this, he bowed to her feet and said humbly: "Greetings, Oh mighty Tsaritsa! Now I hope that your soul is contented!"

But she gave not a glance at her husband - she ordered him thrust from her presence. The boyards and nobles all hastened and drove him with blows from 

the chamber; The guards at the door waved their halberds and threatened to cut him to pieces. All the people derided him, saying. "Serves you right, now, you ill-bred old fellow. You churl-this will teach you a lesson, To keep to your station in future!"

First a week slowly passed, then another; The old woman grew prouder than ever. She sent for her husband one morning, and her chamberlain haled him before her. The old woman spoke thus to her husband: "Go, bow to the goldfish, and tell it 

 That I'm tired of being Tsaritsa, Of the seas I want to be mistress, With my home in the blue ocean waters; The goldfish I want for my servant To do my commands and my errands."

The old man durst not contradict her, nor open his lips to make answer. He sadly set out for the seashore. A tempest raged over the ocean, its waters were swollen and angry, its billows were boiling with fury. He called out aloud for the goldfish. 

The goldfish swam up and demanded: "What is it, old man, you are wanting?"

With a bow, the old man said in answer; "Forgive me, Your Majesty Goldfish! What shall I do with my cursed old woman? She is tired of being Tsaritsa, Of the seas she now wants to be mistress, With her home in the blue ocean waters; She wants you to be her own servant, To do her commands and her errands."

Not a word spoke the goldfish in answer, it just swished its tail, and in silence disappeared in the depths of the ocean. He waited in vain for an answer, and at last turned his steps to the palace; and behold - there again stood his hovel; 

On the doorstep sat his old woman, with the same broken wash-tab before her.

  

The fisherman and his wife level 2

A fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm

There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty, closeby the seaside. The fisherman used to go out all day long a-fishing;

and one day, as he sat on the shore with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, all on a sudden his float was dragged away deep into the water: and in drawing it up he pulled out a great fish. But the fish said, ‘Pray let me live!

I am not a real fish; I am an enchanted prince: put me in the water again, and let me go!’ ‘Oh, ho!’ said the man, ‘you need not make so many words about the matter; 

I will have nothing to do with a fish that can talk: so swim away, sir, as soon as you please!’ Then he put him back into the water, and the fish darted straight down to the bottom, and left along streak of blood behind him on the wave.

When the fisherman went home to his wife in the pigsty, he told her how he had caught a great fish, and how it had told him it was an enchanted prince, and how, on hearing it speak, he had let it go again. ‘Did not you ask it for anything?’ said the wife, ‘we live very wretchedly here, in this nasty dirty pigsty; do go back and tell the fish we want a snug little cottage.’

The fisherman did not much like the business: however, he went to the seashore; and when he came back there the water looked all yellow and green. And he stood at the water’s edge, and said:

'O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!'
Then the fish came swimming to him, and said, ‘Well, what is her will?What does your wife want?’ ‘Ah!’ said the fisherman, ‘she says that when I had caught you, 

I ought to have asked you for something beforeI let you go; she does not like living any longer in the pigsty, and wants a snug little cottage.’ ‘Go home, then,’ said the fish; ‘she isin the cottage already!’ So the man went home, and saw his wife standing at the door of a nice trim little cottage. ‘Come in, comein!’ said she; 

‘is not this much better than the filthy pigsty we had?’ And there was a parlour, and a bed chamber, and a kitchen; and behind the cottage there was a little garden, planted with all sorts of flowers and fruits; and there was a courtyard behind, full of ducks and chickens. ‘Ah!’ said the fisherman, ‘how happily we shall live now!’ ‘We will try to do so, at least,’ said his wife.

Everything went right for a week or two, and then Dame Ilsabill said,‘Husband, there is not near room enough for us in this cottage; the courtyard and the garden are a great deal too small; I should like to have a large stone castle to live in: go to the fish again and tell him to give us a castle.’ ‘Wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘I don’t like to go to him again, for perhaps he will be angry; we ought to be easy with this pretty cottage to live in.’ ‘Nonsense!’ said the wife; ‘he will do it very willingly, I know; go along and try!’

The fisherman went, but his heart was very heavy: and when he came to the sea, it looked blue and gloomy, though it was very calm; and he went close to the edge of the waves, and said:

'O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!'
‘Well, what does she want now?’ said the fish. ‘Ah!’ said the man,dolefully, ‘my wife wants to live in a stone castle.’ ‘Go home, then,’said the fish; ‘she is standing at the gate of it already.’ So away went the fisherman, and found his wife standing before the gate of agreat castle. ‘See,’ said she, ‘is not this grand?’ 

With that they went into the castle together, and found a great many servants there,and the rooms all richly furnished, and full of golden chairs and tables; and behind the castle was a garden, and around it was a park half a mile long, full of sheep, and goats, and hares, and deer; and in the courtyard were stables and cow-houses. ‘Well,’ said the man,‘now we will live cheerful and happy in this beautiful castle for the rest of our lives.’ ‘Perhaps we may,’ said the wife; ‘but let us sleep upon it, before we make up our minds to that.’ So they went to bed.

The next morning when Dame Ilsabill awoke it was broad daylight, and she jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and said, ‘Get up, husband,and be stir yourself, for we must be king of all the land.’ ‘Wife,wife,’ said the man, ‘why should we wish to be the king? I will not beking.’ ‘Then I will,’ said she. ‘But, wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘how can you be king—the fish cannot make you a king?’ ‘Husband,’ said she, ‘say no more about it, but go and try! I will be king.’ So theman went away quite sorrowful to think that his wife should want to beking. This time the sea looked a dark grey colour, and was over spread with curling waves and the ridges of foam as he cried out:

'O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!'
‘Well, what would she have now?’ said the fish. ‘Alas!’ said the poorman, ‘my wife wants to be king.’ ‘Go home,’ said the fish; ‘she isking already.’

Then the fisherman went home; and as he came close to the palace he saw a troop of soldiers, and heard the sound of drums and trumpets.And when he went in he saw his wife sitting on a throne of gold an ddiamonds, with a golden crown upon her head; and on each side of her stood six fair maidens, each a head taller than the other. ‘Well,wife,’ said the fisherman, ‘are you king?’ ‘Yes,’ said she, ‘I amking.’ And when he had looked at her for a long time, he said, ‘Ah,wife! what a fine thing it is to be king! Now we shall never have any thing more to wish for as long as we live.’ ‘I don’t know how that may be,’ said she; ‘never is a long time. I am king, it is true; but I begin to be tired of that, and I think I should like to be emperor.’‘Alas, wife! why should you wish to be emperor?’ said the fisherman.‘Husband,’ said she, ‘go to the fish! I say I will be emperor.’ ‘Ah,wife!’ replied the fisherman, ‘the fish cannot make an emperor, I am sure, and I should not like to ask him for such a thing.’ ‘I am king,’said Ilsabill, ‘and you are my slave; so go at once!’

So the fisherman was forced to go; and he muttered as he went along,‘This will come to no good, it is too much to ask; the fish will betired at last, and then we shall be sorry for what we have done.’ He soon came to the sea shore; and the water was quite black and muddy,and a mighty whirl wind blew over the waves and rolled them about, but he went as near as he could to the water’s brink, and said:

'O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!'
‘What would she have now?’ said the fish. ‘Ah!’ said the fisherman,‘she wants to be emperor.’ ‘Go home,’ said the fish; ‘she is emperoral ready.’

So he went home again; and as he came near he saw his wife Ilsabill sitting on a very lofty throne made of solid gold, with a great crown on her head full two yards high; and on each side of her stood her guards and attendants in a row, each one smaller than the other, from the tallest giant down to a little dwarf no bigger than my finger. And before her stood princes, and dukes, and earls: and the fisherman went up to her and said, ‘Wife, are you emperor?’ ‘Yes,’ said she, ‘I amemperor.’ 

‘Ah!’ said the man, as he gazed upon her, ‘what a fine thing it is to be emperor!’ ‘Husband,’ said she, ‘why should we stop at being emperor? I will be pope next.’ 

‘O wife, wife!’ said he, ‘how can you be pope? there is but one pope at a time in Christendom.’‘Husband,’ said she, ‘I will be pope this very day.’ ‘But,’ replied the husband, ‘the fish cannot make you pope.’ ‘What nonsense!’ said she; ‘if he can make an emperor, he can make a pope: go and try him.’

So the fisherman went. But when he came to the shore the wind was raging and the sea was tossed up and down in boiling waves, and the ships were in trouble, and rolled fearfully upon the tops of the billows. In the middle of the heavens there was a little piece of blue sky, but towards the south all was red, as if a dreadful storm was rising. At this sight the fisherman was dreadfully frightened, and he trembled so that his knees knocked together: but still he went down near to the shore, and said:

'O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!'
‘What does she want now?’ said the fish. ‘Ah!’ said the fisherman, ‘my wife wants to be pope.’ ‘Go home,’ said the fish; ‘she is pope already.’

Then the fisherman went home, and found Ilsabill sitting on a throne that was two miles high. And she had three great crowns on her head,and around her stood all the pomp and power of the Church. And on each side of her were two rows of burning lights, of all sizes, the greatest as large as the highest and biggest tower in the world, and the least no larger than a small rush light. 

‘Wife,’ said the fisherman, as he looked at all this greatness, ‘are you pope?’ ‘Yes,’said she, ‘I am pope.’ ‘Well, wife,’ replied he, ‘it is a grand thing to be pope; and now you must be easy, for you can be nothing greater.’‘I will think about that,’ said the wife. Then they went to bed: but Dame Ilsabill could not sleep all night for thinking what she should be next. At last, as she was dropping asleep, morning broke, and the sun rose. ‘Ha!’ thought she, as she woke up and looked at it through the window, ‘after all I cannot prevent the sun rising.’ At this thought she was very angry, and wakened her husband, and said,‘Husband, go to the fish and tell him 

I must be lord of the sun and moon.’ The fisherman was half asleep, but the thought frightened him so much that he started and fell out of bed. ‘Alas, wife!’ said he,‘cannot you be easy with being pope?’ ‘No,’ said she, ‘I am very uneasy as long as the sun and moon rise without my leave. Go to the fish at once!’

Then the man went shivering with fear; and as he was going down to the shore a dreadful storm arose, so that the trees and the very rocks shook. And all the heavens became black with stormy clouds, and the lightnings played, and the thunders rolled; and you might have seen in the sea great black waves, swelling up like mountains with crowns of white foam upon their heads. And the fisherman crept towards the sea,and cried out, as well as he could:

'O man of the sea! Hearken to me! My wife Ilsabill Will have her own will, And hath sent me to beg a boon of thee!'
‘What does she want now?’ said the fish. ‘Ah!’ said he, ‘she wants to be lord of the sun and moon.’ ‘Go home,’ said the fish, ‘to your pigsty again.’
And there they live to this very day.

O rybáři a jeho ženě
Bratři Grimmové 

yl jednou jeden rybář a ten měl ženu, se kterou žil v malé chýši u moře. Každé ráno šel na moře a lovil ryby. Jednou tam zase seděl a díval se jako vždy do průzračné vody, když tu mu udice klesla ke dnu, a když zabral, aby ji vytáhnul, zmítala se na ní parádní kambala. „Poslouchej, rybáři,“ měla se ryba k řeči: „nechej mne žít! Já nejsem žádný platýs či kambala, jak by se jednomu mohlo zdát. Jsem zakletý princ a vůbec si nepomůžeš, když mě zabiješ. Ani ti nebudu chutnat! Hoď mne zpátky do vody a nechej mne plavat!“ „No,“ řekl rybář: „šetři slova, rybo, kambalu, která umí mluvit, tu by stejně nikdo nejedl!“ S těmi slovy hodil rybu zpět do čisté vody. Ta se hned potopila ke dnu a o tom, že tu ještě před chvíli mudrovala, svědčilo jen pár kapek krve na hladině.

 dyž přišel domů, měla se k němu žena s výčitkou: „Muži, tys dnes nic nechytil?“ „Ne, nic. Jen jednu kambalu, ale ta mi tvrdila, že je zakletý princ, tak jsem ji nechal plavat.“ „A ty sis nic nepřál?“ zeptala se žena. „Co bych si měl přát?“ „Ach,“ zakoulela očima žena: „ty pustíš prince a nic si nepřeješ! Víš, jak je mi odporné žití v téhle strašlivé díře?! Já chci nový domek. Jdi a zavolej ji! Řekni jí, že bychom měli rádi malý domek, určitě to pro nás udělá.“ „Ale, co bych tam chodil.“ zdráhal se rybář, kterému bylo takovéto handrkování proti srsti a vychování. „Chytil jsi ji a pustil,“ pravila žena: „vděčí ti za život! Jen jdi a to hned!“ Rybáři to sice nebylo po chuti, ale znal svoji sršatou ženu, a tak šel k moři.

o se netvářilo kdovíjak vlídně, voda byla dozelena a dožluta, jako by do ní ukáplo trochu svárlivosti a zášti. Postavil se na břeh a zavolal: „Do hlubiny padá síť, do té se mi, rybo, chyť, moje žena, Ilse předrahá, rybího vděku si žádá!“ Tu připlula kambala a řekla: „Nu, copak je?“ „Ale, já jsem tě chytil a moje žena říká, že jsem si měl něco přát. Měla by ráda malý domek, naše rybářská chýška jí už nevoní.“ „Jdi domů,“ řekla kambala: „má ho mít.“ Tak šel rybář domů a jeho žena neseděla v rybářské chýši, nýbrž na lavici přede dveřmi malého pěkného domku. Vzala muže za ruku a řekla: „Jen pojď dovnitř, to je ti paráda!“ V domku byla malá předsíňka, půvabná světnice a komora, kde stála pro každého postel, kuchyně a spižírna, vše vybaveno tím nejlepším načiním v mosazi a cínu. Inu, jak se patří. A vzadu byl malý dvorek se slepicemi a kachnami a zahrádka se zeleninou i ovocem. „Podívej,“ řekla žena: „není to všechno roztomilé?“ „Ano,“ odvětil muž: „ teď tu můžeme spokojeně žít.“

 opravdu si žili spokojeně; tak osm možná i čtrnáct dní, pak se na zápraží bok po boku usadili Nepokoj s Nespokojeností a měli se ke společnému dílu s takovou vervou, že rybářka to jednoho dne už déle neunesla a řekla: „Poslouchej, muži, ten domek je dost těsný, dvorek a zahrádka jsou jako dlaň, ta zpropadená ryba nám mohla darovat větší dvůr. Nejraději bych žila ve velkém, kamenném zámku. Jdi za ní, ať nám dá zámek.“ „Ach, ženo, my chceme žít v zámku?“ „Ano, ano! Jen jdi za ní, ona to udělá!“ „Ne, ženo! Dala nám přeci už domek, bylo by to nevděčné!“ „Jen jdi, jdi! “ trvala na svém žena: „Ty jsi jí pomohl, ona ráda pomůže tobě, jen jdi!“ Rybáři bylo těžko u srdce a nechtělo se mu, protože věděl, že to není správné, ale přece jen šel.

 moře ho vítalo ještě zachmuřenější než minule, voda byla temná a hlubina se k němu měla zlopověstně. Postavil se na břeh a zvolal: „Do hlubiny padá síť, do té se mi, rybo, chyť, moje žena, Ilse předrahá, rybího vděku si žádá!“ „Nu, copak si přeje nyní?“ „Ach jo,“ řekl rybář stísněně: „přeje si žít v kamenném zámku.“ „Jdi domů, stojí před jeho dveřmi.“ řekla kambala. Tak šel rybář domů, ale nebyl to už žádný domov, na jeho místě stál obrovský kamenný palác a jeho žena byla nahoře na schodišti a čekala na něj, aby ruku v ruce vešli dovnitř. V zámku byla velká hala s mramorovou podlahou, kde se hemžilo množství sloužících, kteří jim úslužně otevírali dveře. Stěny byly pokryty krásnými tapetami, v komnatách stály zlaté židle a stoly, ze stropu visely křišťálové lustry, všude byly rozloženy drahocenné koberce, stoly se prohýbaly pod jídlem a pitím. A kolem zámku se rozkládal obrovský dvůr se stájemi plnými těch nejušlechtilejších koní a toho nejtučnějšího dobytka. Taky tam byla krásná zahrada s květinami a ovocnými stromy a půvabný park, půl míle hluboký, tam byly jeleni, srnci, zajíci a vše, co by si člověk mohl přát. „Nu,“ řekla žena: „není to krása?“ „Ano,“ řekl muž: „nyní budeme žít v tomto krásném zámku a budeme spokojeni.“ „Nu, to ještě uvidíme,“ řekla žena: „musím se na to vyspat.“ A ulehli do postele.

ruhého dne vstala žena jako první, zrovna se rozednilo, a tak se dívala z postele oknem na tu překrásnou zemi, která před nimi ležela. Ale nebyla sama, kdo se tou nádherou kochal, byl tu opět Nepokoj s Nespokojeností, a těm se stále něco nezdálo, vedli hašteřivé řeči, až to nebylo už k vydržení a žena strčila loktem do spícího rybáře: „Muži, vstávej a koukni z okna! Podívej a řekni mi, proč bychom nemohli vládnout celé té krásné zemi? Jdi ke kambale a řekni, že tu chceme vládnout!“ „Ale, ženo,“ odvětil muž: „proč bychom měli vládnout? Já králem být nechci!“ „Inu,“ řekla: „když nechceš být králem, já jím budu. Jdi za kambalou, chci být královnou!“ „Ale, ženo, to po ní přece nemohu chtít.“ „Pročpak ne? Ihned tam jdi, já musím být královnou!“ Tak šel rybář k moři a byl celý sklíčený z toho, že jeho ženu posedly vladařské choutky. To není správné, myslel si. Nechtěl jít, ale přece šel.

dyž přišel k moři, mělo se k němu nepřátelsky, hlubina byla zlověstně tichá a černošedá a voda hnilobně zapáchala. Tu se postavil na břeh a zvolal: „Do hlubiny padá síť, do té se mi, rybo, chyť, moje žena, Ilse předrahá, rybího vděku si žádá!“ „Nu, copak si přeje nyní?“ „Ale,“ vzdychnul rybář: „chce být královnou.“ „Jdi domů, je královnou.“ odvětila kambala. Tak šel domů, ale už to nebyl žádný domov. Palác byl stonásobně větší a stonásobně krásnější. Před bránou stály stráže, bylo tam hemžení vojáků a bubnování a fanfár. A když vešel dovnitř, vše bylo z mramoru, zlata a aksamitu, až to studilo. Tu se otevřely dveře sálu, kde bylo shromážděno veškeré dvořanstvo, a jeho žena tam seděla na vysokém trůnu ze zlata a diamantů a na hlavě měla obrovskou zlatou korunu a v ruce žezlo z ryzího zlata a drahokamů. Po její pravé i levé ruce stálo v řadě šest krásných panen, vždy jedna o hlavu menší než druhá. Tak k ní přistoupil a pravil: „Nu, ženo, teď jsi tedy královna?“ „Ano,“ řekla žena: „nyní jsem královna!“ Muž stál a díval se na ni, a když se na ni vynadíval, řekl: „Ach, ženo, snad ti to bude už dost, že jsi královna. Už si nebudeme nikdy nic přát.“

le to nebylo vhod Nepokoji s Nespokojeností, kteří si tu hověli mezi dvořany. Spustili bandurskou a pokřikovali na královnu tak nevybíravě, až ta zneklidněla a řekla: „Ne, muži! Čas se mi vleče, jako by se měl k umírání. Být jen královnou je velká nuda. Jdi ke kambale, že chci být císařovnou!“ „Ale, ženo?!“ vyděsil se muž: „Pročpak chceš být císařovnou?“ „Jdi! Chci být císařovnou!“ „Ale, ženo,“ řekl rybář: „císařovnou tě udělat nemůže! To nemohu po kambale chtít! Císařovna je vždy jediná v říši! Císařovnou tě kambala neudělá! Něco může a něco nemůže!“ „Co?!!“ vzkřikla žena: „Jsem královna a ty jsi můj muž! Okamžitě jdi! Jdi ihned! Mohla-li mne udělat královnou, udělá mne i císařovnou! Jdi!“ Nebylo zbytí, musel jít. Když kráčel k moři, bylo mu úzko. Věděl, že to opravdu nejde po právu, neboť císařovna je příliš náročný úkol a kambala se k smrti vyčerpá.

 atím přišel k moři, které zlověstně dunělo, jako by se voda v hlubinách vařila, až z toho šel na člověka děs. Vyděšený rybář postavil se na břeh a zvolal: „Do hlubiny padá síť, do té se mi, rybo, chyť, moje žena, Ilse předrahá, rybího vděku si žádá!“ „Nu, copak si přeje nyní?“ „Ach, kambalo,“ odvětil smutný rybář: „moje žena chce být císařovnou.“ „Jdi domů, je císařovnou.“ odvětila kambala. Tak šel domů, a když tam přišel, nebyl to žádný domov, nýbrž zámek ještě tisíckrát větší a ještě tisíckrát nádhernější. Schodiště byla leštěného mramoru, zdobena sochami z alabastru a zlata. Před branou pochodovali vojáci, troubili na trumpety, tloukli do bubnů a tympánů. A v paláci se procházela hrabata, knížata a vévodové, stavěla se k němu úslužně, jako by to byli jen sloužící a otevřela mu dveře z ryzího zlata. A když vešel, seděla žena na trůnu, který byl z jednoho kusu zlata a byl dvě míle vysoký. Měla na hlavě zlatou korunu, která byla tři lokte vysoká a zdobená diamanty a drahokamy. V jedné ruce měla žezlo a v druhé říšské jablko a po obou stranách vedle ní stáli ve dvou řadách osobní strážci, vždy jeden menší než druhý, od největšího obra, který byl dvě míle vysoký, až k nejmenšímu trpaslíkovi, který byl tak velký jako malíček. A před trůnem stálo množství knížat a vévodů, hrabat a místokrálů a ti všichni se hřáli na slunci její přízně. Tak šel rybář blíže, prodral se mezi dvořany a řekl: „Nu, ženo, nyní jsi tedy císařovna.“ „Ano,“ řekla žena: „nyní jsem císařovna!“ Tu se k ní ještě více přiblížil a dobře si ji prohlédnul, a když se na ni chvíli díval, řekl: „Ženo, zdá se to dost krásné být císařovnou?“

 ena se zamyslela a s ní upadli v přemýšlení i Nepokoj s Nespokojeností, myšlenky se tetelily jedna přes druhou a bylo jim to k hádce, bylo jim to ke sváru. Nebylo to s takovými myšlenkami k vydržení, a tak žena, aby je upokojila, zvolala: „Muži, jsem sice císařovna, ale chci být raději papežkou! Jdi ke kambale!“ „Ale, ženo,“ zděsil se rybář: „co bys všechno nechtěla?! Papežkou být nemůžeš, papež je vždy jen jeden v celé Kristově říši! Papežkou tě nemůže kambala udělat!“ „Muži,“ řekla: „chci být papežkou! Okamžitě tam jdi! Ještě dnes musím být papežkou!“ „Ne, ženo!“ řekl rybář: „To nemohu po kambale chtít! To je příliš! Co si to přeješ? Papežku z tebe udělat nedokáže!“ „Muži, dost toho hloupého tlachaní!“ řekla žena: „Mohla mě udělat císařovnou, tak mě udělá také papežkou! Jdi tam ihned! Jsem císařovna a ty jsi stále můj muž!“ Rybář byl celý vystrašený, ale šel. Bylo mu mdlo, třásl se a chvěl a kolena se mu podlamovala.

elou zemí se hnal vichr, mraky letěly po nebi jako splašené, úplně se setmělo, listy na stromech se třásly a voda se dmula do výše a naříkavě hučela. V dálce viděl lodě, které vysílaly zoufalé volání o pomoc a tancovaly bezmocně po vlnách. Jen na malém kousku byla obloha ještě modrá, ale po stranách se rozlévala rudá záře, jako by přicházela těžká bouře. Tak šel celý malomyslný na břeh, stál tam zahalený v závoji strachu a křičel: „Do hlubiny padá síť, do té se mi, rybo, chyť, moje žena, Ilse předrahá, rybího vděku si žádá!“ „Nu, copak si přeje nyní?“ „Ach, kambalo,“ odvětil: „moje žena chce být papežkou.“ „Jdi domů, je papežkou.“ odvětila kambala. Tak šel domů, a když tam přišel, nebyl tam žádný domov, nýbrž kostel tak obrovský, že kostelní věž mizela v oblacích. Podral se vším shromážděným lidem dovnitř, kde svítilo tisíce a tisíce světel a jeho žena byla celá ve zlatě a seděla na ještě mnohokrát vyšším trůnu a na hlavě měla tři obrovské zlaté koruny. Kolem ní stály zástupy duchovenstva a po stranách měla dvě řady světel, to největší tak silné a tlusté jako ta největší věž a pak každé další menší až do toho nejmenšího kuchyňského světýlka. A všichni ti císařové a králové před ní klečeli na kolenou a líbali cíp jejího pláště. „Nu, ženo, jsi nyní papežkou?“ „Ano,“ řekla: „nyní jsem papežkou!“ Tak šel muž nahoru a dobře si ji prohlédl. A bylo to jako by se díval do zářícího slunce. Když na ni nějakou chvíli pohlížel, řekl: „Ženo, jsi spokojena, že jsi papežka?“ Ale ona seděla zcela bez pohnutí jako skála, ani se nepohnula. Tu jí muž řekl: „Ženo, nyní musíš být spokojená, jsi papežka! Ničím větším už být nemůžeš!“ „To si musím ještě promyslet!“ odvětila žena. A šli spát.

šichni spali, jen Nepokoj s Nespokojeností celou noc přemýšleli a přemýšleli, jejich myšlenky byly bohaprosté a zlovolné, Nepokoj se zalykal Nespokojeností a Nespokojenost tížil Nepokoj. Rybář sám spal tvrdě a dobře, protože předešlého dne se dost naběhal, ale jeho žena sebou celou noc házela z boku na bok, Nepokoj s Nespokojeností jí nedali spát.

otva se slunce vydalo na svou každodenní cestu a nebe zalily ranní červánky, posadila se rybářka na posteli a strnule se na tu krásu dívala: „Copak já jako papežka dokáži něco takového? Muži!“ A dloubla loktem rybáře do žeber. „Vstávej! Jdi za kambalou a řekni jí, že chci být Bohem!“ Rybář byl ještě celý rozespalý, ale přesto se vyděsil tak, že spadnul z postele. Myslil si, že se přeslechnul, protřel si oči a řekl: „Ach ženo, copak to říkáš?“ „Muži,“ pravila: „nemohu poručit slunci ani měsíci! Ne, to nedokážu ani jako papežka. Ale nebudu mít nikdy pokoj, dokud nebudu vládnout slunci a měsíci!“ Při tom na něj hleděla tak zběsile, že ho přešla hrůza. „Jdi a řekni kambala, že chci být Bůh!“ „Ach, ženo,“ řekl rybář a padl před ní na kolena: „to kambala nedokáže! Prosím tě, zanech toho a zůstaň papežem!“ Tu do ženy vstoupila zuřivost, vlasy se jí divoce létaly kolem hlavy a křičela: „Já se toho nevzdám! A dlouho už se neudržím! Jdi!“ Tak si natáhnul muž kalhoty a jako beze smyslu vyběhnul ven.

enku se do něj však opřel vichr tak silný, že se sotva držel na nohou. Domy i stromy se ohýbaly jako z papíru, hory se třásly a kusy skal se s rachotem řítily do moře. Nebe bylo černočerné a zlověstně hřmělo a blesky jizvily jeho zachmuřenou tvář. Moře se dmulo v černočerných vlnách vysokých jako kostelní věže a horské štíty, které měly nahoře bílou korunu z pěny. Tu rybář zvolal, aniž by slyšel své vlastní slovo: „Do hlubiny padá síť, do té se mi, rybo, chyť, moje žena, Ilsa předrahá, rybího vděku si žádá!“ „Nu, copak si přeje nyní?“ „Ach, kambalo,“ odvětil rybář: „moje žena chce být Bůh.“ „Jdi domů, je tím, čím je.“ odvětila kambala.

Tak šel rybář domů, a když tam přišel, byl to opět domov. Jeho žena seděla v jejich staré chýši, a pokud neumřela, sedí tam dodnes.