The Three Rhymsters [The Chinese Fairy Book]
ONCE there were three daughters in a family. The oldest one married a physician, the second one married a magistrate; but the third, who was more than usually intelligent and a clever talker, married a farmer.
Now
it chanced, once upon a time, that their parents were celebrating a birthday.
So the three daughters came, together with their husbands, to wish them long
life and happiness. The parents-in-law prepared a meal for their three
sons-in-law, and put the birthday wine on the table. But the oldest son-in-law, who knew that the
third one had not attended school, wanted to embarrass him.
“It
is far too tiresome,” said he, “just to sit here drinking: let us have a
drinking game. Each one of us must invent a verse, one that rimes and makes
sense, on the words: ‘in the sky, on the earth, at the table, in the room,’ And
whoever cannot do so, must empty three glasses as a punishment.”
All
the company were satisfied. Only the third son-in-law felt embarrassed and
insisted on leaving. But the guests would not let him go, and obliged him to
keep his seat.
Then
the oldest son-in-law began: “I will make a start with my verse. Here it is:
The
second one continued: “And I say:
But
the third son-in-law stuttered, and found nothing to say. And when all of them
insisted, he broke out in rough tones of voice:
The
other two sons-in-law clapped their hands and began to laugh loudly.
“Why
the four lines do not rime at all,” said they, “and, besides they do not make sense. A leaden
bullet is no bird, the stable-boy does his work outside, would you call him
into the room? Nonsense, nonsense! Drink!”
Yet
before they had finished speaking, the third daughter raised the curtain of the
women’s room, and stepped out. She was angry, yet she could not suppress a
smile.
“How
so do our lines not make sense?” said she. “Listen a moment, and I’ll explain
them to you: In the sky our leaden bullet will shoot your phenix and your
turtle-dove. On the earth our tiger-beast will devour your sheep and your ox.
On the table our pair of scissors will cut up all your old books. And finally,
in the room—well, the stable-boy can marry your maid!”
Then
the oldest son-in-law said: “Well scolded! Sister-in-law, you know how to talk!
If you were a man you would have had your degree long ago. And, as a
punishment, we will empty our three glasses.”
Note:
This is also a fairy-tale traditionally handed down.
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