The Monkey, the Sea Turtle and the Fig Tree (from Kalila wa Dimna)

The book of Kalila and Dimna tells that a monkey named Maher was king of a troop of monkeys. When he grew old, a strong young monkey came and took his place, so Maher left sadly and traveled until he reached the seashore. There he found a big fig tree whose branches stretched out over the water and whose purple fruits were sweet and delicious. He made his home in it, eating its figs and gazing at the wide blue sea.

In the first days, Maher was sad and lonely. He remembered his days with his troop and wondered, "Have my friends forgotten me?" But over time he began to love his new home. He woke to the sound of the waves, watched the sun rise over the water, ate fresh figs, and played with the seagulls that perched on his branches. He told himself, "Perhaps I lost my kingdom, but I have found peace."

One day, while Maher was eating figs, some of the fruit fell into the water. Up came the head of a turtle, a big sea turtle, who ate the figs and said, "How delicious these figs are!" The monkey laughed and threw him more fruit. "Welcome, neighbor. Eat as much as you like." The turtle thanked him, and a long conversation began between them.

The turtle was very big, with a green shell covered in beautiful patterns and a head that rose slowly and gravely out of the water. He lived on a small island not far away with his wife and family, and every day he swam long distances looking for food.

From that day on, the turtle came to the tree every day. The monkey threw him figs, and they talked for a long time. The turtle told of the wonders of the sea: colorful fish, coral reefs, and deep caves. The monkey told of forests and mountains and the days when he was a king. They became close friends, and not a day passed without their meeting.

Maher taught the turtle how to tell a ripe fig by its color and smell, and the turtle taught Maher the names of the fish, the shapes of the waves, and when the tide came in and went out. On stormy days, the turtle came to check on his friend, and the monkey covered the figs with leaves to keep them for him. Once the turtle said, "Maher, I never knew there was such a loyal friend on land as you."

But the turtle was often late coming home, and his wife grew sad and jealous of this friend who took up all her husband's time. She talked to her neighbor, and the neighbor told her, "If you want your husband to stay home, pretend to be ill and say the doctor told you the only cure is a monkey's heart. If he can't get one, he'll leave his friend and stay with you."

When the turtle came home, he found his wife lying down, pretending to be ill. The neighbor told him, "Your wife is very ill, and her only cure is a monkey's heart." The turtle was terribly sad and didn't know what to do. He loved his wife and wanted her to get well, but he loved his friend too. After thinking for a long time, his fear for his wife won, and he decided to bring the monkey.

That night, the turtle couldn't sleep. He swam back and forth near his home, saying to himself, "How can I betray a friend who has only ever been good to me? But how can I leave my wife ill?" He didn't think of making sure his wife was really ill, or asking another doctor, or telling his friend honestly. Fear had clouded his thinking.

The turtle went to the tree, and the monkey greeted him happily. "Where have you been, my friend? I missed you!" The turtle said, "My friend, you've been so generous to me, and I want to repay your kindness. Come with me to my home on the island so I can introduce you to my family and serve you the finest food of the sea. Climb on my back, and I'll carry you safely."

The monkey was delighted with the invitation. He climbed down from the tree and got onto the turtle's back, and the turtle swam with him away from the shore. But the farther they went, the quieter and sadder the turtle became, sometimes stopping and sighing. The monkey felt that something strange was going on, and he asked, "What's the matter, my friend? Why are you sad?"

At first the monkey had enjoyed the trip, seeing the colorful fish under the water and the sun sparkling on the waves. "How beautiful the sea is, my friend!" he said. "I never imagined it was this lovely!" But the turtle answered with only a few words, his head hanging low, as if he were carrying a heavy load on his back rather than a small monkey.

The turtle couldn't keep the secret, and he said, "My friend, my wife is ill, and the doctor said her cure is a monkey's heart." The monkey trembled with fear. He was in the middle of the sea; he couldn't swim, and he couldn't escape. But he told himself, "Fear won't help me now. What will help me is my mind and staying calm."

So the monkey said in a calm voice, "My friend, why didn't you tell me before? If you'd told me while I was in the tree, I would have brought my heart with me! When we monkeys go visiting, we leave our hearts hanging on the tree so they won't get tired. Take me back to the tree so I can get it, and then we'll go together to your wife."

The monkey said this in a calm voice, trying to hide his fear. His heart was pounding, but he knew that panic wouldn't help him and that a calm, clever word was his only ship back to shore. He looked at the faraway shore and his little tree there, and he hoped the turtle would believe him.

The turtle believed the monkey's words and was glad he wouldn't have to lose his friend, so he hurried back with him to the shore. As soon as they came near the tree, the monkey leapt quickly to its highest branch and sat there safely. The turtle waited a little, then called, "My friend, did you find your heart? Let's go!"

The monkey looked down at him and said sadly, "Turtle, can anyone live without a heart? I deceived you to save myself, just as you meant to trick me. I thought you were my loyal friend, but you chose trickery over loyalty. A friend who betrays you once is hard to trust again." The turtle felt deeply ashamed and lowered his head.

The turtle went home full of regret and found his wife perfectly well. She confessed that she had pretended to be ill because she felt lonely. He was even sadder, because he had lost a loyal friend because of a lie. From that day on, he spent more time with his wife, and together they learned to speak honestly about their feelings instead of using tricks. As for the monkey, he stayed in his tree eating figs and remembered what had happened with wisdom.

A few days later, the turtle came to the tree and stood under it, ashamed. "Maher," he said, "I've come to apologize. I made a big mistake. I'm not asking you to trust me as you did before, but I want you to know that I'm sorry." The monkey looked at him for a long time, then said, "I accept your apology, Turtle. Admitting a mistake takes courage. But trust is like glass: when it breaks, it takes a long time to mend." And he threw him a single fig. The turtle smiled and understood.

This fable from Kalila and Dimna teaches us that loyalty is the foundation of friendship, and that betrayal destroys trust, even after a long time. It also teaches us that staying calm and thinking quickly in times of danger can save us, and that speaking honestly about our feelings is better than tricks that hurt others.