--- title: Opening, part 24 — The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient · full text with trees description: Opening, part 24, «The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient» by Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Now a widower was sharpening his axe on the bank of the river, and when he saw the coffin stop, he went to fish it out --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/24/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Jade Story Book; Stories from the…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/) / Opening, part 24 # Opening, part 24 Opening, part 24 of «The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient» by Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens: the whole text, 133 sentences and 2527 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/24/page/2/) Now a widower was sharpening his axe on the bank of the river, and when he saw the coffin stop, he went to fish it out of the water.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") On the shore he started to open it, but Fukan cried out, “Do not drive a wedge, for I am here.”[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") So the widower opened it carefully and took Fukan up to the town, and then, as he had no wife of his own, he married her.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") IN UNION IS STRENGTH[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") A lion was wandering over the desert, seeking water.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") It was very hot, and the sun had dried so many pools that it was a long time before he found a well where he could assuage his thirst.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") But this he did at last, although the water in it was not at all fresh.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") However, he was too thirsty to care much whether it was stale or not.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") He reached down to drink, and then his ears were assailed with the buzzing of mosquitoes, who said to him:[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") “Lion, leave us in peace.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") We did not ask you to come here and drink up our home, and you are not welcome.”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") This surprised the Lion, who was not used to being spoken to in such an impertinent manner.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") He roared and said: “Do you know whom you are speaking to?[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") I am the Lion, the King of all beasts.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") What affair of yours is it what I do?[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Leave me at once, or I will kill you all.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Mosquitoes said: “You are one, and we are many.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") For generations has this old well been our home, and it is not for you to say that we must go.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Take our advice and seek another well, or trouble will visit you.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “You insignificant little creatures, how dare you address me in such manner,” roared the Lion.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why, in one minute I can swallow you all and you will make only the very smallest part of a mouthful for me.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Know that when I speak all beasts of the forest and the wilderness bow before me, and tremble.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Now fly away, all of you, for I am going to drink.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “We know how great is your renown,” said the Mosquitoes, “but we do not fear you.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") If you wish to fight us we are very willing to have it so, but we will not allow you to destroy our home.”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The Lion was now enraged more than he had ever been before.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Such language to him, the King, meant that destruction must be meted out to those who dared to use it.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") He roared again, and made ready to kill the foolish Mosquitoes.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") But he found that he had undertaken no easy task.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The Mosquitoes flew into his ears, his eyes, his nose and his mouth.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") They stung him all over his body, and soon he knew that he was conquered.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") He shook himself; he rolled over and over on the ground, but he could not drive them away.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he jumped high into the air, and when he came down his head and fore feet went into the well, and he was unable to release himself.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") And so he died, thus teaching a lesson to those who are so proud of their own might that they all think all others must bow down to them.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The water in the well was the home of the Mosquitoes, and he had no right to deprive them of it.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Had he made a request for water with gentle words, it would without doubt have been given to him, but in the foolishness of his pride and anger he demanded that which was not his.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Gentleness, and consideration for others will bring their reward.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") THE STORY OF BANTUGAN[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Before the Spaniards occupied the island of Mindanao, there lived in the valley of the Rio Grande a very strong man, Bantugan, whose father was the brother of the earthquake and thunder.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the Sultan of the Island had a beautiful daughter whom Bantugan wished to marry, but the home of the Sultan was far off, and whoever went to carry Bantugan’s proposal would have a long and hazardous journey.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") All the head men consulted together regarding who should be sent, and at last it was decided that Bantugan’s own son, Balatama, was the one to go.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Balatama was young but he was strong and brave, and when the arms of his father were given him to wear on the long journey his heart swelled with pride.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") More than once on the way, however, his courage was tried, and only the thought of his brave father gave him strength to proceed.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Once he came to a wooden fence which surrounded a stone in the form of a man, and as it was directly in his path he drew his fighting knife to cut down the fence.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Immediately the air became as black as night and stones rained down as large as houses.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") This made Balatama cry, but he protected himself with his father’s shield and prayed, calling on the winds from the homeland until they came and cleared the air again.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon Balatama encountered a great snake in the road, and it inquired his errand.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") When told, the snake said:[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") “You cannot go on, for I am guard of this road and no one can pass.”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") The animal made a move to seize him, but with one stroke of his fighting knife the boy cut the snake into two pieces, one of which he threw into the sea and the other into the mountains.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") After many days the weary lad came to a high rock in the road, which glistened in the sunlight.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") From the top he could look down into the city for which he was bound.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a splendid place with ten harbors.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Standing out from the other palaces was one of crystal and another of pure gold.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Encouraged by this sight he went on, but though it seemed only a short distance, it was some time before he at last stood at the gate of the town.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") It was not long after this, however, before Balatama had made known his errand to the Sultan, and that monarch, turning to his courtiers, said:[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") “You, my friends, decide whether or not I shall give the hand of my daughter to Bantugan in marriage.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") The courtiers slowly shook their heads and began to offer objections.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Said one, “I do not see how Bantugan can marry the Sultan’s daughter because the first gift must be a figure of a man or woman in pure gold.”[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” said the son of Bantugan, “I am here to learn what you want and to say whether or not it can be given.”[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Then a second man spoke: “You must give a great yard with a floor of gold, which must be three feet thick.”[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") “All this can be given,” answered the boy.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") And the sister of the Princess said: “The gifts must be as many as the blades of grass in our city.”[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") “It shall be granted,” said Balatama.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") “You must give a bridge built of stone to cross the great river,” said one.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") And another: “A ship of stone you must give, and you must change into gold all the cocoanuts and leaves in the Sultan’s grove.”[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") “All this can be done,” said Balatama.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") “My uncles will give all save the statue of gold, and that I shall give myself.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") But first I must go to my father’s town to secure it.”[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/24/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/23/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/24/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The Jade 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