WBUR Podcasts, Boston.
Knowledge is power.
Haste makes waste. All that glitters is not gold.
These statements are all well known, proverbs, short sayings that give us a piece of advice or wisdom to help teach us a lesson.
In today's story, we'll meet a farmer who has a way with proverbs and a queen who has a way with pride.
I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time.
Today, our story is called Pride and Proverbs.
It was inspired by tales told in Ghana, a country in West Africa, as well as Georgia and Kazakhstan, two nations in Eastern Europe and Asia.
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this story, including David Gentoli and Elizabeth Tullock, real -life couple and co -stars of Grim on NBC.
David starred on the ABC family drama, A Million Little Things, and plays the title character in the animated films, Batman, Soul of the Dragon, and Batman, The Doom That Came to Gotham.
Elizabeth stars as Lois Lane on the CW's Superman and Lois.
The fourth and final season premiered on October 7th.
So circle round everyone for Pride and Proverbs.
In a faraway village, in a faraway land, there lived a farmer, and the farmer did more than grow crops and raise livestock.
He also solved problems.
The farmer was known throughout the village for his wisdom and wit.
So anytime a neighbor was stumped by a question or plagued by a puzzle, they came knocking at his door for advice.
Word of the farmer's wisdom eventually spread beyond the village and across the land until it reached the royal ears of the queen.
The queen was a proud person and fancied herself to be a wise one as well.
The wisest in fact, she wanted people to come knocking at her door for advice.
Not that of a simple farmer.
After all, I am the most powerful ruler in the land, with the most powerful mind in the land.
And now I shall prove it.
Currier, the queen snapped her fingers and her head messenger stepped forward.
Currier, I want you to fetch this farmer I've been hearing so much about.
Ride out to his village and bring him to the palace now.
The Currier jumped on her horse and galloped away.
Within hours, she and her horse worked trotting back with the farmer and his horse following behind.
When the farmer walked into the throne room, he greeted the queen with a respectful bow.
She greeted him with a frosty smile.
Welcome to my palace farmer.
I appreciate you coming here on such short notice.
I appreciate the invitation your majesty.
I am honored to be in your presence.
From what I've been hearing, it seems I should be honored to be in your presence.
Pardon me. The farmer furrowed his brow.
I'm afraid I don't understand.
You don't understand?
Really? Because from what I've been hearing, you understand everything.
You've earned quite the reputation as a wise man farmer, a real sage.
People near and far have been praising your brilliant mind.
They say you can solve any puzzle.
The farmer blushed.
Well, I do enjoy sharing whatever wisdom I can.
After all, you know the old proverb, wisdom is not like money to be tied up and hidden.
The queen paused. Uh, right.
Of course I know that old chestnut.
My point is farmer, you are the talk of the town, nay, the talk of the land.
You must be very proud of yourself.
Proud? The farmer shrugged.
Perhaps I'm flattered, your majesty, if anything.
But as for proud, you know the old proverb, if you fill your head with pride, you will lack space for wisdom.
The queen blinked her eyes, then fixed the farmer with a steely look.
Be that as it may, I must see if you truly are as wise as people say you are.
So I am giving you an assignment.
You must come back and see me tomorrow, and when you do, you must follow some rules.
Rules, your majesty.
Yes, rules. First, you must come neither by horse nor by foot.
Neither by horse nor by foot.
Correct. And you must come neither through fields nor on the road.
Neither through fields nor on the road.
Correct again. Is there anything else?
The queen's lips curled into a crafty grin.
No, I believe that should suffice.
I shall see you tomorrow, farmer.
So goodbye for now.
Good luck. How do you think the farmer will answer the queen's challenge?
What would you do if you were the farmer?
We'll find out what happens after a quick break.
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Welcome back to Circle Round.
I'm Rebecca Sheer. Today, our story is called Pride and Proverbs.
Before the break, a prideful queen ordered a wise farmer to come back and see her at the palace.
And when he did, he must follow some rules.
You must come neither by horse nor by foot.
And you must come neither through fields nor on the road.
That evening, back in the village, the farmer paced around his hut and thought about the queen's challenge.
My, my, my. It's clear as day that the queen is envious of me, but there's an old proverb.
From the well of envy, only a fool drinks the water.
The farmer sat down at his table and put his mind to work.
And the next morning, do you know what he did?
First, he went out to his barn and fetched not his horse, but his donkey.
He led the donkey through the field to the right side of the road.
He made sure the animal's left legs were on the road and its right legs were on the field.
Then, with the donkey straddling both road and field, the farmer climbed onto its back and began to ride.
Attaboy, fella, slow and steady.
You know the old proverb.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Ah, ah, ah, ah. When the farmer reached the palace gates, he called out to the queen.
Your Majesty, I have returned.
And, as you can see, I've come neither by horse nor by foot.
I've come by donkey.
And I've come neither through fields nor on the road because my donkey is walking on both.
The queen came bustling outside.
When she laid eyes on the farmer and his donkey, she tried hard to mask her disappointment.
Congratulations, farmer.
I'm beginning to see why people speak so highly of you.
Thank you, your Majesty.
But like I said, I don't let it go to my head.
You know the old proverb.
What is inflated too much will break into fragments.
Of course, right. However, farmer, it occurs to me that I haven't seen enough of your supposed brilliance.
If you really are as wise as people say you are, then surely you can do one more thing for me.
The farmer grinned.
I can try. After all, you know the old proverb.
You must act as if it is impossible to fail.
The queen gritted her teeth.
Farmer, I beg you. Can you please cool it with the proverbs?
What, your Majesty?
A wise man who knows proverbs reconciles difficulties.
Let me guess, another proverb?
Yes. Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten.
Is that another one?
If so, the meaning is lost on me.
Well then, you know the other proverb.
When the fool is told the proverb, its meaning has to be explained.
Excuse me? Just who do you think you...
Anyway, your Majesty, back to this thing you wish me to do.
May I ask what it is?
Because you know the old proverb.
A child who asks questions does not become a fool.
Okay, enough already.
Here is your task, farmer.
I want you to bring me a cow.
My village is full of cows.
I can easily bring any one of them your way.
Oh, but I don't want any one of them, farmer.
There are some rules about the cow I want you to bring.
First, the cow must not be black and it must not be white.
Not be black and not be white.
It must not be brown and it must not be gray.
Not be brown and not be gray.
It must not be striped and it must not be spotted.
Not be striped and not be spotted.
In fact, this cow must not be any color at all.
Not be any color. Wait a minute.
You want me to bring you a cow of no color?
No, farmer. I don't want you to bring me a cow of no color.
I order you to bring me a cow of no color.
Bring me a cow of no color in three days time or I shall banish you to my dungeon.
The farmer's ears rang with the queen's threat as he rode his donkey back home.
Oof, I'd better solve this puzzle in three days unless I want to live the rest of my life as a prisoner.
And I'll use every minute I have to figure this one out.
After all, you know the old proverb, wisdom does not come overnight.
Once again, the farmer put his mind to work.
And after three days, he returned to the palace empty handed.
Farmer, you're back, but I don't see the cow I requested.
Where might she be?
Well, your majesty, after three days of mulling it over, I have decided that if you wish to receive your cow of no color, then you must come to my house in the village and fetch it yourself.
Fetch it myself? The queen shook her head.
Don't you realize that I have servants to do that sort of thing?
I do realize your majesty, but I humbly request that you fetch it yourself and when you do, you must follow some rules.
Yes, rules. First, you must not come in the morning and you must not come in the evening.
Not come in the morning and not come in the evening.
You must not come at dawn and you must not come at dusk.
Not come at dawn and not come at dusk.
You must not come in the afternoon and you must not come in the dead of night.
Not come in the afternoon and not come in the dead of night.
In fact, if you wish to fetch your cow of no color, You must come, at no time at all.
The Queen was dumbstruck.
She opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't quite string together a sentence.
But I couldn't, but you couldn't.
I don't see how it's possible to - The farmer held up a finger.
There's no need to say anything, Your Majesty.
After all, you know the old proverb.
The Fool speaks. The wise man listens.
The farmer smiled and gave a low bow.
Then he swept out the door, leaving the Queen behind to mull over his words and to ponder the lesson he had so quickly, easily, and wisely taught her in no time at all.
Now it's your turn.
Proverbs are short, catchy, timeless statements that provide a nugget of wisdom and truth.
They often have figurative or colorful language, and you can write a proverb of your own.
Start by making a list of values that you think are important.
Your list might include love, friendship, honesty, generosity.
Now pick one of those values and find a creative way to write a proverb about it.
Once you've written your proverb, draw a picture to go along with it.
Share your proverb and picture with someone you have fun with.
Then if you'd like, share them with us.
Grownups, snap a photo of your circle round fan with their proverb and picture and email it to circleround at wbur .org.
With your permission, we may feature you in The Lion's Roar, the monthly newsletter for members of the Circle Round Club.
You can learn more about this super fun opportunity for super fans like you at wbur .org slash Circle Round.
This week's episode, Pride and Proverbs, was adapted by me, Rebecca Scheer.
It was edited by Dean Russell.
Our original music and sound design is by Eric Schimelonis.
Our artist is Sabina Hahn.
Sabina has created a black and white coloring page for all of our Circle Round stories, and you can print them out and color them in.
Grownups, visit our website, wbur .org slash Circle Round and click on coloring pages.
Special thanks to this week's actors, Elizabeth Tullock and David Gentoli, real life couple and co -stars of Grimm on NBC.
Elizabeth stars as Lois Lane on the CW's Superman and Lois, the fourth and final season premiered on October 7th.
David starred on the ABC family drama, A Million Little Things, and plays the title character in the animated movies, Batman Soul of the Dragon and Batman, The Doom That Came to Gotham.
Our featured instrument this week was the accordion.
You can learn more about this box shaped instrument with cleated bellows in the middle and see a photo of Eric Schimelonis playing one on our website.
Once more, that's wbur .org slash Circle Round.
Grownups, if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five star review on your favorite podcast app.
You'll help make the Circle Round circle even bigger by helping other listeners find the show.
Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Scheer.
Thanks for circling round with us.
Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story?
Thousands of fans, just like you, have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best.
Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.
Hi, my name is Zoe.
I live in Madrid, Spain.
My favorite Circle Round story is the two moons.
My favorite part is when the moon reflects in the water.
My name is Henry and I'm from Wimbledon, Texas.
And my favorite Circle Round story is the white yellow hat and I like the whole thing.
My name is Ronald and I live in Connecticut and my favorite Circle Round story is the Swedish sounds because I like the part when the wizardess says the squeaky sounds, the squawky sounds.
My name is Theo. I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
My favorite Circle Round story is all tied up.
I like the part where the giants get all tied up.
My name is Ben and I'm from Newton, Massachusetts.
And my favorite Circle Round story is the bright yellow hat and my favorite part is when the mayor's son gets better.
Hi, my name is June.
I live in Washington and my favorite Circle Round story is the crystal story box and my favorite part is when a Nazi tricks Python.
My name is Zoe. I live in Flagstaff, Arizona.
And my favorite story is the crystal story box and I like the part where the spider gets the horror.
We love you, Webex, you see him.
Did someone mention a story you've missed?
Not to worry, grownups, you can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages and oh so much more on our website, wbur .org slash Circle Round.
