EN103.26 Tale

Ott 2025

R. Apollania

5. The Unsociable Man

103.26 This was recorded on vellum: “Tale and Answers as an Example to Other Maids”

An unsociable, stingy man came with a tale of woe to Traest, who was Maid at Stavia. He said a storm had destroyed his house. He had prayed to Wralda, but Wralda had not lent any help. [104]

“Are you a true Frya?” Traest asked.

“From father to father,” the man answered.

“Then,” she said, “I will sow something in your mind, trusting that it may sprout, grow, and bear fruit.”

She went on, saying: “When Frya was a child, our mother stood naked and bare, unprotected from the rays of the sun. No one could she ask for help, nor was there anyone who could have lent her help. Then Wralda wrought in her conscience affinity and love, anxiety and fright. She looked round, her sense of affinity chose the best option and she sought refuge under the sheltering linden trees.

“But rain came and, with it, the discomfort of getting wet. But she had seen how the water ran down the drooping leaves, so she made a roof with sloping sides. She built it of sticks. But a storm wind came and blew rain under the roof. She had seen that the bole of the tree provided lee. Thus, she set to work and made a wall of sods and turfs — first on one side and then all round. The storm wind returned, raging yet more fiercely than before, and blew the roof away. But not once did she complain about the way of the world or to Wralda. She made a roof of reed, and laid stones upon it.

“Having learned how painful it is [105] to toil alone, she passed along to her children how and why she had done all these things. And the children wrought and thought together. In this way we came to have houses with porches, a lane, and covering linden trees to take up the rays of the sun. Eventually, they built a burg — and after that, all other buildings. If your house was not strong enough, you must try to make the next one better.”

“My house was strong enough,” he said, “but the rising water bore it up and the storm wind did the rest.”

“Where did your house stand then?” Traest asked.

“Along the Rhine,” the man answered.

“Did it not stand on a knoll or mound?” asked Traest.

“No,” he said, “my house stood lonely on the bank. I built it alone, but I could not make a mound there by myself.”

“This I already knew,” said Traest. “The Maidens have informed me. All your life you have detested people, fearing that you might have to give, or to do something for them. But one cannot get far with such an attitude, because Wralda, who is generous, turns away from the niggardly.

Festa gave us this advice, and above the gates of all burgs it is [106] carved in stone:

If you seek unending gain,’ said Festa,

‘then keep watch over your neighbors.’

‘Then teach your neighbors and help them,

for they will do the same unto you in return.

Is this advice not good enough for you? I can offer you no better.”

The man reddened in shame and he slouched away in silence.

Sandbach 1876

[p.143 cont.] This is written on Parchment—"Skrivfilt." Speech and Answer to other Maidens as an Example.

An unsociable, avaricious man came to complain to Troost, who was the maid of Stavia. He said a thunderstorm had destroyed his house. He had prayed to Wr-alda, but Wr-alda had given him no help. Are you a true Frisian? Troost asked. From father and forefathers, replied the man. Then she said, I will sow something in your conscience, in confidence that it will take root, grow, and bear fruit. She continued, When Frya was born, our mother stood naked and bare, unprotected from the rays of the sun. She could ask no one, and there was no one who could give her any help. Then Wr-alda wrought in her conscience inclination and love, anxiety and fright. She looked round her, and her inclination chose the best. She sought a hiding-place under the sheltering lime-trees, but the rain came, and the difficulty was that she got wet. She had seen [p.145] how the water ran down the pendent leaves; so she made a roof of leaves fastened with sticks, but the wind blew the rain under it. She observed that the stem would afford protection. She then built a wall of sods, first on one side, and then all round. The wind grew stronger and blew away the roof, but she made no complaint of Wr-alda. She made a roof of rushes, and put stones upon it. Having found how hard it is to toil alone, she showed her children how and why she had done it. They acted and thought as she did. This is the way in which we became possessed of houses and porches, a street, and lime-trees to protect us from the rays of the sun. At last we have built a citadel, and all the rest. If your house is not strong enough, then you must try and make another. My house was strong enough, he said, but the flood and the wind destroyed it. Where did your house stand? Troost asked. On the bank of the Rhine, he answered. Did it not stand on a knoll? Troost asked. No, said the man; my house stood alone on the bank. I built it alone, but I could not alone make a hillock. I knew it, Troost answered; the maidens told me. All your life you have avoided your neighbours, fearing that you might have to give or do something for them; but one cannot get on in the world in that way, for Wr-alda, who is kind, turns away from the niggardly. Fâsta has advised us, and it is engraved in stone over all our doors. If you are selfish, distrustful towards your neighbours, teach your neighbours, help your neighbours, and they will return the same to yon. If this advice is not good enough for you, I can give you no better. The man blushed for shame, and slunk away.

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EN100.01 Teachings2 ᐊ previous/next ᐅ EN011.13 Tex

In other languages

DE103.26 Nächstenhilfe

ES103.26 Vitela

NL103.26 Vellum

NO103.26 Vellum