--- title: Opening, part 9 — The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient · full text with trees description: Opening, part 9, «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 some of the fishes overheard what the Crane said to the Crab, and they at once called a general meeting. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/9/) [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 9 # Opening, part 9 Opening, part 9 of «The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient» by Penrhyn Wingfield Coussens: the whole text, 125 sentences and 2569 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/pg65965/9/page/2/) Now some of the fishes overheard what the Crane said to the Crab, and they at once called a general meeting.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") One of them said: “In this case the Crane’s interests are the same as ours, because, while we furnish the food which keeps him alive there are many of us left, but when the fishermen capture us we shall die.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Let us therefore confer with the Crane.”[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") This they decided to do, and so they went to him in a body.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") “Good Crane,” they said, “what course is there for safety?”[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") “The only thing to do is to go elsewhere,” said the Crane.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") “This can easily be done, for if you wish I will carry you one by one to another pool.”[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") This the trembling fishes begged him to do, that is, all but one of them, who said:[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is most unusual that a crane should take any thought for fishes, and I think that you mean to eat us, one by one.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") “That I do not,” said the Crane.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you do not believe what I say, send one of your number with me, and he shall come back and tell you that I am to be trusted.”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") They thought this was all right, and so selected their sharpest fish, one whom they considered could not be outwitted, and handed him over to the Crane.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") The Crane took him in his bill and let him go in the other pool, and he showed the fish all over it.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he carried him back to the others who were entirely satisfied, and said they were ready to go with him.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Crane took them, one after another, and having eaten them, returned to report that he had safely deposited each in the pond.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") At last only the Crab was left, and he asked to be taken, too.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the Crane coveted the tender flesh of the Crab, and perhaps the latter saw a greedy look in his eyes.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") At any rate, when the Crane went to take hold of him with his beak, he said: “You cannot carry me like that, for I should certainly fall.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The Crane told him not to fear, that he would be perfectly safe.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Crab thought to himself: “If he once got hold of a fish, I doubt very much if he would really let it go into the pond.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") He shall carry me, but in such a way that I shall be safe.”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") So he said:[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “Friend Crane, you cannot hold me tight enough in your bill, so I will hold on to you with my claws, and you can carry me that way.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The Crane thought that would be all right, and so the other held on to his neck with his claws, and off they went.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") They soon reached the spot where the Crane had eaten the fish, and the Crab saw that it was covered with fishbones.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is not the pond,” said the Crab; “please take me to it at once.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") “You will never see another pond,” replied the Crane, who thought that it would be the easiest thing in the world to shake the Crab from his neck.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am now going to eat you, just as I have eaten every one of the fish, whose bones you can see if you look.”[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do you think I am as stupid as those fish?” asked the Crab.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he gave the Crane’s neck such a squeeze with his claws that the Crane almost died.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") “That is just to remind you of what will happen if you don’t take me to the pond at once,” said the Crab.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") The Crane now trembled with fear, and flew at once to the edge of the pond, and there, before entering the water the Crab tightened his grip so that the Crane’s neck was cut clear through.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") THE LION AND THE HARE[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") In a large forest there lived a Lion who was very fierce.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Such terror did he inspire among the other animals of the jungle, and so many of them did he kill for his daily food, that they held a public meeting to see what could be done about it.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") After much parleying they drew up a respectful petition to the Lion in these words:[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “Your Majesty, why do you thus create havoc among us?[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") If it please you, we will ourselves furnish you daily with a beast for your Majesty’s meal.”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") This petition they duly presented to the Lion, who said: “If this arrangement is more agreeable to you, I will be satisfied.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") So, from that time a beast was allotted to him each day, they casting lots among themselves to see who should be selected.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus it became the turn of a wily old Hare to supply the royal table, and as he walked slowly along to keep his appointment he said to himself, “If I have to die I will take my time, and will go to my death as leisurely as possible.”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Now that day the Lion was very hungry, and he became very angry at being kept waiting for his meal, so when he saw the Hare walking along as though he had all day to spare he roared at him, “How dare you so delay your coming?”[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") “Sire,” replied the Hare, “It is not my fault that I am late.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") On the way here I was detained by another lion, who made me promise to return to him when I shall have told your Majesty that he awaits you.”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Of course, such insolence on the part of another lion made this one more angry than before, as the old Hare had intended it should, and he exclaimed in a rage, “Show me instantly where this impertinent villain of a lion lives.”[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Hare led the way until he came to a deep well, when he stopped and said, “Now, my Lord, come here and see him.”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Lion approached, and saw his own reflection in the water.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Thinking that he was looking at the other lion, he flung himself furiously upon his own image, and so was drowned.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") You may be sure the old Hare lost no time in spreading the news of their enemy’s end to his friends of the jungle.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") I.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Caliph Chasid, of Bagdad, was resting comfortably on his divan one fine afternoon.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") He was smoking a long pipe, and from time to time he sipped a little coffee which a slave handed to him, and after each sip he stroked his long beard with an air of enjoyment.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") In short, anyone could see that the Caliph was in an excellent humor.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") This was, in fact, the best time of day in which to approach him, for just now he was pretty sure to be both affable and in good spirits, and for this reason the Grand Vizier Mansor always chose this hour in which to pay his daily visit.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") He arrived as usual this afternoon, but, contrary to his usual custom, with an anxious face.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") The Caliph withdrew his pipe for a moment from his lips and asked, “Why do you look so anxious, Grand Vizier?”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast and bent low before his master as he answered:[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, my lord\![59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Whether my countenance be anxious or not I know not, but down below in the court of the palace is a pedler with such beautiful things that I cannot help feeling annoyed at having so little money to spare.”[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") The Caliph, who had wished for some time past to give his Grand Vizier a present, ordered his black slave to bring the pedler before him at once.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") The slave soon returned, followed by the pedler, a short, stout man with a swarthy face, and dressed in very ragged clothes.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") He carried a box containing all manner of wares—strings of pearls, rings, richly mounted pistols, goblets, and combs.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") The Caliph and his Vizier inspected everything, and the Caliph chose some handsome pistols for himself and Mansor, and a jeweled comb for the Vizier’s wife.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") Just as the pedler was about to close his box, the Caliph noticed a small drawer, and asked if there was anything else in it for sale.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") The pedler opened the drawer and showed them a box containing a black powder, and a scroll written in strange characters, which neither the Caliph nor Mansor could read.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/9/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/8/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/9/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The Jade Story Book; Stories from the Orient](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg65965/)