LUTUNG KASARUNG

PRABU Tapa Agung was an old king. He had two daughters, Purbararang and Purbasari. Prabu Tapa Agung planned to retire as a king. He wanted Purbasari to replace him as the leader of the kingdom. Hearing this, Purbararang was angry. "You cannot ask her to be the queen, Father. I'm older than she is. It's supposed to be me, not her!" said Purbararang. But the king still chose Purbasari to be the next queen. Purbararang then set a bad plan with her fiance, Indrajaya. Together they went to a witch and asked her to put a spell on Purbasari. Later, Purbasari had bad skin. There were black dots all over her body. "You are not as beautiful as I am. You cannot be the queen. Instead, you have to leave this palace and stay in a jungle," said Purbararang. Purbasari was very sad. Now she had to stay in the jungle. Everyday she spent her time playing with some animals there. There was one monkey that always tried to cheer her up. It was not just an ordinary monkey, he had magical power. And he also could talk with humans. The monkey's name was Lutung Kasarung. He was actually a god. His name was Sanghyang Gurumina. Lutung Kasarung planned to help Purbasari. He made a small lake and asked her to take a bath there. Amazingly, her bad skin was cured. Now she got her beautiful skin back. After that, she asked Lutung Kasarung to accompany her to go back to the palace. Purbararang was very shocked. She knew she had to come up with another bad idea. She then said, "Those who have longer hair will be the queen."The king then measured his daughters' hair. Purbasari had longer hair. But Purbararang did not give up. "A queen must have a handsome husband. If my fiance is more handsome than yours, then I will be the queen," said Purbararang. Purbasari was sad. She knew Purbararang's fiance, Indrajaya, was handsome. And she did not have a fiance yet. "Here is my fianc, Indrajaya. Where is yours?" asked Purbararang. Lutung Kasarung came forward. Purbararang was laughing very hard. "Your fiance is a monkey, ha ha ha." Suddenly, Lutung Kasarung changed into a very a handsome man. He was even more handsome than Indrajaya. Purbasari then became the queen. She forgave Purbararang and her fiance and let them stay in the palace.

ROMEO AND JULIET

In the town of Verona there lived two families, the Capulets and the Montagues. They engaged in a bitter feud. Among the Montagues was Romeo, a hot-blooded young man with an eye for the ladies. One day, Romeo attended the feast of the Capulets', a costume party where he expected to meet his love, Rosaline, a haughty beauty from a well-to-do family. Once there, however, Romeo's eyes felt upon Juliet, and he thought of Rosaline no more. The vision of Juliet had been invading his every thought. Unable to sleep, Romeo returned late that night to the Juliet's bedroom window. There, he was surprised to find Juliet on the balcony, professing her love for him and wishing that he were not a "Montague", a name behind his own. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Romeo was ready to deny his name and professed his love. The two agreed to meet at nine o-clock the next morning to be married. Early the next morning, Romeo came to Friar Lawrence begging the friar to marry him to Juliet. The Friar performed the ceremony, praying that the union might someday put an end to the feud between the two families. He advised Romeo kept the marriage a secret for a time. On the way home, Romeo chanced upon his friend Mercutio arguing with Tybalt, a member of the Capulet clan. That qurreling last caused Merquito died. Romeo was reluctant no longer. He drew his sword and slew Tybalt died. Romeo realized he had made a terrible mistake. Then Friar Lawrence advised Romeo to travel to Mantua until things cool down. He promised to inform Juliet. In the other hand, Juliet's father had decided the time for her to marry with Paris. Juliet consulted Friar Lawrence and made a plot to take a sleeping potion for Juliet which would simulate death for three days. The plot proceeded according to the plan. Juliet was sleeping in death. Unfortunately, The Friar's letter failed to reach Romeo. Under the cover of darkness, he broke into Juliet's tomb. Romeo kissed the lips of his Juliet one last time and drank the poison. Meanwhile, the effects of the sleeping potion wear off. Juliet woke up calling for Romeo. She found her love next to her but was lying dead, with a cup of poison in his hand. She tried to kiss the poison from his lips, but failed. Then Juliet put out his dagger and plunged it into her breast. She died

TIMUN MAS

One night, while they were praying, Buto Ijo a giant with supranatural powers passed their house. He heard they pray. "Don't worry farmers. I can give you a child. But you have to give me that child when she is 17 years old," said Buto Ijo. The farmers were so happy. They did not think about the risk of losing their child letter and agree to take the offer. Later, Buto Ijo gave them a bunch of cucumber seeds. The farmers planted them carefully. Then the seeds changed into plants. No longer after that, a big golden cucumber grew from plants. After it had ripe, the farmers picked and cut it.They were very surprised to see beautiful girl inside the cucumber. They named her Timun Mas or Golden Cucumber. Years passed by and Timun Mas has changed into a beautiful girl. On her 17th birthday, Timun Mas was very happy. However, the parents were very sad. They knew they had to keep their promise to Buto Ijo the giant but they also did not want to lose their beloved daughter. "My daughter, take this bag. It can save you from the giant," said father. "What do you mean, Father? I don't understand," said Timun Mas. Right after that, Buto Ijo came into their house. "Run Timun Mas. Save your life!" said the mother. Buto ijo was angry. He knew the farmers wanted to break their promise. He chased Timun Mas away. Buto Ijo was getting closer and closer. Timun Mas then opened the bag and threw a handful of salt. It became sea. Buto Ijo had to swim to cross the sea. Later, Timun Mas threw some chilly. It became a jungle with trees. The trees had sharp thorns so they hurt Buto Ijo. However, he was still able to chase Timun Mas. Timun Mas took her third magic stuff. It was cucumber seeds. She threw them and became cucumber field. But Buto Ijo still could escape from the field. Then it was the last magic stuff she had inthe bag. It was a shrimp paste or terasi. She threw it and became a big swamp. Buto Ijo was still trying to swim the swamp but he was very tired. Then he was drowning and died. Timun Mas then immediately went home. The farmers were so happy that they finally together again.

Keong Mas (The Golden Snail)

Prince Raden Putra and Dewi Limaran were husband and wife. They lived in a palace. Prince Raden Putras father was the king of the kingdom. One day, Dewi Limaran was walking around in the palace garden. Suddenly she saw a snail. It was ugly and disgusting. Yuck! said Dewi Limaran and then she threw it away into a river. She did not know that the snail was actually an old and powerful witch. She could transform herself into anything. The witch was angry to Dewi Limaran.The witch put a spell on her and changed her into a golden snail. The witch then threw it away into the river The golden snail was drifting away in the river and got caught into a net. An old woman was fishing and used her net to catch some fish. She was surprised to see a golden snail in her net. She took it and brought it home. When the old woman woke up in the morning, she was surprised that the house was in good condition. The floor was mopped. And she also had food on the table. She was thinking very hard. Who did this to me? The person is very kind. It happened again and again every morning. The old woman was very curious. One night she decided to stay up late. She was peeping from her room to know who cooked for her. Then, she could not believe what she saw. The golden snail she caught in the river turned into a beautiful woman. The old woman approached her. Who are you, young girl? I am Dewi Limaran, Maam. A witch cursed me. I can change back as a human only at night, explained Dewi Limaran. The spell can be broken if I hear the melody from the holy gamelan, continued Dewi Limaran. The old woman then ruhed to the palace. She talked to Prince Raden Putra about her wife. Prince Raden Putra was so happy. He had been looking for his wife everywhere. He then prayed and meditated. He asked the Gods to give him the holly gamelan. He wanted to break the witchs spell. After several days praying and meditating, finally Gods granted his wish. He immediately brought the holy gamelan to the old womans house. He played it beautifully. And then amazingly the golden snail turned into the beautiful Dewi Limaran. The couple was so happy that they could be together again. They also thanked the old woman for her kindness. As s return, they asked her to stay in the palace.

Thumbelina
once upon atime . . . there lived a woman who had no children. she dreamedof having a little girl, but time went by, and her dream never came true.she then went to visit a witch, who gave her a magic grain of barley. sheplanted it in a flower pot. and the very next day, the grain had turned into alovely flower, rather like a tulip. the woman softly kissed its halfshutpetals. and as though by magic, the flower opened in full blossom. inside sata tiny girl, no bigger than a thumb. the woman called her thumbelina. for abed she had a walnut shell, violet petals for her mattress and a rose petalblanket. in the daytime, she played in a tulip petal boat, floating on a plateof water. using two horse hairs as oars, thumbelina sailed around her littlelake, singing and singing in a gentle sweet voice.then one night, as she lay fast asleep in her walnut shell, a large froghopped through a hole in the window pane. as she gazed down at thumbelina, shesaid to herself: "how pretty she is! she'd make the perfect bride for my owndear son!"she picked up thumbelina, walnut shell and all, and hopped into the garden.nobody saw her go.back at the pond, her fat ugly son, who always did as mothertold him, was pleased with her choice. but mother frog was afraid that herpretty prisoner might run away. so she carried thumbellna out to a water lilyleaf ln the middle of the pond."she can never escape us now," said the frog to her son."and we have plenty of time to prepare a new home for you and your bride."thumbelina was left all alone. she felt so desperate. she knew she would neverbe able to escape the fate that awaited her with the two horrid fat frogs. allshe could do was cry her eyes out. however, one or two minnows who had beenenjoying the shade below the water lily leaf, had overheard the two frogstalking, and the little girl's bitter sobs. they decided to do something aboutit. so they nibbled away at the lily stem till it broke and drifted away inthe weak current. a dancing butterfly had an idea: "throw me the end of yourbelt! i'll help you to move a little faster!" thumbelina gratefully did so,and the leaf soon floated away from the frog pond.but other dangers lay ahead. a large beetle snatched thumbelina with hisstrong feet and took her away to his home at the top of a leafy tree."isn't she pretty?" he said to his friends. but they pointed out that shewas far too different. so the beetle took her down the tree and set her free.it was summertime, and thumbelina wandered all by herself amongst theflowers and through the long grass. she had pollen for her meals and drank thedew. then the rainy season came, bringing nastyweather. the poor child foundit hard to find food and shelter. when winter set in, she suffered from thecold and felt terrible pangs of hunger.one day, as thumbelina roamed helplessly over the bare meadows, she met alarge spider who promised to help her. he took her to a hollow tree andguarded the door with a stout web. then he brought her some dried chestnutsand called his friends to come and admire her beauty. but just like thebeetles, all the other spiders persuaded thumbelina's rescuer to let her go.crying her heart out, and quite certain that nobody wanted her because she wasugly, thumbelina left the spider's house.as she wandered, shivering with the cold, suddenly she came across a solidlittle cottage, made of twigs and dead leaves. hopefully, she knocked on thedoor. it was opened by a field mouse."what are you doing outside in this weather?" he asked. "come in and warmyourself." comfortable and cozy, the field mouse's home was stocked with food.for her keep, thumbelina did the housework and told the mouse stories. oneday, the field mouse said a friend was coming to visit them."he's a very rich mole, and has a lovely house. he wears a splendid blackfur coat, but he's dreadfully shortsighted. he needs company and he'd like tomarry you!" thumbelina did not relish the idea. however, when the mole came,she sang sweetly to him and he fell head over heels in love. the mole invited

thumbelina and the field mouse to visit him, but . . . to their surprise andhorror, they came upon a swallow in the tunnel. it looked dead. mole nudged itwi his foot, saying: "that'll teach her! she should have come undergroundinstead of darting about the sky all summer!" thumbelina was so shocked bysuch cruel words that later, she crept back unseen to the tunnel.and every day, the little girl went to nurse the swallow and tenderly giveit food.in the meantime, the swallow told thumbelina its tale. jagged by a thorn,it had been unable to follow its companions to a warmer climate."it's kind of you to nurse me," it told thumbelina. but, in spring, theswallow flew away, after offering to take the little girl with it. all summer,thumbelina did her best to avoid marrying the mole. the little girl thoughtfearfully of how she'd have to live underground forever. on the eve of herwedding, she asked to spend a day in the open air. as she gently fingered aflower, she heard a familiar song: "winter's on its way and i'll be off towarmer lands. come with me!" thumbelina quickly clung to her swallow friend,and the bird soared into the sky. they flew over plains and hills till theyreached a country of flowers. the swallow gently laid thumbelina in a blossom.there she met a tiny, white-winged fairy: the king of the flower fairies.instantly, he asked her to marry him. thumbelina eagerly said "yes", andsprouting tiny white wings, she became the flower queen!

SLEEPING BEAUTY
A long time ago there were a king and queen who said every day, Ah, if only we had a child, but they never had one. But it happened that once when the queen was bathing, a frog crept out of the water on to the land, and said to her, Your wish shall be fulfilled, before a year has gone by, you shall have a daughter. What the frog had said came true, and the queen had a little girl who was so pretty that the king could not contain himself for joy, and ordered a great feast. He invited not only his kindred, friends and acquaintances, but also the wise women, in order that they might be kind and well disposed towards the child. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but, as he had only twelve golden plates for them to eat out of, one of them had to be left at home. The feast was held with all manner of splendor and when it came to an end the wise women bestowed their magic gifts upon the baby one gave virtue, another beauty, a third riches, and so on with everything in the world that one can wish for. When eleven of them had made their promises, suddenly the thirteenth came in. She wished to avenge herself for not having been invited, and without greeting, or even looking at anyone, she cried with a loud voice, The kings daughter shall in her fifteenth year prick herself with a spindle, and fall down dead. And, without saying a word more, she turned round and left the room. They were all shocked, but the twelfth, whose good wish still remained unspoken, came forward, and as she could not undo the evil sentence, but only soften it, she said, it shall not be death, but a deep sleep of a hundred years, into which the princess shall fall. The king, who would fain keep his dear child from the misfortune, gave orders that every spindle in the whole kingdom should be burnt. Meanwhile the gifts of the wise women were plenteously fulfilled on the young girl, for she was so beautiful, modest, good-natured, and wise, that everyone who saw her was bound to love her. It happened that on the very day when she was fifteen years old, the king and queen were not at home, and the maiden was left in the palace quite alone. So she went round into all sorts of places, looked into rooms and bed-chambers just as she liked, and at last came to an old tower. She climbed up the narrow winding staircase, and reached a little door. A rusty key was in the lock, and when she turned it the door sprang open, and there in a little room sat an old woman with a spindle, busily spinning her flax. Good day, old mother, said the kings daughter, what are you doing there?

I am spinning, said the old woman, and nodded her head. What sort of thing is that, that rattles round so merrily, said the girl, and she took the spindle and wanted to spin too. But scarcely had she touched the spindle when the magic decree was fulfilled, and she pricked her finger with it.And, in the very moment when she felt the prick, she fell down upon the bed that stood there, and lay in a deep sleep. And this sleep extended over the whole palace, the king and queen who had just come home, and had entered the great hall, began to go to sleep, and the whole of the court with them. The horses, too, went to sleep in the stable, the dogs in the yard, the pigeons upon the roof, the flies on the wall, even the fire that was flaming on the hearth became quiet and slept, the roast meat left off frizzling, and the cook, who was just going to pull the hair of the scullery boy, because he had forgotten something, let him go, and went to sleep. And the wind fell, and on the trees before the castle not a leaf moved again. But round about the castle there began to grow a hedge of thorns, which every year became higher, and at last grew close up round the castle and all over it, so that there was nothing of it to be seen, not even the flag upon the roof. But the story of the beautiful sleeping Briar Rose, for so the princess was named, went about the country, so that from time to time kings sons came and tried to get through the thorny hedge into the castle. But they found it impossible, for the thorns held fast together, as if they had hands, and the youths were caught in them, could not get loose again, and died a miserable death. After long, long years a kings son came again to that country, and heard an old man talking about the thorn hedge, and that a castle was said to stand behind it in which a wonderfully beautiful princess, named Briar Rose, had been asleep for a hundred years, and that the king and queen and the whole court were asleep likewise. He had heard, too, from his grandfather, that many kings, sons had already come, and had tried to get through the thorny hedge, but they had remained sticking fast in it, and had died a pitiful death. Then the youth said, I am not afraid, I will go and see the beautiful Briar Rose. The good old man might dissuade him as he would, he did not listen to his words. But by this time the hundred years had just passed, and the day had come when Briar Rose was to awake again. When the kings son came near to the thorn hedge, it was nothing but large and beautiful flowers, which parted from each other of their own accord, and let him pass unhurt, then they closed again behind him like a hedge. In the castle yard he saw the horses and the spotted hounds lying asleep, on the roof sat the pigeons with their heads under their wings. And when he entered the house, the flies were asleep upon the wall, the cook in the kitchen was still holding out his hand to seize the boy, and the maid was sitting by the black hen which she was going to pluck.