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THREE QUESTIONS, , Leo Tolstoy, , Introducing the author, , Leo Tolstoy (1828 —1910) was a Russian writer who, primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life,, he also wrote plays and essays. His War and Peace, , and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the, greatest novels of all time., , Unit I, , Warm Up, , , , Can you guess from the title what the story is about? To what time does the story, belong? Read the following unit of the text, note the questions that occurred to a certain, king and see if they are still relevant today:, , The Text, : It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time to begin, everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and,, , above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never, fail in anything he might undertake., , And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed throughout his, kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would teach him what was, , the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he, might know what was the most important thing to do., , And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his questions differently., , ‘, , Os OR STAYS aie aati ane cea ee zc
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Invitation to English -9°, 2, , in reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time Oe ee, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and seas and re onal, according to it. Only thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper oe Oe :, declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but, that, not letting oneself be absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always tien to all that |, was going on, and then do what was most needful. Others, again, said that howe, attentive the King might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide |, correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, ;, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything., , But then again others said there were some things which could not wait to be, laid before a Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to undertake, them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand what was going to, , happen. It is only magicians who know that; and, therefore, in order to know the right ;, time for every action, one must consult magicians., , Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the people, , the King most needed were his councillors; others, the priests; others, the doctors;, while some said the warriors were the most necessary., , , , , , To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some replied], that the most important thing in the world was science. Others said it was skill in warfare;, and others, again, that it was religious worship., , All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and gave the, reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his ), , questions, he decided to}, consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom. a, , Glossary, occurred came to mind, proclaimed made known publicly or Officially 4, pastimes :, , things done to Pass time pleasantly
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THREE QUESTIONS a 3, , - Think it out, , 1. What were the three questions that occurred to the king? What did he do get the, : answers to his questions?, , What answers did the wise men give to his first question?, , How did the wise men answer his second question?, , A ON”, , What answers did the king get for his third question?, 5. Why did he decide to consult a hermit?, Unit Il, , Warm Up, , Do you think the king called for the hermit to answer his questions? Did he call, on the hermit for answers to his questions? Read the following unit of the text and follow, what the king does:, , The Text :, , The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but, common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s cell, dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone., , When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his, hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and, weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he, , breathed heavily., The King went up to him and said:.“| have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you, to answer three questions: How can | learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who, , are the people | most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to, the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?”, , The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing, He just spat on his hand and, , . recommenced digging., , “You are tired,” said the King, “let me take the spade and work awhile for you.”.
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Invitation to English-2, , “Thanks!” said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the |, , ground., stopped and repeated his questions. The, , When he had dug two beds, the King |, hand for the spade, and said:°, , hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his, , “Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit.”, d continued to dig. One hour passed,, , But the King did not give him the spade, an, d the King at last stuck the, , and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, an, spade into the ground, and said:, , “| came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me, , none, tell me so, and | will return home.”, “Here comes some one running,” said the hermit, “let us see who it is.”, , The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood., The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from, under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly., The King and the-hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large wound in his, stomach: The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief, and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King, again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and, rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and |, asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile}, ‘ the sun had set,:and it had become cool. So the King, with.the hermit’s help, carried the, wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his, eyes and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had, done, that he crouched down on the :, slept all through the short summer aL ii on oe souridly tia, . woke in the morning, it was long!, , before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on|, the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes. ”, , “Forgive me!” said the bearded man in a weak voice, , : ,wh ing!, was awake and was looking at him. en he saw that the King
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THREE QUESTIONS 5, , “Ldo not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,” said the King., , “You do not know me, but | know you. | am that enemy of yours who swore to, revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his property. |, knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and | resolved to kill you on your way back., But the day passed and you did not return. So | came out from my ambush to find you,, and | came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. | escaped, from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. | wished to, kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, | will serve you as, your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!”, , The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to, have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his, servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property., , Glossary, hermit a holy person living alone, frail weak and thin, revived got well again, threshold doorstep _, intently eagerly, “executed punished by death, ambush hiding, Think it out :, , 1. Where did the King meet the hermit? How did the hermit receive the King?, , 2. How did the King help the hermit?, ‘3. How did the King nurse the wounded stranger?, 4. Why did the wounded person desire to serve the King as his most faithful, , slave?
