The Bird of Truth
The Fisherman and the Found Children
Once upon a time, there was a fisherman who, as usual, was casting his net into the river. He waited patiently in his boat, eating something, when he heard an unusual sound.
As he waited on the river, he saw a crystal cradle floating on the water, coming towards his boat. The fisherman went and took the cradle, which was covered with a very fine silk, unlike anything he had ever seen.
He pushed the covering aside and saw the faces of two incredibly beautiful babies. The fisherman's heart softened, and he took the babies home.
— Wife, look what I found on the river today! — Two babies! We're already four! — And what could I do? Leave them to drown or starve? — I know. Well, if we have food for six people, we have enough for eight.
The Children Grow and Suffer
There was plenty of food in the fisherman's household, so soon, the two babies grew and became a beautiful boy and girl, sensitive, wise, polite, and fair. But the other children were mean to them and said hurtful things.
— Give the doll back! Father brought it for me! — I thought he said we could all play with it! — But he's not your father, is he? He found you on the river. Go play with your crystal cradle. It's the only thing that belongs to you.
Friends in the Forest
The two siblings grew so tired of it that they would go into the forest alone. There, they would take the bread left over from their breakfast and feed the birds, who, in return, taught them many things, such as the language of birds, how to survive in the forest, and how to sing.
One night, after the other children had been very mean to them, the two orphaned siblings decided:
— No matter how hard we try, it's clear they don't like us. — And Mother and Father are suffering too. Don't you think it would be better if we left? — Mother and Father are going to town tomorrow. After they leave, we'll leave too.
The Journey and Discovery
So, on the day the fisherman and his wife left for town, the two siblings left home and went into the forest. They walked for three days, and when evening fell, they were very tired.
Suddenly, they saw a hut.
— Look at that! — Should we go see what it is? Maybe we can shelter there.
They went and knocked on the hut's door, but no one was there.
— Now what do we do? — Well, I see there's a bench here. At least we can rest here tonight.
So they sat on the bench to rest, but neither of them could sleep. As they lay awake, looking at the moon and stars, they suddenly heard some noises.
There was a great commotion in the nearby trees, and because they knew the language of birds, they understood what the birds were discussing.
— You've come here from the city, oh my, oh my! How did you remember your poor friends in the forest? — Well, I want a change of scenery. I've had a cold lately. — Birds get colds? — Listen! — So, what else is happening in the big city? — Oh, business as usual. The poor king is still unhappy. It seems nothing can ease his sorrow. — I honestly think it's been hard for him with the queen and children gone. — Oh, no! The queen didn't leave. She was locked in a tower. — What do you mean? — Well, I didn't see her myself. But I know an old cuckoo who lives in the palace garden. — Come on, tell us what you heard! — You know the king married a beautiful woman he fell in love with. — Of course we know! — You see, the young woman was wise as well as beautiful, and the king loved her very much. She found out that some courtiers and ministers were stealing from the king. So she tried to expose them. — Seriously? — Yes. But those thieving courtiers heard what she intended to do, and when the king left for war, they arrested the queen and locked her in a tower. — And the prince and princess? — They took the twins, put them in a crystal cradle, and set them adrift on the river. — The cuckoo saw it with his own eyes.
The Truth About Their Origin
When they heard about the crystal cradle, the brother and sister immediately thought of the cradle they were in when the fisherman found them floating on the river and took them home.
— Go play with your crystal cradle! It's the only thing that belongs to you! — And didn't the king try to find them? — It seems those thieving courtiers told him that, fearing war, the queen fled with the two children. So, the king doesn't know that his wife is imprisoned in a tower. — If the prince and princess were to go to the palace, would the king recognize them? — You speak our language! — Of course! Kind birds like you taught it to us. Ah, the crystal cradle you were talking about? Well, we were placed in that cradle and sent down the river, where a fisherman found us and took us home. — You mean you are the prince and princess? — Look how well-mannered I am! Of course, I am! — But who will believe them? How will they prove to the king who they are? — There's a bird, the Bird of Truth, the only bird in the world that speaks the language of humans. This bird knows all the truths in the world. Only it can help you. — Where could I find it? — There's a witch who lives in a cave on the purple mountain. She will tell you the way to the Come-and-Never-Leave castle, where the bird is imprisoned. However, before entering the castle, know that you will speak with an owl who knows only one word in human language: "Pass!" — Thank you! We will do everything to return to our father.
The Witch and the Wise Owl
So the prince and princess went into the forest. They were so happy and eager to meet their father and finally free their mother that they forgot about hunger and tiredness and just kept walking.
At last, they reached the cave on the purple mountain, where the witch lived. They bravely knocked on the door.
— Who dares to come here at this hour? Well! My, my, my! What are you doing here at my door? — We need to find the way to the Come-and-Never-Leave castle. — Ah! For that, you can go tomorrow morning. In the meantime, how about sleeping with my lizards? — Um, thank you, madam, but we want to leave now. — I will certainly show you the way, if you bring me water from the multicolored fountain in the castle courtyard. — Certainly, madam.
So the witch gave them a pitcher to bring her water from the multicolored fountain and sent her dog to lead them to the castle.
— Where is that owl? The birds told us to speak with her before entering the castle.
And then, they heard a noise.
— Pass! Pass! — The owl! — Dear owl, we need to enter the Come-and-Never-Leave castle. We were told to speak with you before entering. — Did the witch show you the way? — Yes. — And did she ask you to bring her water from the multicolored fountain? — Yes. — Don't do that! Fill the pitcher with water from the spring that flows next to the multicolored fountain. Then, go inside, where you will find a large cage with all sorts of birds, and each one will tell you that it is the Bird of Truth. But the real Bird of Truth will be in a corner, a silver dove. Move quickly, for a giant comes here every evening at the witch's command. — Thank you, good owl!
The Bird of Truth and Victory
So the young ones did as the owl told them. They filled the witch's pitcher with water from the spring. Then they went to the cage, where all the birds were shouting:
— I am the true Bird of Truth! — Lies! I am the true bird! — No, I am! — No, I am! No, I am!
The children saw the true Bird of Truth, took it, and fled from the castle. They arrived at the witch's cave.
— Aha! So you found the true Bird of Truth? Where is the water from the multicolored fountain? Transform into lizards, both of you!
But instead of turning into lizards, the prince and princess began to glow and became strong, because the spring water was very good. Seeing this, all the creatures in the cave rushed to drink this water, and the witch fled and never returned.
The children went to the palace, but the corrupt ministers would not let them in.
— We can't show them the Bird of Truth, because they'll never let us in! — We'll just tell them we want to speak with the king. — Children, what are you doing here? — We want to speak with the king. We have a gift for him. — How dare you disturb our king? Leave here immediately!
But the Bird of Truth flew in through the king's window and told him everything.
— So, your good queen is imprisoned in that tower, and the princess and prince are waiting for you at the palace entrance.
The king rushed outside and embraced his children. The thieving ministers were arrested, and the good queen was freed from the tower. The king generously rewarded the fisherman and his wife for their kindness, and from then on, the prince and princess lived happily ever after with their parents.
