Georgian Folk Tales

ONCE upon a time there was a poor peasant who had one son. And it came to pass that his wife said to him: 'He should learn some trade, for when he is separated from thee, what will he do if he is left ignorant like thee?' 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: 'Ah! how good thou art!'1 On saying this, there came forth from the water a devil in the form of a man, and said to the peasant: 'What dost thou want, O man! I am Vakhraca; what troubles thee?' The peasant told him all his story. The devil, when he learnt this, said: 'Give 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.'



PART I GEORGIAN FOLK TALES



I Master and Pupil

II The Three Sisters and their Stepmother

III The Good-for-nothing

IV The Frog's 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 Conkiajgharuna

XII Asphurtzela

XIII The Shepherd and the Child of Fortune

XIV The Two Thieves

XV The Fox and the King's Son

XVI The King and the Apple



PART II MINGRELIAN TALES



I The Three Precepts

II Kazha-ndiiIII The Story of Geria

III Poor Man's Son

IV The Prince who befriended the Beasts

V The Cunning Old Man and the Demi

VI Sanartia

VII The Shepherd Judge

VIII The Priest's youngest Son



PART III GURIAN FOLK TALES



I The Strong Man and the Dwarf

II The Grasshopper and the Ant

III The Countryman and the Merchant

IV The King and the Sage

V The King's Son

VI Teeth and No-Teeth

VII The Queen's Whim

VIII The Fool's good Fortune

IX Two Losses

X The Story of Dervish

XI The Father's Prophecy

XII The Hermit Philosopher

XIII The King's Counsellor

XIV A Witty Answer