The Adarna Bird ANNOUNCER: Hello young friends, your story-hour program today brings you a tale of magic

and enchantment that was a favorite of our great great grandfathers The Adarna Bird ! " hope you will en#oy it #ust as they did $%&"': %p and under a sad (umintang song STORYTELLER: )nce upon a time, in the far away *ingdom of Berbania, the *ing lay ill His condition was so serious that everyone feared he would die +octors, young and old, from places far and near, came to cure the *ing, but failed )ne day the *ing dreamt the he would well again ,uic*ly he summoned the -ueen and his three sons, +on .edro, +on +iego and +on /uan, to his presence KING: $y dears, " had a wonderful dream "n my dream a lovely lady appeared, saying over and over again: if you wish to get well, my dear *ing, let the Adarna bird come here to sing ! QUEEN: +o you mean the Adarna bird of Tabor0 KING: 1es, the magic Adarna bird of Tabor that is *nown all over the *ingdom QUEEN: But how can we bring the Adarna bird of Tabor here0 KING: "t has to be captured and then brought to the palace That2s what the lady in the dream said DON PEDRO, DON DIEGO, DON JUAN: 3e will get the coveted bird, 4ather KING 5sadly6: Than*s, my sons, but " cannot allow all of you to leave at the same time DON PEDRO: Being your eldest son, " beg you to let me get the Adarna bird of Tabor KING: " give you permission to go, .edro $ay 7od bless and guide you on your #ourney MUSIC: Bridge STORYTELLER: +on .edro rode many days over hills through forests, and he crossed many rivers until he came to $ount Tabor He could hardly believe his eyes when he saw a tree with spar*ling silver leaves He never suspected that this was the very tree in which the famous bird was accustomed to pass the night &oon he heard the flapping of wings A multicolored bird, more beautiful than a rainbow, alighted on a branch of the spar*ling tree "t flapped its wings and began t sing the first of its seven songs $%&"': &ound of weird music STORYTELLER: $eantime, when .edro had not returned after a long, long period, the (ing and the ,ueen of Berbania became an8ious QUEEN: "2m worried about our son .edro He has been away for a long time KING: 'ould it be that some harm has befallen him0 " have nightmares about .edro2s misfortune QUEEN: Trust in +ivine .rovidence )ur son will be protected from harm KING: " will never have peace of mind until " see my son .edro again DON JUAN: $ay " go to $ount Tabor, 4ather0 "2ll loo* for my brother and catch the Adarna bird KING: 9o, /uan 1ou are too young to underta*e such a perilous #ourney DON DIEGO: Then let me go this time, 4ather Being the second eldest, " can ta*e care of myself QUEEN: "t may be wise to permit +iego KING: 1ou may go, then, with my blessings, +iego Ta*e good care of yourself, son $%&"': Bridge STORYTELLER: The second son also set out in search of the same bird He underwent the same vicissitudes and came to e8actly the same fate as his brother He sat under the enchanted tree admiring its glistening silver leaves, when suddenly he heard a flapping of wings The sight of the many-colored Adarna bird filled him with wonder After a while the bird began to sing such a sweet, sweet melody that +on +iego was lulled to sleep Then the Adarna bird allowed its droppings to fall on the sleeping prince, +on +iego He, too, was turned to stone: "n the *ingdom of Berbania, there was deep sorrow The (ing2s condition became worse each day, and the ,ueen could neither sleep nor eat, bewailing the fate of her two sons who had not returned KING: 5very faintly6: $y ,ueen, is there no news of .edro and +iego yet0 QUEEN: 9one, my beloved KING: " wonder what has become of the two princes " should not have given them permission to underta*e such a dangerous adventure QUEEN: 5sobbing6: " have a premonition that both of our sons are dead KING: And ", the (ing, have sent them to their doom DON JUAN: .lease don2t blame yourself, 4ather Besides, are we sure that they are no longer living0 QUEEN 5sobs6: " can2t endure this uncertainty any longer DON JUAN: " may be young in years, but " am strong, 4ather " am hopeful that "2ll find my brothers and bring home the magic Adarna bird, too QUEEN: )ur son +on /uan is wise and *ind 7od will surely protect him DON JUAN: " beg you, 4ather: KING 5wea*ly6: 7o then, my son $ay 7od guide you and preserve for our *ingdom $%&"': Bridge STORYTELLER: ;arly the ne8t morning .rince +on /uan started on his perilous #ourney in search of the elusive bird At the ban* of a river at the foot of $ount Tabor, he met a ragged old man who seemingly wanted to cross DON JUAN: 7reetings, old man +o you wish to cross the river0 OLD MAN: 1es, indeed, but my *nees are wobbly and my muscles stiff " cannot cross alone DON JUAN: "2ll help you, grandpa 9ow get on my bac* 5pause6 Ah here we are now, on the opposite shore, 7randpa OLD MAN: Than* you, son DON JUAN: But you loo* tired and hungry There is some bread and cheese in my bag <et2s share my poor fare under this shady tree OLD MAN: Than* you very much " am wea* from hunger $%&"': Bridge STORYTELLER: The beggar shared +on /uan2s scantly food He was impressed by the virtues and good manners of the young prince, and *nowing the mission on which he had embar*ed, he put +on /uan on his guard against the treachery, intrigue, and cunning of the famous bird The old man spo*e OLD MAN: )ne good turn deserves another " *now where you are going, son However, your tas* is difficult, and you need help 3hen you arrive at the top of the ne8t mountain, loo* for a little stone hut where lives a hermit He will tell you what to do DON JUAN: Than* you very much, 7randpa " cannot tarry much longer OLD MAN: 7ood luc*, and may 7od be with you: $%&"': Bridge STORY TELLER: /ust as the old man said, +on /uan saw the stone hut There an old hermit greeted him cordially as if he had been e8pecting +on /uan HERMIT: 3elcome, son 1our coming has been e8pected, so " have prepared a meal for you 3e must dine before you start on your #ourney DON JUAN: Than* you " am almost famished $%&"': Bridge STORYTELLER: it too* them some time to finish their meal After eating, the hermit gave .rince +on /uan full instructions HERMIT: <isten, son 1onder you2ll find a tree with silver leaves That2s where the Adarna bird stays all night The bird will sing seven times, and with each song it will change the colors of its plumage After singing the last melody, it will go to sleep That2s #ust e8act time to catch the magic bird But it cannot be caught with your bare hands alone Here is a golden cord to bind the bird2s legs 9o other cord can serve the purpose DON JUAN: Than* you so much, good hermit 3ith 7od2s help and yours, " am ready to go HERMIT: 9o not yet The Adarna2s song has a magic spell "t lulls the hearer to sleep Be sure to *eep wide awa*e, for if the droppings of the bird fall on you, you will turn into stone DON JUAN: "2ll try very hard not to sleep HERMIT: Ta*e these seven small lemons and this *nife with you Then after each song, ma*e a cut on your arm and s-uee=e the lemon #uice over the wound The pain will *eep you awa*e Avoid any droppings that may fall from the bird DON JUAN: Than* you for your advice The Adarna bird will never find me napping HERMIT: 1ou may go now, son But wait here is a dipper Beside the tree you will find a well 4ill this dipper with water and pour it over the two big stones under the silver tree 1our petrified brothers

will be brought bac* to life $ay 7od bless you and *eep you safe on your #ourney home DON JUAN: Than* you very muchm *ind hermit 7oodbye $%&"': Bridge STORYTELLER: .rince +on /uan climbed the Tabor mountain ;agerly, under the silver tree, he waited for the Adarna bird &oon he heard the flapping of wings <oo*ing up, he saw the lovely Adarna bird, which at once began to sing How sweet its song was: +on /uan could hardly *eep his eyes open as he listened >emembering the hermit2s advice, however, he -uic*ly made a cut on his arm, and then s-uee=ed the #uice of a lemon over the wound The pain *ept him wide awa*e 3hen the song ended, the bird flapped its wings, and its colors changed while it sang &even times +on /uan made a small cut on his arm, and in the way he managed to *eep awa*e the while night /ust as the hermit had told him, the Adarna bird allowed its droppings to fall after the seventh song, and then it closed its eyes and went to sleep &tealthily, .rince +on /uan climbed the silver tree and bound the bird2s legs with the golden cord 'arrying the bird, he filled his dipper with water from the little well and poured it over the two big stones under the tree "n an instant, the two stones began to move and assumed human forms +on /uan recogni=ed his two long-lost brothers, .rince +on .edro and .rince +on +iego, standing before him He could hardly believe his eyes until they spo*e DON DIEGO: 3hy are you here, /uan0 And you, too, .edro0 DON PEDRO: " fell asleep DON DIEGO: &o did ", " wo*e up #ust now But loo*: 3hat are you carrying /uan0 DON JUAN: "t2s the Adarna bird: DON DIEGO: "ndeed it is: 3hen and how did you catch it, /uan0 DON JUAN: <et2s hurry home, my brothers The (ing and the ,ueen, our parents, are greatly worried about you DON DIEGO: Had " not fallen asleep, " would have caught that bird DON PEDRO: " would have caught the Adarna bird, too DON JUAN: 'ome, let2s tarry no longer STORYTELLER: The three brothers were soon on their way to the *indom of Berbania, but +on +iego and +on .edro were envious of their youngest brother2s success +on .edro had a plan, and what an evil plan it was: DON PEDRO 53hispering6: <isten, +iego <et our /uan go ahead "2ve a secret to tell you DON DIEGO: 3hat2s on your mind, .edro0 DON PEDRO: How can we face the (ing and the ,ueen0 3e have failed, and it is the youngest who succeeded 3hat a shame for both of us: &omething must be done to save our honor DON DIEGO: 3hat are we going to do0 DON PEDRO: 3e must put /uan to death and ta*e the bird home ourselves DON DIEGO: (ill our own brother0 That2s too brutal DON PEDRO: That2s the only way to get rid of him and redeem ourselves DON DIEGO: 3e can2t stain our hands with our brother2s blood 3hy don2t we beat him up and brea* a few of his bones0 Then we can leave him here DON PEDRO: That2s a better plan 'ome on, let2s go after him SOUND: Gall !i"g # $ r%e%, a &a"'% %(rea&i"g a"d gr a"i"g a% i" !ai") STORYTELLER: +on +iego and +on .edro beat .rince +on /uan because of envy After getting the Adarna bird from their unconscious brother, they rode bac* to the palace, where the (ing and the ,ueen an8iously awaited them MUSIC: Bridge QUEEN: $y sons: 3e are glad you have returned KING: But where is /uan0 He went to loo* for you: DON DIEGO: we haven2t seen our youngest brother DON PEDRO: " *now nothing about /uan QUEEN: "s it possible that some misfortune has befallen him0 KING: .oor /uan: " shouldn2t have allowed him to go He is too young 5sobs6 DON DIEGO: 4ather, be of good cheer: $y brother .edro and " have brought the Adarna bird, which has the power of ma*ing you well DON PEDRO: <et us forget /uan and listen to the song of the Adarna bird DON DIEGO: &ing at once, Adarna bird, and bring the *ing bac* to health DON PEDRO: " command you to sing, Adarna bird The (ing is waiting for your sweet song KING: " have my doubts that you have brought the Adarna bird DON DIEGO: )f course this is the Adarna bird, 4ather DON PEDRO: This is the Adarna bird from $ount Tabor KING: $y sons, this bird doesn2t loo* so pretty as the bird " saw in my dream DON DIEGO * DON PEDRO: "n your dream0 A beautiful bird sang in your dream0 QUEEN: Hush: The Adarna bird is spea*ing ADARNA BIRD: 1our ma#esty, " am the Adarna bird of Tabor But " feel so miserable that my heart is almost brea*ing That2s why " refuse to sing KING: 3hy do you feel sad, my dear Adarna bird0 ADARNA BIRD: Because your son who captured me now lies unconscious and helpless on the road KING: 3hich son, Adarna bird0 The .rince +on /uan0 QUEEN: )ur youngest son captured you0 ADARNA BIRD: 1es, your brave and *ind son, the .rince +on /uan, succeeded where +on .edro and +on +iego failed And these two wic*ed princes would have been dead, by +on /uan they both were saved DON DIEGO: That2s not true 3e have not seen our brother /uan KING: 3hat have you done to your youngest brother0 Tell me the truth: QUEEN: 3hat has become of /uan0 DON DIEGO: " *now nothing DON PEDRO: " haven2t seen our brother since " left the *ingdom for $ount Tabor ADARNA BIRD: They are liars your elder sons ) *ing: 4or they beat .rince +on /uan and abandoned him bleeding in the lonely field KING 5Angrily6: How could you do such an evil thing to your own brother: 1ou shall be punished for this misdeed &oldiers, bind them and ta*e them out of my sight SOUND: Gall !i"g # $ r%e%) QUEEN: But who comes here0 )ur son /uan: .oor boy, you aren2t hurt, are you0 DON JUAN: " have returned, 4ather " have returned safe and sound to your *ingdom KING: 3elcome home, /uan +ivine .rovidence must have brought you safely home Those two brothers of yours would have been punished hadn2t you arrived in time ADARNA BIRD: 1our ma#esty, " told you nothing but the truth " should as* +on /uan if " were you KING: &pea* up, my son 3hat have your elder brothers done0 DON JUAN+sadly6:They beat me until my bones were nearly bro*en " owe my life to the old hermit of Tabor whom " befriended and who revived me with magic herbs DON PEDRO * DON DIEGO: 4orgive us, 4ather 4orgive us, brother /uan KING+angrily6: $iserable wretches: How can " ever forgive you two0 QUEEN: ) (ing, have mercy on your erring sons DON JUAN: 4ather, " beg you to spare my two brothers After all, the Adarna bird is here and " have come bac* safe and sound <et bygones be bygones ADARNA BIRD: And now, your ma#esties " will sing very sweetly to cure the *ing of his strange malady MUSIC: A ,ird'% % "g - .! a"d d /" STORYTELLER: As in the dream, the *ing was cured by the song of the Adarna bird And the bird endeared itself to everyone in the palace, and once again peace and merriment reigned in the *ingdom: