The Baldwin Library University RmB SLAV TALES 8 @ VW a 4 q @ o 0 4 0 oO 0 a5 s So 5 Me EAE ly 7 es x Sihs E F ey fap eS Tet x ‘ ty y K S= 42 EOE S : ns p > canes a aaa rr a ; : aS > 8h t S SSS FF ae ete Sh es IN eh gee MS Z ei bh 3 elt 2 SN = 3 fe f i 5 {= SHE = oe TLS eS 2 ES h Ess , : air. = 25 a pS Ss i oe Sy ak ————— by 72 1 : Paes =e =e NA—\\ k > d HY ase = = iE = Bs va > = x x g BSR __ ‘a 5 E am ss aS y 3 Al & v Q) y fi i | Vi Hi BP A XY ‘| Wi h \ wR fil THE Two BROTHERS Ui So he sat down, and felt warm directly he was near them. But he dared not speak while they were silent. What astonished him most was that they changed seats one after another, and in such a way that each one passed round the fire and came back to his own place. When he drew near the fire an old man with long white beard and bald head arose from the flames and spoke to him thus : ! ““Man, waste not thy life here; return to thy cottage, work, and live honestly. Take as many embers as thou wilt, we have more than we need.” And having said this he disappeared. Then the twelve filled a large sack with embers, and, putting it on the poor man’s shoulders, advised him to hasten home. Humbly thanking them, he set off. As he went he wondered why the embers did not feel hot, and why they should weigh no more than a sack of paper. He was thankful that he should be able to have a fire, but imagine his astonishment when on arriving home he found the sack to contain as many gold pieces as there had been embers; he almost went out of his mind with joy at the possession of so much money. With all his heart he thanked those who had been so ready to help him in his need. He was now rich, and rejoiced to be able to provide for his family. Being curious to find out how many gold pieces there were, and not knowing how to count, he sent his wife to his rich brother for the loan of a quart measure. This time the brother was in a better temper, so he lent what was asked of him, but said mockingly, ‘What can such beggars as you have to measure?” , 8 SLAV TALES The wife replied, “Our neighbour owes us some wheat; we want to be sure he returns us the right quantity.” The rich brother was puzzled, and suspecting something he, unknown to his sister-in-law, put some grease inside the measure. The trick succeeded, for on getting it back he found a piece of gold sticking to it. Filled with astonish- ment, he could only suppose his brother had joined a band of robbers: so he hurried to his brother’s cottage, and threa- tened to bring him before the Justice of the Peace if he did not confess where the gold came from. The poor man was troubled, and, dreading to offend his brother, told the story of his journey to the Crystal Mountain. Now the elder brother had plenty of money for himself, yet he was envious of the brother’s good fortune, and _ be- came greatly displeased when he found that his brother won every one’s esteem by the good use he made of his wealth. At last he determined to visit the Crystal Mountain himself. “JT may meet with as good luck as my brother,” said he to himself. Upon reaching the Crystal Mountain he found the twelve seated round the fire as before, and thus addressed them: “T beg of you, good people, to let me warm myself, for it is bitterly cold, and I am poor and homeless.” But one of them replied, “My son, the hour of thy birth was favourable; thou art rich, but a miser; thou art wicked, for thou hast dared to lie to us. Well dost thou deserve thy punishment.” Amazed and terrified he stood silent, not daring to speak. Meanwhile the twelve changed places one after another, each THE Two BROTHERS 9 at last returning to his owh seat. Then from the midst of the flames arose the white-bearded old man and spoke thus sternly to the rich man: “Woe unto the wilful! Thy brother is virtuous, therefore have I blessed him. As for thee, thou art wicked, and so shalt not escape our vengeance.” At these words the twelve arose. The first seized the unfortunate man, struck him, and passed him on to the second ; the second also struck him and passed him on to the third ; and so did they all in their turn, until he was given up to the old man, who disappeared with him into the fire. Days, weeks, months went by, but the rich man never returned, and none knew what had become of him. I think, . between you and me, the younger brother had his suspicions but he very wisely kept them to himself. II TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS HERE was once a married pair who loved each other tenderly. The husband would not have given up his wife for all the riches in the world, while her first thought was how best to please him. So they were very happy, and lived like two grains in one ear of corn. One day while working in the fields, a great longing came over him to see her: so without waiting for the hour of sunset he ran home. Alas! she was not there. He looked high and low, he ran here, there, and everywhere, he wept, he called to her; in vain! his dear wife was not to be found. Io THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS Il So heartbroken was he that he no longer cared to live. He could think of nothing but the loss of his dear wife and how to find her again. At last he determined to travel all over the world in search of her. So he began to walk straight on, trusting God to direct his steps. Sad and thoughtful, he wandered for many days, until he reached a cottage close by the shores of a large lake. Here he stopped, hoping to find out news. On entering the cottage he was met-by a woman, who tried to prevent him entering. “What do you want here, unlucky wretch?” said she. “‘If my husband sees you, he will kill you instantly.” “Who is your husband then?” asked the traveller. “What! you do not know him? My husband is the Water-King; everything under water obeys him. Depart quickly, for if he finds you here he will certainly devour you.” ‘Perhaps after all he would take pityon me. But hide me somewhere, for I am worn and weary, and without shelter for the night.” So the Water-Queen was persuaded, and hid him behind the stove. Almost immediately after the Water-King entered. He had barely crossed the threshold when he called out, “Wife, I smell human flesh; give it me quickly, for I am hungry.” She dared not disobey him, and so she had to tell him of the traveller’s hiding-place. The poor man became terribly frightened, and trembled in every limb, and began to stammer out excuses. “I assure you I have done no harm. I came here in search of news of my poor wife. Oh, do help me to find her; I cannot live without her.” 12 SLAV TALES “Well,” replied the Water-King, ‘as you love your wife so tenderly I will forgive you for coming here, but I cannot help you to find her, for I do not know where she is. Yet I remember seeing two ducks on the lake yesterday, perchance she is one of them. But I should advise you to ask my brother the Fire-King; he may be able to tell you more.” Happy to have escaped so easily, he thanked the Water- King and set out to find the Fire-King. But the latter was unable to help him, and could only advise him to consult his other brother, the Air-King. But the Air-King, though he had travelled all over the earth, could only say he thought he had seen a woman at the foot of the Crystal Mountain. But the traveller was cheered at the news, and went to seek his wife at the foot of the Crystal Mountain, which was close to their cottage. On reaching it he began at once to climb the mountain by making his way up the bed of the torrent that came rushing down there. Several ducks that were in the pools near the waterfall called out, ‘‘My good man, don’t go up there; you'll be killed.” But he walked fearlessly on till he came to some thatched cottages, at the largest of which he stopped. Here a crowd of wizards and witches surrounded him, screaming at the top of their voices, “‘ What are you looking for?” “‘ My wife,” said he. “She is here,” they cried, “but you cannot take her away unless you recognise her among two hundred women all exactly like her.” “What! Not know my own wife? Why, here she is,” Aer ar Ere THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS 15 said he, as he clasped her in his arms. And she, delighted to be with him again, kissed him fondly. Then she whispered : “Dearest, though you knew me to-day I doubt whether you will to-morrow, for there will be so many of us all alike. Now I will tell you what to do. At nightfall go to the top of the Crystal Mountain, where live the King of Time and his court. Ask him how you may know me. If you are good and honest he will help you; if not, he will devour you whole at one mouthful.” “J will do what you advise, dear one,” he replied, ‘but tell me, why did you leave me so suddenly? If you only knew what I have suffered! I have sought you all over the world.” “T did not leave you willingly,” said she. ‘A country- man asked me to come and look at the mountain torrent. When we got there he sprinkled some water over himself, and at once I saw wings growing out of his shoulders, and he soon changed his shape entirely into that of a drake; and I too became a duck at the same time, and whether I would or no I was obliged to follow him. Here I was allowed to resume my own form ; and now there is but the one difficulty of being recognised by you.” So they parted, she to join the other women, he to continue his way to the Crystal Mountain. At the top he found twelve strange beings sitting round a large fire: they were the attendants of the King of Time. He saluted them respectfully. “What dost thou want?” said they. “T have lost my dear wife. Can you tell me how to 16 SLAV TALES recognise her among two hundred other women all exactly alike?” “No,” said they, “but perhaps our King can.” Then arose from the midst of the flames an old man with bald head and long white beard, who, on hearing his request, replied: “‘ Though all these women be exactly alike, thy wife will have a black thread in the shoe of her right foot.” So saying he vanished, and the traveller, thanking the twelve, descended the mountain. Sure it is that without the black thread he would never have recognised her. And though the Magician tried to hide her, the spell was broken ; and the two returned rejoicing to their home, where they lived happily ever after. THE TWELVE MONTHS and Marouckla, She loved Helen, but hated 2 HERE was once a widow who had two daughters, Helen, her own child by her dead husband. qT his daughter by his first wife. 18 SLAV TALES the poor orphan, because she was far prettier than her own daughter. Marouckla did not think about her good looks, and could not understand why her stepmother should be angry at the sight of her. The hardest work fell to her share ; she cleaned out the rooms, cooked, washed, sewed, spun, wove, brought in the hay, milked the cow, and all this with- out any help. Helen, meanwhile, did nothing but dress herself in her best clothes and go to one amusement after another. But Marouckla never complained; she bore the scoldings and bad temper of mother and sister with a smile on her lips, and the patience of a lamb. But this angelic behaviour did not soften them. They became even: more tyrannical and grumpy, for Marouckla grew daily more beautiful, while Helen’s ugliness increased. So the step- mother determined to get rid of Marouckla, for she knew that while she remained her own daughter would have no suitors. Hunger, every kind of privation, abuse, every means was used to make the girl’s life miserable. The most wicked of men could not have been more mercilessly cruel than these two vixens. But in spite of it all Marouckla grew ever sweeter and more charming. One day in the middle of winter Helen wanted some wood-violets. “Listen,” cried she to Marouckla; “you must go up the mountain and find me some violets, I want some to put in my gown; they must be fresh and sweet-scented—do you hear ?” “ But, my dear sister, who ever heard of violets blooming in the snow?” said the poor orphan. “You wretched creature! Do you dare to disobey me?” THE TWELVE MONTHS 19 said Helen. “Not another word; off with you. If you do not bring me some violets from the mountain forest, I will kill you.” The stepmother also added her threats to those of Helen, and with vigorous blows they pushed Marouckla outside and shut the door upon her. The weeping girl made her way to the mountain. The snow lay deep, and there was no trace of any human being. Long she wandered hither and thither, and lost herself in the wood. She was hungry, and shivered with cold, and prayed to die. Suddenly she saw a light in the distance, and climbed towards it, till she reached the top of the mountain. Upon the highest peak burnt a large fire, surrounded by twelve blocks of stone, on which sat twelve strange beings. Of these the first three had white hair, three were not quite so old, three were young and handsome, and the rest still younger. There they all sate silently looking at the fire. They were the twelve months of the year. The great Setchéne (January) was placed higher than the others; his hair and moustache were white as snow, and in his hand he held a wand. At first Marouckla was afraid, but after a while her courage returned, and drawing near she said: ‘““Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? I am chilled by the winter cold.” The great Setchéne raised his head and answered : “What brings thee here, my daughter? What dost thou seek ?” “TI am looking for violets,” replied the maiden. “This is not the season for violets; dost thou not see the snow everywhere?” said Setchéne. 20 SLAV TALES “T know well, but my sister Helen and my stepmother have ordered me to bring them violets from your mountain : if I return without them they will kill me. I pray you, good shepherds, tell me where they may be found?” Here the great Setchéne arose and went over to the youngest of the months, and placing his wand in his hand, said : “Brother Breztne (March), do thou take the highest place.” Brezéne obeyed, at the same time waving his wand over the fire. Immediately the flames rose towards the sky, the snow began to melt and the trees and shrubs to bud; the grass became green, and from between its blades peeped the pale primrose. It was Spring, and the meadows were blue with violets. “ Gather them quickly, Marouckla,” said Brezéne. Joyfully she hastened to pick the flowers, and having soon a large bunch she thanked them and ran home. Helen and the stepmother were amazed at the sight of the flowers, the scent of which filled the house. - “Where did you find them?” asked Helen. ‘‘ Under the trees on the mountain slope,” said Marouckla. Helen kept the flowers for herself and her mother; she did not even thank her step-sister for the trouble she had taken. The next day she desired Marouckla to fetch her strawberries. “Run,” said she, “and fetch me strawberries from the mountain: they must be very sweet and ripe.” “But who ever heard of strawberries ripening in the snow?” exclaimed Marouckla. THE TWELVE MONTHS 21 “Hold your tongue, worm; don’t answer me; if I don’t have my strawberries I will kill you.” Then the stepmother pushed her into the yard and bolted the door. The unhappy girl made her way towards the moun- tain and to the large fire round which sat the twelve months. The great Setchéne occupied the highest place. “Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills me,” said she, drawing near. The great Setchéne raised his head and asked : “Why comest thou here? What dost thou seek?” “‘T am looking for strawberries,” said she. “Weare in the midst of winter,” replied Setchene ; “‘straw- berries do not grow in the snow.” “T know,” said the girl sadly, “but my sister and step- mother have ordered me to bring them strawberries ; if I do not they will kill me. Pray, good shepherds, tell me where to find them.” The great Setchéne arose, crossed over to the month opposite him, and putting the wand into his hand, said: “Brother Tchervéne (June), do thou take the highest place.” Tchervéne obeyed, and as he waved his wand over the fire the flames leapt towards the sky. Instantly the snow melted, the earth was covered with verdure, trees were clothed with leaves, birds began to sing, and various flowers blossomed in the forest. It was summer. Under the bushes masses of star-shaped flowers changed into ripening strawberries. Be- fore Marouckla had time to cross herself they covered the glade, making it look like a sea of blood. “Gather them quickly, Marouckla,” said Tchervéne. 22 SLAV TALES Joyfully she thanked the months, and having filled her apron ran happily home. Helen and her mother wondered at seeing the strawberries, which filled the house with their delicious fragrance. ‘Wherever did you find them?” asked Helen crossly. “Right up among the mountains; those from under the beech trees are not bad.” Helen gave a few to her mother and ate the rest herself; not one did she offer to her step-sister. Being tired of straw- berries, on the third day she took a fancy for some fresh red apples. “Run, Marouckla,” said she, “and fetch me fresh red apples from the mountain.” “Apples in winter, sister? why, the trees have neither leaves nor fruit.” / “Tdle slut, go this minute,” said Helen; “unless you bring back apples we will kill you.” As before, the stepmother seized her roughly and turned her out of the house. The poor girl went weeping up the mountain, across the deep snow upon which lay no human footprint, and on towards the fire round which were the twelve months. Motionless sat they, and on the highest stone was the great Setchéne. “Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills me,” said she, drawing near. The great Setchéne raised his head. “Why com’st thou here? What dost thou seek?” asked he. “T am come to look for red apples,” replied Marouckla. “ But this is winter, and not the season for red apples,” observed the great Setchéne. ie as xh a oe THE TWELVE MONTHS 25 “T know,” answered the girl, “but my sister and step- mother sent me to fetch red apples from the mountain; if I return without them they will kill me.” Thereupon the great Setchéne arose and went over to one of the elderly months, to whom he handed the wand, saying : “Brother Zaré (September), do thou take the highest place.” Zaré moved to the highest stone and waved his wand over the fire. There was a flare of red flames, the snow disap- peared, but the fading leaves which trembled on the trees were sent by a cold north-east wind in yellow masses to the glade. Only a few flowers of autumn were visible, such as the fleabane and red gillyflower, autumn colchicums in the ravine, and under the beeches bracken and tufts of northern heather. At first Marouckla looked in vain for red apples. Then she espied a tree which grew at a great height, and from the branches of this hung the bright red fruit. Zaré ordered her to gather some quickly. The girl was delighted and shook the tree. First one apple fell, then another. “That is enough,” said Zaré, “hurry home.” Thanking the months, she returned joyfully. Helen mar- velled and the stepmother wondered at seeing the fruit. “Where did you gather them?” asked the step-sister. “There are more on the mountain top,” answered Ma- rouckla. “Then why did you not bring more?” said Helen angrily ; “you must have eaten them on your way back, you wicked girl.” “No, dear sister, I have not even tasted them,” said Marouckla. ‘I shook the tree twice; one apple fell each 26 . SLAV TALES time. Iwas not allowed to shake it again, but was told to return home.” “May Perum smite you with his thunderbolt,” said Helen, striking her. Marouckla prayed to die rather than suffer such ill-treat- ment. Weeping bitterly, she took refuge in the kitchen. Helen and her mother found the apples more delicious than any they had ever tasted, and when they had eaten both longed for more. “Listen, mother,” said Helen. ‘Give me my cloak ; I will fetch some more apples myself, or else that good-for-nothing wretch will eat them all on the way. I shall be able to find the mountain and the tree. The shepherds may cry ‘Stop,’ but I shall not leave go till I have shaken down all the apples.” In spite of her mother’s advice she put on her pelisse, covered her head with a warm hood, and took the road to the mountain. The mother stood and watched her till she was lost in the distance. Snow covered everything, not a human footprint was to be seen on its surface. Helen lost herself and wandered hither and thither. After a while she saw a light above her, and following in its direction reached the mountain top. There was the flaming fire, the twelve blocks of stone, and the twelve months. At first she was frightened and hesitated ; then she came nearer and warmed her hands. She did not ask permission, nor did she speak one polite word. “What has brought thee here? What dost thou seek?” said the great Setchéne severely. “Tam not obliged to tell you, old greybeard ; what business THE TWELVE MONTHS 27 is it of yours?’ she replied disdainfully, turning her back on the fire and going towards the forest. The great Setchéne frowned, and waved his wand over his head. Instantly the sky became covered with clouds, the fire went down, snow fell in large flakes, an icy wind howled round the mountain. Amid the fury of the storm Helen added curses against her step-sister. The pelisse failed to warm her benumbed limbs. The mother kept on waiting for her; she looked from the window, she watched from the doorstep, but her daughter came not. The hours passed slowly, but Helen did not return. “Can it be that the apples have charmed her from her home?” thought the mother. Then she clad herself in hood and pelisse and went in search of her daughter. Snow fell in huge masses; it covered all things, it lay untouched by human footsteps. For long she wandered hither and thither ; the icy north-east wind whistled in the mountain, but no voice answered her cries. Day after day Marouckla worked and prayed, and waited ; but neither stepmother nor sister returned, they had been frozen to death on the mountain. The inheritance of a small house, a field, and a cow fell to Marouckla. In course of time an honest farmer came to share them with her, and their lives were happy and peaceful. THE SUN OR THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE AN this be a true story? It is said that once there was a king who was exceedingly fond of hunting the wild beasts in his forests. One day he followed a stag so far and so long that he lost his way. Alone and overtaken by night, he was glad to find himself near a small thatched cottage in which lived a charcoal-burner. 31 32 SLAV TALES “Will you kindly show me the way to the high-road? You shall be handsomely rewarded.” “JT would willingly,” said the charcoal-burner, “ but God is going to send my wife a little child, and I cannot leave her alone. Will you pass the night under our roof? There is a truss of sweet hay in the loft where you may rest, and to-morrow morning I will be your guide.” The king accepted the invitation and went to bed in the loft. Shortly after a son was born to the charcoal-burner’s wife. But the king could not sleep. At midnight he heard noises in the house, and looking through a crack in the flooring he saw the charcoal-burner asleep, his wife almost in a faint, and by the side of the newly-born babe three old women dressed in white, each holding a lighted taper in her hand, and all talking together. Now these were the three Soudiché or Fates, you must know. The first said, “On this boy I bestow the gift of con- fronting great dangers.” The second said, “I bestow the power of happily escaping all these dangers, and of living to a good old age.” The third said, “I bestow upon him for wife the princess born at the selfsame hour as he, and daughter of the very king sleeping above in the loft.” At these words the lights. went out and silence reigned around. Now the king was greatly troubled, and wondered ex- ceedingly ; he felt as if he had received a sword-thrust in the chest. He lay awake all night thinking how to prevent the words of the Fates from coming true. With the first glimmer of morning light the baby began THE SUN BB to cry. The charcoal-burner, on going over to it, found that his wife was dead. “Poor little orphan,” he said sadly, “ what will become of thee without’a mother’s care?” *“ Confide this child to me,” said the king, “I will look after it. He shall be well provided for. You shall be given a sum of money large enough to keep you without having to burn charcoal.’’ The poor man gladly agreed, and the king went away promising to send some one for the child. The queen and courtiers thought it would be an agreeable surprise for the king to hear that a charming little princess had been born on the night he was away. But instead of being pleased he frowned, and calling one of his servants, said to him, “Go to the charcoal-burner’s cottage in the forest, and give the man this purse in exchange for a new-born infant. On your way back drown the child. See well that he is drowned, for if he should in any way escape, you yourself shall suffer in his place.” The servant was given the child in a basket, and on reaching the centre of a narrow bridge that stretched across a wide and deep river, he threw both basket and baby into the water. “A prosperous journey to you, Mr. Son-in-Law,” said the king, on hearing the servant’s story: for he fully believed the child was drowned. But it was far from being the case; the little one was floating happily along in its basket cradle, and slumbering as sweetly as if his mother had sung him to sleep. Now it happened that a fisherman, who was mend- ing his nets before his cottage door, saw the basket floating Cc 34. SLAV TALES down the river. He jumped at once into his boat, picked it up, and ran to tell his wife the good news. “Look,” said he, “you have always longed for a son; here is a beautiful little boy the river has sent us.” The woman was delighted, and took the infant and loved it as her own child. They named him Plavacek (the floater), because he had come to them floating on the water. The river flowed on. Years passed away. ‘The little baby grew into a handsome youth; in all the villages round there were none to compare with him. Now it happened that one summer day the king was riding unattended. And the heat being very great he reined in his horse before the fisherman’s door to ask for a drink of water. Plavacek brought the water. The king looked at him attentively, then turning to the fisherman, said, ‘“‘That is a good-looking lad ; is he your son?” “He is and he isn’t,” replied the fisherman. “I found him, when he was quite a tiny baby, floating down the stream in a basket. So we adopted him and brought him up as our own son.” The king turned as pale as death, for he guessed that he was the same child he had ordered to be drowned. Then recovering himself he got down from his horse and said: “I want a trusty messenger to take a letter to the palace, could you send him with it?” “With pleasure! Your majesty may be sure of its safe delivery.” ; Thereupon the king wrote to the queen as follows— “The man who brings you this letter is the most dan- gerous of all my enemies. Have his head cut off at once; Wit kt Sif WN I. LEN 4 27 : y CGM ‘SE DN WZ ZF of » Se eed