“Seh-Ong Ji Ma”
(Seh-Ong’s Wise Horse)
There was a farmer named Seh-Ong that had a beautiful and strong horse. The neighbors complimented, “You are so lucky to have such a beautiful and strong horse.”
The farmer replied, “We’ll see.”
Days later, the horse ran away from the farm and could not be found. The neighbors wailed, “You are so unlucky to have lost such a beautiful and strong horse.”
The farmer replied, “We’ll see.”
Days later, the farmer’s horse returned, but had brought back seven other wild horses that were equally beautiful and strong. The neighbors complimented, “You are so lucky to have so many beautiful and strong horses.”
The farmer replied, “We’ll see.”
Days later, the farmer’s son was attempting to train one of the wild horses, fell off the horse, and broke his leg. The neighbors wailed, “You are so unlucky to have your son break his leg.”
The farmer replied, “We’ll see.”
Days later, the king’s army came through to take all the able-bodied young men for war. The neighbors complimented, “You are so lucky to have your son spared from the war.”
The farmer replied, “We’ll see.”