GEORGIAN FOLK TALES
PART I GEORGIAN FOLK TALES
I Master and Pupil
II The Three Sisters and their Stepmother
III The Good-for-nothing
IV The Frogâs Skin
V Fate
VI Ghvthisavari (I am of God)
VII The Serpent and the Peasant
VIII Gulambara and Sulambara
IX The Two Brothers
X The Prince
XI Conkiajgharuna1
XII Asphurtzela1
XIII The Shepherd and the Child of Fortune
XIV The Two Thieves
XV The Fox and the Kingâs Son
XVI The King and the Apple1
PART II MINGRELIAN TALES1
I The Three Precepts
II Kazha-ndii
III The Story of Geria, the Poor Manâs Son
IV The Prince who befriended the Beasts
V The Cunning Old Man and the Demi
VI Sanartia
VII The Shepherd Judge
VIII The Priestâs youngest Son
PART III GURIAN FOLK TALES
I The Strong Man and the Dwarf
II The Grasshopper and the Ant1
III The Countryman and the Merchant
IV The King and the Sage
V The Kingâs Son
VI Teeth and No-Teeth
VII The Queenâs Whim
VIII The Foolâs good Fortune
IX Two Losses
X The Story of Dervish
XI The Fatherâs Prophecy
XII The Hermit Philosopher
XIII The Kingâs Counsellor1
XIV A Witty Answer
ONCE upon a time there was a poor peasant who had one son. And it came to pass that his wife said to him: âHe should learn some trade, for when he is separated from thee, what will he do if he is left ignorant like thee?â The wife importuned him; she gave him no rest. So the peasant took his child, and went to seek a master for him. On the way they were thirsty. He saw a rivulet, drank eagerly till his thirst was quenched, and when he lifted up his head he cried out: âAh! how good thou art!â1 On saying this, there came forth from the water a devil in the form of a man, and said to the peasant: âWhat dost thou want, O man! I am Vakhraca; what troubles thee?â The peasant told him all his story. The devil, when he learnt this, said: âGive me this son of thine: I will teach him for one year, then come hither; if thou knowest him, it is well, he will go with thee; if not, he is mine and mine alone, he shall be lost to thee.â