فارسی / A2

شتر ارزان و گربهٔ گران

Short story

مردی شترش را گم کرد و قسم خورد: «اگر شترم را پیدا کنم، آن را به یک سکه می‌فروشم.»

شتر را پیدا کرد، اما از قولش پشیمان شد. گربه‌ای را به گردن شتر آویزان کرد و با صدای بلند گفت: «چه کسی شتر را به یک سکه و گربه را به صد سکه می‌خرد؟ این دو را فقط با هم می‌فروشم!»

مردی از آنجا گذشت و گفت: «اگر این گربه به گردن شتر نبود، شتر خیلی ارزان بود!»


English summary · includes the ending

A man loses his camel and swears that, if he finds it, he will sell it for just one coin. When he gets the animal back, he regrets making such a promise. He then hangs a cat from the camel's neck and announces an unusual offer.

The camel costs one coin, but the cat costs a hundred. He refuses to sell either animal separately: anyone who wants the cheap camel must also buy the expensive cat. The announced price of the camel still matches the man's oath, while the condition makes the whole purchase much more expensive.

A passer-by remarks that the camel would be very cheap without the creature hanging from its neck. That comment exposes the trick behind the offer. The anecdote ends with the observation; it does not say that anyone buys the animals or that the seller changes his conditions.

Adapted for Lejrbål from the credited source.
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