From Cuentos Populares en Chile (Chilean Folktales) – by Ramón A. Laval
Part 1 – Magnificent Stories, Stories of Animals, Anecdotes (Cuentos maravillosos, Cuentos de animales, Anécdotas)
038. The Owl and The Toad (El Pequén Y El Sapo)
A little toad was sunbathing in the sun when an Owl, who saw him from high above, swooped down and perched beside him, without allowing him [enough] time to jump into the water.
The toads, like the donkeys, have a reputation for being clumsy; but this is a mistake, because they are clever and have very sharp acumen.
[For you can just] see what the Toad came up with [in this situation].
Seeing the danger that he was in, he did not give up; on the contrary, he very politically greeted the Owl and told him:
Good morning, señor Owl, how is your health and that of your officers and soldiers? because, surely, you are at [the very] least a General. I have very keen eyes and I am certain that I am not mistaken in saying that you must be a General,… or even the President [yourself].
The Owl said to himself:
What a charming and well educated little toad! -and in a loud voice:- We are doing well, fine little toad. And what can I offer to you?
Just don’t eat me, señor General; being such a worthy person, I hope that you won’t try to eat this poor Toad, considering that there are so many mice at your disposal here and as their meat is very tasty [compared to mine].
What a well-spoken little Toad! -the Owl thought to himself,- shall I eat him or shall I not eat him? I am starving [right now]. -And speaking loudly, he said to the Toad: We will see, little toad, whether I will eat you or not.
At this moment the Owl yawned and closed his eyes, and as the Toad did not take his eyes off of his enemy’s, as soon as he saw him blinked the toad jumped into the water and shouted at the Owl:
Ah, shameless bird,
robber of the highway,
no more than a thug,
mugging the passerby!
And the Owl said:
What hour was it,
that made me not eat this piece of sh*t!
—– VOCABULARY —–
Pequen – owl
Pecar – (religious) to sin; (to overdo) to be too
Arriero – (occupation) muleteer; mule driver
Torpe – (graceless) clumsy; (not quick-witted) slow, dim; (tactless) awkward
Habiloso – skillful
Ocurrencia – (unexpected thought) idea, bright idea; (wisecrack) witty remark, funny remark, witticism; (event) case
Dije – (jewelry) charm, locket; (pleasant) (Southern Cone) nice
Bostezar – to yawn
Despegarse – (to come off) to become unstuck
Despegar – (to lift off) to take off; (to be successful) to take off; (to detach) to unstick
Pestañear – to blink
Garrotero – (occupation) (Costa Rica) (Cuba) (Panama) loan shark; (occupation) (Mexico) busser; (studious person) grind, swot
Pasajero – (traveler) passenger; (transient) passing, fleeting; (highly-trafficked) busy
Porquería – (grime) dirt, filth, muck; (useless material) garbage, rubbish; (useless of low-quality thing) piece of junk, piece of tat; (culinary) junk, rubbish; (deception) dirty trick