Once upon a time (ժուկով-ժամանակով) there lived a king. This king announced (հայտարարեց) throughout the land:
“I will give half my kingdom (թագավորությանս կեսը) to the man who can tell a lie that I can agree that is a lie.3
A shepherd (հովիվ) came and said, “My father has got a pipe (ծխամորճ). The pipe is very long and he can stir (խառնել) the stars with it».
“That’s possible,” answered the King. “My grandfather had a pipe. He used to (սովորություն ուներ) put one end of it in his mouth and stretch (ձգել) the other up to the sun to light it.”
The man went out scratching (քորելով) his head.
A tailor came and said, “I am sorry, O King, to have come so late. Wind (քամի), storm (փոթորիկ) and lightning (կայծակ) did not let me come early”. I was patching up the crack (ճեղք) of the sky.
“Oh, “I believe it is true” said the King, “but you haven’t patched it very well, for it rained a little again this morning.
This man also went away empty-handed (դատարկաձեռն).
A villager came in with a bag on his shoulder. “What do you want, my good man?” asked the King. “You owe (պարտք լինել) me a bag of gold. I have come for it.” “A bag of gold!” exclaimed (բացականչեց)the King astonished (զարմացած). “That s a lie (սուտ). I do not owe you anything.”
“All right. It is a lie. Then give me half your kingdom.”
“No, no. You’re quite right (Դուք միանգամայն ճիշտ եք). It’s not a lie,” the king tried to correct (ուղղել) himself.
“So I am telling the truth. Then give me the bag of gold.”
Answer the questions:
- What did the king say to all people?
“I will give half my kingdom to the man who can tell a lie that I can agree that is a lie”
- Who came first?
First came a shepherd.
- What did he say?
He said “My father has got a pipe. The pipe is very long and he can stir the stars with it”
- What was the king’s answer?
“That’s possible,” answered the King.
- Who came second?
Second came a tailor.
- What did he say?
He said “I am sorry, O King, to have come so late. Wind, storm and lightning did not let me come early”. I was patching up the crack of the sky.
- What was the king’s reply?
The king’s reply was “Oh, “I believe it is true, but you haven’t patched it very well.
- Who came after the tailor?
After the tailor the villager came.
- What did he tell the king?
He said to the king “You6me a bag of gold”
- What did the king answer?
The king answer.. “A bag of gold?” That’s a lie. I do not owe you anything.”