8/12/2019 Legends and Tales 1

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THE BIRD ZL TOPER

On Gorjance, in a hidden valley below, stood a magnificent beech, and a powerful oak in the middle

and above them stood a high and thin birch. The biggest wonder in the valley was the bird Zlatoper,

that made a nest on the high birch. The bird was called Zlatoper because he had a golden feather in

the right-wing. This feather was hiding a strange power. Whoever had written with it three requests,

they would come true. Many heroes tried to climb on the birch to take out this valuable bird's feather.

But nobody managed to climb to the nest. In the valley, there lived a man who knew many secrets, so

people went to him and asked him how they could come up with the golden feather. He told them,

that they could reach the bird's nest with a scythe and three saints. People did not understand those

words and thought that he was making a fool of them. It was also heard by Podgorec Mihec who

immediately guessed what to do. When he saw the odd tree and a white mist over it, he started

mowing and mowing, by day and by night until all the hay in the valley and above the valley was

mowed. He leaned the hay against the tree that ranged across the beech and the oak up to the birch.

He climbed the birch seven times but he always slipped. He always fell on a soft hay and so he was

never hurt. Then Mihec knelt and he said a prayer for the saints to protect Gorjanci. After the prayer

he began to climb for the eighth times and finally he climbed to the desired Zlatoper's nest. The bird

was waiting for him and Mihec could take out the feather. Mihec was happy, took the feather and

went home. From his own happiness he did not know what to do and so, without thinking, he wrote to

the emperor, who was the most powerful in the world,to give him his daughter to become his wife.

She was ugly, mischievous and poor. She squandered one of the two Mihec's farms, which he inherited

from his father. Then he picked up the golden feather and wrote another request to the emperor. He

asked the emperor to give his daughter an imperial dowry to be able to live luxuriously. The emperor

heard his request and sent his daughter's dowry. She paid all debts, but did not want to give Mihec

anything. She shouted and mocked him. Again he

picked up the golden feather in his hand andwrote his third request for the emperor. He asked

him to take his daughter back. The emperor

granted his request. From now on, Mihec was led

by common sense and he found another woman

who was beautiful, pleased, good. They lived

peacefully and happily ever after. Soon he moved

into the White Carniola took golden feather with

him, and looked after it at his full strength. He

showed and then gave it to his son and told him

to be smarter than he was, because the goldenfeather could bring him happiness or disaster. He

listened father's advice and gained a great

wealthgenerated. Even his children and

grandchildren were honest and clever.