Just as the sun had fallen toward evening
Everywhere the Heavens had turned dark,
On the firmament beautiful stars glimmered
Like Precious Diamonds,
Thales cries out: “My kind old woman!”
“Why are you screaming, foolish Sage?”
“I’m tired of sitting on this spot.
Take me somewhere to gaze at the stars.”
The kind old woman started off before him,
And behind her the foolish Sage followed.
They walked toward a high-high Hill from where
They could see the circle of stars.
“O,” the Sage shouted out, “I’m doomed, old woman!”
The poor man had fallen into a hole, tearing off his ear.
“You wouldn’t have fallen into a ditch, slow-witted grandpa,
Why didn’t you follow my tracks?
Not seeing the ditch right in front of your nose,
How can you know the stars, dim-witted one?”
From these speculations the old woman
Led the Sage back home without his ear.