Legend of Water Man and the Boy
The Slovene folk tale O povodnem možu (Tale of the Water Man) comes from Prekmurje, the north-eastern region of Slovenia. It takes place along the river (probably river Mura). Povodni mož means Man of the Water.
The tale tells of a boy who liked swimming. Even when the river was flooded, in spite of the fact that his parents warned him that he should not, the boy jumped into the water, but because it was too high he started to sink and called for help. He was heard by Povodni mož who decided to save him and take him to his underwater kingdom. He placed the boy in a bed made out of glass, in a room made of glass. When the /boy woke, he started to play with toys made of glass. Then he remembered about his home and started to cry. Povodni mož asked him why he was crying, and the boy said that he missed his home. Povodni mož wondered if home is more valuable than riches.
Then the boy fell asleep and Povodni mož took him to another room, all made of silver. When the boy woke up, he started to play with toys made out of silver. He soon started to miss his brother and sister, with whom he played at home. He began to cry again.
Povodni mož then took him to a third room, all made of pure gold. When the boy woke up, all the brightness of gold shone into his eyes. He began to play with toys made of gold, but he soon remembered his mother and father, and began to cry loudly.
Povodni mož went and choose the most beautiful pearls. He wondered whether all these riches were more dear than the boy’s family. The boy said that they were not. Then Povodni mož realized that all the riches of the world would not make the boy want to remain with him.
He waited until the boy fell asleep and took him to the river bank, where his clothes were waiting. He filled the pockets with gold and pearls.
When the boy woke up, he thought he that he had dreamed, but when he put his hands into his pockets, he found the gold and pearls, and realized that it was all true. He ran home very happily. They were delighted to see him, as they thought he had drowned.
With the riches the family helped themselves out of poverty, made a new house, and lived in it happily ever after.
(C) Andreja Vavpetič & Zdenka Wicher
Hadithi ya Mwanamume wa Maji na Mvulana Hadithi ya watu wa Slovenia O povodnem možu (Hadithi ya Mwanamume wa Maji) hutoka Prekmurje, mkoa wa kaskazini mashariki mwa Slovenia. Inafanyika kando ya mto (labda mto Mura). Povodni mož humaanisha Mtu wa Maji. Hadithi hiyo inasimulia juu ya mvulana aliyependa kuogelea. Hata wakati mto ulipofurika, licha ya wazazi wake kumwonya asiingie, mvulana huyo aliruka ndani ya maji, lakini kwa sababu yalikuwa ya juu sana, akaanza kuzama na kuomba msaada. Alisikilizwa na Povodni mož ambaye aliamua kumwokoa na kumchukua kwenye ufalme wake wa chini ya maji. Alimweka mvulana huyo katika kitanda kilichotengenezwa kwa kioo, katika chumba kilichotengenezwa kwa kioo. Mvulana huyo alipotamka, alianza kucheza na vitu vya kuchezea vilivyotengenezwa kwa kioo. Kisha akakumbuka kuhusu nyumba yake na akaanza kulia. Povodni mož alimwuliza kwa nini alikuwa akilia, na mvulana huyo akasema kwamba alikosa nyumbani kwake. Povodni mož alijiuliza ikiwa nyumba ni ya thamani zaidi kuliko utajiri. Kisha mvulana huyo akalala usingizi na Povodni mož akamchukua kwenye chumba kingine, kilichotengenezwa kwa fedha. Mvulana huyo alipotambua jambo hilo, alianza kucheza na vitu vya kuchezea vilivyotengenezwa kwa fedha. Punde si punde akaanza kumkosa ndugu na dada yake, ambao alicheza nao nyumbani. Alianza kulia tena. Povodni mož kisha akamchukua kwenye chumba cha tatu, chote kilichotengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi. Mvulana huyo alipotamka, macho yake yalikuwa na mwangaza wa dhahabu. Alianza kucheza na vitu vya kuchezea vilivyotengenezwa kwa dhahabu, lakini punde si punde akawakumbuka mama na baba yake, akaanza kulia kwa sauti kubwa. Povodni mož alienda na kuchagua lulu nzuri zaidi. Alijiuliza ikiwa utajiri huo wote ulikuwa wa thamani zaidi kuliko familia ya mvulana huyo. Mvulana huyo alisema kwamba hawakuwa hivyo. Kisha Povodny Mosher akatambua kwamba utajiri wote wa ulimwengu haungemfanya mvulana huyo atake kubaki naye. Alisubiri mpaka mvulana huyo alilala usingizi na kumpeleka kwenye ukingo wa mto, ambako nguo zake zilikuwa zikisubiri. Alijaza mifuko hiyo dhahabu na lulu. Mvulana huyo alipotamka, alidhani kuwa alikuwa ameota ndoto, lakini alipoweka mikono yake mfukoni, alipata dhahabu na lulu, na kutambua kwamba yote yalikuwa kweli. Alikimbia nyumbani akiwa na furaha sana. Walifurahi kumwona, kwa kuwa walidhani kwamba amezama. Kwa utajiri huo familia hiyo ilijisaidia kujikomboa kutoka umaskini, ikajenga nyumba mpya, na kuishi ndani yake kwa furaha milele. (C) Andreja Vavpetič & Zdenka Wicher