You may or may not believe what is told here. But listen to the end and you will agree that this is the most instructive story you have ever heard. One day Fire and Water met on the way. Fire doesn't like to sit still. Even when he is locked in a stove or fireplace, all he can think about is how to jump out. Water is also restless, always striving somewhere. So they decided to take a walk in their free minute.
As soon as they greeted each other, they see that Honor is coming. Fire and Water were surprised; they had never met Honor on the road before. This is not such a frivolous lady as to run from one place to another and wander along the roads. They didn’t know that today she had to leave a noble gentleman who had committed a dishonorable act.
“Signora Honor,” said Fire and Water, “would you do the honor of taking a walk with us?”
“Thank you for the invitation,” Honor responded. – I'm sure it will be a pleasant trip. But, excuse me, it’s my rule to always know what my companions are doing.
“Oh, don’t worry, Signora Honor,” the Water gurgled, “you won’t have to be ashamed of walking next to me.” I quench the thirst of travelers, wash, wash, irrigate fields and turn mill wheels.
The water gurgled the true truth. She kept silent only about the fact that sometimes her murmur turns into a deafening roar and then she breaks dams, floods villages and smashes ships to pieces. But who likes to say such things about themselves, especially when meeting for the first time?
“And I,” said Fire, “light and warm the homes, cook dinner and help the blacksmiths forge iron.”
Fire did not want to look worse than Water in front of Honor. Therefore, he also kept silent about something. For example, that, having gone on a rampage, he can burn down an entire village or, having fallen from the sky, split for fun a venerable old oak tree that would have stood for another three hundred years.
Honor, who was very scrupulous, but trusting, was delighted with such companions.
“Then let’s go, friends, for a walk, the three of us!” she exclaimed.
“Wait,” said Fire, “on the way, one of us may turn aside or fall behind.” We need to agree on what signs we will use to find each other. You can recognize me from afar by the smoke, because, as you know, there is no smoke without fire.
Water said:
“Don’t look for me where the plants have turned yellow and drooped, where the earth has cracked from the heat.” I am where the weeping willows, alders, reeds and tall green grass are.
“As for me,” said Honor, “I have no special signs.” If you want to be friends with me, keep an eye on me so that I don’t get lost. Take care of me, as a crooked one takes care of his only eye. Because this is my amazing property, ladies and gentlemen: whoever loses me will never find me again.
And Honor, the only one of the three, told the true truth, without holding anything back.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru