Priče iz davnine - en/hr

Croatian Tales of Long Ago by

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić

Priče iz davnine

GLENART PUBLISHING 1

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić (18 April 1874 – 21 September 1938) – was a Croatian writer. Within her native land, as well as internationally, she has been praised as the best Croatian writer for children.

She was born on 18 April 1874 in Ogulin into a well-known Croatian family of Mažuranić. Her father Vladimir Mažuranić was a writer, lawyer and historian. Her grandfather was the famous politician, the Croatian ban and poet Ivan Mažuranić.

Ivana was largely home-schooled.

Upon marriage to Vatroslav Brlić, a politician and a prominent lawyer in 1892, she moved to Brod na Savi (today Slavonski Brod) where she entered another known family and lived there for most of her life. She became the mother of six children, and devoted all her work to her family and education.

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić started writing poetry, diaries and essays rather early but her works were not published until the beginning of the 20th century.

It was in 1913 when her book The Marvelous Adventures and Misadventures of Hlapić the Apprentice was published that really caught the literary public’s eye. In the story, the poor apprentice Hlapić accidentally finds his master’s lost daughter as his luck turns for the better.

Her book Croatian Tales of Long Ago (Priče iz davnine), published in 1916. In the book Mažuranić created a series of new fairy-tales, but using names and motifs from the Slavic mythology of Croats.

Brlić-Mažuranić was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times – in 1931, 1935, 1937 and in 1938. In 1937 she also became the first woman accepted as a Corresponding Member into the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts.

After a long battle with depression, she committed suicide.

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CROATIAN TALES OF LONG AGO PRIÄŒE IZ DAVNINE

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Croatian Tales of Long Ago by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić

TRANSLATED BY F. S. COPELAND

NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS 1922

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Priče iz davnine Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić

ILUSTRIRAO VLADIMIR KIRIN

BAKAR GLENART PUBLISHING 2017.

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Patrons / Pokrovitelji: Matilda Ružić Foundation / Fondacija Matilda Ružić “The Guardians of the Memorial Library and Collections Mažuranić – Brlić – Ružić” Association Udruga “Štovatelji spomeničke knjižnice i zbirke Mažuranić – Brlić – Ružić” Villa Ružić – Rijeka

Editorial board / Urednički odbor Teodoro Darko Mažuranić (Chairperson / predsednik) Theodor de Canziani (Executive secretary / izvrsni tajnik) Marijana Dworski Alicija Višnevetska

The text is made by publications “Croatian Tales of Long Ago”., Frederick A. Stokes Company publishers, New York, USA., 1922 Tekstovi bajki “Priča iz davnine” preuzeti su iz autorizovanog izdanja iz 1926. koje je tiskano kao treće izvanredno izdanje Matice Hrvatske i ujedno posljednje za života Ivane Brlić-Mažuranić.

Copyright © by Glen Art d.o.o., 2017. Pimorje 43, Bakar 51222, Croatia

“Croatian Tales of Long Ago” (text) / “Priče iz davnine” (tekst) - Public domain / Javno vlasništvo Ownership of the illustration / Vlasništvo nad na ilustracijama - Matilda Ružić Foundation

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TO THE CENTENARY OF THE FIRST EDITION POVODOM STOGODIÅ NJICE PRVOG IZDANJA

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Contents

Letter to her Son, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 How Quest Sought the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Fisherman Plunk and His Wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Reygoch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Stribor’s Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Little Brother Primrose and Sister Lavender . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Bridesman Sun and Bride Bridekins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383 Essential information of the translator and the illustrator . . . 390

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Sadržaj

Pismo sinu Ivanu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Ribar Palunko i njegova žena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Regoč . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Šuma Striborova . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Bratac Jaglenac i sestrica Rutvica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Sunce djever i Neva Nevičica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347 Bilješke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381 Osnovni podatci o prevoditeljici i ilustratoru . . . . . . . . . . . . 391

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Letter to her Son, John Pismo sinu Ivanu

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Letter to her Son, John

DEAR JOJN, * I see from a friend’s letter that what I have been expecting for some time has actually happened: My book, “Tales of Long Ago” has achieved a fate of its own, a fate not unlike that of Homer’s poetry.

Except that it has reached that point far more quickly. Hardly ten years have passed since my collection was first published, and already its readers are asking?, “Are they fables or folk-tales?” “Perhaps it’s the work of one author?”. “Was Homer really a man?”

“A person?”. “Is he perhaps fiction, a legend, a concept?”

“The very spirit of traditional poetry?” However gratefully and happily, in centuries to come, I may come to accept this analogy as a wonderful gift (this persistence of fate), for the moment, I must humbly reject it.

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Pismo sinu Ivanu

DRAGI IVO, Iz pisma gospođe (…) vidim da se obistinilo ono što već dugo naslućujem. Knjiga Priče iz davnine imade već “svoju sudbinu” A ta je sudbina (…) jednaka sudbini Homerovih pjesmotvora. Samo što ovaj puta stizava ubrzanim tempom, 100 : 1. Jedva je prošlo 10 godina otkako su te priče izašle, a već se većina čitalaca pita: “Tko je napisao te priče? Da li narod? Puk? Ili pojedinac? Je li Homer živo biće, individuum, ili je on fikcija, legenda, pojam, duh narodne poezije? – Ovu analogiju, koju ću (ustraje li sudbina) nakon nekoliko stoljeća zahvalno i radosno primiti kao najveći njezin dar, želim za sada skromno otkloniti.

Uspjele ili neuspjele, manjkave ili savršene, te su Priče koli u svojoj biti, toli u svojoj izvedbi čisto i potpuno moje 11 15

Letter to her Son, John Successful or unsuccessful, flawed or perfect, these ’Tales’ are, as much in their essence as in their rendition, utterly and completely my original work. They were created using names and characters from Slavic mythology, and it is only those quite superficial connections which actually stem from our national mythological tradition. Neither a scene nor a fable, not a plot, not even a trend in these tales can wholly be found in any of our myths and legends. (Those who have even a cursory knowledge of it know for a fact that, unfortunately, our entire Slavic mythology is but a chain of disconnected guesswork; a field of ruins, out of which just the names protrude like standing stones).

What inherent connection ’Tales of Long Ago’ may have with national balladry is an entirely different question. From that angle, my stories really are not my own. These tales are rather: narrations, revelations, hopes, beliefs and aspirations arising from the very soul of the Slavic peoples. It is from the Slavic earth and air, the white mist rising from Slavic waters and seas, from Slavic snows and blizzards, from the corn from Slavic fields, that our flesh and bones — our Slavic flesh and bones — are conceived and renewed. Our soul is created from Slavic feeling and emotion, from Slavic opinions and decisions.

It is when we manage to delve deep within ourselves and to write straight from our hearts that what we write truly is Slavic national poetry. It is to this end and from this stance that I happily 12 16

Pismo sinu Ivanu originalno djelo. One su sačinjene oko imena i likova uzetih iz slavenske mitologije i to je sva vanjska veza koje one imaju s narodnom mitološkom predajom. Ni jedan prizor, ni jedna fabula, ni jedan razvoj, ni jedna tendenca u ovim pričama nisu nađeni gotovi u našoj mitologiji (Tko se iole bavio studijom mitologije, znade uostalom, da je nažalost naša slavenska mitologija u svojoj cjelini jedan sklop malone sasvim nesuvislih nagađanja, jedno polje ruševina, iz kojeg kao uspravni stupovi vire baš samo imena).

Posve je drugo pitanje nutarnja veza koju Priče iz davnine imadu s narodnim pjesništvom. S toga gledišta moje su priče zaista ne moje, nego su one pričanja, predviđanja, nade, vjerovanja i uzdanja cijele duše slavenskog plemena.

Iz slavenske zemlje i zraka, iz bijelih para slavenskih voda i mora, iz slavenskih snjegova i mećava, iz žita slavenskih poljana stvara se i obnavlja se naše tijelo – tijelo svih nas Slavena. A iz slavenskih čuvstava, ganuća, iz slavenskih naziranja i zaključivanja sastavljena je naša duša. Kada nam dakle uspije da uronimo sasma u sebe, da napišemo nešto ravno iz srca našega, tada je sve ono što je tako napisano, zaista prava slavenska narodna poezija. U to ime i s te strane radosno prihvaćam da se ne zamijeti ime autora (premda jasno kao takav stoji napisan na svakom primjerku Priča iz davnine) i da se kaže: “Ovo i ovako priča duša slavenskog plemena.”

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Letter to her Son, John accept the author’s name not being noticed (although, of course, it is clearly written on every copy of “Tales of Long Ago”) and that it is said: “This is how the spirit of the Slavic peoples gives voice” I’ve often been asked about the inspiration for the Tales, but to me ’inspiration’ seems too scholarly a word. It destroys the image of “story-telling”. For all that; as I remember, ’inspiration’ came as follows It was a winter evening, our home was unusually quiet.

Nobody was anywhere; the big rooms in semi-darkness emitted a secret aura. The fires were all lit. Suddenly, from the next room, the big dining-room, — “Knock! Knock!” could be heard.

“Who’s that?”, I asked. No answer. Once again: “Knock, knock”.

“Who’s that?”. But again there was no answer. Containing my fear, I tiptoed stealthily into the large dining-room, and all at once there was a merry burst, a bang, a little explosion. Pine branches snapped and crackled in the big open fireplace, and a shower of little sparks flew towards me like a host of stars. But when I cupped my hands to catch this brightly shining gift, the sparks flew up into the high ceiling and .... were no more. (At that time I was reading Afanasyev on “ The Slavs’ Poetic Outlook on Nature”.) And it was at that moment that it suddenly came to me — “Croatian tales!” So it was, that that host of sparkling stars was captured after all - in “Stribor’s Forest”, a tale that was born of those stars! After that first story, the others appeared, in fact another seven, and without any especial “inspiration”. And 14 18

Pismo sinu Ivanu O praktičnoj genezi Priča pitali su me već često. Meni se riječ “geneza” čini odviše učena. Ona razara predodžbu “pričanja”. Ipak se mogu sjetiti da je zapravo bilo s genezom ovako: Jedne zimske večeri bio je naš dom, protiv običaja, potpuno tih. Nigdje nikoga, sobe velike, svuda polutama, nastrojenje tajnovito, u pećima oganj. Iz posljednje sobe – velike blagovaonice – začuje se: “kuc! kuc!” – “Tko je?” pitam. – Ništa! Opet: “kuc! kuc!” – “Tko je?” – i opet ništa.

Nekim tajnovitim strahom stupih u veliku blagovaonicu, i najednom: radosni prasak, udarac, mala eksplozija! U velikom kaminu prasnula je na vatri borova cjepanica, – na vratašca kamina izlete mi u susret iskrice, kao da je roj zvjezdica, a kad raskrilih ruke da uhvatim taj živi zlatni darak, podigle se one pod visoki strop i … nije ih više bilo. – Čitala sam u ono doba Afanasjeva “Poetičeskie vozzrenija slavjan na prirodu” – padoše mi u taj tren na pamet “domaći”. I tako onaj roj iskrica-zvjezdica ipak bi uhvaćen – i to u Šumi Striborovoj – i ona nastade uslijed njih. Iza ove priče nastadoše ostale, njih još sedam, bez ikakve zasebne “geneze”, dakle su i one kao i Šuma Striborova izletjele kao iskre sa ognjišta jednog drevnog slavenskog doma. Šteta što se ovako raščinja nešto čemu ipak pravi i prvotni začetak naći ne možeš. (…)

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Letter to her Son, John so, like “Stribor’s Forest”, those stories too, flew like sparks out from the hearth of an age-old Slavic home.

It’s a shame to dig too deep when actually you will never really find the true and primary origin.

With lots of love. An enchanting autumn evening beckons me outside, into this ineffably beautiful story, of which, thank God, we have no hope of finding the source.

* Translated by Marijana Dworski 16 20

Pismo sinu Ivanu Grlim Te, a prekrasno jesensko veče zove me van u prirodu, u tu neizrecivo divnu priču, kojoj, hvala Bogu, zaludu tražimo pronaći genezu.

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How Quest Sought the Truth Kako je Potjeh traĹžio istinu

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How Quest Sought the Truth

I. ONCE upon a time very long ago there lived an old man in a glade in the midst of an ancient forest. His name was Witting, and he lived there with his three grandsons. Now this old man was all alone in the world save for these three grandsons, and he had been father and mother to them from the time when they were quite little. But now they were fullgrown lads, so tall that they came up to their grandfather’s shoulder, and even taller. Their names were Bluster, Careful and Quest.

One spring morning old Witting got up early, before the sun had risen, called his three grandsons and told them to go into the wood where they had gathered honey last year; to see how the little bees had come through the winter, and whether they had waked up yet from their winter sleep. Careful, Bluster and Quest got up, dressed, and went out.

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Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu

I. BILO JE TO u vrlo davno doba.

Na jednoj krčevini u staroj bukovoj gori živio starac Vješt sa svoja tri unuka. Desilo se, daje starac ostao sam sa svojom unučadi te ih othranio od malena. Bili pak unuci sad već poodrasli momci, djedu do ramena i poviše ramena. Zvali se oni: Ljutiša, Marun i Potjeh. Jednog jutra u proljeće ustade stari Vješt rano prije sunca, probudi svoja tri unuka i reče im: da idu u šumu, gdje su lani med vadili, i da vide kako li su pčelci prezimili i izlaze li već pčelice od zimskoga sna. Marun, Ljutiša i Potjeh ustadoše, opremiše se i odoše.

Bijaše dobar komad puta do onoga mjesta, gdje bijahu pčelci. No sva tri brata poznavahu šumske prolaze, zato uđoše sigurno i radosno u šumu. Nego u šumi bijaše još nekud tamno i nemilo, jer sunce još ne bješe granulo, niti se čule ptice ili 21 25

How Quest Sought the Truth It was a good way to the place where the bees lived. Now all three brothers knew every pathway in the woods, and so they strode cheerily and boldly along through the great forest. All the same it was somewhat dark and eerie under the trees, for the sun was not yet up and neither bird nor beast stirring. Presently the lads began to feel a little scared in that great silence, because just at dawn, before sunrise, the wicked Rampogusto, King of Forest Goblins, loves to range the forest, gliding softly from tree to tree in the gloom.

So the brothers started to ask one another about all the wonderful things there might be in the world. But as not one of them had ever been outside the forest , none could tell the others anything about the world and so they only became more and more depressed. At last, to keep up their courage a bit, they be gan to sing and call upon All-Rosy to bring out the Sun : Little lord All-Rosy bright, Bring golden Sun to give us light; Show-thyself, All-Rosy bright, Loora-la, Loora-la lay!

Singing at the top of their voices, the lads walked through the woods towards a spot from where, they could see a second range of mountains. As they neared the spot they saw a light above those mountains brighter than they had ever seen before, 22 26

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu zvjerke. Zato postade braći nekako strašno u ovoj tišini, jer se zorom prije sunca rado povlačio šumom, sve od krošnje do krošnje, zlobni Bjesomar, vladar svih šumskih bjesova.

Zato braća stadoše jedan drugoga ispitivati: što li sve ima po svijetu? No kako ne bijaše ni jedan od njih još nikada izašao iz one šume, nijesu jedan drugome znali da pripovijedaju o svijetu, i tako se još više obneveseliše. Ele, kako bi se malo obodrili, stadoše oni pjevati i ovako dozivati Svarožića, da izvede sunce: Moj božicu Svarožiću.

Zlatno sunce, bijeli svijet!

Moj božicu Svarožiću.

Lunajlije, lunaj le!

Tako pjevajući šumom u sav glas iziđoše na jedno mjesto, sa kojega se vidjelo drugo brdo. Kad oni tamo, ali navrh onoga brda sinu sjajnost, kakove još nikada ne bijahu vidjeli, a treptjela je kao zlatan barjak.

Protrnuše braća od čuda, a ona svjetlost iščezne s brda i stvori se bliže povrh jednog velikog kamena, zatim još bliže povrh stare lipe i napokon zasjaji kao čisto zlato upravo pred njima. I ukaza im se prekrasno momče u blistavu odijelu, a oko njega zlatna kabanica trepti kao zlatan barjak. Ne mogu braća ni da pogledaju u lice momčetu, nego pokriše oči rukama od velikog straha.

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How Quest Sought the Truth and it fluttered like a golden banner.

The lads were dumbfounded with amazement, when all of a sudden the light vanished from off the mountain and reappeared above a great rock nearer at hand, then still nearer, above an old lime tree, and at last shone like burnished gold right in front of them. And then they saw that it was a lovely youth in glittering raiment, and that it was his golden cloak which fluttered like a golden banner. They could not bear to look upon the face of the youth, but covered their eyes with their hands for very fear.

“Why do you call me, if you are afraid of me, you silly fellows?” laughed the golden youth – for he was All-Rosy. “You call on All-Rosy, and then you are afraid of All-Rosy. You talk about the wide world, but you do not know the wide world.

Come along with me ! and I will show you the world, both earth and heaven, and tell you what is in store for you.”

Thus spoke All-Rosy, and twirled his golden cloak so that he caught up Bluster, Careful and Quest, all three in its shimmering folds. Round went All-Rosy and round went the cloak, and the brothers, clinging to the hem o f the cloak, spun round with it, round and round and round again, and all the world passed before their eyes. First they saw all the treasure and all the lands and all the possessions and the riches that were then in the world. And they went on whirling round and round and round again, and saw all the armies, and all spears and all 24 28

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu –Sto me zovete, kad me se bojite, momčići ludovčići! – nasmije se blistavo momče, a bijaše ono Svarožić. – Svarožića zovete, Svarožića se bojite; bijeli svijet spominjete, bijeloga svijeta ne poznate! Nego hajde da vam pokažem svijet: i zemlju i nebo i da vam rečem, što vam je suđeno. – To reče Svarožić te omahnu zlatnom kabanicom i zahvati zlatnim skutom Ljutišu, Maruna i Potjeha. Omahnuo je Svarožić, vije se kabanica, a braća na skutu kabanice viju se i kruže s njom; viju, viju, kruže, kruže, a pred njima poče prolaziti cijeli svijet. Ponajprije vidješe sve blago i sva polja i sva dobra i sva bogatstva, što ih onda na svijetu bijaše. Pa onda viju, viju, kruže, kruže i vide sve vojske i sva koplja i sve sulice i sve vojskovođe i sve plijenove, što ih tada na svijetu bijaše. Pa onda još jače viju, viju, kruže, kruže i odjedared vide sve zvijezde i sve zvjezdice i mjesec i vlašiće i vjetar i sve oblake. Od tolikog viđenja sve se smutilo braći, a ono kabanica sveudilj trepti i šumi i šušti kao zlatan barjak.

Jedva u neke nekavice otpusti se zlatan skut, a Ljutiša, Marun i Potjeh nađoše se opet na tratini. Pred njima zlatno momče Svarožić stoji kao i prije i ovako im kaže: –Evo sada ste, momčići ludovčići, vidjeli sve, što na svijetu ima. A sad čujte, što vam je suđeno i što treba da radite za svoju sreću. Čim on to reče, a braća se još više uplašiše i dobro napnu pamet i uši, kako bi sve točno upamtili. – Al uto Svarožić već bijaše progovorio: – Evo, što vam je raditi: ostanite na krčevini i 25 29

How Quest Sought the Truth arrows and all the captains and all plunder which were then in the world. And the cloak twirled yet more quickly, round and round and round again, and all of a sudden they saw all the stars, great and small, and the moon and the Seven Sisters and the Winds and all the clouds. The brothers were quite dazed with so many sights, and still the cloak went on twirling and whirling with a rustling, rushing sound like a golden banner. At last the golden hem fluttered down; and Bluster, Careful and Quest stood once more on the turf. Before them stood the golden youth All-Rosy as before, and said! to them.

“There, my lads, now you have seen all there is to see in the world. Listen to what is in store for you and what you must do to be lucky.”

At that the brothers became more scared than ever, yet they pricked up their ears and paid good heed, so as to remember every thing very carefully. But All-Rosy went on at once: “There! this is what you must do. Stay in the glade, and don’t leave your grandfather until he leaves you ; and do not go into the world, neither for good nor for evil, until you have repaid your grandfather for all his love to you.” And as All-Rosy said this, he twirled his cloak round and vanished, as though he had never been; and lo, it was day in the forest.

But Rampogusto, King of the Forest Goblins, had seen and heard everything. Like a wraith of mist he had slipped from tree to tree and kept himself hidden from the brothers among the 26 30

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu ne ostavljajte djeda dok on vas ne ostavi, i ne idite u svijet ni za dobrim ni za lošim poslom, dok ne vratite ljubav djedu. – Kad ovo izreče Svarožić, omahne kabanicom i nestane ga kao da ga nikad bilo nije, a u šumi nasta bijeli dan.

Ovo sve slušao i gledao Bjesomar, vladar šumskih bjesova.

Bijaše se on došuljao kao magla, sve od krošnje do krošnje, za braćom te se sakrio među granama stare bukve.

Već odavna bijaše Bjesomar zamrzio starca Vješta.

Zamrzio ga, kako pogana čeljad mrzi pravedna čovjeka, a mrzio ga ponajviše poradi toga, što starac bijaše na krčevini zaveo sveti oganj, da se nikad ne ugasi. A Bjesomaru se ljuto kašljalo od svetoga dima.

Ne svidje se dakle Bjesomaru, da braća poslušaju Svarožića te da ostanu uz djeda i da ga služe, nego on zamisli, da naudi Vještu i da mu kakogod pobuni unučad.

Zato, kad se Ljutiša, Marun i Potjeh osvijestiše od onolikog čuda i kad se podigoše da pođu kući, Bjesomar brže bolje, kao oblak sa vjetrom, strugne u šumski dol, gdje bijaše velika rakita.

U rakiti pak puno sve1 bjesova. Sitni, nakazni, guravi, mrljavi, razroki i svakojaki, igrali se oni po rakiti. Tako oni zviždali, pištali, ciculjigali i lakrdijali. Bijahu oni luda i bezglava čeljad, koja niti je za koji posao, niti može kome nauditi, dok ih koji čovjek ne primi k sebi. Ovo pak naumi Bjesomar.

Zato on izabere trojicu od njih i zapovjedi im, da pođu tamo i da zaskoče svaki po jednoga od one brace i da gledaju, 27 31

How Quest Sought the Truth branches of an old beech-tree.

Rampogusto had always hated old Witting. He hated him as a mean scoundrel hates an upright man, and above all things he hated him because the old man had brought the sacred fire to the glade so that it might never go out, and the smoke of that fire made Rampogusto cough most horribly.

So Rampogusto wasn’t pleased with the idea that the brothers should obey All-Rosy, and stay beside their grandfather and look after him; but he bethought himself how he could harm old Witting, and somehow turn his grandsons against him.

Therefore, no sooner had Bluster, Careful and Quest recovered from their amazement and turned to go home than Rampogusto slipped swiftly, like a cloud before the wind, to a wooded glen where there was a big osier clump, which was chock-full of goblins—tiny, ugly, humpy, grubby, boss-eyed, and what not, all playing about like mad creatures. They squeaked and they squawked, they jumped and they romped ; they were a pack of harum-scarum imps, no good to anybody and no harm either, so long as a man did not take them into his company. But Rampogusto knew how to manage that.

So he picked out three of them, and told them to jump each on one of the brothers, and see how they might harm old Witting through his grandsons.

Now while Rampogusto was busy choosing his goblins.

28 32

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu kako li če po njima nauditi starome Vještu.

Dok Bjesomar tako biraše bjesove, dotle Marun, Ljutiša i Potjeh iđahu putem, a bijahu tako uplašeni te nijesu upamtili ni ono, što su gledali leteći, ni ono, što im bješe rekao Svarožić.

Došav pred kolibu sjedoše na kamen i kazivahu djedu, što im se desilo.

–A što si vidio leteći i što ti je kazao Svarožić? – upita Vješt najstarijega unuka Maruna. Našao se Marun u neprilici, jer ne bijaše ništa upamtio, niti se mogaše dosjetiti, što li mu je rekao Svarožić. No ispod kamena, na kojem sjeđahu, iziđe mali bijes, sasvim malen, nakazan i rogat, a siv kao miš.

Potegnu bijes Maruna odostrag za košulju i šapnu mu: – Reci: vidio sam silena bogatstva, stotinu pčelaca, kolibu od drva tesanoga i mnogo krzna najskupljega. I rekao mi Svarožić: bit ću najbogatiji među braćom.

Marun i ne promisli, je li istina, što mu bijes govori nego se obradova i onda reče djedu, kako mu bijes šaptaše. Čim on reče, a bijes mu skoči u torbu, sakrije se u jedan kut torbe i ostane tamo.

Upita Vješt drugog unuka Ljutišu, što li je vidio leteći i što li kaza Svarožić? – I Ljutiša nije ništa vidio i ništa upamtio. No ispod kamena iziđe drugi bijes, sasvim malen, ružan, nakazan i rogat, a sur kao tvorić. Povuče bijes Ljutišu odostrag za košulju i šapnu mu: – Reci: vidio sam mnogo ljudi oboružanih1, mnogo lukova i strjelica i mnogo robova okovanih. I rekao mi Svarožić: 29 33

How Quest Sought the Truth Bluster, Careful and Quest went on their way; and so scared were they that they clean forgot all they had seen during their flight and everything that All-Rosy had told them.

So they came back to the cabin, and sat down on a stone outside and told their grandfather what had happened to them.

“And what did you see as you were flying round, and what did AU-Rosy tell you?” Witting asked Careful, his eldest grandson. Now Careful was in a real fix, because he had clean forgotten, neither could he remember what All-Rosy had told him. But from under the stone where they were sitting crept a wee hobgoblin—ugly and homed and grey as a mouse.

The goblin tweaked Careful’s shirt from behind and whispered: “Say: I have seen great riches, hundreds of beehives, a house of carved wood and heaps of fine furs. And All-Rosy said to me: ‘Thou shalt be the richest of all the three brothers.’ ” Careful never bothered to think whether this was the truth that the imp was suggesting, but just turned and repeated it word for word to his grandfather. No sooner had he spoken than the goblin hopped into his pouch, curled himself up in a comer of the pouch—and there stopped!

Then Witting asked Bluster, the second grandson, what he might have seen in his flight, and what All-Rosy might have told him? And Bluster, too, had noticed nothing and remembered nothing. But from under the stone crept the second hobgoblin, quite small, ill-favoured, horned and smutty as a polecat. The 30 34

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu bit ćeš najsilniji među braćom svojom.

Ljutiša kao i Marun ništa ne promisli, nego bijaše veoma radostan i slaže djedu, kako mu bijes šaptaše. A bijes mu odmah zaskoči za vrat, pužne mu u košulju, sakrije se u njedrima i ostane lamo.

Sad upita djed najmlađega unuka, Potjeha; no i on nije ništa upamtio. Al iziđe ispod kamena treći bijes, najmlađi, najružniji, rogat u velike rogove, a crn kao krtica.

Povuče bijes Potjeha za košulju i šapnu: – Reci: sve nebo i sve zvijezde i sve oblake sam upoznao. I reče mi Svarožić: bit ćeš mudrac najveći i razumjet ćeš, što govore vjetrovi i što kazuju zvijezde.

Ali Potjeh vrlo ljubljaše istinu, zato ne htjede da posluša bijesa, niti da laže djedu, nego otepe bijesa nogom i reče djedu: –Ne znam, djede, ni što sam vidio, ni što sam čuo.

Zacviči bijes, ugrize Potjeha za nogu i pužnu kao gušter pod kamen. – Potjeh pak odmah uze travu najljuću i poveže nogu, kako bi brže zacijelila.

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How Quest Sought the Truth goblin plucked Bluster by the shirt and whispered : “Say: I saw lots of armed men, many bows and arrows and slaves galore in chains. And All-Rosy said to me: ‘Thou shalt be the mightiest of the brothers.’ ” Bluster considered no more than Careful had done, but was very pleased, and lied to his grandfather even as the goblin had prompted him. And the goblin at once jumped on his neck and crawled down his shirt, hid in his bosom, and stopped there.

Now the grandfather asked the youngest grandson. Quest, but he, too, could recall nothing. And from under the stone crept the third hobgoblin, the youngest, the ugliest, homed with big horns, and black as a mole.

The hobgoblin tugged Quest by the shirt and whispered : “Say: I have seen all the heavens and all the stars and all clouds.

And All-Rosy said to me: ‘Thou shalt be the wisest among men and know what the winds say and the stars tell.’ ” But Quest loved the truth, and so he would not listen to the goblin nor He to his grandfather, but kicked the goblin and said to his grandfather: “I don’t know, grandfather, what I saw or what I heard.”

The goblin gave a squeal, bit Quest’s foot, and then scuttled away under the stone like a lizard. But Quest gathered potent herbs and bound up his foot with them, so that it might heal quickly.

32 36

Kako je Potjeh traĹžio istinu

33 37

How Quest Sought the Truth II. NOW THE goblin whom Quest had kicked first scooted away under the stone, and then wriggled into the grass, and hopped off through the grass into the woods, and through the woods into the osier clump.

He went up to Rampogusto all shaking with fright and said: “Rampogusto, dread sovereign, I wasn’t able to jump on that youth whom you gave into my care.”

Then Rampogusto fell into a frightful rage, because he knew those three brothers well, and most of all he feared Quest, lest he should remember the truth. For if Quest were to remember the truth, why, then Rampogusto would never be able to get rid of old Witting nor the sacred fire.

So he seized the little goblin by the horns, picked How Quest Sought the Truth him up and dusted him soundly with a big birch-rod.

“Go back!” he roared— “go back to the young man, and it will be a black day for you if ever he remembers the truth!”

With these words Rampogusto let the goblin go; and the goblin, scared half out of his wits, squatted for three days in the osier clump and considered and considered how he might fulfill his difficult task. “I shall have as much trouble with Quest, for sure, as Quest with me,” reflected the goblin. For he was a scatterbrained little silly, and did not care at all for a tiresome job.

34 38

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu II. KADA POTJEH onako nogom otepe bijesa, uteče bijes najprije pod kamen, a onda se odšulja u travu te kroz travu odskače u šumu a iz šume u rakitu.

Dođe bijes pred Bjesomara pa dršćući od straha reče: – Bjesomare, ljuti care, evo nisam mogao da zaskočim momka, kojega si mi odredio.

Razljuti se strahovito Bjesomar, jer on poznavaše ono troje braće, pak se ponajviše i bojao Potjeha, da će se istini dosjetiti.

A dosjeti li se on istini, onda se Bjesomar lje ne će riješiti ni starca Vješta ni svetoga ognja.

Uhvati dakle ljuti Bjesomar bijesa za rog, podigne ga u zrak i ispraši ga dobro brezovačom.

–Idi tamo – viknu on tada – idi tamo do onoga momka i jao si ga tebi, dosjeti li se istini.

Pusti iza ovih riječi Bjesomar bijesa, a ovaj, uplašen kao sinja kukavica, čučao tri dana u rakiti te smišljao i razmišljao: kako li će obaviti tešku zapovijed? ”Bit će meni taman ista muka sa Potjehom, kao Potjehu sa mnom“, mišljaše bijes. On pak bijaše pusti lakrdijaš, pak mu se nikako nije račilo na teški posao.

Dok je on tako čučao u rakiti, dotle ona druga dvojica bjesova, jedan u torbi Marunovoj, a drugi u njedrima Ljutišinim, bijahu već na poslu. Marun i Ljutiša počeše od onog dana lutati po gori i dolinama i malo kada noćivahu u kolibi – i to sve radi bjesova.

35 39

How Quest Sought the Truth But while he squatted in the osier clump those other two imps were already at work, the one in Careful’s pouch and the other in Bluster’s bosom. From that day forth Careful and Bluster began to rove over hill and dale, and even slept but little at home—and all because of the goblins!

There was the goblin curled up in the bottom of Careful’s pouch, and that goblin loved riches better than the horn over his right eye.

So all day long he butted Careful in the ribs, teasing and goading him on: “Hurry up, get on! We must seek, we must find ! Let’s look for bees, let’s gather honey, and then we will keep a tally with rows and rows of scores!”

So said the goblin, because in those days they reckoned up a man’s possessions with tallies.

Now a tally is only a long wooden stick with a notch cut in it for every sum that is owing to a man!

But Bluster’s goblin butted him in the breast, and that goblin wanted to be the strongest of all and lord of all the earth.

So he worried and worried Bluster, and urged him to roam through the woods looking for young ash plants and slender maple saplings to make a warrior’s outfit and weapons. “Hurry up, get on!” teased the goblin. “You must seek, you must find !

Spears, bows and arrows to suit a hero’s mind, so that man and beast may tremble before us.”

And both Bluster and Careful listened to their goblins, and 36 40

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu Šćućurio se bijes na dnu torbe Marunove, a taj je bijes volio bogatstvo nego li svoj desni rog.

Bode on dakle Maruna po vas dan rogom u bokove i sve ga nagoni i sve mu cvili: – Hajde žurno, hajde! Treba da se traži, treba da se nađe! Da tražimo pčelce, da sakupljamo meda, da djelamo rovaš od stotinu reda!

Ovo govorio bijes, jer se u ono doba urezivalo na rovaše, koliko bi tko obogatio.

Ljutišu pak bocka rogom bijes u njedrima, a taj je bijes htio1 da bude najjači među svima i gospodar svemu svijetu.

Goni i nagoni dakle on Ljutišu, da ide šumom tražiti mlade grabiće i tanane javore, da od njih izradi junački pribor i oružje.

–Hajde žurno, hajde! Treba da se traži, treba da se nađe: koplje, luk i strijela po junačkoj ćudi, da strepe pred nama i zvijeri i ljudi! – cvilio bijes.

Slušali Ljutiša i Marun svoje bjesove i eto tako lutahu za svojim poslom, kako ih bjesovi putili.

Potjeh pak onoga dana i još tri dana ostane uz djeda i podjednako misli i razmišlja: što li mu bješe Svarožić rekao?

Jer Potjeh hoćaše da djedu istinu kaže, ali eto, nikako da joj se dosjeti.

Tako dan, tako dva, tako tri. Kad al treći dan reći će Potjeh djedu: –Zbogom, djede, odoh ja u goru i ne vraćam se, dok se ne do sjetim istini, pa makar trajalo deset godina.

37 41

How Quest Sought the Truth went off after their own concerns as the goblins led them.

But Quest stayed with his grandfather that day and yet other three days, and all the time he puzzled and puzzled over whatever it was that All-Rosy might have told him; because Quest wanted to tell his grandfather the truth; but, alas! he could not remember it at all!

So that day went by, and the next, and so three days; and on the third day Quest said to his grandfather: “Good-bye, grandfather. I am going to the hills, and shall not come back until I remember the truth, if it should take me ten years.”

Now Witting’s hair was grey, and there was little he cared for in this world except his grandson Quest, and him he loved and cherished as a withered leaf cherishes a drop of dew. So the old man started sadly and said: “What good will the truth be to me, my boy, when I may be dead and gone long before you remember it?”

This he said, and in his heart he grieved far more even than he showed in his words; and he thought: “How could the boy leave me !”

But Quest replied: “I must go, grandfather, because I have thought it out, and that seems the right thing to me.”

Witting was a wise old man, and considered: “Perhaps there is more wisdom in a young head than in an old one; only if 38 42

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu Vješt bijaše sijed starac, te mu na svijetu ne bijaše stalo ni do čega, jedino do njegova unuka Potjeha, kojega je ljubio i milovao kao uveli list rosicu. Zato on protrne i reče: –Što li će meni, sinko, ta istina, kad ja, sijedi starac, mogu tri puta umrijeti, dok joj se ti dosjetiš?

Tako reče i još se ražali više u srcu negoli u govoru i pomisli: ”Kako li me dijete ostavlja!“ Al Potjeh odgovori: –Idem, djede, jer sam tako smislio da je pravedno.

Vješt bijaše mudar starac i pomisli: ”Možda u ovome djetetu ima više mudrosti negoli u staračkoj glavi. Ako li pak jadan sagriješi na meni, morat će okajati na sebi, jer je pravedan i blagosoven“. Kad to pomisli Vješt, još se više rastuži, no ništa više ne reče, nego se izljubi s unukom i pusti ga da ide, kuda bijaše nakanio.

Potjeha pak jako zaboli srce za djedom, i malo, malo, te bi se na pragu predomislio i ostao uz djeda. No onda se silom otkine, kako bijaše odlučio, i pođe u goru.

Dok se Potjeh tako rastajao od djeda, dotle se i onaj bijes iz rakite nakanio da se prihvati svoga teškog posla i pošao do krčevine, da kakogod zaskoči Potjeha.

Ide dakle Potjeh u goru, a oborio glavu; kad on do prvog kamena, a pred njega bane onaj bijes. ”E, to je onaj isti“, pomisli Potjeh, ”sasvim malen, nakazan, crn kao krtica, a rogat u velike rogove“.

Stane dakle bijes Potjehu na put i ne dade mu proći. Razljuti 39 43

How Quest Sought the Truth the poor lad is doing wrong it’s a sad weird he will have to dree— because he is so gentle and upright.” And as Witting thought of that he grew sadder than ever, but said nothing more. He just kissed his grandson good-bye and bade him go where he wished.

But Quest’s heart sadly misgave him because of his grandfather, and he very, very nearly changed his mind on the threshold and stayed beside him. But he forced himself to do as he had made up his mind to, and went out and away into the hills.

Just as Quest parted from his grandfather his imp thought he might as well get out of the osier clump and tackle that tiresome job; and he reached the clearing just as Quest was hurrying away.

So Quest went off to the hills, very downcast and sad; and when he came to the first rock, lo and behold, there was the goblin, gibbering.

“Why,” thought Quest, “it’s the very same one—quite small, misshapen, black as a mole and with big horns.”

The goblin stood right in Quest’s way, and would not let him pass. So Quest got angry with the little monster for hindering him like this; he picked up a stone, threw it at the goblin, and hit him squarely between the horns. “Now I’ve killed him,” thought Quest.

But when he looked again there was the goblin as spry as ever, and two more horns had sprouted where the stone had hit him!

40 44

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu se Potjeh na ovo malo nakaze, što mu smeta, pa podigne kamen, baci se na bijesa te ga zgodi upravo medu rogove. ”Ubio sam ga!“ pomisli Potjeh.

Al kad pogleda tamo, a bijes živ i zdrav i još mu narasla dva roga na onome mjestu, gdje ga je kamen udario.

–E, taj se ne tjera kamenom – reče Potjeh sam sebi pa obađe bijesa i pođe dalje svojim putem. A bijes i opet skoči pred njega te sad s lijeva sad s desna trči i skače stazom pred Potjehom kao zec.

Tako oni stigoše do jednog mjesta, koje bijaše kao mala ravan među stijenama, a vrlo kamenita.

–Na jednoj strani bijaše zdenac. ”Ovdje ću ostati“, pomisli Po tjeh i odmah prostre kožuh pod divljaku jabuku i sjede, da raz mišlja i da se u ovome miru dosjeti: što li mu bijaše uistinu kazao Svarožić.

Al kad to vidje bijes, sjede upravo pred Potjeha pod grm i stade praviti svoje blezgarije i dosađivati mu. Pušta bijes Potjehu guštere pod noge, baca mu čičke na košulju i nagoni mu skakavce u rukav. ”Ovo je naopako, jadan!“ pomisli Potjeh, kad je to trajalo već neko doba. ”Ostavio sam mudra djeda, rođenu braću i rodnu kolibu, kako bih se na miru dosjetio istini, a sad evo dangubim vrijeme sa ovom rogatom besposlicom“.

No kako bijaše došao po čestitom poslu, pomisli, da je najpra-vije, da ipak ovdje ostane.

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How Quest Sought the Truth “Well, evidently stones won’t drive him off,” said Quest.

So he went round the goblin and forward on his way. But the imp scuttled on in front of him, to the right and to the left, and then straight in front, for all the world like a rabbit.

At last they came to a little level spot between cliffs—a very stony place; and on one side of it there was a deep wellspring. “Here will I stay,” said Quest; and he at once spread out his sheepskin coat under a crab-tree and sat down, so that he might reflect in peace and remember what All-Rosy had verily and truly told him.

But when the imp saw that, he squatted down straight in front of Quest under the tree, played silly tricks on him, and worried him horribly. He chased lizards under Quest’s feet, threw burrs at his shirt, and slipped grasshoppers up his sleeves.

“Oh dear, this is most annoying!” thought Quest, when it had gone on for some little time. “I have left my wise old grandfather, my brothers and my home, so that I might be in quiet and remember the truth—and here am I wasting my time with this homed imp of mischief!”

But as he had come out in a good cause, he nevertheless thought it the right thing to stay where he was.

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Kako je Potjeh traĹžio istinu

43 47

How Quest Sought the Truth III. SO QUEST and the goblin lived together on that lone ledge between the cliffs, and each day was like the first. The goblin worried Quest so that he couldn’t get on with his thinking.

On a clear morning Quest would rise from sleep and feel happy. “How still it is, how lovely! Surely to-day I shall remember the truth!” And lo, from the branch overhead a handful of crabs would come tumbling about his ears, so that his head buzzed and his thoughts all got mixed. And there was the little monster mocking him from the crabtree and laughing fit to burst. Or Quest would be lying in the shade, thinking most beautifully, till he felt like saying: “There, there now, now it will come back to me, now I shall puzzle out the truth!” And then the goblin would squirt him all over with ice-cold water from the spring through a hollow elder twig—and again Quest would clean forget what he had already thought out.

There was no silly trick nor idle joke that the goblin did not play on Quest on the ledge there. And yet all might have been well, if Quest hadn’t found it just a tiny bit amusing to watch these tomfooleries; and though he was thinking hard about his task, yet his eyes would wander and look round to see what the imp might be doing next.

Quest was angry with himself over this, because he was wearying more and more for his grandfather, and he saw full 44 48

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu III. TAKO POŽIVJEŠE Potjeh i bijes zajedno na kamenitom zaravanku, i kako prvog dana tako i svaki dan: bijes kvari i ometa posao Potjehu.

Istom svane lijepo jutro, a Potjeh ustane od sna i raduje se: ”Tiha li dana, radosti moja! Danas ću se dosjetiti istini!“ Al eto, već se sa divljake prosipa puna šaka jabuka po Potjehu, te mu sva glava zveči i sve mu se misli pometu. A ona se nagrda sa divljake smije i prenemaže od smijeha. – II se opet Potjeh u hladu ponajbolje zamisli, i sve mu se čini: ”Eto, eto, sad će mi sinuti u pameti, sad ću se domisliti istini!“ A ono bijes u onaj čas izdaleka namjeri sa bazgovom cijevi i polije Potjeha mlazom one hladne vodice, te mu se odmah izgubi u glavi, štogod bijaše smislio.

I štogod ima ludorije, štogod ima blezgarije, to bijes po zaravanku stvara. A još bi nekako i bilo, da se nije Potjehu nekuda i mililo1 gledati ove ludorije. Koliko promišlja o svom poslu, toliko mu se oči otimaju, da gleda, što li sve stvara ono ludo čeljade.

Dogrdjelo to već i samom Potjehu, jer ga sve više želja mori, da se k djedu vrati, a vidi, da se uz ovog bijesa nikada ne će dosjetiti istini. ”Moram se ja njega riješiti“, odluči Potjeh.

Ele, jednoga jutra zamislio bijes novu dangubu. Popeo se 45 49

How Quest Sought the Truth well that he would never remember the truth while the goblin was about.

“I must get rid of him,” said Quest.

Well, one fine morning the goblin invented a new game.

He climbed up the cliff where there was a steep water-course in the face of the rock, got astride a smooth bit of wood as if it had been a hobby-horse, and then scooted down the watercourse like a streak of lightning! This prank pleased the little wretch so mightily that he must needs have company to enjoy it the better!

So he whistled on a blade of grass till it rang over hill and dale, and lo, from scrub and rock and osier clump the goblins came scuttling along, all tiny like himself. He gave orders, and every man-jack of them took a stick and shinned up the cliff with it. My word! how they got astride their hobbyhorses and hurtled down the water-course! There were all sorts and sizes and kinds of goblins—red as a robin’s breast, green as greenfinches, woolly as lambs, naked as frogs, homed as snails, bald as mice. They careered down the water-course like a crazy company on crazy horses. Down they flew, each close at the other’s heels, never stopping till they came to the middle of the ledge; and there was a great stone all overgrown with moss. There they were brought up short, and what with the bump of stopping so suddenly and sheer high spirits they tumbled and scrambled about all atop of one another in the moss!

Shrieking with glee, the silly crew had made the trip some 46 50

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu on na vrh stijene, na kojoj bijaše strma vododerina u kamenu, zajašio glatki klipić i spustio se po vododerini kao munja. Omili bijesu odmah ta igra kao nijedna druga, te mu se prohtjelo društva za nju. Uze on dakle travu i zazviždi u travu preko stijene i šume, a ono iz grmlja, kamenja, iz rakite i šaša dotrkaše, dođipaše sve mali bjesovi kao onaj prvi. On njima zapovijeda, a oni svaki uhvatiše po klipić, pa na stijenu. Pa da vidiš, kada sjedoše na klipiće, te kad poletješe niz vododerinu! A bilo ih svake ruke i svakog plemena bjesovskoga. Crveni kao crvendaći, zeleni kao zelembaći, rutavi kao janje, golišavi kao žabe, rogati kao puž, šušati kao miš. Takovi oni lete niz vododerinu na svojim klipićima, kao luda vojska na ludim konjima. Lete niza stijenu, jedan drugomu za petama i ne zaustavljaju se do pol zaravanka, gdje ležaše velik kamen, sav obrastao mahovinom. Tu se zaustavljaju na mahovini te se od velikog zamaha i od puste ludorije koprcaju jedan preko drugoga.

Tako se spušta i hohoće luda družba dva tri puta, a u Potjehu sve jedna misao drugu goni: i gledao bi ih i smijao bi im se, a opet ga jad hvata, što mu toliku halabuku dižu, pa tko bi se u njoj domislio istini. Amo tamo, amo tamo, al onda odluči Potjeh: ”E, nema smijeha ni šaranja, ja se tih danguba riješiti moram, jer uz njih badava sam došao ovamo”.

A Potjeh je opazio, da sa vododerine1 silaze klipići baš pravcem prema zdencu, pa da nema onoga kamena sa mahovinom, odoše bjesovi strmoglavce u zdenac. Prikuč i 47 51

How Quest Sought the Truth two or three times already, and poor Quest was hard put to it between two thoughts. For one thing, he wanted to watch the imps and be amused by them, and for another he was angry with them for making such a hullabaloo that he could not remember the truth. So he shilly-shallied awhile, and at last he said: “Well, this is past a joke. I must get rid of these good-fornothing loons, because while they are here I might as well have stopped at home.”

And as Quest considered the matter, he noticed that as they rushed down the water-course they made straight for the spring, and that, but for the big stone, they would all have toppled into it head foremost. So Quest crouched behind the stone, and when the imps came dashing down again guffawing and chuckling as before, he quickly rolled the stone aside, and the whole mad party rushed straight on to the well-spring—right on to it and then into it, head first, each on top of the other—red as robin’s breasts, green as greenfinches, woolly as lambs, naked as frogs, homed as snails, bald-headed as mice—and first of all the one who had fastened himself on to Quest. ...

And then Quest tipped a big flat stone over the well, and all the goblins were caught inside like flies in a pitcher.

Quest was ever so pleased to have got rid of the goblins, sat down and made sure he would now recollect the truth in good earnest.

But he had no luck, because down in the well the goblins 48 52

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu se dakle Potjeh onomu kamenu, pa kad se bjesovi uz hohot i grohot spustiše na svojim klipićima niz stijenu, a moj ti Potjeh brže odvali onaj kamen, 1 poleti luda vojska pravcem do zdenca. – Do zdenca pa u zdenac, naglavce sve jedan za drugim, sve jedan preko drugoga: i crveni kao crvendaći, i zeleni kao zelembaći, i rutavi kao janje, i golišavi kao žabe, i rogati kao puž, i šušati kao miš, a prvi među njima onaj, koji se bješe Potjeha nadovezao.

A Potjeh odmah navali onaj kamen na bunar, i eto tako se uhvatiše bjesovi kao muhe u loncu.

Obveseli se Potjeh, kako li se riješio bjesova, pa ode da sjedne i cla se sada na miru dosjeti istini.

Al jao si ga njemu, jer se u zdencu počeše vrtjeti i bjesniti bjesovi kao još nikada. – Iz zdenca počeše na sve pukotine iskakivati sitni plamečci, što su ih od ljute muke bacali bjesovi.

–Stadoše žišci skakutati i titrati oko zdenca te Potjehu odmah zakruži glava. Zatvori Potjeh zato oči, da mu ne smetaju žišci.

Al ono u zdencu tolika galama, buka, piska i lupa, evil i lavež, kucanje i zapomaganje, da Potjehu sve uši pucaju, pa gdje bi mogao o čem da misli! – Zato on začepi uši, da ne čuje.

Al onda poče do njega pridolaziti para i sumpor i čađa, što su ih u smrtnoj stisci puštali na pukotine zdenca bjesovi. – Okruži čađa i sumpor Potjeha i stade ga tušiti i gušiti.

Spozna dakle Potjeh, da tu nema hasne. – E, sada vidim 49 53

How Quest Sought the Truth began to wriggle and to ramp as never before. Through every gap and chink shot up tiny flames which the goblins gave out in their fright and distress. The flames danced and wavered round the spring till Quest’s head was all in a whirl. He closed his eyes, so that their flashing should not make him giddy.

But then there arose from the pit such a noise, hubbub, knocking and banging, barking and yowling, such yelling and shrieking for help, that Quest’s ears were like to burst; and how could he even try to think through it? He stopped his ears so as not to hear.

Then a smell of brimstone and sulphur drifted over to him.

Through every crack and crevice oozed thick sooty smoke which the imps belched forth in their extremity. Smoke and sulphur fumes writhed round Quest; they choked and smothered him.

So Quest saw there was no help for it. “Goblins shut up,” said he, “are a hundred times worse than goblins at large. So I’ll just go and let them out, since I can’t get rid of them anyhow.

After all, I am better off with their tomfooleries than with all that yammering.”

So he went and lifted off the stone; and the terrified goblins scuttled away in all directions like so many wild cats, and ran away into the woods and never came back to the ledge any more.

None stayed behind, but only the one black as a mole and with big horns, because he did not dare to leave Quest for fear of Rampogusto.

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Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu bolan: poklopljeni bjesovi sto puta gori od puštenih – reče Potjeh. – Pa hajde da ih pustim, kad ih se ne mogu riješiti. Opet mi je lakše uz njihovu lakrdiju, negoli uz toliko zapomaganje!

Ode on dakle tamo i otklopi kamen, a uplašeni bjesovi ko divlje mačke poiskakaše na sve strane i utekoše kud koji u goru i nikada ih više na zaravanak.

Ostade samo onaj jedan, crn kao krtica a rogat u velike rogove, jer on od straha pred Bjesomarom nikako nije smio da ostavi Potjeha.

Nego i on se od onoga dana nekuda malo smirio i više poštovaše Potjeha nego dosele.

I tako se njih dva nekako pogode: obiknu jedan na drugoga i stanu živjeti jedan uz drugoga.

Al eto već minulo gotovo i godinu dana, a Potjeh još ni izdaleka da se domisli istini: sto li mu zapravo bijaše rekao Svarožić?

Kad već godina blizu, al bijesu počelo dozlogrđivati. ”Dokle ću ja ovako ovdje bivati?“ pomisli on. Stoga jedne večeri, kad je Potjeh baš bio nakanio da zaspi, dođe bijes do njega i reče: –A kako ti to, golube, sjediš ovdje već malo ne godinu dana i što će to tebi? Eno ti možda djed na krčevini već i umro za to vrijeme!

Zaboli Potjeha srce, kao da ga iglom ubolo – al on reče: – Eto, tako sam odlučio, da ne idem odavle, dok ne doznam istine, 51 55

How Quest Sought the Truth But even he sobered down a little from that day forward, and had more respect for Quest than before.

And so these two came to a sort of arrangement between them; they got used to one another and lived side by side on the stony ledge.

In that way close on to a year slipped by, and Quest was no nearer remembering what All-Rosy had really truly told him.

When the year was almost gone the goblin began to be most horribly bored.

“How much longer have I got to stick here?” thought he.

So one evening, just as Quest was about to fall asleep, the imp wriggled up to him and said: “Well, my friend, here you’ve been sitting for close on a year and a day, and what’s the good of it? Who knows but perhaps in the meantime your old grand-dad has died all alone in his cabin.”

A pang shot through Quest’s heart as if he had been struck with a knife, but he said: “There, I have made up my mind not to budge from here until I remember the truth, because truth comes before all things.” Thus said Quest, because he was upright and of good parts.

But all the same he was deeply troubled by what the goblin had said about his grandfather. He never slept a wink all night, but racked his brains and thought: “How is it with the old man, my dear grandfather?”

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Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu jer je istina preča od svega. – Tako reče Potjeh, jer on bijaše pravedan i blagosoven.

No Potjeha se duboko kosnulo, što je bijes spomenuo o djedu, i cijele noći ne mogaše1 Potjeh da zaspi, nego se kida i lomi i sve misli: kako li je sa djedom, sa milim starcem njegovim?

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How Quest Sought the Truth IV. NOW ALL this time the grandfather went on living with Careful and Bluster in the glade—only life had taken a very sad turn for the old man. His grandsons ceased to trouble about him, nor would they stay near him. They bade him neither “Goodmorning” nor “Good-night,” and only went about their own affairs and listened to the goblins they harboured, the one in his pouch and the other in his bosom.

Every day Careful brought more bees from the forest, felled timber, shaped rafters, and gradually built a new cabin. He carved himself ten tallies, and every day he counted and reckoned over and over again when these tallies would be filled up.

As for Bluster, he went hunting and reiving, bringing home game and furs, plunder and treasure; and one day he even brought along two slaves whom he had taken, so that they might work for the brothers and wait upon them.

All this was very hard and disagreeable for the old man, and harder and more disagreeable still were the looks he got from his grandsons. What use had they for an old man who would not be served by the slaves, but disgraced his grandsons by cutting wood and drawing water from the well for himself?

At last there wasn’t a thing about the old man that didn’t annoy his grandsons, even this, that every day he would put a log on the sacred fire.

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Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu IV. DJED PAK življaše za to vrijeme na krčevini sa Marunom i Lju-tišom, ali bijaše život okrenuo žalosno po djeda. – Nijesu marili unuci za djeda, niti nastojali oko njega. Niti mu dozivali dobra jutra ni lake noći, nego jednako hodali za svojim poslovima i slušali svoje bjesove u torbi i njedrima.

Donosio Marun svaki dan nove pčelce iz šume, tesao grede, gradio i sagradio novu kolibu. A ponajpače izdjelao deset rovaša i svaki dan broji i prebraja: kad će se rovaši ispuniti?

Ljutiša pak hodao po lovu i razboju, donosio krzna i divljači, dovlačio plijena i blaga, a jednoga dana doveo i dva roba zarobljena, da služe i poslužuju braću po vas dan.

Teško i nemilo bivalo djedu Vještu uza sve ovo, a teško i sve nemilije gledali unuci na starca. Šta će im starac, kad ne će da ga služe robovi nego sramoti unučad te sam drva cijepa i sam donosi vodu sa kladenca? – Tako došlo, te štogod bilo na starcu, sve smetalo unucima, pa i to, što je starac jednako prilagao svaki dan po cjepanicu svetom ognju.

Opazio dobro starac Vješt, kuda sve to ide i da će se njemu doskora raditi o glavi. Ništa ne požali za životom, jer što će mu život, nego požali, što će umrijeti a da ne vidi Potjeha, blagosloveno dijete svoje, radost starosti svoje.

Jedne večeri dakle (a bijaše to baš one večeri, kad se Potjeh onako lomio radi djeda) reče Marun Ljutiši: – Hajde, brate, da 55 59

How Quest Sought the Truth Old Witting saw very well whither all this would lead, and that very soon they would be thinking of getting rid of him altogether. He did not care so much about his life, because life was not much use to him, but he was sorry to die before seeing Quest once more, the dear lad who was the joy of his old age.

One evening—and it was the very evening when Quest was so troubled in his mind thinking of his grandfather—Careful said to Bluster: “Come along, brother, let’s get rid of grandfather.

You have weapons. Wait for him by the well and kill him.”

Now Careful said this because he specially wanted the old cabin at all costs, so as to put up beehives on that spot. “I can’t,” replied Bluster, whose heart had not grown so hard, amidst bloodshed and robbery, as Careful’s among his riches and his tallies.

But Careful would not give over, because the imp in his bag went on whispering and nagging. The imp in his pouch knew very well that Careful would be the first to put the old man away, and so gain him great credit with Rampogusto.

Careful tried hard to talk over Bluster, but Bluster could not bring himself to kill his grandfather with his own hand. So at last they agreed and arranged that they would that very night bum down the old man’s hut—bum it down with the old man inside!

When all was quiet in the glade, they sent out the slaves to watch the traps in the woods that night. But the brothers crept up 56 60

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu se riješimo djeda. U tebe je oružje, dočekaj ga na kladencu pa ga smakni.

Ovo ponajpače govoraše Marun, jer mu se htjelo pod svaku cijenu stare kolibe, da na onome mjestu podigne pčelinjak. – Ne mogu, brate – odvrati Ljutiša, kojemu na krvi i na razboju ne bijaše toliko otvrdnulo srce, koliko Marunu na bogatstvu i rovašima.

Al Marun nikako ne popušta, jer mu bijes u torbi jednako šapće i došapćuje. Vidio bijes u Marunovoj torbi, da će on prvi maknuti Vješta sa ovoga svijeta i tako steći veliku hvalu pred Bjesomarom.

Nagovara dakle Marun Ljutišu, al Ljutiša nikako ne htjede da svojom rukom ubije djeda. Složiše se dakle i dogovoriše napokon, da će još iste večeri potpaliti staru kolibu. Neka izgori ona i u njoj starac.

Kad se sve na krčevini smirilo, odaslaše oni dakle robove, neka čuvaju te noći u šumi stupice. Braća pak odšuljaju se do kolibe Vjestove, zatvore izvana vrata teškim klinom, kako ne bi djed utekao iz plamena, i podmetnu vatru pod sva četiri ušaka.

Kad bijaše sve gotovo, odoše oni daleko u goru, da ne čuju djedovo zapomaganje. Dogovoriše se, da će obaći čitavu planinu kolika je, kako se ne bi vratili do jutra, dok bude sve gotovo: i djed i koliba spaljeni.

Odoše oni, a vatra polako stade lizati oko uglova. No ono je bila stara orahovina, tvrda kao kamen, te plamen sve oko nje 57 61

How Quest Sought the Truth softly to Witting’s cabin, shut the outer door tight with a thick wedge, so that the old man might not escape from the flames, and then set fire to the four comers of the house. ...

When all was done they went away and away into the hills so as not to hear their poor old grandfather crying out for help.

They made up their minds to go over the whole of the mountain as far as they could, and not to come back until next day, when all would be over, and their grandfather and the cabin would be burnt up together.

So they went, and the flames began to lick upwards slowly round the comers. But the rafters were of seasoned walnut, hard as stone, and though the fire licked and crept all round them it could not catch properly, and so it was late at night before the flames took hold of the roof.

Old Witting awoke, opened his eyes and saw that the roof was ablaze over his head. He got up and went to the door, and when he found that it was fastened with a heavy wedge he knew at once whose doing it was.

“Oh, my children! my poor darlings!” said the old man, “you have taken from your hearts to add to your wretched tallies; and behold, your tallies are not even full, and there are many notches still lacking; but your hearts are empty to the bottom already, since you could bum your own grandfather and the cabin where you were born.”

That was all the thought that Father Witting gave to Careful 58 62

Kako je Potjeh tražio istinu liže i oblizuje, ali ne može da je zahvati. Istom kasno u noć uhvati se vatra krova.

Probudi se starac Vješt, otvori oči i vidi, da mu krov nad glavom gori. Ustade i pođe do vrata, pa kad nađe, da su teškim klinom zamandaljena, odmah znadijaše, čiji je posao.

–Oj, djeco moja, jadnici moji! – reče starac. – Iz srdaca vaših vadite, a na rovaše mećete. Ali gledajte: još vam rovaši nisu punfi mnogo čislo na njima fali, a srca ste već do dna ispraznili, kad eto palite djeda i rodnu kolibu.

–To pomisli djed Vješt o Marunu i Ljutiši i više o njima ni jedne ne pomisli, niti se radi njih ražali, nego pođe da sjedne i da spokojno sačeka smrt.

Sjedne on dakle na škrinju i zamisli se o svom dugom životu.

I što god je bilo u životu, ništa mu se ne učini teško, jedino to, što u svom smrtnom času nema uza se Potjeha, ljubljeno dijete svoje, koje ga je toliko ražalilo.

Dok on tako razmišljaše, dotle je stajao već sav krov u plamenu kao baklja.

Gorjele i pregorjele grede, stale pucati tavanice. Progorjele, popucale, pa se sa obje strane kraj starca urušiše i grede i tavanice sa plamenom u izbu. Okružio plamen Vješta, raskrio se krov nad njime, vidjelo se gdje se zora po nebu razilazi pred suncem.

Ustade stari Vješt, podiže ruke i oči k nebu i tako čekaše, da plamen odnese sa ovoga svijeta i njega starca i staru kolibu njegovu.

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How Quest Sought the Truth and Bluster. After that he thought neither good nor bad about them, nor did he grieve over them further, but went and sat down quietly to wait for death.

He sat on the oak chest and meditated upon his long life; and whatever there had been in it, there was nothing he was sorry for save only this, that Quest was not with him in his last hour—Quest, his darling child, for whom he had grieved so much.

So he sat still, while the roof was already blazing away like a torch.

The rafters burned and burned, the ceiling began to crack.

It blazed, cracked, then gave way on either side of the old man, and rafters and ceiling crashed down amid the flames into the cabin. The flames billowed round Witting, the roof gaped above his head. Already he saw the dawn pale in the sky before sunrise.

Old Witting rose to his feet, raised his hands to heaven, and so waited for the flames to carry him away from this world, the old man and his old homestead together.

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Kako je Potjeh traĹžio istinu

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Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić

CROATIAN TALES OF LONG AGO PRIČE IZ DAVNINE Knjiga za djecu i mlade Translated by Prevoditeljica Fanny Susan Copeland

Illustrations by Ilustrirao Vladimir Kirin

Publisher Nakladnik Glen Art d.o.o., Bakar Primorje 43, 51222 Bakar glenart@mail.com

For the publisher Za nakladnika Dmitrij Čegodajev

Editor Urednik Damir Konestra

Proof readers Lektori Marijana Dworski

Alicija Višnevetska Design & layout Priprema, obrada i dizajn Dmitrij Čegodajev

Print Tisak Grafik, Rijeka

October, 2017 Listopad, 2017.

Circulation 500 copies Naklada 500 primjerka ISBN 978-953-781-116-7 CIP zapis dostupan u računalnom katalogu Sveučilišne knjižnice Rijeka pod brojem 140116009

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Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić (Ogulin, 18. travja 1874. – Zagreb, 21 rujna 1938.) – hrvatska je književnica koja je u Hrvatskoj i u svijetu priznata kao jedna od najznačajnijih spisateljica za djecu.

Potječe iz poznate intelektualne građanske obitelji Mažuranića. Otac Vladimir Mažuranić bio je pisac, odvjetnik i povjesničar. Djed joj je bio slavni političar, hrvatski ban i pjesnik Ivan Mažuranić. Školovala se privatno i stekla izvrsnu naobrazbu, između ostalog i u poznavanju stranih jezika.

Kada se 1892. udala za odvjetnika i političara Vatroslava Brlića, Ivana seli u Brod na Savi (danas Slavonski Brod), gdje je živjela većinu života koji je posvetila svojoj obitelji, obrazovanju i književnom radu. Kao majka sedmero djece, imala je priliku upoznati se s dječjom psihom, i tako razumjeti čistoću i naivnost njihova svijeta.

Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić počela je pisati poeziju, eseje i dnevnike vrlo rano, ali su joj prvi radovi objavljeni tek početkom dvadesetog stoljeća. Zbirku pripovjedaka i pjesama za djecu Valjani i nevaljani izdala je 1902. u vlastitoj nakladi.

Priče i tekstovi poput serije obrazovnih članaka naslovljenih Škola i praznici objavljivani su redovito od 1903. nadalje.

Pravu pozornost književne publike skreće 1913. romanom za djecu Čudnovate zgode šegrta Hlapića.

Njenim krunskim djelom kritičari smatraju zbirku pripovjedaka Priče iz davnine, objavljenu 1916, djelo koje sadrži motive mitološke mudrosti običnoga svijeta, inspirirane slavenskom mitologijom. Četiri je puta (1931, 1935., 1937. i 1938.) bila predložena za Nobelovu nagradu, a 1937. Jugoslavenska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti primila ju je za svoga (dopisnoga) člana, kao prvu ženu kojoj je dodijeljena takva čast.

Nakon duge borbe s depresijom počinila je samoubojstvo.

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