올드코난 (Old Conan)이 재해석하는 현대판 이솝우화 (Aesop's Fables, Aesopica) => 원 저작자: Aesop; 참고 번역본 저자: 조지 파일러 타운센드(George Fyler Townsend, 1814-1900) 외 / 현재 알려진 이솝우화들을 현대적으로 해석해 소개해 드리겠습니다.
올드코난의 이솝우화 제 114화 농부의 아들 (Perry 53. The Farmer's Sons)
어느 시골에 늙은 농부가 있었다. 농부에게는 세 아들이 있었는데, 항상 다투고 반목했다. 죽음을 앞둔 농부는 아들들을 불러 모았다. 그리고 아들 한명한명에게 차례로 나뭇가지 한 뭉치를 부러뜨리라고 시켜 보았다. 아무도 부러뜨린 이가 없었다. 농부는 이번에는 나무뭉치를 풀어 나뭇가지 하나를 꺼내어 아들들에게 부러뜨려 보라 말했다. 이번에는 아들들이 쉽게 부러뜨릴 수 있었다.
농부는 이렇게 말했다.
“잘 보거라 나뭇가지 한개는 쉽게 부러지지만, 하나로 뭉치면 쉽게 부러지지 않잖니. 만일 너희들이 계속해서 다투기만 하면 이 나뭇가지처럼 약한 존재에 지나지 않지만, 셋이 뭉치면 어떤 어려움도 극복할 수 있을 것이다.”
아무리 약해도 하나로 뭉치면 강해지는 법이다.
[올드코난 한마디]
이 이야기는 화합과 단결의 중요성을 담은 매우 유명한 에피소드다. 특히, 대한민국의 진보 정당들에게 꼭 필요한 이야기가 아닌가 생각한다. 선거에서 늘 패했던 것은 야권 분열에 있다. 한발씩 양보하고 단결한다면 총선에 승리를 거둘 수 있다. 이번 20대 총선에도 단일화에 성공하기를 바란다.
[영어 문장]
Perry 53. The Farmer's Sons
Sticks in a bundle can’t be broken but sticks taken singly can be easily broken. Same applies to people.
There is strength in union.
1. Townsend version
A Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the bundle, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: “My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.” The breach of unity puts the world, and all that’s in it, into a state of war, and turns every man’s hand against his brother; but so long as the band holds, it is the strength of all the several parts of it gatherd into one.
2. Eliot/Jacobs Version
An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered them to bring in a bundle of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.”
The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the bundle. The other sons also tried, but none succeeded.
“Untie the bundle,” said the father, “and each of you take a stick.” When they had done so, he told them: “Now, break,” and each stick was easily broken.
3. Aesop For Children (The Bundle of Sticks)
A certain Father had a family of Sons, who were forever quarreling among themselves. No words he could say did the least good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example that should make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune.
One day when the quarreling had been much more violent than usual and each of the Sons was moping in a surly manner, he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his Sons in turn he told them to try to break it. But although each one tried his best, none was able to do so.
The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons to break one by one. This they did very easily.
“My Sons,” said the Father, “do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.”
Moral: In unity is strength.
4. JBR Collection
An Old Man had many Sons, who were always falling out with one another. He had often, but to no purpose, exhorted them to live together in harmony. One day he called them round him, and producing a bundle of sticks, bade them try each in turn to break it across. Each put forth all his strength, but the bundle resisted all their efforts. Then, cutting the cord which bound the sticks together, he told his Sons to break them separately. This was done with the greatest case. “See, my Sons,” exclaimed he, “the power of unity! Bound together by brotherly Jove, you may defy almost every mortal ill; divided, you will fall a prey to your enemies.”
5.L’Estrange version
It was the hap of a very honest man to be the father of a contentious brood of children. He call’d for a rod, and bad ’em take it, and try one after another with all their force, if they could break it. They try’d, and could not. Well (says he) unbind it now, and take every twig of it apart, and see what you can do that way. They did so, and with great ease, by one and one, they snapt it all to pieces. This (says he) is the true emblem of your condition. Keep together and y’are safe, divide, and y’are undone.
Moral; The breach of unity puts the world, and all that’s in’t, into a state of war, and turns every man’s hand against his brother; but so long as the band holds, ’tis the strength of all the several parts of it gathered into one.
6. Pater et Filii Litigantes
Agricola, filios suos videns quotidie litigantes, iussit fasciculum virgarum sibi afferri. Quae cum allatae essent, colligavit omnes in unum fasciculum iussitque singulos filiorum fasciculum capere et confringere. Illis vero confringere non valentibus, solvens postea fasciculum, tradidit singulas singulis eis frangendas atque, illis statim facileque frangentibus, dixit, “Ita et vos, filii mei, si unanimes perstiteritis, invictos vos hostibus praebebitis. Sin minus, ipsa vestra aemulatio opportunam vos praedam inimicis praestabit.”
글 작성/편집 올드코난 (Old Conan)
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