A village hunter had one day gone farther afield than usual. Coming to
a part of the forest with which he was unacquainted, he was astonished
to hear a voice singing. He listened; this was the song:
“It is man who forces himself on things,
Not things which force themselves on him.”
The singing was accompanied by sweet music—which entirely charmed the
hunter’s heart.
When the little song was finished, the hunter peeped through the
branches to see who the singer could be. Imagine his amazement when he
found it was none other than a tortoise, with a tiny harp slung in
front of her. Never had he seen such a marvellous thing.
Time after time he returned to the same place in order to listen to
this wonderful creature. At last he persuaded her to let him carry her
back to his hut, that he might enjoy her singing daily in comfort. This
she permitted, only on the understanding that she sang to him alone.
The hunter did not rest long content with this arrangement, however.
Soon he began to wish that he could show off this wonderful tortoise to
all the world, and thereby thought he would gain great honour. He told
the secret, first to one, then to another, until finally it reached the
ears of the chief himself. The hunter was commanded to come and tell
his tale before the Assembly. When, however, he described the tortoise
who sang and played on the harp, the people shouted in scorn. They
refused to believe him.
At last he said, “If I do not speak truth, I give you leave to kill me.
To-morrow I will bring the tortoise to this place and you may all hear
her. If she cannot do as I say, I am willing to die.” “Good,” replied
the people, “and if the tortoise can do as you say, we give you leave
to punish us in any way you choose.”
The matter being then settled, the hunter returned home, well pleased
with the prospect. As soon as the morrow dawned, he carried tortoise
and harp down to the Assembly Place—where a table had been placed ready
for her. Every one gathered round to listen. But no song came. The
people were very patient, and quite willing to give both tortoise and
hunter a chance. Hours went by, and, to the hunter’s dismay and shame,
the tortoise remained mute. He tried every means in his power to coax
her to sing, but in vain. The people at first whispered, then spoke
outright, in scorn of the boaster and his claims.
Night came on and brought with it the hunter’s doom. As the last ray of
the setting sun faded, he was beheaded. The instant this had happened
the tortoise spoke. The people looked at one another in troubled
wonder: “Our brother spoke truth, then, and we have killed him.” The
tortoise, however, went on to explain. “He brought his punishment on
himself. I led a happy life in the forest, singing my little song. He
was not content to come and listen to me. He had to tell my secret
(which did not at all concern him) to all the world. Had he not tried
to make a show of me this would never have happened.
“It is man who forces himself on things,
Not things which force themselves on him.”