Citations & References:"The Monsoon has come and the dark clouds, sometimes, interfere my vision," the Moon reported after starting with a basmalah and greeting with a salaam. "Days ago, " the Moon extended, "I looked into a Land, called Bhumi Parvatam. There, ruled a king, named Prabhu Kanchil. It seemed, in the courtyard of the King, there will be a meeting with his Eunuchs, the Crows. Reportedly, one of the King's Eunuchs, would deliver his speech. All beasts were invited, from the minister of all affairs to the common beasts. The guests awaited the eunuch's speech, because, it was said, he was a representative of the young beasts. In their minds, surely, the speech, would be contained a concept of change, which was based on the latest data. Wow, it must be awesome.The awaited time had arrived, the eunuch went up to the stage and delivered his speech. Unfortunately, hope was only a hope, the contents of his speech, exclusively flattered the King and ridicule his political opponents. While the Eunuch was delivering his speech, suddenly, a black cloud covered my vision.Long waiting for the cloud to pass, the event was over when I regained my sight. All I saw was a few beasts passing by. Then, I turned my gaze to a coffee shop. Inside, I could still see a few beasts were talking while drinking a cup of coffee or chocolate, to warm themselves up. They were discussing the Eunuch's speech. One of the beasts asked, 'What do you think about the speech earlier?' Another beast replied, 'Would you like to hear a story?' The questioner replied, 'Sure, tell us!''One day, people noticed a Mountain in labor; smoke coming out of her summit, the earth quaking at their feet, trees crashing, and huge rocks tumbling. They felt sure something horrible was going to happen. They all gathered together to see what terrible thing this could be. They waited ... and waited ... but nothing came. Suddenly, there was a still more violent earthquake, and a huge gap appeared in the side of the Mountain. The people all fell down upon their knees and waited. At last, a teeny mouse poked its little head and bristles out of the gap and came running down towards them. Afterwards, the teeny mouse died, it was trampled by the people.'''Great cry and little wool' is the English proverb,' the beast explained. 'The sense of which bears an exact proportion to this story. By which are exposed, all those who promise something exceeding great, but come off with a production ridiculously little. Projectors of all kinds, who endeavour bv artificial rumours to raise the expectations of mankind, and then, by their mean performances, defeat and disappoint them, have, time out of mind, been lashed with the recital of this story.How agreeably surprising is it to see an unpromising favourite, whom the caprice of fortune has placed at the helm of state, serving the commonwealth with justice and integrity, instead of smothering and embezzling the public treasure to his own private and wicked ends! And, on the contrary, how melancholy, how dreadful, or rather, how exasperating and provoking a sight is it, to behold one whose constant declarations for liberty and the public good, have raised people’s expectations of him to the highest pitch, as soon as he is got into power, exerting his whole art and cunning to ruin and enslave his country! The sanguine hopes of all those that wished well to virtue, and flattered themselves with a reformation of every thing that opposed the well-being of the community, vanish away in smoke, and are lost in a dark, gloomy, uncomfortable prospect.'Another responded, 'Projectors of all kinds, who endeavour by artful rumours, large promises, and vast preparations, to raise the expectations of mankind, and then by their mean performances disappoint them, have, time out of mind, been lashed with the recital of this Story. It should teach us to suspect those who promise very largely, and to examine cautiously what grounds they proceed upon, and whether their pretensions are not intended to render us their tools, or the dupes of their artifices.'Other added, 'It likewise teaches us not to rely implicitly upon those constant declarations for liberty and the public good, which artful politicians use as stepping stones to power; but who having raised the people’s expectations to the highest pitch, and obtained their desire by the public enthusiasm, then turn their whole, art and cunning to embezzling the public treasure for their own private wicked ends, or to ruin and enslave their country; or at best but imitate the bad conduct of those whom they turned out by their clamour.'Other chimed in, 'The story intimates, that the uncertain issue of all human undertakings should induce us not to make pompous boasts of ourselves, but to guard against promising any thing exceedingly great, for fear of coming off with a production ridiculously little. If we set out modestly, and perform more than we engaged to do, we shall find our fame grow upon us, and every unexpected addition we make to our plan will raise us more and more in the good opinion of the world; but if, on the contrary, we make ample professions of the greatness of our designs, and the excellence of our own abilities, it will too often happen, that instead of swelling our reputation, we shall only blow the trumpet to our shame.'The questioner concluded, 'So, the eunuch, had indeed been castrated!' Another replied, 'Or, castrate himself!'Everyone laughs and made melody,Nyok, kite nonton ondel-ondel[Come, let's watching ondel ondel *)]Nyok, kite ngarak ondel-ondel[Come, let's accompanying ondel-ondel]Ondel-ondel ade anaknye[Ondel-Ondel had a boy]Anaknye ngigel ter-iteran[The boy was swaying in circles]Mak, bapak ondel-ondel ngibing[Ondel-ondel's Mom and Dad, dancing]Ngarak penganten disunatin[Parading the circumcised bride]Goyangnye asyik endut-endutan[His rocking's fun, jiggling]Nyang ngibing igel-igelan[The dancer, dancing, waving hands]Plak gumbang gumplak plak plak[(a drums sound)]Gendang nyaring ditepak[The drum's loud, slapped]Nyang ngiringin nandak[The companion was dancing]Pade surak-surak[All cheering]Tangan iseng ngejailin[Prankster, pranking]Kepale anak ondel-ondel[The boy's head]Taroin puntungan[Placed a cigarette butt]Rambut kebakaran[His hair on fire]Anak ondel-ondel jejingkrakkan[Ondel-ondel boy jumped up and down]Kepalenye nyale bekobaran[His head was burnt]Nyang ngarak pade kebingungan[The companion, razzled]Disiramin aer comberan[Flushing him wastewater]The Moon asked for leaving by saying, "And Allah knows best."
- Samuel Croxall, D.D., Fables of Aesop and Others, Simon Probasco
- Thomas Bewick, Bewick's Select Fables, Bickers & Sons
*) Ondel-ondel is a large puppet figure featured on Betawi folk performance of Jakarta, Indonesia.
