There was once upon a time a miller who lived with his wife in great contentment. They had money and land, and their prosperity increased year by year more and more. But ill-luck comes like a thief in the night, as their wealth had increased so did it again decrease, year by year, and at last the miller could hardly call the mill in which he lived, his own. He was in great distress, and when he lay down after his day's work, found no rest, but tossed about in his bed, full of care. One morning he rose before daybreak and went out into the open air, thinking that perhaps there his heart might become lighter. As he was stepping over the mill-dam the first sunbeam was just breaking forth, and he heard a rippling sound in the pond. He turned round and perceived a beautiful woman, rising slowly out of the water. Her long hair, which she was holding off her shoulders with her soft hands, fell down on both sides, and covered her white body. He soon saw that she was the Nix of the Mill-pond, and in his fright did not know whether he should run away or stay where he was. But the nix made her sweet voice heard, called him by his name, and asked him why he was so sad? The miller was at first struck dumb, but when he heard her speak so kindly, he took heart, and told her how he had formerly lived in wealth and happiness, but that now he was so poor that he did not know what to do. "Be easy," answered the nix, "I will make thee richer and happier than thou hast ever been before, only thou must promise to give me the young thing which has just been born in thy house." - "What else can that be," thought the miller, "but a young puppy or kitten?" and he promised her what she desired. The nix descended into the water again, and he hurried back to his mill, consoled and in good spirits. He had not yet reached it, when the maid-servant came out of the house, and cried to him to rejoice, for his wife had given birth to a little boy. The miller stood as if struck by lightning; he saw very well that the cunning nix had been aware of it, and had cheated him. Hanging his head, he went up to his wife's bedside and when she said, "Why dost thou not rejoice over the fine boy?" he told her what had befallen him, and what kind of a promise he had given to the nix. "Of what use to me are riches and prosperity?" he added, "if I am to lose my child; but what can I do?" Even the relations, who had come thither to wish them joy, did not know what to say. In the meantime prosperity again returned to the miller's house. All that he undertook succeeded, it was as if presses and coffers filled themselves of their own accord, and as if money multiplied nightly in the cupboards. It was not long before his wealth was greater than it had ever been before. But he could not rejoice over it untroubled, for the bargain which he had made with the nix tormented his soul. Whenever he passed the mill-pond, he feared she might ascend and remind him of his debt. He never let the boy himself go near the water. "Beware," he said to him, "if thou dost but touch the water, a hand will rise, seize thee, and draw thee down." But as year after year went by and the nix did not show herself again, the miller began to feel at ease. The boy grew up to be a youth and was apprenticed to a huntsman. When he had learnt everything, and had become an excellent huntsman, the lord of the village took him into his service. In the village lived a beautiful and true-hearted maiden, who pleased the huntsman, and when his master perceived that, he gave him a little house, the two were married, lived peacefully and happily, and loved each other with all their hearts.
One day the huntsman was chasing a roe; and when the animal turned aside from the forest into the open country, he pursued it and at last shot it. He did not notice that he was now in the neighbourhood of the dangerous mill-pond, and went, after he had disembowelled the stag, to the water, in order to wash his blood-stained hands. Scarcely, however, had he dipped them in than the nix ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly down under the waves, which closed over him. When it was evening, and the huntsman did not return home, his wife became alarmed. She went out to seek him, and as he had often told her that he had to be on his guard against the snares of the nix, and dared not venture into the neighbourhood of the mill-pond, she already suspected what had happened. She hastened to the water, and when she found his hunting-pouch lying on the shore, she could no longer have any doubt of the misfortune. Lamenting her sorrow, and wringing her hands, she called on her beloved by name, but in vain. She hurried across to the other side of the pond, and called him anew; she reviled the nix with harsh words, but no answer followed. The surface of the water remained calm, only the crescent moon stared steadily back at her. The poor woman did not leave the pond. With hasty steps, she paced round and round it, without resting a moment, sometimes in silence, sometimes uttering a loud cry, sometimes softly sobbing. At last her strength came to an end, she sank down to the ground and fell into a heavy sleep. Presently a dream took possession of her. She was anxiously climbing upwards between great masses of rock; thorns and briars caught her feet, the rain beat in her face, and the wind tossed her long hair about. When she had reached the summit, quite a different sight presented itself to her; the sky was blue, the air soft, the ground sloped gently downwards, and on a green meadow, gay with flowers of every colour, stood a pretty cottage. She went up to it and opened the door; there sat an old woman with white hair, who beckoned to her kindly. At that very moment, the poor woman awoke, day had already dawned, and she at once resolved to act in accordance with her dream. She laboriously climbed the mountain; everything was exactly as she had seen it in the night. The old woman received her kindly, and pointed out a chair on which she might sit. "Thou must have met with a misfortune," she said, "since thou hast sought out my lonely cottage." With tears, the woman related what had befallen her. "Be comforted," said the old woman, "I will help thee. Here is a golden comb for thee. Tarry till the full moon has risen, then go to the mill-pond, seat thyself on the shore, and comb thy long black hair with this comb. When thou hast done, lay it down on the bank, and thou wilt see what will happen." The woman returned home, but the time till the full moon came, passed slowly. At last the shining disc appeared in the heavens, then she went out to the mill-pond, sat down and combed her long black hair with the golden comb, and when she had finished, she laid it down at the water's edge. It was not long before there was a movement in the depths, a wave rose, rolled to the shore, and bore the comb away with it. In not more than the time necessary for the comb to sink to the bottom, the surface of the water parted, and the head of the huntsman arose. He did not speak, but looked at his wife with sorrowful glances. At the same instant, a second wave came rushing up, and covered the man's head. All had vanished, the mill-pond lay peaceful as before, and nothing but the face of the full moon shone on it. Full of sorrow, the woman went back, but again the dream showed her the cottage of the old woman. Next morning she again set out and complained of her woes to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden flute, and said, "Tarry till the full moon comes again, then take this flute; play a beautiful air on it, and when thou hast finished, lay it on the sand; then thou wilt see what will happen." The wife did as the old woman told her. No sooner was the flute lying on the sand than there was a stirring in the depths, and a wave rushed up and bore the flute away with it. Immediately afterwards the water parted, and not only the head of the man, but half of his body also arose. He stretched out his arms longingly towards her, but a second wave came up, covered him, and drew him down again. "Alas, what does it profit me?" said the unhappy woman, "that I should see my beloved, only to lose him again!" Despair filled her heart anew, but the dream led her a third time to the house of the old woman. She set out, and the wise woman gave her a golden spinning-wheel, consoled her and said, "All is not yet fulfilled, tarry until the time of the full moon, then take the spinning-wheel, seat thyself on the shore, and spin the spool full, and when thou hast done that, place the spinning-wheel near the water, and thou wilt see what will happen." The woman obeyed all she said exactly; as soon as the full moon showed itself, she carried the golden spinning-wheel to the shore, and span industriously until the flax came to an end, and the spool was quite filled with the threads. No sooner was the wheel standing on the shore than there was a more violent movement than before in the depths of the pond, and a mighty wave rushed up, and bore the wheel away with it. Immediately the head and the whole body of the man rose into the air, in a water-spout. He quickly sprang to the shore, caught his wife by the hand and fled. But they had scarcely gone a very little distance, when the whole pond rose with a frightful roar, and streamed out over the open country. The fugitives already saw death before their eyes, when the woman in her terror implored the help of the old woman, and in an instant they were transformed, she into a toad, he into a frog. The flood which had overtaken them could not destroy them, but it tore them apart and carried them far away. When the water had dispersed and they both touched dry land again, they regained their human form, but neither knew where the other was; they found themselves among strange people, who did not know their native land. High mountains and deep valleys lay between them. In order to keep themselves alive, they were both obliged to tend sheep. For many long years they drove their flocks through field and forest and were full of sorrow and longing. When spring had once more broken forth on the earth, they both went out one day with their flocks, and as chance would have it, they drew near each other. They met in a valley, but did not recognize each other; yet they rejoiced that they were no longer so lonely. Henceforth they each day drove their flocks to the same place; they did not speak much, but they felt comforted. One evening when the full moon was shining in the sky, and the sheep were already at rest, the shepherd pulled the flute out of his pocket, and played on it a beautiful but sorrowful air. When he had finished he saw that the shepherdess was weeping bitterly. "Why art thou weeping?" he asked. "Alas," answered she, "thus shone the full moon when I played this air on the flute for the last time, and the head of my beloved rose out of the water." He looked at her, and it seemed as if a veil fell from his eyes, and he recognized his dear wife, and when she looked at him, and the moon shone in his face she knew him also. They embraced and kissed each other, and no one need ask if they were happy.
One day the huntsman was chasing a roe; and when the animal turned aside from the forest into the open country, he pursued it and at last shot it. He did not notice that he was now in the neighbourhood of the dangerous mill-pond, and went, after he had disembowelled the stag, to the water, in order to wash his blood-stained hands. Scarcely, however, had he dipped them in than the nix ascended, smilingly wound her dripping arms around him, and drew him quickly down under the waves, which closed over him. When it was evening, and the huntsman did not return home, his wife became alarmed. She went out to seek him, and as he had often told her that he had to be on his guard against the snares of the nix, and dared not venture into the neighbourhood of the mill-pond, she already suspected what had happened. She hastened to the water, and when she found his hunting-pouch lying on the shore, she could no longer have any doubt of the misfortune. Lamenting her sorrow, and wringing her hands, she called on her beloved by name, but in vain. She hurried across to the other side of the pond, and called him anew; she reviled the nix with harsh words, but no answer followed. The surface of the water remained calm, only the crescent moon stared steadily back at her. The poor woman did not leave the pond. With hasty steps, she paced round and round it, without resting a moment, sometimes in silence, sometimes uttering a loud cry, sometimes softly sobbing. At last her strength came to an end, she sank down to the ground and fell into a heavy sleep. Presently a dream took possession of her. She was anxiously climbing upwards between great masses of rock; thorns and briars caught her feet, the rain beat in her face, and the wind tossed her long hair about. When she had reached the summit, quite a different sight presented itself to her; the sky was blue, the air soft, the ground sloped gently downwards, and on a green meadow, gay with flowers of every colour, stood a pretty cottage. She went up to it and opened the door; there sat an old woman with white hair, who beckoned to her kindly. At that very moment, the poor woman awoke, day had already dawned, and she at once resolved to act in accordance with her dream. She laboriously climbed the mountain; everything was exactly as she had seen it in the night. The old woman received her kindly, and pointed out a chair on which she might sit. "Thou must have met with a misfortune," she said, "since thou hast sought out my lonely cottage." With tears, the woman related what had befallen her. "Be comforted," said the old woman, "I will help thee. Here is a golden comb for thee. Tarry till the full moon has risen, then go to the mill-pond, seat thyself on the shore, and comb thy long black hair with this comb. When thou hast done, lay it down on the bank, and thou wilt see what will happen." The woman returned home, but the time till the full moon came, passed slowly. At last the shining disc appeared in the heavens, then she went out to the mill-pond, sat down and combed her long black hair with the golden comb, and when she had finished, she laid it down at the water's edge. It was not long before there was a movement in the depths, a wave rose, rolled to the shore, and bore the comb away with it. In not more than the time necessary for the comb to sink to the bottom, the surface of the water parted, and the head of the huntsman arose. He did not speak, but looked at his wife with sorrowful glances. At the same instant, a second wave came rushing up, and covered the man's head. All had vanished, the mill-pond lay peaceful as before, and nothing but the face of the full moon shone on it. Full of sorrow, the woman went back, but again the dream showed her the cottage of the old woman. Next morning she again set out and complained of her woes to the wise woman. The old woman gave her a golden flute, and said, "Tarry till the full moon comes again, then take this flute; play a beautiful air on it, and when thou hast finished, lay it on the sand; then thou wilt see what will happen." The wife did as the old woman told her. No sooner was the flute lying on the sand than there was a stirring in the depths, and a wave rushed up and bore the flute away with it. Immediately afterwards the water parted, and not only the head of the man, but half of his body also arose. He stretched out his arms longingly towards her, but a second wave came up, covered him, and drew him down again. "Alas, what does it profit me?" said the unhappy woman, "that I should see my beloved, only to lose him again!" Despair filled her heart anew, but the dream led her a third time to the house of the old woman. She set out, and the wise woman gave her a golden spinning-wheel, consoled her and said, "All is not yet fulfilled, tarry until the time of the full moon, then take the spinning-wheel, seat thyself on the shore, and spin the spool full, and when thou hast done that, place the spinning-wheel near the water, and thou wilt see what will happen." The woman obeyed all she said exactly; as soon as the full moon showed itself, she carried the golden spinning-wheel to the shore, and span industriously until the flax came to an end, and the spool was quite filled with the threads. No sooner was the wheel standing on the shore than there was a more violent movement than before in the depths of the pond, and a mighty wave rushed up, and bore the wheel away with it. Immediately the head and the whole body of the man rose into the air, in a water-spout. He quickly sprang to the shore, caught his wife by the hand and fled. But they had scarcely gone a very little distance, when the whole pond rose with a frightful roar, and streamed out over the open country. The fugitives already saw death before their eyes, when the woman in her terror implored the help of the old woman, and in an instant they were transformed, she into a toad, he into a frog. The flood which had overtaken them could not destroy them, but it tore them apart and carried them far away. When the water had dispersed and they both touched dry land again, they regained their human form, but neither knew where the other was; they found themselves among strange people, who did not know their native land. High mountains and deep valleys lay between them. In order to keep themselves alive, they were both obliged to tend sheep. For many long years they drove their flocks through field and forest and were full of sorrow and longing. When spring had once more broken forth on the earth, they both went out one day with their flocks, and as chance would have it, they drew near each other. They met in a valley, but did not recognize each other; yet they rejoiced that they were no longer so lonely. Henceforth they each day drove their flocks to the same place; they did not speak much, but they felt comforted. One evening when the full moon was shining in the sky, and the sheep were already at rest, the shepherd pulled the flute out of his pocket, and played on it a beautiful but sorrowful air. When he had finished he saw that the shepherdess was weeping bitterly. "Why art thou weeping?" he asked. "Alas," answered she, "thus shone the full moon when I played this air on the flute for the last time, and the head of my beloved rose out of the water." He looked at her, and it seemed as if a veil fell from his eyes, and he recognized his dear wife, and when she looked at him, and the moon shone in his face she knew him also. They embraced and kissed each other, and no one need ask if they were happy.
Bir zamanlar bir değirmenci vardı, karısıyla birlikte rahat bir hayat sürmekteydi. Paraları ve malları vardı; yıldan yıla daha da zenginleştiler. Ama birden başlarına bir uğursuzluk çöktü: gitgide varlıkları azaldı. Öyle ki değirmencinin eline mal olarak sadece değirmen kaldı.
Adamcağız çok üzüntülüydü; işi bittikten sonra bir türlü huzura kavuşamıyor, can sıkıntısından yatağında bir o yana bir bu yana dönüp duruyordu.
Bir sabah gün ağarırken kalkıp dışarı çıktı; biraz hava alarak rahatlamak istiyordu. Değirmene doğru yürüdü, güneş ilk ışıklarını saçarken bente yaklaştı; derken suda bir hışırtı duydu. Dönüp bakınca orada, suların içinden yavaş yavaş yükselen güzel bir kadın gördü. Omuzlarının üzerine düşen, elleriyle tuttuğu uzun ve siyah saçları bembeyaz vücudunu örtmekteydi. Adam onun bir su perisi olduğunu fark etti. Önce korktu; gitse miydi, kalsa mıydı, bilemedi. Ama peri, tatlı bir sesle ona adını ve niye bu kadar üzgün olduğunu sodu. Değirmenci önce suskun kaldı, ama sonra onun dostça konuşmasından cesaret alarak, bir zamanlar nasıl zenginlik ve ferah içinde yaşadığını, şimdiyse nasıl fakir düştüğünü, buna nasıl bir çare bulacağını da bilemediğini anlattı. "Merak etme" diye söze başladı peri. "Ben seni eskisinden daha fazla zengin ve mutlu kılarım. Yalnız bana söz ver. Buna karşılık evinde ilk doğacak olan canlıyı bana vereceksin."
Değirmenci "Evimde doğsa doğsa ya köpek doğurur ya da kedi" diye düşünerek perinin teklifini kabul etti.
Peri yine suya daldı. Adam da rahatlamış olarak cesaretle değirmenine döndü. Tam eve varmıştı ki, hizmetçi kız ona doğru koşarak sevinmesi gerektiğini haykırdı: çünkü karısı bir erkek çocuğu doğurmuştu!
Değirmenciyi sanki yıldırım çarptı; o kötü perinin bunu bile bile bir oyun oynadığını anladı. Başı öne eğik olarak karısının yatağına yaklaştı.
Karısı, "Yeni doğan güzel çocuğumuza niye sevinmiyorsun ki?" diye sordu.
Değirmenci ona başından geçeni ve su perisine vermiş olduğu sözü anlattı.
"Çocuğumu kaybedecek olduktan sonra zenginlik ve refahı ne yapayım ben! Ama ne yapsam ki?" diye yakındı.
Kendisini tebrike gelen akrabaları da buna bir çare bulamadı.
Derken değirmencinin şansı dönüverdi. Ne iş yaptıysa başardı; bir gecede tüm kasaları ve sandıkları para doluverdi.
Ama adam bir türlü sevinemiyordu. Su perisine vermiş olduğu söz yüreğini kemiriyordu.
Ne zaman bentten geçse karşısına çıkarak sözünü hatırlatmasından korkuyordu. Oğlanı asla suya yaklaştırmıyordu.
Derken çocuk büyüdü, delikanlı oldu ve bir avcının yanında eğitim aldı. Daha sonra usta bir avcı olup derebeyinin hizmetine geçti.
O köyde güzel ve namuslu bir kız vardı; delikanlı ondan çok hoşlandı.
Efendisi bunu fark edince ona ufak bir ev verdi. İki genç evlenerek sakin ve mutlu bir hayat sürmeye başladı; birbirlerini çok seviyorlardı.
Bir gün oğlan bir ceylanın peşine düştü. Hayvan ormandan çıkıp da tarlalara doğru seyredince o da arkasından gitti ve sonunda onu bir kurşunla öldürdü.
Bu arada bente yakınlaştığını fark etmedi.
Hayvanı kestikten sonra kanlı ellerini yıkamak için su kenarına geldi. Ellerini tam suya sokmuştu ki, su perisi ortaya çıkıverdi ve gülerek ıslak kollarıyla onu hemen suyun dibine çekiverdi. Dalgalar delikanlının üzerini örttü.
Avcının karısı akşam olup da kocası eve dönmeyince korktu.
Onu aramak üzere evden dışarı çıktı; kocası sık sık su perisinden bahsettiği için kadın onun başına ne geldiğini tahmin edebildi. Hemen bente koştu; su kenarında avcı çantasını bulunca artık şüphesi kalmadı.
Ah vah ederek, çaresizlik içinde sevgilisine ne kadar seslendiyse de bir yanıt alamadı. Bu kez suyun öte tarafına geçerek seslendi, ama nafile! Su perisine bağırarak lanet yağdırdı; yine cevap alamadı. Suyun yüzeyi durgundu, sadece yarımay suya yansımıştı.
Zavallı kadın oradan ayrılmadı. Günlerce çabuk adımlarla suyun etrafında dönendi durdu. Bazen sessiz kaldı, bazen çığlık attı, bazen de usul usul sızlandı. Sonunda gücü tükendi; yere düşüp kaldı ve derin bir uykuya daldı.
Derken şu rüyayı gördü: İki kayalık dağın arasından korka korka yürümekteydi; ağaçların filizleri ve çalılar ayaklarına dolanıp batıyordu. Yağmur yüzünü kamçılıyor, rüzgâr uzun saçlarını savuruyordu. Tepeye vardığında bambaşka bir manzarayla karşılaşıverdi. Gökyüzü masmaviydi; hava ılıktı. Yokuş aşağı yürümeye başlayınca renk renk çiçeklerin doldurduğu yemyeşil çimenlikte karşısına tertemiz bir kulübe çıktı. Oraya varıp da kapısını açtığında kendisine dostça el sallayan yaşlı bir kadın gördü.
Tam o sırada uyandı. Sabah olmak üzereydi.
Zavallı kadın, rüyada gördüklerini gerçekte yaşamaya karar verdi. Bunun için o dağı bularak zar zor yukarı tırmandı; hepsi rüyasında gördüğü gibiydi.
Yaşlı kadın onu candan karşıladı ve bir sandalye göstererek oturmasını söyledi.
"Beni ziyarete geldiğine göre, başından bir uğursuzluk geçmiş olmalı" dedi.
Genç kadın gözyaşları içinde, olan bitenleri anlattı.
"Merak etme" dedi yaşlı kadın, "Sana yardım edeceğim. Al şu altın tarağı, dolunay gökte yükselinceye kadar bekle. Sonra bente giderek su başında otur; uzun ve siyah saçlarını bu tarakla tara! Sonra onları suya sarkıt. Bu iş bitince tarağı suyun üzerine bırak ve bekle bakalım, ne olacak?"
Kadın geri döndü, ama dolunay yükselinceye kadar uzun zaman geçti.
Derken ay gökte yükseldi; kadın su başına vardı; yere oturarak uzun ve siyah saçlarını taramaya başladı. Bu iş bitince onları suya sarkıttı ve tarağı da suyun üzerine bıraktı.
Aradan çok geçmedi; suda bir hışırtı oldu, bir dalga yükseldi. Bu dalga kıyıya vurarak oradaki tarağı aldı, tarak dibe batmaya başladı. Bu sırada suyun yüzeyi yarılarak avcının başı yükseliverdi.
Bu baş konuşmadı, sadece karısına üzüntüyle baktı. Aynı anda büyük bir hışırtıyla ikinci dalga gelerek adamın başını örttü.
Sonra hepsi kayboldu ve su eski haline döndü. Ayın yüzü hâlâ suyun yüzeyine aksetmekteydi.
Kadın çaresizce eve döndü. Rüyasında yine yaşlı kadının kulübesini gördü. Ertesi gün yine aynı yoldan giderek ona derdini anlattı.
Kadın bu kez altın bir flüt vererek şöyle dedi: "Dolunay gökte yükselince şu flütü al, su başına otur ve güzel bir şarkı çal. Ondan sonra flütü kumun üzerine koy; göreceksin bak neler olacak!"
Kadın onun dediğini yaptı. Tam flütü kumun üzerine bırakırken suyun derinliğinden bir hışırtı duyuldu; bir dalga yükseldi ve bu dalga flütü alıp gitti. Az sonra su yarıldı ve bu kez avcının yalnız başı değil, vücudunun yarısı da meydana çıktı. Kollarını karısına doğru uzattı, ama ikinci bir dalga gelerek onu, önce üzerini örttükten sonra aşağıya, suyun dibine çekiverdi.
Zavallı kadın, "Ahh, bunun ne yararı var ki! Sevgilimi bir an görüyor, sonra kaybediyorum" diye sızlandı.
Yeniden üzüntüye boğuldu. Ama rüyasında üçüncü kez yaşlı kadının kulübesini gördü. Tekrar yola çıktı.
Bilge kadın, bu kez altından bir çıkrık vererek onu avuttu: "Daha her şey bitmedi. Bekle! Dolunayı görünce al şu çıkrığı, su başına otur ve iplik çekmeye başla. İşin bitince çıkrığı su kenarına koy, bekle bakalım ne olacak" dedi.
Kadın tüm söylenenleri yaptı. Dolunay gözükür gözükmez altın çıkrığı su başına taşıdı ve yünü bitinceye kadar orada iplik çekti. Sonra çıkrığı suya yaklaştırdığında eskilerinden çok daha büyük bir dalga gelerek çıkrığı aldığı gibi geri gitti. Az sonra da avcının başıyla tüm vücudu sudan havaya fışkırıverdi! Adam hemen karaya sıçrayarak karısının elinden tuttu; ikisi birlikte kaçtılar. Ama henüz uzaklaşmadan su öylesine fokurdayarak taştı ki, ikinci bir dalga önüne gelen her şeyi yıkarak peşlerine takıldı. Ölüm çok yaklaşmıştı! Kadın o kadar korktu ki, kocasından yardım istedi. Aynı anda ikisi de değişiverdi. Kadın kaplumbağa oldu, adam da kurbağa! Dev dalga onları öldürmedi, ama birbirlerinden ta uzaklara attı.
Su tekrar sakinleştikten ve ayakları kuru toprağa bastıktan sonra her iki hayvan yine insana dönüşüverdi.
Ama biri, ötekinin nerede olduğunu bilemedi. Kendilerini yabancı insanlar arasında ve tanımadıkları bir ülkede buldular. Aralarında koca koca dağlar ve derin vadiler vardı. Hayatta kalabilmek için ikisi de koyun güttü.
Ama biri, ötekinin nerede olduğunu bilemedi. Kendilerini yabancı insanlar arasında ve tanımadıkları bir ülkede buldular. Aralarında koca koca dağlar ve derin vadiler vardı. Hayatta kalabilmek için ikisi de koyun güttü.
Yıllarca bu hayvanları hep kırlarda ve ormanlarda güdüp durdular. İkisi de üzgündü; ikisi de memleket özlemi çekiyordu.
Derken ilkbahar geldi çattı; ikisi de sürülerini gütmeyi sürdürdü.
Ama birden karşılaşıverdiler.
Adam uzaktan gelen bir koyun sürüsü görünce kendi sürüsünü o tarafa güttü. Bir vadide karşılaştılar. Ama birbirlerini tanımadılar.
Yine de en azından yalnız kalmayacakları için sevindiler.
O günden sonra her gün sürüleri birlikte güttüler. Çok konuşmadılar, ama birbirlerini avuttular işte!
Bir akşam dolunay gökte yükseldiğinde, koyunlar dinlenip uyurken erkek cebinden flütünü çıkararak güzel, ama hüzünlü bir şarkı çaldı. Şarkı bittiğinde kadının acı acı ağladığını fark etti.
"Niye ağlıyorsun?" diye sordu.
Kadın, "Ahh, ben bu şarkıyı son kez dinlediğimde yine dolunay vardı, o sırada sevgilimin başı sudan çıkmıştı" deyince adam ona iyice baktı ve gözleri yaşardı.
Sevgili karısını tanımıştı. Karısı da ona baktı, o da ay ışığında kocasını tanıyıverdi. Kucaklaşıp öpüştüler.
Ne denli mutlu olduklarını artık kimse sormasın!