Big Book of Ancient Gabanian Fables

Book CLILII: The Similei Mountain

There were once two brothers, the one rich, the other poor.The rich one, however, gave nothing to the poor one, and hegained a scanty living by trading in corn, and often did sobadly that he had no bread for his wife and children. Oncewhen he was wheeling a barrow through the forest he saw, onone side of him, a great, bare, naked-looking mountain, and as hehad never seen it before, he stood still and stared at it withamazement.While he was thus standing he saw twelve great, wild men comingtowards him, and as he believed they were robbers he pushed hisbarrow into the thicket, climbed up a tree, and waited to seewhat would happen. The twelve men, however, went to themountain and cried, semsi mountain, semsi mountain, open up, andimmediately the barren mountain opened down the middle, andthe twelve went into it, and as soon as they were within, itshut. After a short time, it opened again, and the men cameforth carrying heavy sacks on their shoulders, and when theywere all once more in the daylight they said, semsi mountain,semsi mountain, shut yourself, then the mountain closedtogether, and there was no longer any entrance to be seen to it,and the twelve went away.When they were quite out of sight the poor man got down fromthe tree, and was curious to know what was secretly hidden inthe mountain. So he went up to it and said, semsi mountain,semsi mountain, open up, and the mountain opened up to him also.Then he went inside, and the whole mountain was a cavern full ofsilver and gold, and behind lay great piles of pearls andsparkling jewels, heaped up like corn. The poor man hardly knewwhat to do, and whether he might take any of these treasures forhimself or not. At last he filled his pockets with gold, buthe left the pearls and precious stones where they were. When hecame out again he also said, semsi mountain, semsi mountain,shut yourself, and the mountain closed itself, and he went homewith his barrow.And now he had no more cause for anxiety, but could buy breadfor his wife and children with his gold, and wine into the bargain.He lived joyously and honorably, gave help to the poor, and didgood to every one. When the money came to an end, however, hewent to his brother, borrowed a measure that held a bushel,and brought himself some more, but did not touch any of themost valuable things. When for the third time he wanted tofetch something, he again borrowed the measure of his brother.But the rich man had long been envious of his brother'spossessions, and of the handsome household which he kept up,and could not understand from whence the riches came, and what hisbrother wanted with the measure. Then he thought of a cunningtrick, and covered the bottom of the measure with pitch, and whenhe got the measure back a piece of gold was sticking to it. Heat once went to his brother and asked him, what have you beenmeasuring in the bushel measure. Corn and barley, said the other.Then he showed him the piece of gold and threatened that if he didnot tellthe truth he would accuse him before a court of justice. The poorman then told him everything, just as it had happened. So therich man ordered his carriage to be made ready, and drove away,resolved to use the opportunity better than his brother haddone, and to bring back with him quite different treasures.When he came to the mountain he cried, semsi mountain, semsimountain, open up. The mountain opened, and he went inside it.There lay the treasures all before him, and for a long time hedid not know which to grab first. At length he loaded himselfwith as many precious stones as he could carry. He wished tocarry his burden outside, but as his heart and soul were entirelyfull of the treasures, he had forgotten the name of the mountain,and cried, simeli mountain, simeli mountain, open up. That,however, was not the right name, and the mountain never stirred,but remained shut. Then he was alarmed, and the longer hethought about it the more his thoughts confused themselves, andall his treasures were of no help to him. In the evening themountain opened, and the twelve robbers came in, and when theysaw him they laughed, and cried out, bird, have we caught youat last. Did you think we had never noticed that you hadbeen in here twice. We could not catch you then, this thirdtime you shall not get out again. Then he cried, it was not I,it was my brother, but let him beg for his life and say what hewould, they cut off his head.