‘The Liar’ by Hovhannes Tumanyan
Once upon a time (ժուկով-ժամանակով) there lived a king. This king announced (հայտարարեց) throughout the land:
“I will give half my kingdom (թագավորությանս կեսը) to the man who can tell a lie that I can agree that is a lie.”
A shepherd (հովիվ) came and said, “My father has got a pipe (խողովակ). The pipe is very long and he can stir (խառնել) the stars with it».
“That’s possible,” answered the King. “My grandfather had a pipe. He used to (սովորություն ուներ) put one end of it in his mouth and stretch (ձգել) the other up to the sun to light it.”
The man went out scratching (քորելով) his head.
A tailor came and said, “I am sorry, O King, to have come so late. Wind (քամի), storm (փոթորիկ) and lightning (կայծակ) did not let me come early”. I was patching up the crack (ճեղք) of the sky.
“Oh, “I believe it is true,” said the King, “but you haven’t patched it very well, for it rained a little again this morning.
This man also went away empty-handed (դատարկաձեռն).
A villager came in with a bag on his shoulder. “What do you want, my good man?” asked the King. “You owe (պարտք լինել) me a bag of gold. I have come for it.” “A bag of gold!” exclaimed (բացականչեց)the King astonished (զարմացած). “That s a lie (սուտ). I do not owe you anything.”
“All right. It is a lie. Then give me half your kingdom.”
“No, no. You’re quite right (Դուք միանգամայն ճիշտ եք). It’s not a lie,” the king tried to correct (ուղղել) himself.
“So I am telling the truth. Then give me the bag of gold.”
Answer the questions:
- What did the king say to all people?
“I will give half my kingdom to the man who can tell a lie that I can agree that is a lie.”
- Who came first?
First is shepherd.
- What did he say?
“My father has got a pipe. The pipe is very long and he can stir the stars with it».
- What was the king’s answer?
“My grandfather had a pipe. He used to put one end of it in his mouth and stretch the other up to the sun to light it.”
- Who came second?
Second is tailor.
- What did he say?
“I am sorry, O King, to have come so late. Wind (քամի), storm (փոթորիկ) and lightning (կայծակ) did not let me come early”. I was patching up the crack (ճեղք) of the sky.
- What was the king’s reply?
“Oh, “I believe it is true,” said the King, “but you haven’t patched it very well, for it rained a little again this morning.
- Who came after the tailor?
Villager came after the tailor.
- What did he tell the king?
“You owe me a bag of gold.
- What did the king answer?
“That s a lie. I do not owe you anything.”
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