Dongeng dari Sumatera Selatan ( A Tale from South Sumatra )
Dahulu kala di daerah Sumidang, Sumatera Selatan, ada seorang pangeran bernama Serunting. Ia anak seorang raksasa bernama Putri Tenggang. Pangeran Serunting membenci adik iparnya yang bernama Aria Tebing karena jamur yang tumbuh di ladang Aria Tebing berubah menjadi emas sedangkan jamur yang tumbuh di ladang Serunting berubah menjadi tanaman tidak berguna. Serunting pun merasa iri. ( A long time ago in Sumidang, South Sumatra, there was a prince named Serunting. He was the son of a giant named Princess Tenggang. Prince Serunting hated Aria Tebing, his brother-in-law, because the mushroom that grew in Aria Tebing’s field turned into gold while the mushroom that grew in Serunting’s field turned into useless plants. Serunting felt jealous.)
Pada suatu hari, mereka berkelahi. “Kamu boleh sakti, tetapi aku lebih sakti!” ucap Aria Tebing dengan sombongnya. Pangeran Serunting pun kalah dan pergi ke gunung Si Guntang. Di gunung tersebut, Serunting bertemu dengan Hyang Mahameru yang menjanjikan kekuatan gaib. Serunting harus bersemedi di hutan bambu hingga seluruh tubuhnya ditutupi daun bambu. Dua tahun berlalu, seluruh tubuh Serunting tertutup oleh daun bambu. “Serunting, kau sekarang sudah bertambah sakti, semua ucapan yang keluar dari mulutmu akan terjadi!” seru Hyang Mahameru. ( One day, they fought. “You might be powerful, but I’m more powerful!” said Aria Tebing with pride. Prince Serunting lost and went to Si Guntang mountain. At the mountain, Serunting met Hyang Mahameru who promised him supernatural power. Serunting had to meditate in bamboo forest until his whole body covered with bamboo leaves. Two years had passed, Serunting’s body was covered by bamboo leaves. “Serunting, now you have more supernatural power, all words that come out of your mouth will happen!” cried Hyang Mahameru. )
Serunting menguji kesaktiannya. “Aku ingin padi-padi itu menjadi batu!” ucap Serunting yang dikenal sebagai Si Pahit Lidah, nama baru pemberian Hyang Mahameru. ( Serunting tested his supernatural power. “I want those rice-paddies become stones!” said Serunting that was known as Si Pahit Lidah, his new name given by Hyang Mahameru. )
Kesaktian Si Pahit Lidah terdengar oleh Si Mata Empat. Si Mata Empat pun pergi menemui Si Pahit Lidah. “Untuk menguji kesaktian kita, maka masing-masing dari kita, telungkup di bawah pohon aren. Siapa yang bisa menghindari pelepah yang jatuh, dialah yang lebih sakti!” tutur Si Pahit Lidah. Si Mata Empat mendapat giliran pertama. ( The supernatural power of Si Pahit Lidah was heard by Si Mata Empat. Si Mata Empat went to see Si Pahit Lidah. “To test our powers, then each of us has to lie face down under the palm tree. The one who can avoid the falling midrib, he is the more powerful one!” said Si Pahit Lidah. Si Mata Empat got the first turn. )
“Wah kau hebat! Kau bisa menghindari semua pelepah yang jatuh!” seru Si Pahit Lidah mengacungkan jempol pada Si Mata Empat. Hal itu mudah bagi Si Mata Empat karena dia memiliki dua mata tambahan di belakang kepalanya. ( “Wow you’re amazing! You could avoid all the falling midribs!” cried Si Pahit Lidah as he gave his thumb up for Si Mata Empat. It was easy for Si Mata Empat because he had two extra eyes at the back of his head. )
Kemudian giliran Si Pahit Lidah yang memperlihatkan kesaktiannya. Tetapi Si Pahit Lidah tidak bisa menghindar dari potongan pelepah aren yang jatuh dan akhirnya dia meninggal. Karena kesombongannya, Si Pahit Lidah lupa kalau Si Mata Empat memiliki mata tambahan. ( Then it was Si Pahit Lidah’s turn to show his supernatural power. But Si Pahit Lidah couldn’t avoid the falling palm midribs, and he died. Because of his pride, Si Pahit Lidah forgot that Si Mata Empat had extra eyes.)
Cerita: JFK Ilustrasi: JFK
