Russian Folktales quotes

a transparency came over the silver; and, on the saucer, all the cities, one after the other, became visible, all the ships on the seas, and the regiments in the fields, and the heights of the mountains, and the beauties of the sky.

Sunset appeared after sunset and the stars gathered in their nocturnal dances: it was all so beautiful and so lovely as no tale can tell and no pen can write.

Then the sisters looked on and they became envious and wanted to take the saucer away from their sister, but she would not exchange her saucer for anything else in the world. So the evil sisters walked about, called out and began to talk.

“It has all been forgotten, my beloved sisters,” she said to them; “ye are my kin, ye are not strangers.

He who bears in mind an ill bygone has lost his sight.

” And as she said this, she smiled and raised her sisters up.

But the younger son smote his mare with the back of his hand and said, “You are a mare; now become a maiden!” So the mare turned into the fair Tsarévna. They made peace, became friends and wedded. It was a magnificent wedding.

I was there, I drank mead and it flowed up to my beard, but none came into my mouth.

if ye were good champions, ye would have gone with him into the open field and have slain him in fair fight. But ye have slain him in his sleep, and how shall ye receive praise?

Is not a man asleep as one dead?

”

Then the grey Wolf sprinkled Iván Tsarévich with the water of Death, and his body clove together; and he sprinkled him then with the water of Life, and Iván Tsarévich stood up alive and said: “

Oh, what a long sleep I have had!

”

Vasilísa at once fetched her doll, who ate, and said as she had the day before: “

Pray and lie down to sleep, for the morning is wiser than the evening.

Everything shall be done, Vasilísushka.”

The Vixen then was left as the last person in the pit.

Did she climb up, or is she there still? I don’t know, really!

“Well, woman,” the Saviour said, “have no fear—we shall all be satisfied. Give us all you have. We will eat the crust.

Everything, woman, comes of God.

”

What could the husband do?

Husbands must obey, and so off he drove.

In the meantime, the smith had returned home and went to the smithy. He went, and there was no sign of his man. He looked for him everywhere, asked everybody, questioned them, but it was no good, and all trace had vanished.

The wedding of the King’s son was very jolly, and all the inns and all the beer-houses were opened for an entire week, for everybody, without any charge.

I was there. I drank honey and mead, which came up to my moustache, but never entered my mouth.

Then the soldier said to the Tsar, “

God guards him who guards himself; let one of us rest and the other stand guard.

” So they cast lots, and the Tsar had to take the first watch. Then the soldier gave him his sharp cutlass, put him at the door, bade him not go to sleep, and arouse him if anything should happen.

So they burst on the boat, found Iván, and tore him into tiny bits.

Then the wolves wept cows’ tears.

“Yes, my lord.

Do not fear a man who sings songs; but fear a man who slumbers!

”

“

The evil neighbour can be escaped; so can the evil wife if one has children enough, but the weak intellect can never be got rid of.

”

And Iván Tsarévich answered her: “

Doughty youths do not go perforce.

”

“

Well, let him; still we shall have one or two hours together.

”

“

Let him tear me to bits; I cannot live without you.

”

Then the little devil begged him and cried in his ear: “Do let me go, peasant. Your wife has been torturing and oppressing us.

Tell me what to do: I will be your faithful servant.

I will this very instant run into the boyárs’ palace; I will in an instant cook the grill; by day and night I will knock and drive away the boyárs. You are to declare yourself a doctor to go and to call on me.

So the doctor received honour and praise, and earned a mine of money.

But it is said, not untruly, that, even in Paradise, it is sad to live alone.

For the good youth grew melancholy, and he again went to seek his squint-eyed wife. So he let down the basket right away into the pit. There the woman was sitting, and he hauled her to the top.

and they went to them all, but they could not find him. But Ványa looked on and smiled, and waited until his bride came to him. For he said, “

I won her like a knight; now she is to love me in my kaftán.

”

“Look here, just let go; I’ll show you.” She went and lay down on the shovel in the right fashion.

But, although Chufíl-Fílyushka was small, he was no fool!

He stuffed her at once into the oven, and shut the oven door with a bang.

Then Fílyushka cried out from the rafters: “

Roll away, mother, and stand on your daughter’s little bones!

”

And the eagle shook the Tsar off into the middle of the sea, and the Tsar was wetted up to his waist, but the eagle supported him by his wing and asked him, “

Why, Tsar my master, why are you frightened?

”

“

Now, Tsar my master, you have learned the fear of death.

All this shall be for you in the past, and shall be an old tale. You may recollect how I was sitting on the oak and you wished to kill me.

“

Well, this is what the poor have to endure. Yet you would not give me alms on Easter Day.

” Then the poor man said:

Then the King came out, kissed him, and decided to give him the fair princess to wife.

It was a gorgeous wedding. I was there at the wedding. I drank mead and wine: it flowed up to my whiskers, but it never entered my mouth.

The rich man settled in the town, built himself a fine house, and became a merchant. Sometimes the poor brother had not a crumb of bread and the children (each of whom was smaller than the others) cried and begged for something to eat.

From morning to evening the peasant trudged away like a fish on ice, but it was all of no good.

One day he said to his wife: “I am going into the town, in order to beg my brother to help me.”

“Oh, you fool, the others sing, for they have had a good dinner and have drunk well. Why should we sing?”

“Well, after all, I was a guest at my brother’s name-day, and I am ashamed of going back so silently. If I sing they will all think, anyhow, that I have been served as well.”

“Sing if you will! I shall not!”

“Oh no, please, grandfather,” said the grandson,

“I have lost the soldier’s soul, but I have gained two others.”

“Look: the soldier thought of marrying a Tsarévna; the two elder daughters both declined and said they would rather marry a devil than the soldier. So there they are, and they belong to us.”

One day St. Peter and Christ were out walking together. St. Peter was deep in thought and suddenly said:

“How fine it must be to be God! If for half a day I might be God, then let me be Peter all the rest of my days!”

The Lord smiled. “Your will shall be granted. Be God until nightfall.”

“Peter, you have heard her,” said the Saviour. “I should have been delighted to go with you to the village feast, but then the geese might come to some harm. You are God until nightfall, and must stay and watch them.”

Poor Peter! He was angry; but had to stay and guard the geese. He never again wished to be God.

“I could not make out why you stopped to listen to folksongs and passed by the house where hymns were being sung.”

“Oh, my dear son,” said Christ, “there was a good scent there in the one house where folksongs were being sung; but there was no reverence about the house where they were chanting hymns.”