Truth Will Out (2)

And the Moon then said, "And let's keep linger on this 'And... and...' story,

And in the meantime, the elder son rode into the world to find the touchstone of the trial of truth ; and whenever he came to a place of habitation, he would ask the men if they had heard of it. And in every place the men answered, “ And not only have we heard of it, but we, alone of all men, possess the thing itself, and it hangs in the side of our chimney to this day.’ And then would the elder son be glad, and beg for a sight of it. And sometimes it would be a piece of mirror, that showed the seeming of things, and then he would say, 'And this can never be, for there should be more than seeming.' And sometimes, it would be a lump of coal, which showed nothing; and then he would say, 'And this can never be, for at least there is the seeming.’ And sometimes it would be a touchstone indeed, beautiful in hue, adorned with polishing, the light inhabiting its sides; and when he found this, he would beg the thing, and the persons of that place would give it him, for all men were very generous of that gift; so that at the last he had his wallet full of them, and they chinked together when he rode ; and when he halted by the side of the way he would take them out and try them, till his head turned like the sails upon a windmill.

'And a murrain upon this business !' said the elder son, 'for I perceive no end to it. Here I have the red, and here the blue and the green ; and to me, they seem all excellent, and yet shame each other.

And a murrain on the trade ! If it wrere not for the King that is a priest and whom I have called my father, and if it were not for the fair maid of the dun that makes my mouth to sing and my heart enlarge, I w'ould even tumble them all into the salt sea, and go home and be a King like other folk.' But he was like the hunter that has seen a stag upon a mountain, so that the night may fall, and the fire be kindled and the lights shine in his house, but desire of that stag is single in his bosom.

And the elder son came upon the sides of the salt sea ; and it was night, and a savage place, and the clamour of the sea was loud. And there, he was aware of a house, and a man that sat there by the light of a candle, for he had no fire. And now, the elder son came in to him, and the man gave him water to drink, for he had no bread ; and wagged his head when he was spoken to, for he had no words.

'And have you the touchstone of truth?' asked the elder son; and when the man had wagged his head, 'I might have known that,' cried the elder son, 'And I have here a wallet full of them!' And with that he laughed, although his heart was weary. And with that the man laughed too, and with the fuff of his laughter the candle went out.

'And sleep!' said the man, 'for now I think you have come far enough; and your quest is ended, and my candle is out.'

And now when the morning came, the man gave him a clear pebble in his hand, and it had no beauty and no colour, and the elder son looked upon it scornfully and shook his head, and he went away, for it seemed a small affair to him.

And all that day, he rode, and his mind was quiet, and the desire of the chase allayed. 'And how if this poor pebble be the touchstone, after all?' said he ; and he got down from his horse, and emptied forth his wallet by the side of the way.

And now, in the light of each other, all the touchstones lost their hue and fire and withered like stars at morning ; but in the light of the pebble, their beauty remained, only the pebble was the most bright. And the elder son smote upon his brow. 'And how if this be the truth?' he cried, ‘‘ that all are a little true?' And he took the pebble, and turned its light upon the heavens, and they deepened above him like the pit; and he turned it on the hills, and the hills were cold and rugged, but life ran in their sides so that his own life bounded; and he turned it on the dust, and he beheld the dust with joy and terror; and he turned it on himself, and kneeled down and prayed.

'And now thanks be to God,' said the elder son, 'I have found the touchstone; and now I may turn my reins, and ride home to the King and to the maid of the dun that makes my mouth to sing and my heart enlarge.'

And suddenly, there was a scream, and the elder son turned his head into the woods, and crept up. And he saw a fight between the cloaked troops, and a group of people, whom by their features he recognized as an armed group. The entire cloaked troops was slaughtered, and the only one left to live was a woman. And he thought, 'And I will help her; and what should I do?' And he knelt down and prayed, for he knew that there was no power but Him.

And he drew his sword, slashing down the foes. And he found a woman wearing the niqaab or ruband, and who said, 'May there be a thousands goods to you my Prince!' And the elder son asked, 'How do you know I am a prince?' And the women in niqaab replied, 'From your manners, you can not lie to me!' And they told each other their experiences, and the elder son said, 'And I will take you back to your country, but first, come with me to the King.' And the woman in niqaab wagged her head.

And apparently, the woman in niqaab, had a lovely voice, and on the way, she sang,

Age to age

I feel the call

Memory of future dreams

You and I, riding the sky

Keeping the fire bright

From another time and place

I know your name

I know your face

Your touch and grace

All of time cannot erase

What our hearts remember stays

Forever on a song we play *)

And for a moment, the elder son was astonished, 'The song!' And he shook his head, 'Nay, nay! Right now, in my mind there are only three shadows, the maid, the maid and the maid, basically the maid!' And sometimes, you didn't notice your glasses on your head, and looking for it everywhere. And a wise man said, 'Our eyes can see what is far away, but somewhat we cannot see, the sore on the tip of the nose.'

And they came to the dun. And when they came into the hall, there was his brother on the high seat and the maid beside him; and at that his anger rose, for he thought in his heart, 'It is I that should be sitting

there, and the maid beside me.'

'Who are you?' said his brother. 'And what make you in the dun?'

'I am your elder brother,' he replied. 'And I am come to marry the maid, for I have brought the touchstone of truth.' Then the younger brother laughed aloud. 'Why,' said he, 'I found the touchstone, and married the maid.'

Now at this the elder brother grew as gray as the dawn. 'I pray you have dealt justly,' said he, 'for I perceive my life is lost.'

'Justly?' quoth the younger brother. 'It becomes you ill, that are a restless man and a runagate, to doubt my justice or the King my father’s that are sedentary folk and known in the land.'

'Nay,' said the elder brother, 'you have all else, have patience also ; and suffer me to say THE WORLD IS FULL OF TOUCHSTONES, AND IT APPEARS NOT EASILY WHICH IS TRUE.'

'I have no shame of mine,' said the younger brother. 'There it is, and look in it!'

So the elder brother looked in the mirror, and he was sore amazed; for he was an old man, and his hair was white upon his head; and he sat down in the hall and wept aloud.

'And now,' said the younger brother, 'see what a fool’s part you have played, that ran over all the world to seek what was lying in our father’s treasury, and came back for the dogs to bark at, and with this 'radical-terrorist' niqab woman. And I that was dutiful and wise sit here crowned with virtues and pleasures, and happy in the light of my hearth.'

'Methinks you have a cruel tongue,' said the elder brother, and he pulled out the clear pebble and turned its light on his brother ; and behold, the man was lying, his soul was shrunk into the smallness of a pea, and his heart was a bag of little fears like little scorpions, and love was dead in his bosom. And at that the elder brother cried out aloud, and turned the light of the pebble on the maid, and lo ! she was but a mask of a woman, and withinsides she was quite dead, and she smiled as a clock ticks and knew not wherefore.

And he paused for a moment, there was something he had forgotten. And then turned pebble on the woman in niqab, and there, standing a Princess, in all her grace, and in all her perfect beauty. And he approached her and said, 'Take off your niqab for a moment, so I can recognize you!' The woman took off her niqab, and it was true what he had witnessed.

Holding the niqab woman's arm, he said to his brother, 'Oh, well, I perceive there is both good and bad. So fare ye all; and I will go forth into the world with my pebble in my pocket.’ And then, as he walked away, he said to the woman, 'And I will delivered you home!'

And both rode, and along the way, both sang,

Burn that page for me

I cannot erase the time of sleep

I cannot be loved, so set me free

I cannot deliver your love

Or caress your soul

So, turn that page for me

I cannot embrace the touch that you give

I cannot find solace in your words

I cannot deliver you your love

Or caress your soul *)

And so, the Prince and Princess, fell in love, and got merried, and lived happily ever after'."

And before she took her leave, the Moon said, "Ali ibn Abu Talib, radhiyallahu 'anhu, said,

إِنَّ الْحَقَّ والباطل لا يُعْرَفان بأقدار الرِّجَالِ اعْرِفِ الْحَقَّ تَعْرِفْ أَهْلَهُ واعْرِفِ الباطل تَعْرِفْ من أتاه

'Verily, the truth and falsehood are not recognized by the measure of men. Know the truth and you will recognize its people. Know the falsehood and you will recognize one who brings it.' [Ansāb al-Ashrāf]

Indeed, the Truth has more power in this Dunya and the Hereafter, and to those people who speak the truth, Allah's blessing will be on them. And Allah knows best."

Citations & References:
- Robert Louis Stevenson, Fables, Charles Scribner's Sons
- William J. Rolfe, Litt. D, Shakespeare's Comedy of the Merchant of Venice, American Book Company
*) "Star Sky" written by Thomas J. Bergersen & Felicia Farerre

Bahasa

Truth Will Out (1)

"Abu Dhar, radhiyallahu 'anhu, related," said the Moon when she arose after saying Basmalah and Salaam, "That our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) said,

قُلِ اَلْحَقَّ, وَلَوْ كَانَ مُرًّا

'Say the Truth even though it is bitter.' [Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic) as a part of a long Hadith].

He (ﷺ) also said,

فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ طُمَأْنِينَةٌ وَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ رِيبَةٌ

'... Verily, truth brings peace of mind and falsehood sows doubt.' [Sunan al-Tirmidhī; Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani]

Why shall we tell the Truth then? Shakespeare wrote, in his 16th-century play, 'The Merchant of Venice,' that a one of its character, Lancelot Gobbo, said, '... Give me your blessing : truth will come to light; murther cannot be hid long; a man's son may, but in the end, TRUTH WILL OUT.'

Siddhārth 'Buddha' Gautam said, 'Three things cannot be long hidden: the Sun, the Moon, and the Truth.'

Right? The Sun, unavoidably, will rise, after the Moon taking her leave before dawn, the two will take turns, so too, the Truth.

As a sketch, lend me your ears on the following story, entitled 'And ... and ...,'

And the King was a man that stood well before the world, his smile was sweet as clover, but his soul withinsides, was as little as a pea.

And he had two sons ; and the younger son was a boy after his heart, but the elder, was one whom he feared. And it befel one morning that the drum sounded in the dun before it was yet day; and the King rode with his two sons, and a brave array behind them. They rode two hours, and came to the foot of a brown mountain that was very steep.

'Where do we ride?' said the elder son. 'Across this brown mountain,' said the King, and smiled to himself.

'My father knows what he is doing,' said the younger son. And they rode two hours more, and came to the sides of a black river that was wondrous deep.

‘'And where do we ride? ’ asked the elder son. 'Over this black river,' said the King, and smiled to himself. 'My father knows what he is doing,' said the younger son. And they rode all that day, and about the time of the sunsetting came to the side of a lake, where was a great dun.

'It is here we ride,' said the King, 'to a King’s house, and a priest’s, and a house where you will learn much.’'

And at the gates of the dun, the King, who was a priest met them, and he was a grave man, and beside him stood his daughter, and she was as fair as the morn, and one that smiled and looked down.

'These are my two sons,' said the first King. 'And here is my daughter,' said the King who was a priest.

'She is a wonderful fine maid,' said the first King, 'and I like her manner of smiling.'

'They are wonderful well-grown lads,' said the second, 'and I like their gravity.'

And then the two Kings looked at each other, and said, 'The thing may come about.'

And in the meanwhile, the two lads looked upon the maid, and the one grew pale and the other red; and the maid looked upon the ground smiling.

'Here is the maid that I shall marry,' said the elder. 'For I think she smiled upon me.' But the younger plucked his father by the sleeve. 'Father,' said he, 'a word in your ear. If I find favour in your sight, might not I wed this maid, for I think she smiles upon me?'

'A word in yours,' said the King his father. 'Waiting is good hunting, and when the teeth are shut the tongue is at home.'

And now they were come into the dun, and feasted; and this was a great house, so that the lads were astonished; and the King that was a priest, sat at the end of the board and was silent, so that the lads were filled with reverence; and the maid served them smiling with downcast eyes, so that their hearts were enlarged.

And before it was day, the elder son arose, and he found the maid at her weaving, for she was a diligent girl. 'Maid,' quoth he, 'I would fain marry you.'

'You must speak with my father,' said she, and she looked upon the ground smiling, and became like the rose.

'And her heart is with me,' said the elder son, and he went down to the lake and sang,

Here we are, riding the sky

Painting the night, with sun

You and I, mirrors of light

Twin flames of fire

Lit in another time and place

I knew your name, I knew your face

Your love and grace

Past and present, now embrace

Worlds collide in inner space, unstoppable,

 The songs we play *)

And a little after, came the younger son. ‘'Maid,' quoth he, 'if our fathers were agreed, I would like well to marry you.'

'You can speak to my father,' said she, and looked upon the ground and smiled and grew like the rose.

'She is a dutiful daughter,' said the younger son, 'she will make an obedient wife.' And then he thought, 'What shall I do?' and he remembered the King her father was a priest ; so he went into the temple and sacrificed a weasel and a hare.

And presently, the news got about ; and the two lads and the first King were called into the presence of the King who was a priest, where he sat upon the high seat. 'Little I reck of gear,' said the King who was a priest, 'and little of power. For we live here among the shadows of things, and the heart is sick of seeing them. And we stay here in the wind like raiment drying, and the heart is weary of the wind. But one thing I love, and that is truth; and for one thing will I give my daughter, and that is the trial stone. For in the light of that stone, the seeming goes, and the being shows, and all things besides are worthless. Therefore, lads, if ye would wed my daughter, out foot, and bring me the stone of touch, for that is the price of her.'

'A word in your ear,' said the younger son to his father. ‘I think we do very well without this stone.’

'A word in yours,’' said his father, 'I am of your way of thinking; but when the teeth are shut the tongue is at home.' And he smiled to the King that was a priest.

And but the elder son got to his feet, and called the King that was a priest by the name of father. 'For whether I marry the maid or no, I will call you by that word for the love of your wisdom; and even now I will ride forth and search the world for the stone of touch.' So he said farewell and rode into the world.

'I think, I will go, too,' said the younger son, ' if I can have your leave. For my heart goes out to the maid.'

'You will ride home with me,' said his father. So they rode home, and when they came to the dun, the King had his son into his treasury. 'Here,' said he, 'is the touchstone which shows truth; for there is no truth but plain truth; and if you will look in this, you will see yourself as you are.'

And the younger son looked in it, and saw his face, as it were the face of a beardless youth, and he was well enough pleased; for the thing was a piece of a mirror. 'Here is no such great thing to make a work about,' said he; 'but, if it will get me the maid, I shall never complain. But what a fool is my brother to ride into the world, and the thing all the while at home!' 

And so, they rode back to the other dun, and showed the mirror to the King that was a priest; and when he had looked in it, and seen himself like a King, and his house like a King’s house, and all things like themselves, he cried out and blessed God. 'For now I know,' said he, ‘there is no truth but the plain truth; and I am a King indeed, although my heart misgave me.’' And he pulled down his temple, and built a new one; and then the younger son was married to the maid.

[Part 2]

[Bahasa]

In the Lobby (2)

'Traversing page after page, and sheet after sheet of the paper, that sometimes carried news or simply dispatched something, then his eyes focused on a headline, which caught his attention, 'The War,'

The Weasels and the Mice were always up in arms against each other. The dispute was getting hotter when a weasel, inactive from age and infirmities, was not able to catch mice as he once did. He, therefore, rolled himself in flour and lay down in a dark corner. A Mouse, supposing him to be food, leaped upon him, and was instantly caught and squeezed to death. Another perished in a similar manner, and then a third, and still others after them. A very old Mouse, who had escaped many a trap and snare, observed from a safe distance the trick of his crafty foe and said, “Ah! you that lie there, may you prosper just in the same proportion as you are what you pretend to be!”

Hearing this, the Mice declared war on the Weasels. However, in every battle, the Weasels carried off the victory, as well as a large number of the Mice, which they ate for dinner next day. In despair, the Mice called a council, and there it was decided that the Mouse army was always beaten because it had no leaders. So, a large number of generals and commanders were appointed from among the most eminent Mice.

To distinguish themselves from the soldiers in the ranks, the new leaders proudly bound on their heads, lofty crests and ornaments of feathers or straw. Then, after long preparation of the Mouse army in all the arts of war, inter alia, the Art of War of Sun Tzu, Sun Bin, Pang Juan and many more, they sent a challenge to the Weasels.

The Weasels accepted the challenge with eagerness, for they were always ready for a fight when a meal was in sight. They immediately attacked the Mouse army in large numbers. Soon, the Mouse line gave way before the attack and the whole army fled for cover. The privates easily slipped into their holes, but the Mouse leaders, could not squeeze through the narrow openings because of their head-dresses. Not one escaped the teeth of the hungry Weasels.

Greatness has its penalties, as well as the more honor, the more danger. This war was taking place in the Northern Hemisphere, and until the news was revealed, the war is still going on.

Something interesting, happenned in the Equatorial Earth. A King cried out, 'Stop the War!' His loyal followers, who always praised the King, even though they merely heard a piece of a sentence, felt proud and they said to all the people, 'It is the time for the King to become an Emperor! It's the time for the King to become an Emperor!'

A well-respected Noble Lady, observing, satirically chimed in, 'What? Become an Emperor? Does this country belong to your progenitors?'

At the Tavern, the vocalist's alluring tone was still running,

Takes more than combat gear, to make a man

Takes more than a license, for a gun

Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can

A gentleman will walk, but never run 

The man's gaze wandered around the newspaper again, and paused as he read 'Editorship,'

Virtue, Money, and Reputation, were traveling together; they were near relations, and as it happened, very good Friends.

'Well Cousins,' says Money, 'Though we travel the same Road, it is possible we may lose one another. 'Most certainly, it may be so, 'says Virtue. 'But if it should so happen,' says Reputation, 'How should we do to find one another? You must give me before-hand some certain Signs, that if I lose you, I may know you, or at least where you are.'

'With all my Soul,' says Money, wherever you see great progress made in Arts and Sciences, a Taste for ingenious Compositions, either in Verse or Prose, beautiful Pieces of Painting, and curious Sculpture, look for me, you may be sure I’m not far off.

'For my part,' says Virtue, 'I’m not so easy to be found when lost, and you must not imagine to find me in large and populous Cities. I much rather hide my self up in some Des'art. However, when you see great Men compassionate, and charitable to the Poor, who are uneasy at the Misfortunes of those for whom they’ve prosessed a Friendihip, and who think it their greatest Glory to serve them in Adversity, faithful Husbands, just Judges, zealous Ministers; reasonable and disinterested Conquerors, and Lovers the publick Good, ask for me, and you’ll certainly find me.'

'Very well,' says Reputation, 'I must tell you too, I’ve no mean opinion of my self, however, I must only give you one Precaution, and that is, Look well after me; take care, you don’t lose sight of me, if you do, all Signs and Tokens any one may give you, will stand you in no stead. For they that have once lost me, never find me more.'

The man immediately closed his newspaper, and put it back on the shelf, when another man, walked up to him. They greeted each other with greetings, and the man who had just arrived said, 'Pardon me Sir, I'm the guide who will take you around.' The man said, 'Okay, after this, where are we going?' The guide said, 'I will take you to a place where a statue of a man wearing a helmet, riding a racing motorbike has been found. The statue was unrecognizable, for it was under a pile of red bricks and the front of his helmet, covered with hardened cendol,' as they walked towards the hotel gates. A woman followed by her son and daughter, approaching, and the man said, 'Oh, they are my wife and children!' The guide nodded and said, 'I think the children will also be happy to see the statue, because it could be, part of a historical course.'

They left the hotel and so did I, and the vocalist's, faintly ending the song,

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York *)

Before the Moon going, she said, "If you want to accomplish Greatness, first thing fist, think about aid or serviceability. Being great is to take responsibility to others that you must give in exchange. So, Servicing and Taking on responsibility will not far from ventilation of Greatnesses. And Allah knows best."

Citations & References:
- Sieur De La Motte, One Hundred New Court Fables, Peter-Nofter-Row
- Rev. Geo. Fyler Townsend, M.A., Aesop Fables, George Routledge and Sons
*) "Englishman in New York" wrtitten by "Sting" Gordon Summer

Bahasa

In the Lobby (1)

"In the lobby of a hotel," twitterred the Moon after saying Basmalah and Salaam, "I noticed a man, whether he was waiting for someone or something, I don't know, all I know that, he was reading the newspaper. And let me tell you about reading the newspaper.

They say, reading the newspaper, like the two sides of the Moon, there is a dark side, and there is a bright side. The dark side, when you read the newspaper, it looks like an unemployed man, wasting his time. Moreover, sometimes, the news published turn out fake, wrong, or misrepresented the information, and reading such content confused the readers. Just like other news mediums or platforms, heart-wrenching news does not come with a trigger warning in newspapers. Such incidents make the reader feel unsafe or insecure.

As for the bright side, reading newspaper will keeping away your brain from senility. Reading newspaper is a good habit. A great sense of educational value could be provided by reading newspaper. Politics, economy, entertainment, sports, business, industry, trade and commerce informations, would be provided for you. Not only enhance your knowledge about general information, with this habit, will likewise improve your language skills and vocabulary.

Nowadays, political parties have started publishing their own newspapers, which, not all, but in general, exclusively highlight their good news and show the dark side of other parties. Such twisted facts, divide the nations and made the question of their political system. So, be aware of those seducers, whose seductions, were worse than Giacomo Girolamo Casanova's confession.

While the man flipping the newspaper, over and over, from a corner of the lobby, through the hotel's tavern door, flowing a rhythm from the club band vocalist, 

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

If "manners maketh man" as someone said

He's the hero of the day

It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile

Be yourself no matter what they say

After flipping through the newspaper several times, the man was attracted to an article,

'Great Prince! Who are the People's Love, and dearest Hope? A rising sun, whose early dawn, and orient Glories, make this Land already taste the sweet Presages of most happy Times : To You I offer—and my Zeal entirely reposes in Your Goodness—a Tale, Apollo himself dictated to me. It is indeed, Fable in appearance, but in reality, the greatest Truth. It is the Philosophy of Your innocent Age. Should Morality approach You, Sir, with serious looks, language severe, and grave Deportment, she might offend you. It is therefore, but reasonable, she should deck herself in Smiles, and gain You with a Thousand little Pleasantries.

In the following work, I’ve made her Gay and Airy. Another may, perhaps, do better, but till then, Great Prince, accept this sincere and loyal Offering of my poor Endeavours; if they produce the Fruit I wish, I shall esteem my self most Happy, and give Heaven all the Glory. The Duties of Kings are here traced out, under somewhat more than beautiful and smiling Images. Nay, I’ll go farther, if this be not enough, one Day, Your Example shall speak it more. However, do not neglect the other Points I have directed to all Men in general: Nothing relating to Mankind should You be a Stranger to. Great Kings are formed out of great Men. Strive then to make your self a Man, and when that is done, the King with ease will come to meet him. To make a man is an object truly great; this make a King far less. But to bring this important work in you, what Men are chosen to you all assistance!

Truth offers herself to you, let it be your constant care to look upon her, and her faithful testimony lay the foundation of all solid virtues in your Royal Heart. For when the age of instruction shall disapear, perhaps this same Truth my shew it self no more. This is a dreadful word, but this only what is usual. All kings are flattered, O Mighty Prince! Now is the time; think now to fence yourself secure against all future accidents.

Once upon a time, there was a certain beautiful Lady—for I expresly make Choice of Beauty, which goes Hand in Hand 'with Majesty. This Lady, fitting at her Toilet, her faithful Looking Glass, like a Friend, told her more Truths than One. 'You are charmingly beautiful!' says the looking glass, 'and I only do you Justice in telling you so. Nay, were one to examine Features you might almost vie with Venus herself. I say almost, but you must correct—and a little care will do it—some Faults I see in you, they are but small, I own, more bagatelles; but they are not withstanding of the highest importance of all the fine ladies to amend. To what use is all that Red ? Ask me why you alter those Graces Nature has bestowed on you? Soften a little those Looks ; that Smile, were it less studied, would be much more agreeable. All this Advice, the Lady approved of,and was resolved to follow just at the Instant when a great Crowd of Visitors came to see her.

She arises to receive them, and leaves her Looking Glass. The Apartments flatter eccho with her praises; all sooth and flatter her; her false complexion is most rafishing, so are her looks, her smiles, such charms, and so many graces, and nothing is wanting to form a perfect beauty. In short, so much was said, that the poor lady, quite forgot the advice of her faithful mirror.

You plainly see, Great Prince, that the fine lady is yourself, and the looking glass more then common Counsellor, so by happy instructions is fo indesatigably careful to form for us a perfect King. Heaven bless the Work. Whenever Flatterers approach You, only remember the kind Advices of the Looking Glass.

The man smiled and nodded, meanwhile, the vocalist's song, kept on flowing,

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

Whoo oh, I'm an alien, I'm a legal alien

I'm an Englishman in New York

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety

You could end up as the only one

Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society

At night a candle's brighter than the sun

The man's gaze, then moved across the newspaper, at a column, he stopped and read,

Once upon a time, the People of the Apes country, had a mind to chuse them a King, and they were resolved Popularity, should be the only Qualification, and he amongst them who deserved most should wear the Crown. And indeed, in this, they acted prudently, for Dependance grows uneasy when we have no manner of value and esteem for those who are our Governors, and from whom we receive our Laws.

The Convention, was held in the open Fields, where every one shewed Feats of his Ability, they leaped, danced and caper'd; for the Scepter, as I told you before, was to adjedged to the Apes of the greatest popularity. Now, you must know that there hung an apple on a pretty high branch, and he amongst them, that could so nimble as to snatch it away was to mount the Throne.

What will not Ambition, and the Hopes of Glory, prompt Mortals to? The Signal being given, the boldest advanced and jump’d, but to no purpose, they only shook the Fruit; one came short of the Bough,and another over shot it, and grasping only the Air retired in Discontent.

The Contention was long, but after many and many a fruitless Essay, and when the Fruit—the Branch having been severely shaken—was ready to fall where the Wind blew it, there came up two Pretenders who had not yet made any Attempt, one of whom was very nimble, the other a little heavy; they both started together, and the Fruit, by chance, fell just into the Mouth of the last. The nimble Ape was disappointed, all his Address availed him nothing, and he might value himself on his Perfections as long as he pleased.

The foolish Senate smiled, and loudly declared, he that had the Apple was their King, and to him only would they pay their Allegiance, Long Live the King thousand times repeated, and their filly shoutings and huzza’s even pierced the clouds.

'O my Conscience, this is very comical, a very pleasant decifion truly,' lays a venerable old Ape that sate by and observed everything, and smiled. 'How foolish and ridiculous are we ? But this comes of our so closely imitating Men : WE JUDGE BY EVENTS!'

Some authors who have written the Historical Collection of the Kingdom of the Apes, have varied in the relation of this election. For my part, I am in doubt what side to take, but in either case, the Moral is absolutely good.

Some Authors will have it, that the old venerable Ape being weakned with Age, sat down at the Root of the Tree, and being an Animal of much Knowledge and Experience in the Affairs of the World, and foreseeing, that after the Branch had been so much shaken, the Fruit would speedily fall off, very dexterously catched it as it felt, and that the People for his good sense and address, accordingly adjudged him the Sovereignty. INDEED, NO ONE IS A KING, BUT BY WISDOM.

[Part 2]

Bahasa

At the Coffee Shop

"Once, I paid a visit to a hotel called Varukai," said the Moon when she came, after saying Basmalah and Salaam. "Its shaped was spherical like a tied tortoise, a row of luxurious horse-drawn carriages lined at the front yard, and at the outer part, there was a coffee shop. As my ray of light came in through the window, I saw an artist, singing,

Los dol! Ndang lanjut lehmu WhatsApp-an!

[Relax! Just go on with your WhatsApp!]

Cek paket datane, yen entek tak tukokne

[Check the data-plan, if it runs out, I'll pay it]

Tenan, Dek, elingo, yen mantan nakokno kabarmu

[Indeed dear, if yuor ex asked]

Tandane iku ora rindu

[That's not a sound of yearning]

Nanging kangen kringet bareng awakmu

[But rather, longing to sweat with you]

The shop, according to the local, was once a traditional market, but it caught fire, then turned into a hotel, and ultimately, it's became a legal property of wealthy businessmen. It's not a strange thing in this Land I visited, that the Justice, is not for the People, but for the Businessmen.

Afterwards, I looked around, there were tables, each had 4 seats, and in the middle of the table, placed a table code-number. Then, I turned my attention randomly. First, to table 888, those were sitting there, quietly eating their dinner. And then I shifted to table 1122, the visitors were talking in whispers in a language I didn't understand. Next, I shifted to table 411, a visitor told his table mates,

Once upon a time, there came to this earth a visitor from a neighbouring planet. And he was met at the place of his descent by a great philosopher, who was to show him everything. First of all they came through a wood, and the stranger looked upon the trees. 'Whom have we here ?' said he. 'These are only vegetables,' said the philosopher. 'They are alive, but not at all interesting.'

'I don’t know about that,' said the stranger. 'They seem to have very good manners. Do they never speak?’'

'They lack the gift,' said the philosopher. 'Yet I think I hear them sing,' said the other. 'That is only the wind among the leaves,' said the philosopher.' I will explain to you the theory of winds : it is very interesting.'

'Well,' said the stranger, 'I wish I knew what they are thinking.'

'They cannot think,' said the philosopher. 'I don’t know about that,' returned the stranger : and then laying his hand upon a trunk, 'I like these people,' said he.

'They are not people at all,' said the philosopher. 'Come along.'

Next they came through a meadow where there were cows. 'These are very dirty people,' said the stranger. 'They are not people at all,' said the philosopher; and he explained what a cow is in scientific words which, I my self, didn't get it.

'That is all one to me,”'said the stranger. 'But why do they never look up?'

'Because they are graminivorous,' said the philosopher, 'And to live upon grass, which is not highly nutritious, requires so close an attention to business, that they have no time to think, or speak, or look at the scenery, or keep themselves clean.'

'Well,' said the stranger, 'That is one way to live, no doubt. But I prefer the people with the green heads.’

Next they came into a city, and the streets were full of men and women. 'These are very odd people,' said the stranger. 'They are the people of the greatest nation in the world,' said the philosopher. 'Are they indeed?' said the stranger. 'They scarcely look so.'

I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn't linger long to listen to their conversation. Then I paused for a moment, listening to the song of the singer,

Tak gawe los dol, blas aku ra rewel

[I'll take it easy, not fussy at all]

Nyanding sliramu sing angel disetel

[Close to the one, whom hard to change]

Tutuk-tutukno chattingan karo wong liyo

[Satify yourself, chatting with the other]

Rapopo, aku ra gelo

[It's okay, no offend]

Then, my focus shifted, to table 511, I didn't find what I was looking for. And move again to table 1234, I heard, one told another,

Two carthorses, a Gelding [a castrated male horse] and a Mare [a female horse or other equine animal especially when fully mature or of breeding age], were brought to Samoa, and put in the same field field with a Saddlehorse, to run free on the island. They were rather afraid to go near him, for they saw he was a Saddlehorse, and supposed he would not speak to them.

Now, the saddlehorse had never seen creatures so big, 'These must be great chiefs,' thought he, and he approached them civilly. 'Lady and gentleman,' said he, 'I understand you are from the colonies. I offer you my affectionate compliments, and make you heartily welcome to the island.'

The colonials looked at him askance, and consulted with each other. 'Who can he be?' said the Gelding. 'He seems suspiciously civil,' said the Mare. 'I do not think he can be much account,' said the Gelding.

'Depend upon it he is only an extremist,' said the Mare.

Then they turned to him. 'Go to the devil!’ said the gelding. 'I wonder at your impudence, speaking to persons of our quality!' cried the mare. The saddlehorse went away by himself, 'I was right,' said he, 'They are great chiefs!'

I went to another table, to table 1010, nothing, to table 637, no, table 707, nay. And at table 9999, I found a talk,

Four reformers met under a bramble bush. They were all agreed the world must be changed. 'We must abolish property,' said one. 'We must abolish marriage,' said the second. 'We must abolish God,' said the third. 'I wish we could abolish, the command to make a living,' said the fourth.

'Do not let us get beyond practical politics,' said the first. 'The first thing is to reduce men to a common level.’

'The first thing,' said the second, 'is to give freedom to the sexes.'

'The first thing,' said the third, 'is to find out how to do it.'

'The first step,' said the first, 'is to abolish all kind of Devinity Books.'

'The first thing,' said the second, 'is to abolish the laws.'

'Well, if so,' said the third, 'How about, first thing first, to abolish mankind?'

For a moment, I stopped, then accidentally, I overheard a brief conversation, at table 13, a visitor said to his colleague,

'This is not my own part, but was written by a writer from the West, that,

The Frog said, 'Be ashamed of yourself,'

'When I was a tadpole, I had no tail.'

'Just what I thought!' said the tadpole. 'You never were a tadpole!'

Not finding what I was looking for, I finally left the coffee shop, but still had time to hear the singer, ended the song,

Kok tutup-tutupi, nomere mbok ganti

[You covered it up, you've changed the number]

Firasat ati, angel diapusi

[Premonition, hard to be deceived]

Snajan mbok ganti tukang las

[Even if you change it to the welder]

Penjual sayur lan tukang gas

[Vegetable and gasman]

Titeni, bakale ngerti *)

[Just watch, it'll be caught]

The Owl asked, "Pardon me, O Moon! What were you looking for?" The Moon replied, "I was looking for tabel 333."

"Might be, it's not been presented yet," says the Owl. "But, the Sun told me, it's been existed!' the Moon commented, "Well then, just wait for it!" the Owl calming, "By the way, what have you found in that cofee shop then?' asked the Owl. The Moon concluded, "I found nothing but, Indecision has swept the Sound. And Allah knows best."

Citations & Reference:
- Robert Louis Stevenson, Fables, Charles Scribner's Sons
*) "Los Dol" written byDenny  CakNan

Bahasa

The Dog in The Manger

"Communication usually fails, except by accident," the Moon greeted after saying Basmalah and Salam. "In a formal communication, effective communication is needed. There are three meanings in effective communication, first, we got what we wanted—a moment of positive emotional connection or a tangible result. Second, we've been understood from our point of view, and that was communicated back to us. And third, the other party seems fine with the exchange; there were no indications of uncertainty, frustration, fear, or even anger. Hence, you have to notice all of the background structuring that makes your talk, understood. You have to quickly pull together, a collection of words whose single, clear meaning, will describe your image, and you have to assemble them into a recognizably ordered, nongraphical message, to speak.

When you speak, you gesture. Gesture is a fundamental component of language that contributes meaningful and unique information to a spoken message and reflects the speaker’s underlying knowledge and experiences. According to multiple social findings, body gestures and body postures, can communicate whether the listener is receptive, accepting, open or is resisting the message conveyed.

As usual, I'll tell you about my trip to a land called Bhumi Kukka. My radiance, highlighting three places. At the first place, I saw four beasts, the Lion, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Fox.

The Tyrant of the forest, the Lion, issued a proclamation, commanding all his subjects to repair immediately to his royal den. Among the rest, the Bear made his appearance, but, pretending to be offended with the steams, which issued from the Monarch’s apartments, was imprudent enough to hold his nose in His Majesty’s presence. This insolence, was so highly resented, that the Lion in a rage laid him dead at his feet.

The Monkey, observing what had passed, trembled for his carcase, and attempted to conciliate favour by the most abject flattery. He began with protesting that, for his part, he thought the apartments were perfumed with Arabian spices; and, exclaiming against the rudeness of the Bear, admired the beauty of His Majesty’s paws, so happily formed, he said, to correct the insolence of clowns. This fulsome adulation, instead of being received as he expected, proved no less offensive than the rudeness of the Bear, and the courtly Monkey was in like manner extended by the side of Sir Bruin.

And now His Majesty cast his eye upon the Fox. 'Well, Reynard,' said he, 'And what scent do you discover here?' 'Great Prince,' replied the cautious Fox, 'My nose was never esteemed my most distinguishing sense; and at present, I would by no means venture to give my opinion, as I have unfortunately got a terrible cold.' The Fox was still alive, and what the Fox kept in mind, that watch what you say, in the presence of greater power.

At the second place, I saw a donkey and a lapdog. Before going on, let me tell you this, 'People that live by example, should do well to look very narrowly of not saying, or doing things at a venture: for that may become one man, which would be absolutely intolerable in another, under differing circumstances.'

So, I saw an Ass, whose Master also owned a Lapdog. This Dog was a favorite and received many a pat and kind word from his Master, as well as choice bits from his plate. Every day the Dog would run to meet the Master, frisking playfully about and leaping up to lick his hands and face.

All this, the Ass saw with much discontent. Though he was well fed, he had much work to do; besides, the Master hardly ever took any notice of him.

Now, the jealous Ass got it into his silly head that all he had to do to win his Master’s favor, was to act like the Dog. So one day he left his stable and clattered eagerly into the house.

Finding his Master seated at the dinner table, he kicked up his heels and, with a loud bray, pranced giddily around the table, upsetting it as he did so. Then he planted his forefeet on his Master’s knees and rolled out his tongue to lick the Master’s face, as he had seen the Dog do. But his weight upset the chair, and Ass and man rolled over together in the pile of broken dishes from the table.

The Master was much alarmed at the strange behavior of the Ass, and calling for help, soon attracted the attention of the servants. When they saw the danger the Master was in from the clumsy beast, they set upon the Ass and drove him with kicks and blows back to the stable. There they left him to mourn the foolishness that had brought him nothing but a sound beating.

Behavior that is regarded as agreeable in one, might be very rude and impertinent in another.

On the third place, I saw a dog in the Manger.

I watched him asleep in a manger filled with hay, then was awakened by the Cattle, which came in tired and hungry, from working in the field. But the Dog would not let them get near the manger, and snarled and snapped as if it were filled with the best of meat and bones, all for himself.

The Cattle looked at the Dog in disgust. “How selfish he is!” said one. “He cannot eat the hay and yet he will not let us eat it who are so hungry for it!” the others chimed in.

Now the farmer came in. When he saw how the Dog was acting, he seized a stick and drove him out of the stable with many a blow for his selfish behavior, and said, 'Don't sacrifice others for your own pleasure!'

Then the Moon wrapped up by saying, "We need to sustain relationships with others in order to get what we think we need and want from life in a good way. As the first start, we need an awareness, to reveal the automatic and hidden processes that influence everyday talk, including our deep cultural learning and the nonconscious part of the mind, where much of this learning is stored. And Allah knows best."

Citations & Reference:
- J.B. Rundell, Aesop's Fables, Cassell, Petter and Galpin

Bahasa

The Decision (2)

The third man told the story,

'Sir,' said the first’s lieutenant, bursting into the Captain's cabin, 'The ship is going down.'

'Very well, Mr. Spoker,' said the Captain; 'But that is no reason for going about half-shaved. Exercise your mind a moment, Mr. Spoker, and you will see that to the philosophic eye, there is nothing new in our position: the ship (if she is to go down at all) may be said to have been going down since she was launched.’

'She is settling fast,' said the first lieutenant, as he returned from shaving. 'Fast, Mr. Spoker ?' asked the Captain. 'The expression is a strange one, for time (if you will think of it) is only relative.'

'Sir,' said the lieutenant, 'l think it is scarcely worth while to embark in such a discussion, when we shall all be in Davy Jones’s Locker [a metaphor for the bottom of the sea: the state of death among drowned sailors and shipwrecks] in ten minutes.'

'By parity of reasoning,' returned the Captain gently, 'it would never be worth while to begin any inquiry of importance; the odds are always overwhelming that we must die before we shall have brought it to an end. You have hot considered, Mr. Spoker, the situation of man,' said the Captain, smiling and shaking his head.

'I am much more engaged in considering the position of the ship,' said Mr. Spoker. 'Spoken like a good officer,' replied the Captain, laying his hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder.

On deck they found the men had broken into the spirit-room, and were fast getting drunk. 'My men,' said the Captain, 'There is no sense in this. The ship is going down, you will tell me, in ten minutes : well, and what then ? To the philosophic eye, there is nothing new in our position. All our lives long, we may have been about to break a bloodvessel or to be struck by lightning, not merely in ten minutes, but in ten seconds ; and that has not prevented us from eating dinner, no, nor from putting money in the Savings Bank. I assure you, with my hand on my heart, I fail to comprehend your attitude.'

The men were already too far gone to pay much heed. 'This is a very painful sight, Mr. Spoker,' said the Captain. 'And yet to the philosophic eye, or whatever it is,' replied the first lieutenant, 'They may be said to have been getting drunk since they came aboard.'

'I do not know if you always follow my thought, Mr. Spoker,' returned the Captain gently. 'But let us proceed!'

In the powder magazine they found an old salt smoking his pipe. 'Good God,' cried the Captain, 'What are you about ?'

'Well, sir,' said the old salt, apologetically, 'They told me as she were going down.'

'And suppose she were?' said the Captain. 'To the philosophic eye, there would be nothing new in our position. Life, ray old shipmate, life, at any moment and in any view, is as dangerous as a sinking ship; and yet, it is man’s handsome fashion to carry umbrellas, to wear india-rubber overshoes, to begin vast works, and to conduct himself in every way as if he might hope to be eternal. And for my own poor part, I should despise the man who, even on board a sinking ship, should omit to take a pill or to wind up his watch. That, my friend, would not be the human attitude.'

'I beg pardon, sir!' said Mr. Spoker. 'But what is precisely the difference between shaving in a sinking ship and smoking in a powder magazine ?' 'Or doing anything at all in any conceivable circumstances ?' cried the Captain. 'Perfectly conclusive; give me a cigar !'

And two minutes afterwards, 'Boom!' the ship blew up with a glorious detonation.'

Then, voices of the three men, echoing 'The Wellerman' song through the mangroves,

No line was cut, no whale was freed

The Captain's mind was not on greed

But he belonged to the whaleman's creed

She took that ship in tow

For forty days, or even more

The line went slack, then tight once more

All boats were lost, there were only four

But still that whale did go

As far as I've heard, the fight's still on

The line's not cut and the whale's not gone

The Wellerman makes his a regular call

To encourage the Captain, crew, and all

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One day, when the tonguin' is done

We'll take our leave and go 

Before she left, the Moon said, "And Allah knows best."

Citations & References:

- Robert Louis Stevenson, Fables, Charles Scribner's Sons

- Thomas Bewick, Bewick's Select Fables, Bickers & Sons

- Samuel Croxall, D.D., Fables of Aesop and Others, Simon Probasco

[Part 1]

Bahasa

The Decision (1)

"Plato suggests," said the Moon when she arrived after saying Basmalah and Salam. "A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers. In life, everyday, we are faced with situations that require us to make choices. Some are easy, and at times, some can be difficult. Making good decisions, as you all know, is a method that must be learned, and moreover, it is a skill that one has to sharpen.

That was so, I learned from three men, when my beam of light, shining through the window of a small hut in the midst of mangroves trees at an island called Bhumi Tala. They were singing,

There once was a ship that put to sea

And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea

The winds blew hard, her bow dipped down

Blow, me bully boys, blow

She had not been two weeks from shore

When down on her, a right whale bore

The captain called all hands and swore

He'd take that whale in tow

Before the boat had hit the water

The whale's tail came up and caught her

All hands to the side, harpooned and fought her

When she dived down below

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One day, when the tonguin' is done

We'll take our leave and go

When I came to know that the song was a sea-shanty, from New Zealand, the Wellerman, referred to supply ships owned by the Weller Brothers, who were amongst the earliest European settlers of Otago, in the history of whaling in New Zealand, one of them said, 'Let each one of us, tells a story!' And the other two replied, 'Good idea! But you tell us first!' So, the first man said, 'Procrastination is like a stream which flows slowly on, but yet it undermines every virtue, it rusts the mind, and gives a tincture to every action of one’s life. This term, does not allow time for long protracted deliberations. And how many, waste more of their time, in idly considering, which of two affairs to begin first?

'An indolent young man, being asked, why he lay in bed so long? Playfully he answered, 'Every morning of my life, I am hearing causes. I have two fine girls, their names are Perseverance and Laziness, close at my bed-side as soon as I awake, pressing their different request. One intreats me to get up, the other persuades me to lie still; and then, they alternately give me various reasons why I should rise, and why I should not. This detains me so long, that before the pleadings are over, it is time to go to dinner.'

Tomorrow is still the critical time when all is to be done. Tomorrow comes, it goes, and still, indolence, while it loses the substance, pleases itself with the shadow. And thus, men pass through life, like a bird through the air, and leave no track behind them, unmindful. The present time alone is ours, and should be managed with judicious care, since we cannot secure a moment to come, nor recal one that is past. It is no matter how many good qualities the mind may be possessed of; they all lie dormant, if we want the necessary vigour and resolution to draw them forth; for this slumber of the mind, leaves no difference between the greatest genius and the meanest understanding. Neither the mind, nor the body, can be active and energetic, without proper exertion. The trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from useless ease. Therefore, whatsoever your hand get to do, do it with all your might.

Then, it was the second man turn, he said, 'When we are commended for our performances by people of much flattery or little judgment, we should be sure not to value ourselves upon it; for want of this caution, many a vain unthinking man has at once exposed himself to the censure of the world.

A Man who used to play upon the harp, and sing to it, in little ale-houses, and made a shift in those narrow confined walls, to please the dull sots who heard him, from hence entertained an ambition of shewing his parts in the public theatre, where he fancied, he could not fail of raising a great reputation and fortune in a very short time. He was accordingly, admitted upon trial; but the spaciousness of the place, and the throng of the people, so deadened and weakened both his voice and instrument, that scarcely either of them could be heard, and where they could, his performance sounded so poor, so low, and wretched, in the ears of his refined audience, that he was universally hissed off the stage.

A buffoon, though he would not be fit to open his mouth in a senate, or upon a subject where sound sense and a grave and serious behaviour are expected, may be very agreeable to a company disposed to be mirthful over a glass of wine. It is not the diverting a little, insignificant, injudicious audience or society, which can gain us a proper esteem, or insure our success, in a place which calls for a performance of the first rate. We should have either allowed abilities to please the most refined tastes, otherwise, we may not only lose our labour, but make ourselves, ridiculous.

The third man's turn, he said, 'I don't know what the moral of the story I'm going to tell you about, but, just listen!'"

[Part 2]

Bahasa