Prevod

There were once two brothers, one rich and the other poor. But the rich brother gave the poor one nothing, and he had to scrape a meagre living by trading in grain. Often things went so badly for him that he had no bread for his wife and children. One day, as he was driving his cart through the forest, he caught sight of a great bare mountain to one side. Since he had never seen it before, he stopped and gazed at it in wonder. As he stood there, he saw twelve tall, fierce-looking men approaching. Thinking they must be robbers, he pushed his cart into the bushes, climbed a tree, and waited to see what would happen.

The twelve men went up to the mountain and cried, "Mount Semsi, Mount Semsi, open up." At once the bare mountain split open down the middle, and the twelve went inside. Once they were in, it closed behind them. A little while later it opened again, and the men came out carrying heavy sacks on their backs. When they were all out in the daylight again, they said, "Mount Semsi, Mount Semsi, close up." The mountain snapped shut, leaving no sign of an entrance, and the twelve went away.

When they were quite out of sight, the poor man climbed down from the tree, curious to know what secrets might be hidden inside the mountain. So he went up to it and said, "Mount Semsi, Mount Semsi, open up," and the mountain opened for him too. He stepped inside and found that the whole mountain was a cavern full of silver and gold, with great heaps of pearls and sparkling jewels piled up at the back like grain. The poor man did not know what to do, or whether he dared take any of the treasure. At last he filled his pockets with gold, but left the pearls and jewels where they lay. When he came out again, he too said, "Mount Semsi, Mount Semsi, close up." The mountain closed, and he drove his cart home.

Now he no longer had any need to worry, and with his gold he could buy bread for his wife and children, and wine as well. He lived happily and honestly, gave to the poor, and did good to everyone. But when the money ran out, he went to his brother, borrowed a bushel measure, and fetched some more, though he left the great treasures untouched. When he wanted to fetch some for the third time, he once again borrowed the bushel measure from his brother.

The rich brother had long been jealous of his prosperity and the fine household he had set up, and could not understand where his wealth came from or what his brother wanted with the bushel measure. So he thought of a trick and smeared the bottom of it with pitch. When the measure was returned, a gold coin was stuck inside. At once he went to his brother and asked, "What did you measure with the bushel?"

"Wheat and barley," the other replied. Then the rich man showed him the gold coin and threatened to take him to court unless he told the truth. So the poor man told him everything that had happened. The rich man immediately had a wagon harnessed and drove off, determined to make better use of the opportunity and bring back far finer treasures. When he reached the mountain, he cried, "Mount Semsi, Mount Semsi, open up." The mountain opened, and he went inside. All the riches lay before him, and for a long time he could not decide what to take first. At last he loaded himself with as many jewels as he could carry.

He wanted to carry his load outside, but his heart and mind were so full of the treasures that he had forgotten the mountain's name, and he cried, "Mount Simeli, Mount Simeli, open up." But that was not the right name, and the mountain did not stir, but remained closed. Then he grew frightened, but the longer he thought, the more confused he became, and all his treasures were of no use to him now.

In the evening the mountain opened, and the twelve robbers came in. When they saw him, they laughed and cried, "So, little bird, we've caught you at last! Do you think we didn't notice that you'd been in here twice before? We couldn't catch you then, but this third time you won't get out again." Then he cried, "It wasn't me, it was my brother!" But though he begged for his life and said all he could, they cut off his head.