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.[1]
“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.
Notes
- ↑ ‘sheltering linden trees’ (WÁRANDA LINDA) — Fryas expression can be seen reflected in both veranda, a word borrowed from India (Hindi: बरामदा), and alinda (Pali: अलिन्द), both referring to a sheltered terrace before a house.
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EN100.01 Teachings2 ᐊ previous/next ᐅ EN011.13 Tex
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Other English translations
Chapters R4 and R5: Sandbach 1876