On this enchanting episode, we'll transport you to a magical realm with the captivating Romanian fairy tale, "The Morning Star and the Evening Star." Join us as we recount the story of an emperor and empress who, following a divine dream, catch a golden fish that blesses them with a son named Busujok. Simultaneously, their maidservant also bears a son, Siminok, and the boys, indistinguishable from one another, forge an unbreakable bond as they traverse through mystical forests and verdant fields.
The music in this episode is Staying on the Sideline by Hanna Lindgren.
BetterHelp Visit our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/dreamful for 10% off your first month.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
On this enchanting episode, we'll transport you to a magical realm with the captivating Romanian fairy tale, "The Morning Star and the Evening Star." Join us as we recount the story of an emperor and empress who, following a divine dream, catch a golden fish that blesses them with a son named Busujok. Simultaneously, their maidservant also bears a son, Siminok, and the boys, indistinguishable from one another, forge an unbreakable bond as they traverse through mystical forests and verdant fields.
The music in this episode is Staying on the Sideline by Hanna Lindgren.
BetterHelp Visit our sponsor at BetterHelp.com/dreamful for 10% off your first month.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Welcome to Dreamful Podcast bedtime stories for slumber. Welcome to Dreamful Podcast bedtime stories for slumber. I would like to start this episode by thanking our newest supporter, Bronwyn Ghent. Thank you so much, bronwyn, and I hope you have the sweetest of dreams. If you'd like to support the show and gain access to subscriber-only episodes while receiving a shout-out, visit dreamfullstoriescom and, on the support page, find a link to become a Buzzsprout supporter or subscribe via Supercast. If you listen on Spotify, your donations go toward things like music licensing, equipment upgrades and paying my awesome editor, katie. This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.
Speaker 1:
Can you believe the year is already half over? It feels like the months fly by so quickly that it's hard to pause and look back on all the things that are victories and the goals that you have for the next six months. I know for me personally, it helps to have someone to talk to and stay accountable with. A therapist can help you keep on track to achieve your goals and give you the perspective to celebrate wins. I find it incredibly motivating. So if you're needing help to realize the best version of yourself, why not give therapy a try? It's convenient, entirely online and tailored to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you'll be matched with a licensed therapist who's right for you, and you can switch therapists anytime at no additional charge. Take a moment, visit betterhelpcom. Slash dreamful today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelpcom. In this episode I will tell you a lovely little Romanian fairy tale called the Morning Star and the Evening Star. So snuggle up in your blankets and have sweet dreams. Thank, you.
Speaker 1:
Once upon a time there was an emperor and empress who were childless. So they sought out all the wizards and witches, all the old women and astrologers, but their skill proved vain. No one knew how to help them At last. The royal pair devoted themselves to almsgiving, praying and fasting until one night. The empress dreamed that the Lord had taken pity on her and, appearing to her, said I have heard your prayers and will give you a child whose light cannot be found on earth. Your husband, the emperor, must go to the brook tomorrow with a hook and line. Then you are to prepare with your own hands the fish he catches and eat it. Before it was fairly daylight, the empress went to the emperor and woke him, saying rise, my royal husband, it is morning. Why, what ails you today, wife, that you wake me so early? The emperor replied has any foe crossed the frontiers of my country, of my country? Heaven forbid. I've heard nothing of that sort. But listen to my dream. And she told him about it. When the emperor heard her story, he jumped out of bed dressed, took the hook in line and, gasping for breath, went to the brook. He threw in the hook and soon saw the cork on the line bob. He pulled it out and what did he see? A big fish made entirely of gold. It was a wonder that he did not die of joy. But what did the Empress say when she saw it? She was still more out of her wits. The Empress cooked the fish with her own hands. The royal couple ate it, and the Empress instantly felt that the promise would be fulfilled. The maidservant who cleared away the table saw a fishbone on the Empress's plate and thought she would suck it to know how food tastes when prepared by royal hands.
Speaker 1:
One day the empress received the gift of a beautiful boy, as handsome as a little angel. That same night the maidservant too had a son who looked so exactly like the prince that they could not be distinguished from each other. The maidservant's child precisely resembled the royal one. The prince was named Buziuk. The maidservant's son was called Simanok. They grew up together, were taught their lessons and learned as much in one day as other children in a whole year. When they were playing in the garden, the Empress watched them from her window with great delight. They became tall youths and looked so much alike that people could never tell which was the prince and which the maidservant's son. They were haughty and bearing. Both were charming, winning in speech and brave brave to a fault.
Speaker 1:
One day they determined to go hunting. But the Empress was constantly fretting herself to find some way of recognizing her own son, for as their faces were alike and their clothes precisely the same, she often could not distinguish one from the other. She therefore thought of putting some mark on the prince. So she called him and, while pretending to be playing with his hair, knotted two locks together without his knowledge. Then the youths went off to hunt. They hurried joyously through the green fields, skipped about like lambkins, gathered flowers, sprinkled themselves with dew, watched the butterflies flit from blossom to blossom, saw the bees gather wax and honey and enjoyed themselves to the utmost. Then they went to the springs, drank some water to refresh themselves and gazed unweirdly at the sky which met the earth on the horizon. They would fain have gone to the end of the world to see it close at hand, or at least far enough to reach the spot where the earth grows marshy before it comes to an end.
Speaker 1:
Next they went into the woods. When they saw the beauties of the forest, they stood still with mouths wide open in astonishment. Consider that they had not beheld any of these things in their whole lives. When the wind blew and stirred the leaves, they listened to their rustling, and it seemed as if the empress was passing by, drawing her silken train after her. Then they sat down on the soft grass under the shade of a big tree. Here they began to reflect and consult each other about how they were to commence hunting. They wanted to kill nothing but wild beasts. They did not notice the birds which hopped around them and perched on the boughs of the trees. They would have been sorry to hurt them, for they liked to listen to their twitter. It seemed as if the birds knew this. They showed no fear, but sang as if they were going to split their throats. The nightingales, however, drilled only from their crawls that their songs might be the sweeter.
Speaker 1:
While they stood there consulting, the prince suddenly felt so overwhelmed with fatigue that he could hold out no longer but, laying his head in Simanak's lap, asked him to stroke his hair. While he was doing so, simanak stopped and said what is the matter with your head, brother Busyuk? What should be the matter? How do I know, brother Simanak? Just see, replied Simanak. Just see, replied Simanak. Two locks of your hair are tied together. How is that possible, said Busyuk?
Speaker 1:
This discovery vexed the prince so much that he determined to go out into the wide world, brother Simanak. He said I am going out into the wide world because I can't understand why my mother tied my hair while she was playing with it. While she was playing with it, listen to reason, brother Busyuk, and do nothing of the sort, replied Simanak. If the Empress tied your hair, it certainly was not for any evil purpose. But Busyuk remained firm in his resolve and when he took leave of Simanak he said to him Take this handkerchief, brother Simanak, and if you ever see three drops of blood on it, you will know that I am dead. May the Lord help you, brother Busyuk, that you may prosper. But I beg you once more, by my love, stay Impossible, replied Bousyuk. Then the youths embraced each other and Buziuk departed. Sumanak remained behind, gazing longingly after him till he was out of sight.
Speaker 1:
Sumanak then returned to the palace and related all that had happened. The empress was insane with grief. She wrung her hands and wept till it was pitiful to see her no-transcript. After some time the latter took out the prince's handkerchief, looked at it and saw three drops of blood on it. Then he said oh, my royal brother is dead. I shall go and look for him. For him, taking some provisions for the journey, he set out in search of Busyuk. He passed through cities and villages, crossed fields and forests, wandering on and on till he reached a small hut. There he met an old woman whom he asked about his brother. The crone told him that Bersiuk had become the son of the emperor who reigned in the neighborhood.
Speaker 1:
When Semenuk reached this emperor's palace, the princess, as soon as she saw him, thought that he was her husband and came running to meet him. But he said I am your husband's brother. I have heard that he is dead and came here to learn something about him. I cannot believe it, replied the princess. You are my husband and I don't know why you deny it. Has my faith been put to any test and have I ever deceived you? Nothing of the sort. But I tell you truthfully that I am not your husband. The princess would not believe this. So Simanok said the Lord will show the truth. Let the sword hanging on yonder nail scratch whichever of us two is mistaken. Instantly the sword sprang down and cut the princess's finger. Then she believed Simanak and gave him the hospitality which was his due, which was his due.
Speaker 1:
The next day he learned that Busyuk had gone out hunting and had not yet returned. So he too mounted a horse, took some greyhounds and rode after his brother, following the direction in which he had gone, took some greyhounds and rode after his brother, following the direction in which he had gone. He rode on and on till he reached a forest where he met the wood witch. As soon as he saw her, he set off after her. She fled, he pursued until perceiving no way of escape. He set off after her. She fled, he pursued until, perceiving no way of escape, she swung herself up into a tall tree.
Speaker 1:
Simanak, dismounted, tied his horse to a tree, made a fire, took out his provisions and began to eat, occasionally tossing the greyhound something. Oh dear, oh dear. I'm so cold, said the wood witch. My teeth are chattering. Get down and warm yourself by the fire, replied Simenog. I'm afraid of the dogs, she said. Don't be frightened, they'll do you no harm.
Speaker 1:
If you want to do me a favor, the wood witch answered, take a strand of my hair and tie your dogs with it. If you want to do me a favor, the wood witch answered, take a strand of my hair and tie your dogs with it. Simanak put the hair in the fire. Oh, how horribly the hair I gave you smells. You've put it in the fire. Go away from here and don't talk any more nonsense, replied Simanak. One of the hounds put its tail a little too near the fire and scorched it. That's what smells so badly. If you are cold, come down and warm yourself. If not, hold your tongue and let me alone.
Speaker 1:
The wood witch believed him, came down, approached the fire and said I am hungry. What shall I give you to eat? Take what you want of all I have. I should like to eat you, said the wood witch. Prepare for it and I will devour you, replied Simanak. He set the hounds upon her to tear her to pieces. He set the hounds upon her to tear her to pieces. Stop, cried the wood witch. Call off your dogs that they may not tear me and I'll give you back. Your brother with his horse, hounds and all. Simenag called off the dogs. The wood witch swallowed three times and up came Musyuk, his horse and his dogs. Simenag now set his hounds upon her and they tore her into immense meat.
Speaker 1:
When Bousiouk recovered his senses, he wondered at seeing Simanak there and said Welcome. I'm glad to meet you so well and gay, brother Simanak, but I've been asleep a very long time. You might have slept soundly till the end of the world if I had not come, he replied. Then Simanak told him everything that had happened from their parting until that moment. But Busyuk suspected him. He thought that Simanak had won his wife's love and would not believe him when he told him the simple truth that such an idea had never entered his head. Now that Busyuk had once begun to be jealous of his bride, he acted like a lunatic. So, being overpowered by evil thoughts, he made an agreement with Simanak to bandage the eyes of their horses, mount them and let them carry their riders wherever they would. This was done. When Busyuk heard a groan, he stopped his horse, untied the bandage and looked around him. Simanak was nowhere to be seen. Just think he had fallen into a spring, been drowned and never came out again.
Speaker 1:
Busyuk returned home and questioned his wife. She told just the same story as Simenok. Then, to be still more certain of the truth, he too ordered the sword to jump down from the wall and scratch the one who was wrong. The sword leaped down and wounded his finger. The prince pined away, lamenting and weeping bitterly for the loss of Simanag and sorely repenting his undue haste. But all was vain. Nothing could be changed. So, in his grief and anguish, he resolved not to live any longer without his brother, ordered his own eyes and those of his horse to be bandaged, mounted it and bade it to hasten to the forest where Simanak had perished. The horse went as fast as it could and plump it tumbled into the very same spring where Simanak had fallen, and there Busyuk too ended his days. But at the same time the morning star, the emperor's son Bousyuk, and the evening star, the maidservant's son Simanok no-transcript.
