The Snake of Dreams
Rewritten from a Georgian Tale by Hugh Lupton
(© Hugh Lupton 2002)

Many years ago - and it was neither my time nor your time - there lived a great king.

And one night that king dreamed a strange dream.

He dreamed that a fox was hanging by its tail from the ceiling above his golden throne, a red fox, snarling and snapping, suspended by its red brush.

When the king woke up he called all of his advisers and wise men.

"What could be the meaning of such a dream?"

But they all shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders and not one of them could find an answer to that question. So the king ordered every grown man and woman in his kingdom to gather before the palace.

"Surely", he thought to himself, "there must be someone in this great country who can unriddle my dream."

So the people came from north, south, east and west. And among the many there was one, a simple farmer who lived among the mountains far in the north. As he travelled towards the king's palace he came to a narrow pass between two mighty mountains, and curled in the dust of the road there was a snake. As the farmer drew close the snake lifted its thin head:

"Aaaaaah, traveller, stop, and tell me, where are you going?"

The farmer stopped in amazement.

"I...I...I'm going to the palace, the king has had a dream."

"And traveller, do you know the meaning of this dream?"

"Me, I'm just a farmer, I know nothing about dreams."

"Well, traveller, I can tell you its meaning, and if you tell the king he will reward you well."

"Then tell me snake, tell me now!"

"Aaaaaaah, traveller, nothing comes from nothing, I will tell you only if you promise to share half of that reward with me."

"I promise snake, now tell me."

"The king has dreamed of a fox, hanging above his throne, and the dream means thisssssss"

The farmer crouched and the snake lifted its thin head and whispered into his ear.

The farmer listened, nodded and continued his journey, and after some days he joined the massing crowd before the king's palace. A trumpet sounded, the king's dream was told, and a great hush fell on the people. No-one could unriddle the dream.

But then, from the back of the crowd, came a voice:

"Majesty, majesty, your dream means this...."

"Bring the man forward!"

And the farmer was brought before the king.

"Majesty your dream means this: These are times of cunning and treachery, no-one is to be trusted, your kingdom is like a den of foxes."

The king nodded and smiled.

"The dream is well read."

From beneath his throne he took two bags of gold and gave them to the farmer.

And the farmer set off for home, but he was careful to avoid the pass between the mountains, he went the longer way round and kept all the gold for himself.

And time passed.

Then one night the king dreamed a second dream.

He dreamed that a sword was hanging by a hair from the ceiling above his golden throne. A sharpened sword, flashing and spinning, suspended by a fine thread.

And when he woke he called his messengers:

"Go and fetch that farmer from the north!"

When the farmer received the king's message his heart sank, but he knew there was only one thing for it, and he set off along the narrow pass between the two mountains.

"Snake, snake!"

There was no answer.

"Snake, snake, I need your help again!"

"Aaaaaah, traveller, I am here."

"The king has had a second dream."

"I know, and I will tell you its meaning, but only if you truly promise to share half of your reward with me."

"This time snake, I truly promise."

"The king has dreamed of a sword, hanging above his throne, and the dream means thisssss....."

And the snake whispered into the farmer's ear.

The farmer continued his journey, and after some days he was standing before the king's throne.

"Majesty, your dream means this: These are times of anger and warfare, your enemies are preparing for battle, your kingdom is bristling with sharpened swords."

The king nodded and smiled.

"The dream is well read."

He gave the farmer four bags of gold, and he prepared himself for battle.

As for the farmer, this time he followed the narrow pass between the mountains, but when he saw the snake curled in the dust of the road waiting for him he was filled with anger and he drew his knife.

"Haaaaa, traveller, you have brought me my share!"

"You'll have nothing but a black stone and a cinder!"

He chased the snake and hacked off its tail with his knife.

And he kept all the gold for himself.

And time passed.

Then one night the king dreamed a third dream.

He dreamed that the carcass of a sheep was hanging by its legs from the ceiling above his golden throne. A fat, dressed carcass, skinned and split like meat in a butcher's shop.

When the king woke he sent his messengers to fetch the farmer again.

And the farmer knew there was only one thing for it. Swallowing his pride he set out for the third time along the narrow pass between the mountains.

"Snake, snake!"

There was no answer.

"Snake, please snake, forgive me!"

There was no answer.

"Snake, I need you again."

"Haaaaa, traveller, I am here."

"Snake, I beg you to forgive me, the king has dreamed again."

"I know, and I will tell you the meaning, if this time you swear to share your reward with me."

"I swear, half will be yours."

"The king has dreamed of a sheep's carcass, hanging above his throne, and the dream means thissssssss....."

When the farmer had heard, he continued his journey until he stood before the king's throne.

"Majesty, your dream means this: These are times of ease and generosity, every belly in the land is full, your kingdom is like a fat carcass giving peace and plenty to all."

The king nodded and smiled.

"The dream is well read."

He gave the farmer six bags of gold, and the farmer made his way straight back to the pass between the mountains.

"Snake, snake!"

The snake came and the farmer knelt beside it with tears in his eyes.

"Snake, now you must take all these six bags of gold, for truly it is half of all that I have won.....and I have no words to tell you my shame at having treated you so badly."

But the snake lifted its thin head and shook it sadly from side to side.

Traveller, traveller, you have done no wrong, there is no blame. You are just one among many. When the kingdom was like a den of foxes, you too were treacherous and cunning and you went home the other way. When the kingdom was bristling with sharpened swords, you too were quick to anger and you cut off my tail. And now the kingdom is like a fat carcass giving peace and plenty to all, you too are suddenly filled with kindness and you offer me your gold. But, traveller, what use have I, the oldest of the old and the wisest of the wise, for your paltry gold? Keep it and go in peace."

With that the snake slid into a crack in the rock and was gone.

And the farmer swung the bags over his shoulders and continued his journey - but suddenly the gold seemed heavy against his back.

Thank you, that was beautiful.