Dongeng dari Aceh (A Tale from Aceh)
Zaman dahulu, ada kakak beradik bernama Muria dan Sengede. Suatu hari, mereka diminta Ayahnya mengembala itik. (A long time ago, there were two siblings named Muria and Sengede. One day, they were asked by their father to tend the ducks.)
Saat mengembala, tiba-tiba mereka menemukan sebuah layangan. “Ayo kita bermain layangan!” ajak Muria.(While they were shepherding, they suddenly found a kite. “Let’s play kite!” invites Muria.)
Ketika hari sudah sore, keduanya sangat terkejut karena itik mereka menghilang. Ayah mereka sangat marah dan mengusir kedua bersaudara itu. Mereka boleh kembali jika itik-itik berhasil ditemukan. Muria dan Sengede sangat sedih. (When evening came, they were very surprised because their ducks disappeared. Their father was very angry and sent them away. They may return if the ducks were found. Muria and Sengede were very sad.)
Kakak beradik itu akhirnya pergi berkelana ke seluruh desa dan kota, tetapi itik-itik mereka tidak terlihat. (The two siblings finally traveled around the villages and towns, but the ducks were not anywhere to be seen.)
Setelah bertahun-tahun berkelana, Muria dan Sengede sampai di negeri Serule. Raja Serule yang iba hatinya kemudian mengangkat mereka sebagai anak. (After years of wandering, Muria and Sengede arrived at Serule. King Serule who was compassionate adopted them as his children.)
Muria dan Sengede membantu Ayah angkat mereka sang Raja dalam membawa kemakmuran bagi rakyat Serule. (Muria and Sengede helped their adoptive father the King in bringing prosperity to the people of Serule.)
Negeri Serule pun menjadi negeri yang kaya. Hal ini membuat iri Raja Linge.(Serule country became rich. This made King Linge to feel envy.)
Raja Linge kemudian berkunjung ke negeri Serule dan bercerita tentang seekor gajah putih yang ada di Gayo. Raja Linge berharap dapat memecah belah Muria, Sengede, dan Ayah angkat mereka. (King Linge visited King Serule and told him the story of a white elephant of Gayo. King Linge hoped to separate Muria, Sengede, and their adoptive father.)
Karena terpengaruh oleh Raja Linge, Raja Serule menyuruh Muria dan Sengede mencari gajah putih Gayo. (Having been influenced by King Linge, King Serule told Muria and Sengede to find the white elephant of Gayo.)
Muria dan Sengede pergi ke Gayo dan mereka benar-benar menemukan gajah putih! Sengede bermaksud menangkap gajah itu. “Tunggu! Anak-anak-ku, ini Ayah kandung kalian!” si gajah berseru. “Aku sudah meninggal dan menjelma menjadi gajah putih karena menyesal telah mengusir kalian…,” kata gajah itu lagi. (Muria and Sengede went to Gayo and they actually found the white elephant! Sengede intended to catch the elephant. “Wait! My children, I’m your biological father!” cried the elephant. “I’ve died and been transformed into a white elephant because I felt sorry for sending you away…,” says the elephant.)
“Ayah! Kami juga bersalah padamu, maafkan kami. Tetapi kini kami sudah hidup bahagia karena Raja Serule mengangkat kami jadi anaknya!” kata Muria dan Sengede. (“Father! We were wrong too, forgive us. But now we have a happy life since King Serule adopted us to be his children!” say Muria and Sengede.)
Si gajah putih sangat bahagia, dia menghentakkan kakinya dan menari, Muria dan Sengede mengikutinya. “Ayah, marilah kita hidup bersama di negeri Serule!” kata Muria dan Sengede. (The white elephant was very happy, he stamped his feet and danced, Muria and Sengede followed him. “Father, let’s live together in Serule country!” say Muria and Sengede.)
Raja Serule sangat bahagia melihat Muria dan Sengede kembali bersama seekor gajah putih. (King Serule was very happy to see Muria and Sengede were back with the white elephant.)
Terharu mendengar kisah tentang si gajah putih, Raja Serule memperbolehkan gajah putih untuk tinggal di istana. (Touched by the story of the white elephant, King Serule allowed the white elephant to stay in the palace.)
Mereka semua bersyukur kepada Yang Kuasa atas karunia-Nya yang luar biasa. (They felt grateful to the Almighty for His incredible gift.)
(Teks: Seruni/ Ilustrasi: Just For Kids/ Translator: Just For Kids)
