Large Promises

"What I'm going to tell you, is only a tale," the Moon started to tell a story when she appeared after saying Basmalah and Salaam. "It's said, once more, it's said, in ancient China, long before Luo Guanzhong wrote "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," there, reigned a King, whose name was unknown, for this was only a Tale.

The King, was said, once more, the King, was said, had a strange habit, he often made promises, or rather, his promises are often broken. Many of his promises, had'nt been fulfilled, or rather, gone with the wind. Once, he visited the fisherman village, and promised them, that, there, he would build a great harbor that no eye had ever seen. However, after waiting for five years, there was no news, and the fishermen's representatives were annoyed, and asked the King's eunuchs to make it happen immediately. In the end, the answer was, 'it's waiting for an investors', or rather, 'No funds!'

So, one day, the King got sick, that according to the course of the world, when physicians had given him over, betook himself to his prayers, and vow’d a sacrifice of a thousand oxen ready down upon the nail, to either Tiānzhǔ, the Lord of Heaven, or Wenchang Wang, the God of Culture and Literature, which of the two, would deliver him from this disease.

'Ah my dear, 'says Consort of the King, 'have a care what you promise, for where would you have these oxen if you should recover? Don't end up like a story of the Tortoise and the Eagle.

The Tortoise, weary of his condition, by which he was confined to creep upon the ground, and being ambitious to have a prospect, and look about him, gave out, that if any Bird would take him up into the air, and show him the world, he would reward him with a discovery of many precious stones, which he knew were hidden in a certain place of the earth.

The Eagle undertook to do as he desired; and when he had performed his commission, demanded the reward. But finding the Tortoise could not make good his words.

The Eagle then offered to take him up, once more. The Tortoise agreed and the Eagle carried him almost to the clouds, but suddenly let him go. He fell to the ground, dashing his shell to pieces. The Eagle then landed and made a meal of the poor Tortoise. 

'Sweet heart, 'says the King, 'thou talkst like a fool. Have the gods nothing else to do, dost think, then to leave their bus’ness, and come down to sue me in an action of debt?'

The deities, according to their faith, restor’d him however for that bout, to make tryal of his honesty and good faith. He was no sooner up, but for want of living oxen, he made out his number upon past, and offer’d them up in form upon an altar.

For this mockery, divine vengeance pursued him, and he had an apparition come to him in a dream, that bad him go and search in such a place near the coast, and he should find a considerable treasure, alone.

Away he went without escort, and as he was looking for the mony, fell into the hands of pyrates. He begg’d hard for his liberty, and offered a thousand gold coins for his ransome; but they would not trust him, and so, he was carried away, and sold afterwards as a slave for as many groats.

The fishermen, who heard the end of the King, could only pat their chests. One of them said, 'As men of honour ought to consider calmly, how far the things which they promise may be in their power, before they venture to make promises upon this account, because the non-performance of them, will be apt to excite an uneasiness within themselves, and tarnish their reputation in the eyes of other people; so fools and cowards should be as little rash in this respect as possible, lest their impudent forgeries draw upon them, the resentment of those whom they disappoint, and that resentment, makes them undergo smart, but deserved chastisement. The man who is so stupid a knave as to make a lying promise where he is sure to be detected, receives the punishment of his folly unpitied by all that know him.'

Another commented, 'Honesty is the best policy; and one of the best poets has further stamped a value upon the good old maxim, by his assertion that 'an honest man is the noblest work of Divine.' Once, I heard a story,

A man was felling a tree on the bank of a river, and by chance, let his hatchet slip out of his hand, which dropt into the water, and immediately sunk to the bottom. Being therefore in great distress for the loss of his tool, he sat down and bemoaned himself most lamentably.

Upon this, Wenchang Wang, also known as Wendi, appeared to him, and being informed of the cause of his complaint, dived to the bottom of the river, and coming up again, showed the man a golden hatchet, demanding if that were his. He denied that it was. Upon which Wendi dived a second time, and brought up a silver one. The man refused it, alleging likewise that this was not his. He dived a third time, and fetched up the individual hatchet the man had lost; upon sight of which the poor wretch was overjoyed, and took it with all humility and thankfulness.

Wendi was so pleased with the fellow’s honesty, that he gave him the other two into the bargain, as a reward for his just dealing. The man goes to his companions, and giving them an account of what had happened, one of them went presently to the river’s side, and let his hatchet fall designedly into the stream. Then sitting down upon the bank, he fell a weeping and lamenting, as if he had been really and sorely afflicted.

Wendi appeared as before, and diving, brought him up a golden hatchet, asking if that was the hatchet he lost. Transported at the precious metal, he answered, yes; and went to snatch it greedily. But Wendi detesting his abominable impudence, not only refused to give him that, but would not so much as let him have his own hatchet again.

The fishermen who listened, sighed, and the older said, 'This is a lesson for us. Let's get back to work!' They returned to the sea, singing,

So, after all is said and done

I know I'm not the only one

Life indeed can be fun

If you really want to

Sometimes, living out your dreams

Ain't as easy as it seems

You wanna fly around the world

In a beautiful balloon

Life, o life, o life, o life

Doo doo doo doo doo *)

The Moon wrapped up with, "The paths of Truth and Integrity are so plain, direct, and easy, that the man who pursues them, stands in no need of subtle contrivances to deceive the world. He listens to the honest monitor within, and makes good his professions with his practice: neither gold nor silver hatchets can make him deviate from it; and whatever situation he may be placed in, he is sure to meet the esteem of all men within the circle in which he moves, and has besides the constant pleasure of feeling self-approbation within his own breast. And Allah know best."

Citations & References:
- Laura Gibbs, Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop’s Fables in Latin, Lulu Publishers
- Josep Jacobs, The Fables of Aesop, Macmillan & Co
- Thomas Bewick, Bewick's Select Fables, Bickers & Sons
- Samuel Croxall, D.D., Fables of Aesop and Others, Simon Probasco
*) "Life" written by Des'ree Weekes & Prince Sampson

Bahasa