In one village, in a little house near a flowing river, two roosters lived in the yard. Every day in the chicken coop, which was also home to laying hens and little chicks, it was very noisy because these two roosters were constantly picking fights and quarrelling with each other.
And they quarrelled and fought over trifles and insignificant details: one looked sideways and unfriendly, the other crowed at the wrong time.
Well, why are you always picking on each other? Such a beautiful sunny day, and you're at it again…
Asked the piglet, poking his snout out of the mud puddle where he'd been lounging since early morning.
Not far away in the barn stood a cow, peacefully chewing her grass.
She slowly raised her head and, drawing out her words, slowly said:
Moo-oo-oo, Moo-oo-oo! What troublemakers, what rascals! Why can't they live quietly and peacefully?
And she continued to chew her grass steadily.
One day the roosters quarrelled so loudly and for so long that all the inhabitants of the yard were forced to gather at the sound.
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Everyone come, please judge between us. We'll never be able to sort this out ourselves!
The roosters crowed with all their might.
And so, the important geese gathered, the restless hens, the leisurely pigs also left their favourite mud puddles and came to the centre of the yard. All the animals left their business and surrounded the feisty roosters.
The rivals stopped for a moment, moved slightly apart from each other, put their wings on their hips and asked their yard neighbours:
Judge us! Which of us is the most handsome and most distinguished? Tell us, only tell the truth, hiding nothing and embellishing nothing. Who has the brightest feathers? Who has the longest and fluffiest tail? Who has the most melodious voice?
The animals and birds fell silent, pondering how to properly answer the roosters' questions, how to judge them. Both fine fellows were very handsome, both sang merrily and clearly… One more beautiful than the other, yes indeed — hard to choose. The animals thought for a long time, deliberated, argued and, in the end, sent a negotiator to the quarrelling roosters.
A cat walked out to the middle of the farmyard.
The purring fellow fluffed up his tail, smoothed his whiskers, which he was secretly very proud of, meowed softly and spoke:
We've been thinking and thinking here, and here's what we've decided… You're both handsome roosters, picture-perfect. Everyone around knows that better roosters than ours can't be found in any yard in the whole village, even in the entire district.
How can that be?! Does that mean my feathers are just as bright, long and beautiful as my rival's?
One of the roosters ruffled his feathers.
Then the second braggart troublemaker rattled his spurs, scratched the ground with his claws and said:
But does he sing as loudly, clearly and beautifully as I do? Well then, watch out!!
And both roosters started fighting again. Dust rose in a column, beautiful feathers flew in all directions, the whole yard was full of noise.
And when the huge cloud of dust settled, fell to the ground, all the inhabitants of the poultry yard rubbed their eyes, shook off the thick layer of dust and dirt that appeared after the roosters' battle, and saw a pitiful sight.
Both rivals stood dirty, with rubbish in their wings, with plucked feathers, dishevelled tails. Torn combs hung to one side, legs scratched bloody, the fighters' breathing couldn't recover.
From exhaustion both roosters plopped into a puddle, so weak they couldn't even talk, let alone crow and sort out their rights. Their voices were hoarse from loud cries, only painful hissing came from their beaks.
Then an important goose came forward and said:
What have you done, you unsuccessful fighters? Oh you troublemakers, show-offs, braggarts… Now each of you look at yourself, and then at each other. And which of you is better now, more handsome, brighter and more melodious?
The quarrelsome roosters couldn't say anything in their defence.
Since then, in the poultry yard, and indeed in the whole village, it became quieter and more peaceful. The roosters no longer quarrelled, no longer boasted to each other, but lived together in friendship and peace.
And in the mornings, taking turns, they preened their bright feathers and sang out their clear and melodious:
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
