Folk Tales

Book : The Young OXFORD Book Of Folk Tales .
Author : Kevin CROSSLEY - HOLLAND .
Illustration : Rosemary Woods .
Publisher : Oxford university press.
Category : young readers 6 - 11 .
" One crucial way of engaging with any civilization is through its artistic achievment - its music and litterature and painting and sculpure and film .Out of study springs understanding ; and out of understanding grows respect , and even love . This is joyful work we can begin as children , and that children can share with adults , through the telling and redaing of folk -tales . " Kevin Crossley - Holland

The selected tale from this book is " The Power Of Love " it's from the Near Middle East " Armenia " .
The Power Of Love

A young man was intending to get married , when suddenly Death appeared and stood in front of him ." You shall die on your wedding day " he said .Petrified with fear , the young man could not utter a single word . He wondered sadly off until he came to the foot of Mount Biledjan . He looked up and saw an old man with a whit beard seated upon an aery throne , a staff in his hand . The old man's face shone with a bright light ." Why are you so pale , boy ? " asked the old man . " Where are you going ? "" I'm running away from Death " replies the young man . " I'm in grave trouble , that's for sure " .The old man smiled grimly , nodded his head and strocked his beard ." Nobody has ever yet managed to escape from that mangy bag-o'-bones , sure enough ! "he said " But I'll tell you something " his beard is firmly in my grasp , and I tell him when to take the soul of such and such a man , or shorten th life of such and such another , or lengthen that of such and such another " .- " Who are you then grandfather ? "- " They call me Time .- If you have such power , let me fall at your feet and beg you to save me ! You can se that I'm still very young and full of vigor . Why does he encompass my downfall ? What have I done to him ? "The old man was moved ." For so long you remain terrified of Death , you will flee him , and remain for ever homeless " he said " So walk one hundred paces to my right until you come to a wild plum tree . There , you will find a well with water as limpid as the eye of a crane . Drink of that water and the taste will rid you of the fear , and the spirit of fortitude shall rise within you . Then go your war , and God be with you . "The young man kissed the old man's hand, thanked him , found the well , drank the magic water which rid him of his fear and inspired him with fortitude , and went on his way .He marched on and on , until he came to a city built at the edge of a great sea . Here he sttled for a few years , earned himself a small fortune and hen made his way back home to his mother and father . No sooner had he crossed the threshold , however , when , hey presto ! there stood Death in front of him ! .- "So you thought you'd escape me did you ? said Death . " Who can extricate himself from my clutches , pray ? It's all up with you now ! Come on , hand over your soul ! "The young man's mother darted in between them .- " Why do you kill my young son " she cried " if you must have someone's soul , take mine ! . "Death started to tug at her soul , till it began to leave her feet and move up through her windpipe . The old woman could not stand it for long , " Help , Death is ravishing my soul ! " she cried .Death relaxed his grip .The young man's father darted forward .- " Do not kill my only son , the pillar and the light of my house ! " he cried " If you must have someone's soul , take mine ! .Death started to draw his soul till it left his legs and moved up past his tongue . The old man could not stand it for long ." Help me son ! Death is robbing me of my soul to save your life ! " he cried .Death relaxed his grip .- " I cannot blame them " said the young man , " There is no need for them to suffer for my sake . But since you are here , let us go to the house of my betrothed . If she is not prepared to sacrifice up her soul for me , then most gladly will I surrendered my own " .So Death and the young man went to the house of his intended bride . As soon as the girl saw the young man , Death had no time to set to work before she ran up threw her arms round the young man's neck and kissed him , It seemed they were but one body and soul .- " Ho there " shouted Death , " That's enough ! I've no more time to waste . Tell me what you wish to do ! "- " What do you want ?" asked the girl .- I'm here to take your young man's soul ! said Death.- " If you must take someone's soul , take mine ! " said the girl .Death began to tug at her soul , till it slowly came away at the tip of her toes and the roots of her hair .- " Why are you torturing me so ? " cries the girl " If you want my soul , take it at one go ! Let me only first kiss my betrothed , as I yearn to do , and then do as you will " .Death snatched away the girl's soul with one sharp tug . No sooner had he done so , howeve , than he began to marvel at her great love and devotion , and begin unable to dismiss the young man and the young woman from his mind , he relented , and he gave her back her soul , and left them together , and went on his way . The young man and his betrothed returned home in great joy . For three days and three nights the wedding festivities continued . and they achieved their heart's desire .Three apples fell from heaven : one for the bride , one for the bridegroom , and one for the white – bearded old man , who was , is , and ever shall be , until the end of Time . Amen .