‘The Grapes and the Storks Legend ‘An old legend says that once upon a time Tatars invaded the country, robbing and ravishing everything on their way. The Moldovan fighters, being less in number, retreated to a fortress. The Tatars surrounded the for- tress and tried to destroy it. The Moldovans put up a firm resistance. The Khan then said, “Let them die of hunger; then they will surrender. Soon the defenders of the fortress ran out of food and water, and people began dying of hunger and thirst ‘The fortress would have fallen if some storks living in this place had not heard of the misfortune. ‘The storks, gathered and discussed how to help the Moldovans, An old stork said, “Let’s bring some grape clusters into the fortress”. Soon all the storks began earrying grape clus- tets into the fortress, The fighters helped themselves to the grapes, recovered their strength, and chased the ‘Tatars from the country. Since then the Moldovans have been very fond of a stork carrying a large cluster of grapes. This symbol is used on botiles of wine as an emblem, How Moldova Got Its Name Legend A Tong time ago a youn, Dragos descended from the mountains to go hunting He was travelling with his men when they su a wild bul (aimbra) and chased after it. They followed it fora while until the horses and their riders were exhausted, Soon they arrived in a new and unfamiliar place, a benutiful land with thick forests and many meadows through w' flowed a river. When they arrived at the river, Dragos’s favourite dog, Molda, attacked the wild bull, The strong bull threw Molda into the river and the dog drowned ‘Then Dragos and his men killed the bull wth arrows and cut off its head, Since that time, a bull’s head has been a symbol on the Moldovan flag. The river was named Moldova and the land around it was called Roman, refeering to Dragos’s family roots. Eventually, Dragos’s people descended from the mountains and settled on that excellent land, ‘The Sweet Basil Legend Once upon a time there was a very nice girl. One day, it so happened that the young girl died leaving a arieving lover afier her. That year was very dry, and because oft, all the flowers faded away, The young man went to the grave every day. Tears and tears were shed ‘on the grave AC the girl's head began to grow a flower, which being watered by his tears every day, grew very high and gave off a charming scent. Since then the flower ‘was famed sweet basil after the boy's name, There is custom in Moldova to keep sweet basil in the house. ‘This flower is considered to be a holy one. That's why all the priests use it for sanctification and baptismal. Is, important to know that Moldovans do not use sweet basil in food preparation, The Mouth of Paradise (Legend) AA tong time ago God decided 10 divide the land among the many people onthe earth. He called all the nations topcther and all arived on time, except the Moldovans who had been working late in the fields. By the time they did arrives al the land ha been distributed and there was not one hectare left for the Moldovans, God felt bad about this and he gave them a piece of heaven, so that they should live in peace. That is why Moldova called the “mouth of pari My husband - yes - of course, I'l speak. Hullo, Henry, what is if? Did you hear about - what are you say: ing - my two erooks arrested - my two - why do you cal them my two? Mr.Yahi-Bahi and Mr. Spudd! But Henry, they are not erooks - they're Parsees! Mr. Ram Spud is @ Bengalee and is one of the most soul men, He I've ever seen. Just to hear him talk lifts one up tual. What are you laughing at? You say I should have heard him talk today? - What do you mean? -he's not a Bengalee, you say, he’s just coloured and Mr. Yahi ~ is Irish - well, what's the laugh? - What did Ram Spud say? He said that! Just you repeat that, Henry, - Ram Spudd said they nearly caught the old hen! Meaning me! me! An. ‘old hen! Well, he’s dirty little sheep and I hope ~ he gets what do you say - he'll get five years? I hope so! - but not, poor Mr. Yahi; he’s all Irish - oh, he laughed too! What! aan old hen - “Thope he gets ten.” 140abide awake be bear beat become begin bend bet bid bind bite bleed bless blow break breed bring Dbroadeast build burn burst buy ‘east catch choose cling, come cost ‘excep, cut deal dig dive do draw ‘dream drink drive ‘dwell eat fall feed feel fight nd fit flee fling fly forbid forecast foresee forget forgive forsake freeze LIST OF IRREGULAR VERBS abidediabode awoke/awaked ‘wasiwere bore beat became began bent bet/betted (BrE.) bid/bade bound bit bled blessediblest blew broke bred brought broadcast built burnt/burned burst bought cast caught ‘chose clung. came cost crept cut dealt dug divedidove id drew dreamed/dreamt drank drove dwelt/dwelled ate fell fed felt fought found fivfitted (Br.E.) fled flung flew forbade/forbad forecast foresaw forgot forgave forsook froze aided awoken been borneybor Deatenibes become begun bent betbetted (Br-E.) bidbidden bound bitten bled Diessediblest blown broken bred brought broadcast ult burnyburned burst bought cast caught chosen clung cost crept cut dealt dug dived done drawn