Sample Translations
Muka
World’s Greatest Warrior E ng l i s h
Book Information
World’s Greatest Warrior (세상에서 가장 위대한 용사) Association of Young Authors Publishing corp. / 3 p. For further information, please visit: http://library.klti.or.kr/node/772
This sample translation was produced with support from LTI Korea. Please contact the LTI Korea Library for further information. library@klti.or.kr
World’s Greatest Warrior Written by Muka
This story is an adaptation of a Mongolian folktale.
There once was a prophet who lived on the plains. One day, he visited a village.
During his stay, the prophet cured the sick, Led the spirits of the dead to the gods, And blessed the newborn babies.
On the night before he departed, The prophet narrated a tale of wisdom. The story was about the greatest of ancient warriors.
The warrior killed an evil, man-eating monster,
And fought against enemies invading from the West.
His name reached beyond the seven continents and seven seas. People praised the achievements of the great warrior, And the children boasted as if they were the warrior himself.
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The next day, the prophet rode home on his horse. Tired from his journey, he dozed off. He was not aware of how far he travelled. Suddenly, a loud noise shook earth and heaven and woke him up.
The prophet was in the air, And the world was upside down. Then everything from the prophet’s story appeared. There was a silhouette of a giant man, standing tall like a mountain. It was the great warrior.
“Are you the prophet who told my story?” the warrior asked in a solemn voice. “Yes, that is correct,” the trembling prophet answered. “You did not tell it completely.” Startled, the prophet responded, “Everything I said was true.”
“Yes, but you failed to say how I spent the night awake, shaking with fear, before I went to kill the monster.”
“And you failed to recount how, when the enemy raided us in the middle of a night, I abandoned my armor and helmet and fled riding backwards on my horse.”
“You hid my fears and cowardice, and talked only of the honorable moments. That is no different than telling a lie.” The prophet replied, “You were a great warrior. Why should I share your dishonorable
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moments as well?”
The warrior answered, “I was born a man, and I died a man. Your half-story is not that of a man. You are not a worthy prophet. Go away and do not come out into the world again!”
From that day forth, the prophet was never seen again.
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