The Tsar and the Angel · page 21 2101The same evening that priest came to him and said, "Do thy will, O Tsar, and strike off my head, for I cannot blot out one word of Holy Scripture."--And the Tsar said to him, "Glory be to God, for now I know that there is at least one priest in my tsardom who stands firm for God's Word.102I'll make thee the highest bishop in this realm."103The priest thanked him, bowed down to the earth, and departed marvelling. "104What is this wonder?" thought he, "that the haughty Tsar should have become so just and gentle."--But all men marvelled at the change that had come over the Tsar.105He was now so mild and gracious, nor did he spend all his days in the forest, but went about inquiring of his people if any were wronged or injured by their neighbours, and if justice were done.106He took count of all, and rebuked the unjust judges, and saw that every man had his rights.107And the people now rejoiced as much as they had grieved heretofore, and justice was done in all the tribunals, and no bribes were taken.108WRONGED]109But the Tsar, the real Tsar, grew more and more wretched.110Then, after three years, a ukase went forth that on such and such a day all the people were to come together to a great banquet given by the Tsar, all were to be there, both rich and poor, both high and lowly.111And all the people came, and the unhappy Tsar came too.112And so many long tables were set out in the Tsar's courtyard that all the people praised God when they saw the glad sight.checked by a teacher113And they all sat down at table and ate and drank, and the Tsar himself and his courtiers distributed the meat and drink to the guests as much as they would, but to the unfortunate Tsar they gave a double portion of everything.114And they all ate and drank their fill, and then the Tsar began to inquire of the people whether any had suffered wrong or had not had justice done him.115And when the people began to disperse, the Tsar stood at the gate with a bag of money, and gave to every one a _grivna_,[21] but to the unhappy Tsar he gave three.116[21] About twopence-halfpenny.117And after three years the Tsar gave another banquet, and again entertained all the people.118And when he had given them both to eat and to drink as much as they would, he inquired of them what was being done in his tsardom, and again gave a _grivna_ to each one of them; but to the unlucky Tsar he gave a double portion of meat and drink and three _grivni_.119And again, after three years, he made yet another banquet, and proclaimed that all should come, both rich and poor, both earls and churls.120And all the people came and ate and drank and bowed low before the Tsar and thanked him, and made ready to depart.121The unlucky Tsar was also on the point of going, when the angel Tsar stopped him, and took him aside into the palace, and said to him, "Lo!122God hath tried thee and chastised thy pride these ten years.123But me He sent to teach thee that a Tsar must have regard to the complaints of his people.124So thou wast made poor and a vagabond on the face of the earth that thou mightst pick up wisdom, if but a little.125Look now, that thou doest good to thy people, and judgest righteous judgment, as from henceforth thou shalt be Tsar again, but I must fly back to God in heaven."--And when he had said this he bade them wash and shave him (for his beard had grown right down to his girdle), and put upon him the raiment of a Tsar.126And the angel said further, "Go now into the inner apartments.checked by a teacher127There the courtiers of the Tsar are sitting and making merry, and none will recognize in thee the vagabond old man.128May God help thee always to do good!"129And when the angel had said this he was no more to be seen, and only his clothes remained on the floor.130Then the Tsar prayed gratefully to God, and went to the merry-making of his courtiers, and henceforth he ruled his people justly, as the angel had bidden him.131THE STORY OF IVAN AND THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN132There were once upon a time four brethren, and three of them remained at home, while the fourth went out to seek for work.133This youngest brother came to a strange land, and hired himself out to a husbandman for three gold pieces a year.134For three years he served his master faithfully, so, at the end of his time, he departed with nine gold pieces in his pocket.135The first thing he now did was to go to a spring, and into this spring he threw three of his gold pieces. "136Let us see now," said he, "if I have been honest, they will come swimming back to me."137Then he lay down by the side of the spring and went fast asleep.138How long he slept there, who can tell? but at any rate he woke up at last and went to the spring, but there was no sign of his money to be seen.139Then he threw three more of the gold pieces into the spring, and again he lay down by the side of it and slept.140Then he got up and went and looked into the spring, and still there was no sign of the money.checked by a teacher141So he threw in his three remaining gold pieces, and again lay down and slept.142The third time he arose and looked into the spring, and there, sure enough, was his money: all nine of the gold pieces were floating on the surface of the water!143And now his heart felt lighter, and he gathered up the nine gold pieces and went on his way.144On the road he fell in with three _katsapi_[22] with a laden wagon.145He asked them concerning their wares, and they said they were carrying a load of incense.146He begged them straightway to sell him this incense.147Then they sold it to him for the gold pieces, and when he had bought it and they had departed, he kindled fire and burnt the incense, and offered it up to God as a sweet-smelling sacrifice.148Then an angel flew down to him, and said, "Oh, thou that hast offered this sweet-smelling sacrifice to God, what dost thou want for thine own self?149Dost thou want a tsardom, or great riches?150Or, perchance, the desire of thy heart is a good wife?151Speak, for God will give thee whatsoever thou desirest."152When the man had listened to the angel, he said to him, "Tarry a while!153I will go and ask those people who are ploughing yonder."154Now those people who were ploughing there were his own brethren, but he did not know that they were his brethren.155So he went up and said to the elder brother, "Tell me, uncle, what shall I ask of God?checked by a teacher156A tsardom, or great riches, or a good wife?157Tell me, which of the three is the best gift to ask for?"--And his eldest brother said to him, "I know not, and who does know?158Go and ask some one else."159So he went to the second brother, who was ploughing a little farther on.160He asked him the same question, but the man only shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't know either.161Then he went to the third brother, who was the youngest of the three, and also ploughing there.162And he asked him, saying, "Tell me, now, which is the best gift to ask of God: a tsardom, or great riches, or a good wife?"--And the third brother said, "What a question!163Thou art too young for a tsardom, and great riches last but for a little while; ask God for a good wife, for if it please God to give thee a good wife, 'tis a gift that will bless thee all thy life long."164So he went back to the angel and asked for a good wife.165Then he went on his way till he came to a certain wood, and, looking about him, he perceived that in this wood was a lake.166And while he was looking at it, three wild doves came flying along and lit down upon this lake.167They threw off their plumage and plunged into the water, and then he saw that they were not wild doves, but three fair ladies.168They bathed in the lake, and in the meantime the youth crept up and took the raiment of one of them and hid it behind the bushes.169When they came out of the water the third lady missed her clothes.170Then the youth said to her, "I know where thy clothes are, but I will not give them to thee unless thou wilt be my wife."--"Good!" cried she, "thy wife will I be."171Then she dressed herself, and they went together to the nearest village.172When they got there, she said to him, "Now go to the nobleman who owns the land here, and beg him for a place where we may build us a hut."173So he went right up to the nobleman's castle and entered his reception-room, and said, "Glory be to God!"--"For ever and ever!" replied the nobleman. "174What dost thou want here, Ivan?"--"I have come, sir, to beg of thee a place where I may build me a hut."--"A place for a hut, eh?175Good, very good.176Go home, and I'll speak to my overseer, and he shall appoint thee a place."--So he returned from the nobleman's castle, and his wife said to him, "Go now into the forest and cut down an oak, a young oak, that thou canst span round with both arms."177So he cut down such an oak as his wife had told him of, and she built a hut of the oak, for the overseer had come and shown them a place where they might build their hut.178But when the overseer returned home he praised loudly to his master the wife of this Ivan. "179She is such and such," said he. "180Fair she may be," replied the nobleman, "but she is another's."--"She need not be another's for long," replied the overseer. "181This Ivan is in our hands; let us send him to see why it is the sun grows so red when he sets."--"That's just the same as if you sent him to a place whence he can never return."--"All the better."--Then they sent for Ivan, and gave him this errand, and he returned home to his wife, weeping bitterly.182Then his wife asked him all about it, and said, "Well, I can tell thee all about the ways of the sun, for I am the sun's own daughter.183So now I'll tell thee the whole matter.184Go back to this nobleman and say to him that the reason why the sun turns so red as he sets is this: Just as the sun is going down into the sea, three fair ladies rise out of it, and it is the sight of them which makes him turn so red all over!"185So he went back and told them. "186Oh-ho!" cried they, "if you can go as far as that, you may now go a little farther"; so they told him to go to hell and see how it was there. "187Yes," said his wife, "I know the road that leads to hell also very well; but the nobleman must let his overseer go with thee, or else he never will believe that thou really didst go to hell."--So the nobleman told his overseer that he must go to hell too, so they went together; and when they got there the rulers of hell laid hands upon the overseer straightway. "188Thou dog!" roared they, "we've been looking out for thee for some time!"189So Ivan returned without the overseer, and the nobleman said to him, "Where's my overseer?"--"I left him in hell," said Ivan, "and they said there that they were waiting for you, sir, too."190When the nobleman heard this he hanged himself, but Ivan lived happily with his wife.191[22] _Lit.192_ Big billy-goats, the name given by the clean-shaved Ruthenians to their hairy neighbours the Russians.193STRAIGHTWAY]1 2← previousThe Three Brothersnext →The Cat, the Cock, and the Fox↑ back to Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk TalesThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg29672/19/page/2/