CLASS 11 Chapter 6 The Tale of Melon City
In the city of which I sing There was a just and placid King. The King proclaimed an arch should be Constructed, that triumphally Would span the major thoroughfare To edify spectators there. The workmen went and built the thing. They did so since he was the King. The King rode down the thoroughfare To edify spectators there.
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| city | सिटी | शहर |
| sing | सिंग | गाना |
| just | जस्ट | न्यायसंगत |
| placid | प्लैसिड | शांत |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| arch | आर्च | आर्क |
| constructed | कन्स्ट्रक्टेड | निर्मित |
| triumphally | ट्राइम्फली | जीत के साथ |
| span | स्पैन | फैलाना |
| major | मेजर | प्रमुख |
| thoroughfare | थरोफेयर | मुख्य मार्ग |
| edify | एडीफाई | शिक्षा देना |
| spectators | स्पेक्टेटर्स | दर्शक |
| workmen | वर्कमेन | मजदूर |
| built | बिल्ट | बनाया |
| thing | थिंग | चीज़ |
| rode | रोड | सवारी करना |
| down | डाउन | नीचे |
Under the arch he lost his crown. The arch was built too low. A frown Appeared upon his placid face. The King said, ‘This is a disgrace. The chief of builders will be hanged.’ The rope and gallows were arranged. The chief of builders was led out. He passed the King. He gave a shout, ‘O King, it was the workmen’s fault’ ‘Oh!’ said the King, and called a halt
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| arch | आर्च | गुम्बद |
| lost | लॉस्ट | खो दिया |
| crown | क्राउन | मुकुट |
| built | बिल्ट | बनाया था |
| low | लो | कम |
| frown | फ्राउन | मुँह चिड़ाना |
| upon | अपॉन | पर |
| placid | प्लासिड | शांत |
| face | फेस | चेहरा |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| disgrace | डिस्ग्रेस | अपमान |
| chief | चीफ | मुखिया |
| builders | बिल्डर्स | निर्माता |
| hanged | हैंग्ड | फांसी लगाई |
| rope | रोप | रस्सी |
| gallows | गैलोज | फांसी |
| arranged | अरेंज्ड | व्यवस्थित |
| led | लेड | ले गया |
| passed | पास्ड | गुजर गया |
| gave | गेव | दिया |
| shout | शाउट | चिल्लाहट |
| workmen’s | वर्कमेन्स | मजदूरों का |
| fault | फॉल्ट | दोष |
| Oh! | ओह! | हाय |
| called | कॉल्ड | बुलाया |
| halt | हॉल्ट | रुको |
To the proceedings. Being just (And placider now) he said, ‘I must Have all the workmen hanged instead.’ The workmen looked surprised, and said, ‘O King, you do not realise The bricks were made of the wrong size.’ ‘Summon the masons!’ said the King. The masons stood there quivering. ‘It was the architect…’, they said, The architect was summoned.
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| proceedings | प्रोसीडिंग्स | प्रक्रिया |
| just | जस्ट | न्यायसंगत |
| placider | प्लैसिडर | शांततम |
| said | सेड | कहा |
| must | मस्ट | होना चाहिए |
| workmen | वर्कमेन | मजदूर |
| hanged | हैंग्ड | फांसी लगाई |
| instead | इंस्टेड | बजाय |
| looked | लुक्ड | देखा |
| surprised | सरप्राइज्ड | हैरान |
| realise | रियलाइज | समझना |
| bricks | ब्रिक्स | ईंट |
| wrong | रॉन्ग | गलत |
| size | साइज | आकार |
| Summon | समन | बुलाना |
| masons | मेसन्स | मजदूर |
| stood | स्टूड | खड़े रहे |
| quivering | क्विवरिंग | काँप रहे |
| architect | आर्किटेक्ट | वास्तुकार |
| summoned | समन्ड | बुलाया |
‘Well, architect,’ said His Majesty. ‘I do ordain that you shall be Hanged.’ Said the architect, ‘O King, You have forgotten one small thing. You made certain amendments to The plans when I showed them to you.’ The King heard this. The King saw red. In fact he nearly lost his head;
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| architect | आर्किटेक्ट | वास्तुकार |
| His Majesty | हिस मेजेस्टी | उनका महाराज |
| ordain | ऑरडेन | नियमित करना |
| hanged | हैंग्ड | फांसी लगाई |
| said | सेड | कहा |
| O | ओ | हे |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| forgotten | फॉरगॉटन | भूल गया |
| one | वन | एक |
| small | स्मॉल | छोटा |
| thing | थिंग | चीज़ |
| made | मेड | बनाया |
| certain | सर्टेन | निश्चित |
| amendments | अमेंडमेंट्स | संशोधन |
| plans | प्लांस | योजना |
| showed | शोड | दिखाया |
| heard | हर्ड | सुना |
| saw | सॉ | देखा |
| red | रेड | लाल |
| fact | फैक्ट | तथ्य |
| nearly | नियर्ली | लगभग |
| lost | लॉस्ट | खो दिया |
| head | हेड | सिर |
But being a just and placid King He said, ‘This is a tricky thing. I need some counsel. Bring to me The wisest man in this country.’ The wisest man was found and brought, Nay, carried, to the Royal Court.
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| just | जस्ट | न्यायसंगत |
| placid | प्लैसिड | शांततम |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| tricky | ट्रिकी | चालाक |
| thing | थिंग | चीज़ |
| need | नीड | आवश्यकता |
| counsel | काउंसल | सलाह |
| Bring | ब्रिंग | लाओ |
| wisest | वाइसेस्ट | सबसे बुद्धिमान |
| man | मैन | आदमी |
| country | कंट्री | देश |
| found | फाउंड | मिला |
| brought | ब्रॉट | लाया गया |
| Nay | ने | नहीं |
| carried | कैरीड | ले जाया गया |
| Royal | रॉयल | शाही |
| Court | कोर्ट | अदालत |
He could not walk and could not see, So old (and therefore wise) was he — But in a quavering1 voice he said, ‘The culprit must be punished. Truly, the arch it was that banged The crown off, and it must be hanged’. To the scaffold2 the arch was led When suddenly a Councillor said
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| walk | वॉक | चलना |
| see | सी | देखना |
| old | ओल्ड | पुराना |
| wise | वाइज | बुद्धिमान |
| voice | वॉयस | आवाज़ |
| said | सेड | कहा |
| culprit | क्रुपलिट | दोषी |
| punished | पनिश्ड | सज़ा दी |
| truly | ट्रूली | सचमुच |
| arch | आर्च | गुम्बद |
| banged | बैंग्ड | चढ़ाई |
| crown | क्राउन | मुकुट |
| hanged | हैंग्ड | फांसी लगाई |
| scaffold | स्कैफोल्ड | फांसी की ताक |
| led | लेड | ले गया |
| suddenly | सड़क्ली | अचानक |
| Councillor | कौंसिलर | सलाहकार |
| said | सेड | कहा |
How can we hang so shamefully What touched your head, Your Majesty?’ ‘True,’ mused the King. By now the crowd, Restless, was muttering aloud. The King perceived their mood and trembled And said to all who were assembled — ‘Let us postpone consideration Of finer points like guilt. The nation Wants a hanging.
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| hang | हैंग | फांसी लगाना |
| shamefully | शेमफुल्ली | लज्जाजनकता से |
| touched | टच्ड | छू गया |
| head | हेड | सिर |
| True | ट्रू | सच |
| mused | म्यूज्ड | विचार किया |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| crowd | क्राउड | भीड़ |
| Restless | रेस्टलेस | अशांत |
| muttering | मटरिंग | शिकायत कर रहा |
| aloud | अलाउड | बाहर |
| perceived | पर्सीव्ड | पता चला |
| mood | मूड | मनोभाव |
| trembled | ट्रेम्बल्ड | कांप गया |
| said | सेड | कहा |
| assembled | असेंबल्ड | इकट्ठा हुए |
| postpone | पोस्टपोन | स्थगित करें |
| consideration | कंसिडरेशन | विचार |
| finer | फाइनर | उत्कृष्ट |
| points | पॉइंट्स | बिंदु |
| guilt | गिल्ट | अपराध |
| nation | नेशन | राष्ट्र |
| wants | वांट्स | चाहता है |
| hanging | हैंगिंग | फांसी चाहिए |
Hanged must be Someone, and that immediately.’ The noose was set up somewhat high. Each man was measured by and by. But only one man was so tall He fitted. One man. That was all. He was the King. His Majesty Was therefore hanged by Royal Decree
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| hanged | हैंग्ड | फांसी लगाई |
| Someone | समवन | कोई |
| immediately | इमीडिएट्ली | तत्कालता से |
| noose | नूस | फांसी का फंदा |
| set | सेट | सेट किया |
| up | अप | ऊपर |
| somewhat | समवन्त | कुछ |
| high | हाई | ऊँचा |
| Each | ईच | हर एक |
| man | मैन | आदमी |
| measured | मेजर्ड | मापा गया |
| by | बाय | द्वारा |
| only | ओन्ली | केवल |
| tall | टॉल | लंबा |
| fitted | फिटेड | मेल खाता |
| all | आल | सब |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| His Majesty | हिस मेजेस्टी | उनका महाराज |
| therefore | थेरफोर | इसलिए |
| Royal | रॉयल | शाही |
| Decree | डिक्री | आदेश |
Thank Goodness we found someone,’ said The Ministers, ‘for if instead We had not, the unruly town Might well have turned against the Crown.’ ‘Long live the King!’ the Ministers said. ‘Long live the King! The King is dead.’ They pondered the dilemma; then,
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| found | फाउंड | मिला |
| someone | समवन | कोई |
| said | सेड | कहा |
| Ministers | मिनिस्टर्स | मंत्रियों |
| unruly | अनरुली | अनियंत्रित |
| town | टाउन | शहर |
| turned | टर्न्ड | मुड़ गया |
| against | अगेंस्ट | खिलाफ |
| Crown | क्राउन | ताज |
| Long | लॉंग | लंबा |
| live | लाइव | जीवित रहो |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| Ministers | मिनिस्टर्स | मंत्रियों |
| pondered | पांडर्ड | विचार किया |
| dilemma | डिलेमा | दुविधा |
| then | थेन | फिर |
Being practical-minded men, Sent out the heralds to proclaim (In His [former] Majesty’s name): ‘The next to pass the City Gate Will choose the ruler of our state, As is our custom. This will be Enforced with due ceremony.’ A man passed by the City Gate. An idiot.
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| practical-minded | प्रैक्टिकल-माइंडेड | व्यावहारिक बुद्धिमान |
| men | मेन | लोग |
| Sent | सेंट | भेजा |
| heralds | हेरल्ड्स | सूचक |
| proclaim | प्रोक्लेम | घोषणा करें |
| Majesty | मजेस्टी | महाराज्य |
| name | नेम | नाम |
| next | नेक्स्ट | अगला |
| pass | पास | पार करें |
| City | सिटी | शहर |
| Gate | गेट | द्वार |
| choose | चूज़ | चुनें |
| ruler | रूलर | शासक |
| state | स्टेट | राज्य |
| custom | कस्टम | रीति |
| Enforced | एनफोर्स्ड | प्रवर्तित |
| due | ड्यू | योग्य |
| ceremony | सेरेमनी | समारोह |
| man | मैन | आदमी |
| passed | पास्ड | गुज़र गया |
| City | सिटी | शहर |
| Gate | गेट | द्वार |
| idiot | इडियट | मूर्ख |
The guards cried, ‘Wait! Who is to be the King? Decide!’ ‘A melon,’ the idiot replied. This was his standard answer to All questions. (He liked melons.) ‘You Are now our King,’ the Ministers said, Crowning a melon. Then they led (Carried) the Melon to the throne And reverently set it down.
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| guards | गार्ड्स | गार्ड |
| cried | क्राइड | चिल्लाया |
| Wait | वेट | रुको |
| King | किंग | राजा |
| Decide | डिसाइड | निर्णय करें |
| melon | मेलन | तरबूज |
| idiot | इडियट | मूर्ख |
| replied | रिप्लाइड | जवाब दिया |
| standard | स्टैंडर्ड | मानक |
| answer | आंसर | उत्तर |
| questions | क्वेश्चंस | प्रश्न |
| liked | लाइक्ड | पसंद थी |
| led | लेड | ले गए |
| Carried | कैरीड | ले जाया गया |
| Melon | मेलन | तरबूज |
| throne | थ्रोन | गद्दी |
| reverently | रेवरेंटली | सम्मानपूर्वक |
| set | सेट | रखा |
| down | डाउन | नीचे |
This happened years and years ago. When now you ask the people, ‘So — Your King appears to be a melon. How did this happen?’, they say, ‘Well, on Account of customary choice. If His Majesty rejoice In being a melon, that’s OK With us, for who are we to say What he should be as long as he Leaves us in Peace and Liberty?’ The principles of laissez faire Seem to be well-established there.
| English Word | Pronunciation (Hindi) | Hindi Meaning |
| happened | हैपेन्ड | हुआ |
| years | यीयर्स | साल |
| ago | अगो | पहले |
| ask | आस्क | पूछें |
| people | पीपल | लोग |
| appears | अपियर्स | प्रकट होता है |
| melon | मेलन | तरबूज |
| happen | हैपन | होना |
| Account | अकाउंट | खाता |
| customary | कस्टमरी | रिवाजी |
| choice | चॉइस | चुनाव |
| Majesty | मजेस्टी | महाराज्य |
| rejoice | रिजॉइस | आनंदित होना |
| melon | मेलन | तरबूज |
| OK | ओके | ठीक है |
| Peace | पीस | शांति |
| Liberty | लिबर्टी | स्वतंत्रता |
| principles | प्रिंसिपल्स | सिद्धांत |
| laissez faire | लैसेज़ फेयर | स्वाधीनता और स्वतंत्रता |
| well-established | वेल-एस्टाब्लिश्ड | मान्यता प्राप्त |