Micmac

Kes saak: Nigumaach ut Agunudumâkun Klûskâbel.

“Of the old times the tale is, A story of Kulóskap,” Unto whom there went full many When they heard that all could have Whatever they desired; And truly he gave them all Whate’er it was they asked for, But whether they got their wish Depended on the wisdom Which they showed when it was won.

Now the Master liked it not If, when he had plainly told What it was that one must do, That man should double on him Or quibble, or disobey. So then it came to pass That a certain fool of the kind Who never can do aught Without a twist or a turn In his own peculiar way, Went a long journey to ask A favor of the Lord. His trials were many and sore; He came unto a chain Of mountains exceeding high, In a dark and lonely land Wherein no sound was heard; And the ascent was hard As climbing a slippery pole. And the going down Or descent on the other side Was more ungrateful still, For ’twas all a precipice With broken, crumbly edge Which overhung a gulf; Yet it was worse beyond. For there the road led on Between the hideous heads Of two great serpents, which Did almost touch their lips, And darted terrible tongues At those who went between. And yet again ’twas worse When the way passed under a wall, The awful Wall of Death Which hung like a dreadful cloud Over a dismal plain, Rising and falling at times; Yet when, no one could know. So those who were beneath When it fell and struck the ground Were ever crushed to death.

Yet he escaped all this And came to the Master’s home Where he was well received, And dwelt for many days; And when the Master asked What ’twas that he would have? He answered, “If my Lord Will give me a medicine Which will cure me of every ill, I shall be well content.” And he asked for nothing more. Then the Master gave to him A little package, and said: “Herein is that which thou seek’st But I charge thee solemnly That thou lettest not thine eyes Behold what is therein, Till thou shalt have reached thy home.” So he thanked the Lord, and left.

Yet he was not far away Ere he longed to open the gift, And test the medicine, And still more the Master’s truth. And so he said to himself: “If this be all deceit, It was very shrewdly planned, To bid me not open it Until I should be at home. Tush! If the medicine Is really what I required It cannot lose its power. In truth I will test it now.” So he opened it—when lo! All that which was therein Fell to the ground and spread As water, everywhere, And then like a summer mist As quickly melted away. So when he returned to his home He was mocked by one and all.