Once there lived a man together with his wife.
So often were they troubled by the life.
Perhaps it was because they had a goat and a sheep,
Which were so thin and even couldn’t leap.
«Wife, listen», said the man one day,
«You know how short we are of hay.
I’d like the goat and the sheep the real life to taste.
For what they eat is just a waste».
Without arguing the wife said to the man:
«Let them together leave us, that’s your plan.
Of course, my husband, right words you’ve said.
What’s use in them? They’ve never even bred».
The goat and the sheep were at a loss,
But they obeyed; the man was their boss.
So in a grief like this they took a bag
And made the way through fields along the crag.
In silence walked they rather long.
The world for them was like a mournful song,
And only God knew why them he led
To see so suddenly a dead wolfs head.
The goat full of fear wouldn’t touch the head,
The sheep was also scared, almost dead.
Thus, stood they both close to the head,
«You are to touch it», they to each other said.
The goat said, «Oh dear sheep, so strong you are!»
The sheep replied, «But bravery of mine from yours is so far»
Thus, two companions, having chicken hearts,
Were too afraid to take it in the hands.
At last they took a hold of that big head
And seizing by the ears to their bag they fled.
Soon the monstrous head was in the bag, so deep.
What a relief they felt, the goat and the sheep.
So further walked and walked our two friends.
The road seemed for them to have no end.
But soon they saw a fire in the dark.
«Let’s there spend the night», the goat’s was remark
«Bad wolves are certain not to come to it.
We shall be safe, the place is so lit».
The goat wisdom saw in this advice.
And hoped it wouldn’t turn to have a vice.
Close came they up to this bright light.
What a nightmare saw they in the night.
Four wolves were sitting close to it
And boiling water for some meat.
The goat and the sheep when saw this sight,
The hearts of theirs sank; they got a lot of fright.
«Oh, wolves, my friends, you are all here!»
The goat said not to betray her fear.
How happy were the wolves when them they saw;
«The meat has come itself, we don’t wish more.
We shall be quick to catch them both.
The meal will be the best, we take an oath».
The goat said, «Don’t think too much about meat.
We have a lot of it in our bag, so neat.
Don’t waste your time, oh sheep my dear friend,
We have a nice wolfs head for them to lend».
The sheep was quick to take it out of the bag
And showed it to the wolves without any lag.
So using moments when the wolves received this smash,
The goat went on cutting this enormous dash.
The goat said «How stupid one can be?
This tiny one offends my friends and me.
We have twelve heads, so take a bigger one,
You should respect my friends, it isn’t fun».
The sheep, thanks to our God, caught this trick
To take the same head out of the bag she was so quick,
And when in front of them another head was laid.
Oh, poor wolves! Believe me. They were so much afraid.
The wolves forgot the thought of eating.
They only thought of rapid leaving.
And having made the minds to run away,
They waited for a chance to be on their way.
The eldest wolf soon rose and then he said:
«l guess for our meal we’ll need some bread.
I’ll go to the village to look for some,
My friends, I promise quickly back to come».
Thus their chief went to the village for some bread.
Time passed, but their waiting seemed to have no end.
Of course, the eldest one was wise enough to flee.
And this result was definitely to foresee.
The wolves got frightened even more,
For their chief was one who knew the law
Of being fast and swift to run from danger,
Especially if you met an awful stranger.
The eldest one was followed by another soon,
Who in his turn home went to take a spoon.
Again in vain they waited for some time,
But leaving friends for them was not a crime.
The other two were also soon away,
They didn’t want to take part in the fray.
The goat and the sheep soon felt a relief.
It was the God who helped them and belief.
The fire soon warmed up two our friends,
They even cooked a meal from odds and ends.
And having eaten, they rested for a while,
The night was spent on such a soft big pile.
The goat and the sheep woke up at dawn,
They took the bag which saved them from that mourn
Again they made the way through fields and woods,
But as for us, let’s part with them for goods.
1909
Translated from Tatar into English by Aydar Shamsutdinov
В оригинале на татарском: Кәҗә белән Сарык хикәясе
В переводе на русский язык: Сказка о Козе и Баране (Перевод С.Липкина)
Сказка о Баране и Козе (Перевод В.Думаевой–Валиевой)
Сказка про Козу и Барана (Перевод Р.Бухараева)
The artisans — Bulat Talipov (11 years old), Mary-Louise Sparta (8 years old)
(Источник: Тукай Г. Кәҗә белән Сарык әкияте = A Tale about a Goat and a Sheep = Сказка про Козу и Барана / Габдулла Тукай.- Казан: Мәгариф, 2005, — 47 б.: рәс. б-н.).