Kisah Dua Ekor Katak

Pada suatu masa dahulu, ada dua ekor katak yang tinggal di negara Jepun. Seekor tinggal di sebatang longkang berhampiran bandar Osaka yang terletak di pinggir laut, sementara yang seekor lagi tinggal di sebatang anak sungai jernih yang mengalir melalui bandar Kyoto. Dalam jarak yang berjauhan itu, katak-katak ini tidak pernah mengenali antara satu sama lain, tetapi, yang anehnya, timbul pula idea dalam kepala masing-masing secara serentak – katak-katak ini berhasrat untuk melihat dunia ini sedikit. Sang katak yang tinggal di Kyoto ingin mengunjungi Osaka, manakala katak yang tinggal di Osaka pula berhasrat untuk melawat Kyoto, tempat letaknya istana maharaja Jepun.

Maka, pada suatu pagi yang indah, dalam musim bunga, kedua-dua katak itu pun memulakan perjalanan masing-masing melalui jalan yang terbentang dari Kyoto hingga ke Osaka. Seekor di satu hujung dan seekor lagi di hujung yang bertentangan. Perjalanan yang ditempuhi lebih meletihkan daripada yang dijangka kerana katak-katak ini tidak berapa tahu tentang pengembaraan. Di pertengahan jalan, di antara dua bandar itu, ada sebuah gunung yang perlu didaki. Katak-katak itu terpaksa mengambil masa yang lama melompat untuk mencapai puncaknya, tapi akhirnya sampai juga ke atas. Alangkah terkejutnya katak itu apabila terserempak dengan seekor lagi katak di hadapannya!

Katak-katak itu saling berpandangan seketika tanpa berkata apa-apa. Kemudian barulah mula berbual rancak tentang punca pertembungan itu yang berlaku jauh dari kampung halaman masing-masing. Girang rasanya hati katak itu apabila mendapat tahu rakannya juga mempunyai niat yang sama – untuk mendalami lagi tentang tanah air sendiri. Memandangkan katak-katak itu tidak perlu tergesa-gesa, maka kedua-duanya pun merehatkan badan di kawasan yang lembap lagi sejuk, dan bersetuju untuk menghilangkan penat terlebih dahulu sebelum berpisah untuk menuju ke haluan masing-masing.

“Sayangnya badan kita tidak lebih besar,” kata katak Osaka, “kalau tidak, bolehlah kita melihat kedua-dua bandar itu dari sini dan mengagak sama ada berbaloi atau tidak kita meneruskan perjalanan kita ini.”

“Oh, itu mudah diatur,” balas katak Kyoto. “Kita berdiri saja di atas kaki belakang kita dan berpaut antara satu sama lain. Kemudian, bolehlah masing-masing meninjau bandar yang hendak dituju.”

Katak Osaka begitu suka akan cadangan ini lalu terus membingkas dan meletakkan kaki hadapan di atas bahu kawannya, yang juga telah turut bangun. Kedua-duanya pun berdiri, lalu meregangkan badan sambil memegang erat antara satu sama lain supaya tidak jatuh. Katak Kyoto menghalakan hidungnya ke arah Osaka, manakala katak Osaka pula menghalakan hidungnya ke Kyoto. Tetapi yang bebalnya, katak-katak itu terlupa bahawa apabila ia berdiri, matanya yang besar itu terletak di belakang kepala. Jadi, walaupun hidungnya mungkin menghala ke arah destinasi yang hendak dituju, matanya memandang ke tempat asal perjalanannya tadi.

“Alamak!” teriak katak Osaka, “Kyoto betul-betul seperti Osaka. Sungguh tidak berbaloi perjalanan yang jauh ini. Saya hendak pulanglah!”


“Kalaulah saya tahu Osaka serupa saja dengan Kyoto, saya tak akan mengembara jauh-jauh begini,” teriak katak dari Kyoto.

Tatkala berkata demikian, ia pun melepaskan tangannya dari bahu rakannya lantas kedua-dua katak itu pun terus rebah ke atas rumput. Setelah mengucapkan selamat jalan, kedua-dua katak itu mula berangkat pulang. Sehinggalah ke akhir hayat, katak-katak itu mempercayai bahawa Osaka dan Kyoto adalah serupa sahaja, meskipun pada hakikatnya kedua-dua bandar itu begitu berbeza dari segala segi.

Penterjemah : OMNI- TERJEMAHAN

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The Two Frogs

Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs, one of whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka, on the sea coast, while the other dwelt in a clear little stream which ran through the city of Kioto. At such a great distance apart, they had never even heard of each other; but, funnily enough, the idea came into both their heads at once that they should like to see a little of the world, and the frog who lived at Kioto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kioto, where the great Mikado had his palace.

So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kioto to Osaka, one from one end and the other from the other. The journey was more tiring than they expected, for they did not know much about travelling, and half way between the two towns there arose a mountain which had to be climbed. It took them a long time and a great many hops to reach the top, but there they were at last, and what was the surprise of each to see another frog before him!

They looked at each other for a moment without speaking, and then fell into conversation, explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes. It was delightful to find that they both felt the same wish--to learn a little more of their native country--and as there was no sort of hurry they stretched themselves out in a cool, damp place, and agreed that they would have a good rest before they parted to go their ways.

'What a pity we are not bigger,' said the Osaka frog; 'for then we could see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our while going on.'

'Oh, that is easily managed,' returned the Kioto frog. 'We have only got to stand up on our hind legs, and hold on to each other, and then we can each look at the town he is travelling to.'

This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws on the shoulders of his friend, who had risen also. There they both stood, stretching themselves as high as they could, and holding each other tightly, so that they might not fall down. The Kioto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kioto; but the foolish things forgot that when they stood up their great eyes lay in the backs of their heads, and that though their noses might point to the places to which they wanted to go their eyes beheld the places from which they had come.

'Dear me!' cried the Osaka frog, 'Kioto is exactly like Osaka. It is certainly not worth such a long journey. I shall go home!'

'If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kioto I should never have travelled all this way,' exclaimed the frog from Kioto, and as he spoke he took his hands from his friend's shoulders, and they both fell down on the grass. Then they took a polite farewell of each other, and set off for home again, and to the end of their lives they believed that Osaka and Kioto, which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as like as two peas.

[Japanische Marchen.]

p/s : Fikir-fikirkanlah pengajaran di sebalik cerita ini.