🧚 Opening, part 34 · page 2

Well, this affair had turned out very well after all; possibly he might go on living without any suffering.72 So the Cossack stayed for a very, very long time in the tin castle, until he became wearied unto death: it might be a joke, but he was always alone and could never exchange as much as a whisper with anybody.73 So, from sheer grief, he drank himself drunk and thought he would go out into the free world.74 But wherever he ventured forth there were lofty walls, with neither an entrance nor an exit.75 So he grew very angry, and the doughty youth took his cudgel, went into the palace and began knocking about the looking-glasses and mirrors, tearing up the velvet, breaking the chairs, shattering the silver.76 Possibly, he thought, the owner might come and let him free.77 But no, never a soul appeared!78

Then the Cossack lay down to sleep.79 Next day he woke up, went for a walk and a saunter, and he thought he would like to have some food, and he looked around: there was nothing to be had.80 “Ah!” he thought, “The slave rains on herself the blows if unfaithfully she mows.81 I smoked to death yesterday, and to-day I must starve.”82 He had despaired.83 And that very instant food and drink stood ready for him.84

Three days went by: the Cossack slept in the morning, and then looked out of the window, and his good horse stood saddled at the steps.85 What did that mean?86 So he washed and dressed, prayed to God, took his long pike and went into the open courtyard.87

Suddenly, from somewhere or other, the fair maiden appeared and said, “Health to you, good youth: the seven years are over.88 You saved me from my perdition and my end.89 Now, listen to me: I am a king’s daughter; Koshchéy the Deathless fell in love with me, took me away from my father and from my mother, wished to marry me, but I always laughed at him.90 Then he grew angry, and he turned me into a wild snake: I thank you for your long service.91 We will fare forth to my father’s court; he will wish to reward you with gold from his treasury and with precious stones: but do you take nothing of them.92 Simply ask for the keg which is lying in his cellar.”93

“But what is the use of that?”94

“If you turn that keg to the right a palace appears forthwith, if you turn it to the left, it vanishes.”95

“Very well,” said the Cossack.96

So he mounted his steed, set himself and the fair princess on it, and the lofty walls moved away from before him, and they set out on their road and way.97 May be long, may be short, at last they arrived at the kingdom named: the king saw his daughter and was overjoyed, began expressing his thanks and gave the Cossack sacks full of gold and pearls: but the doughty youth answered him, “I desire neither gold nor pearls, give me as a remembrance of you simply the keg which is lying in your cellar.”98

“You ask for a great gift, brother; but I must do what you say, for my daughter is dearer to me than all else that I have here.99 I do not regret the barrel; take it and go with God.”100

So the Cossack took the royal gift and set out to roam through the white world.101 He went on and on, and he met an ancient old man on the way: the old man answered him, “Give me food and drink, good youth!”102

So the Cossack leapt from his horse, undid the keg, turned it to the right, and a miraculous palace appeared on the spot: both of them went into the painted rooms and sat on covered chairs.103 “Ho, ye my faithful servants!” cried out the Cossack, “give food and drink to this guest.”104 Before ever the words were uttered, the servants brought an entire ox and three casks of beer.105

The old man set to and gourmandised, making the best of it.106 He ate the entire ox, and he drank the three casks of beer, croaked and said, “That was a small gift: still I cannot help it.107 I thank you for the bread and salt.”108 Then they went out of the palace, and the Cossack turned his keg to the left, and there was no sign of the palace.109

“Let us exchange,” said the old man to the Cossack.110 “I will give you a sword, and you give me the keg: what is the use of the keg to you?111 This is a sword which slays of itself: you need only wave it, and however incalculable the force may be it will slay them all in front of it.112 You see that forest?113 Shall I show you what it can do?”114 Then the old man drew his sword and said to it, “Set to work, self-slaying sword, and despoil all the dreamy forest.”115 So the sword flew out of his hands, cut down the trees, and laid them all down in regular boards.116 Then, after it had cut them down, it came back to its master.117

So the Cossack did not long bethink him, but gave the old man his keg and took the self-slaying sword, waved the sword, and killed the old man.118 Then he tied the keg to his saddle, mounted his horse, and thought he would go back to the King.119 But just then a terrible enemy was besieging the capital city of that King, and the Cossack saw an incalculable host and array, waved his sword and said, “Self-slaying sword, serve me a service and spill the hostile host.”120 And then there was a fine sight—heads flying about, blood flowing freely—and within one hour all the field was covered with corpses.121

Then the King came out, kissed him, and decided to give him the fair princess to wife.122

It was a gorgeous wedding.123 I was there at the wedding.124 I drank mead and wine: it flowed up to my whiskers, but it never entered my mouth.125

BEER AND BREAD126

In a certain kingdom, in a certain State, there once lived a rich peasant, and he had much money and bread; he used to lend money on interest to the poor husbandmen of his village.127 And, if he gave corn, then it had to be returned in full in the summer; and in addition to that, for every three pecks the debtor had to work two days on the lord’s field.128

And one day it happened that there was a festival in the Church, and the peasants began brewing beer for the feast.129 But in this village there was a peasant who was so poor that there was no poorer to be found.130 And there he sat in the evening with his wife on the eve of the festival in his little hut.131 He was thinking: “What shall I do?132 All the good folk are now gadding about making merry, and we have not a crust of bread in our house.133 I might have gone to the rich man and asked him for a loan; but he would not trust me.134 Now what shall I do, I am so woebegone!”135 And he thought and thought, and he left the bench and stood in front of the icon, and sighed a heavy sigh.136 “Lord,” he said, “have forgiveness on my sins, for I cannot buy any oil with which to fill the lamp in front of Thy icon for Thy feast.”137