L-Għasfur li jgħanni
Framed mixed medium on wood
Created by Mark Mallia & Farrell
Size: 40cm x 40cm
The Singing Bird
There was a very beautiful poor girl who worked at the king’s palace. She used to cover her face with ashes so that nobody would recognise her. One day an invitation arrived at the palace. A nobleman was organising a feast that would last for days. Since the girl knew that the prince was invited, she wanted to go too. She had three magic nuts that her father had given her before passing away. For three days she broke a nut, out of which came a beautiful dress and a horse driven carriage. She rode to the nobleman’s palace and danced with the prince. But on the fouth day, the girl did not have a new dress, so she did not go. The prince waited in vain and seeing him heartbroken, the queen looked for the mysterious girl. Seeing this the poor girl revealed herself. The prince married the girl and they had three children; two boys and a girl. But the queen was disappointed and when her son was away, she locked up his wife and sent his children to look for the Singing Bird, knowing that they would fail and perish. But the youngest, who was a brave wise girl, managed to find the bird together with an enchanted cane that granted all wishes. The girl wished for a silver and gold palace where she and her brothers lived until their father found them. They freed their mother, and the whole family reunited. And they lived happily ever after, entertained by the voice of the Singing Bird.
L-Għasfur li jgħanni
Darba kien hemm tfajla sabiħa li kienet taħdem il-palazz tas sultan. Biex ħadd ma jagħrafha, kienet tiżbogħ wiċċha bl irmied. Darba wieħed nobbli ħejja ballu fuq ġimgħa sħiha. Peress li l-prinċep kien mistieden ukoll, it-tfajla xtaqet tmur. Għal tlett ijiem, kissret lewż imsaħħar li kien taha missierha u minhom kienu joħorgu libsa sabiħa u karozzin li kien iwassalha sal-ballu.Wara t-tielet jum, ma kellhiex aktar xi żżanżan u għalhekk ma marritx il-ballu. Kemm fittixha l prinċep u kemm sewwed qalbu meta ma sabhiex! Meta rat hekk, it-tfajla ddeċidiet li tgħidlu l-verita kollha, u l-prinċep iżżewwiġha, kontra r-rieda t’ommu. Kellhom tlitt itfal; żewġ subien, u tifla. Iżda meta darba l-priċep kien fuq żjara f’art oħra, ommu sakkret lil martu u bagħtet lil uliedu jfittxu l Għasfur li jgħanni. Kienet taf li kulmin mar ifittex dan l għasfur imsaħħar qatt ma ġie lura. Iżda ż-żgħira, li kienet qalbiena u makakka, irnexxilha tagħmlu tagħha. Mhux l għasfur biss, imma saħansitra bastun imsaħħar li kien jaqta x-xewqat kollha ta’ sidu. It-tifla xtaqet palazz tal-fidda u d deheb, u hemm għexet ma’ ħutha sakemm fl-aħħar sabhom missierhom. X’ħin sema bl-istorja kollha, il-prinċep ħeles lil martu, u l-familja kollha għexet kuntenta sal-aħħar, bl-għana tal-għasfur imsaħħar.
