🧚 Opening, part 4

When the master had heard of this, he instantly started out to see the gipsy.1 “What on earth do you mean, you vile thief, by taking money and not giving up the golden stirrup?”2

“What golden stirrup?3 Now do, my lord, think a little.4 How is it possible for a grey, hoary old peasant like me to possess a golden stirrup?”5

Then the master became angrier and angrier, but he could not find it.6 “Well, we will come to court!” he said.7

“Oh, please,” the gipsy answered, “please think!8 How in the world can I come in your company?9 You are a lord, and I am only a blockhead—I am only a dolt and a mere hind.10 At least you might dress me in a fine costume if we are to go together.”11 So the master dressed him in his own dress, and they journeyed together to the town for the case to be tried.12

When they came into the town, the master said: “I bought of this peasant a golden stirrup.13 He took the money for it and will not deliver the chattel.”14

And the peasant answered: “My Lords Justices, do you think it out for yourselves, however could one get a golden stirrup out of a grey-haired peasant?15 Why, I have not a single loaf at home.16 And I really cannot imagine what this fine gentleman wants of me.17 Why, he will even be saying next that I am wearing his clothes.”18

“But the dress _is_ mine!” the master shrieked out.19

“There you are, my Lords Justices!”20

After this the case came to an end, and the master went back home without getting anything, and the peasant went on living merrily—living on and gaining nothing but good.21

DANÍLO THE UNFORTUNATE22

Good Prince Vladímir had many henchmen and serfs in the city of Kíev, and amongst them there was Danílo the Unfortunate, the noble.23 And on Sundays Prince Vladímir used to give all his servants goblets filled with wine, but Danílo good hard blows; and on great feast days every one was sated, but Danílo had nothing.24

On the eve of Easter Sunday Prince Vladímir summoned Danílo the Unfortunate, and he gave him eighty score of sable skins, and he bade him sew a _shúba_[7] for the feast: the sable skins were not prepared, and the buttons had not been moulded, and the buttonholes had not been made.25 In the buttons he was bidden mould the wild beasts of the wood and to sew into the buttonholes all the seabirds.26

Danílo the Unfortunate loathed the task, so he hurled it away, and he went outside.27 He went out on his road and way, and shed tears.28 An old woman came to meet him.29 “Look, Danílo,” she said, “do not rend yourself asunder: why are you crying, Danílo the Unfortunate?”30

“Oh, you old fatty!” he exclaimed, “shivers and shakes, quivers and quakes!31 Be off! this has nothing to do with you!”32 Then he went on a little way and thought, “Why did I bid her remove?”33 So he approached her again and said, “_Bábushka_,[8] little dove, forgive me: this is my trouble.34 Prince Vladímir has given me eighty score of sable skins, of which I am to make a _shúba_ in the morning.35 If only the buttons had been moulded and the silken buttonholes sewn!36 But there are to be lions moulded on to the buttons, and there are to be shepherds embroidered on to the buttonholes that should have sung and warbled.37 How am I to set about it?38 It would be better for me to drink _vódka_ behind the counter.”39

Then the old woman, with her patched skirt, said, “Oh, I am now ‘_Bábushka_’ and your ‘little dove’!40 Do you go to the border of the blue sea, and stand in front of the grey oak: at the hour of midnight the blue sea will boil over and Chúdo-Yúda, the Old Man of the Sea, will come out to you: he has no hands, no feet, and he has a grey beard.41 Take hold of him by his beard and beat him until he asks you, ‘Why do you beat me, Danílo the Unfortunate?’42 Then you are to answer, ‘I am beating you for this reason: let me see the Swan,[9] the fair maiden; let her body glint through her wings, and through her body let her bones appear, and from bone to bone let the marrow run like a flowing string of pearls.’”43

Then Danílo the Unfortunate went to the blue sea, and he stood in front of the dusky oak: and at midnight the blue sea was disturbed and Chúdo-Yúda, the Old Man of the Sea, appeared before him.44 He had no hands, he had no feet, and his beard was grey.45 Danílo seized him by his beard and began to beat him on to the grey earth.46 Then at last Chúdo-Yúda asked him: “Why do you beat me, Danílo the Unfortunate?”47 “For this reason: let me see the Swan, the fair maiden; let her body glint through her wings, and through her body let her bones appear, and from bone to bone let the marrow run like a flowing string of pearls.”48

Very soon the Swan, the fair maiden, swam up to the shore, and she spoke in this wise:49

“Is it work on your way, Or for sloth do you stay?”50

“Oh, Swan, fair maiden, I have a double task: Prince Vladímir has bidden me sew a _shúba_, and the sables are not prepared, the buttons are not moulded, and the buttonholes are not sewn.”51

“You take me with you, and it will all be done in time.”52

Then he began to think in his thoughts, “How shall I take her with me?”53

“Now, Danílo, what are you thinking?”54

“I must do as you say: I will take you with me.”55

So she flapped her wings, and she moved her little head, and said, “Turn to me with your white face; we will build for ourselves a princely house.56 Shake your locks, that our house may have rooms.”57 Then twelve youths appeared, all of them carpenters, sawyers, stone-hewers; and they set to work, and the house was soon ready.58

Then Danílo took her by her right hand, and he kissed her on her sweet lips, and he led her into the princely home.59 They sat down at a table, ate and drank.60 They refreshed themselves, and their hands met at one table.61 “Now, Danílo, go to rest and to bed; think of nothing else; it will all be done.”62 So she laid him to sleep and herself went out to the crystal flight of steps.63 And she waved her pinions and she shook her little head: “My father,” she cried, “send me your craftsmen!”64

And the twelve youths appeared and asked, “Swan-bird, fair maiden, what do you bid us do?”65

“Sew me this _shúba_ at once: the sables are not prepared, the buttons are not moulded, the buttonholes are not sewn.”66

So they set to work: one of them made the sables ready and sewed the _shúba_, one of them worked the forge and moulded the buttons, and one of them sewed the buttonholes, and in a minute, wondrously, the _shúba_ was made.67

Then the Swan-bird, the fair maiden, came up and woke Danílo the Unfortunate: “Arise, my dear friend, the _shúba_ is ready, and the church-bells are ringing in the city of Kíev: it is time for you to arise and to prepare for matins.”68

Danílo arose, put on the _shúba_, and went: she looked out of the window, stayed, gave him a silver staff, and bade him, “When you leave matins, stand on the right side of the choir as the choir leave, raise your hands and strike the sable _shúba_, and the birds will sing joyously and the lions roar fearsomely.69 Then take the _shúba_ from your shoulders and array Prince Vladímir at that instant, lest he forget us.70 He will then summon you as a guest, and will give you a glass of wine.71 Do not drink the glass to the bottom: if you drink it to the bottom no good will befall you; and do not boast of me: do not boast that we built a house together in a single night.”72