--- title: Ghost Stories., part 2 — Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Musc… · full text with trees description: Ghost Stories., part 2, «Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore»: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: THE FIDDLER IN HELL. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collecti…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/) / Ghost Stories., part 2 # Ghost Stories., part 2 Ghost Stories., part 2 of «Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore»: the whole text, 192 sentences and 2628 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself; 1 of them are in the tales treebank and were checked by a teacher model. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/page/2/) - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/1/) — THE FIDDLER IN HELL. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/2/) — \[391\] - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/3/) — There was a certain moujik who had three sons. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/4/) — His life was a prosperous one, and he laid by money enough to fill two pots. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/5/) — The one he buried in his corn-kiln, the other under the gate of his farmyard. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/6/) — Well, the moujik died, and never said a word about the money to any one. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/7/) — One day there was a festival in the village. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/8/) — A fiddler was on his way to the revel when, all of a sudden, he sank into the earth--sank right through and tumbled into hell, lighting exactly there where the rich moujik was being tormented. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/9/) — "Hail, friend!" says the Fiddler. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/10/) — "It's an ill wind that's brought you hither!" - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/11/) — \[392\] answers the moujik; "this is hell, and in hell here I sit." - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/12/) — "What was it brought you here, uncle?" - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/13/) — "It was money! - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/14/) — I had much money: I gave none to the poor, two pots of it did I bury underground. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/15/) — See now, they are going to torment me, to beat me with sticks, to tear me with nails." - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/16/) — "Whatever shall I do?" cried the Fiddler. " - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/17/) — Perhaps they'll take to torturing me too!" - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/18/) — "If you go and sit on the stove behind the chimney-pipe, and don't eat anything for three years--then you will remain safe." - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/19/) — The Fiddler hid behind the stove-pipe. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/20/) — Then came fiends,\[393\] and they began to beat the rich moujik, reviling him the while, and saying: - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/21/) — "There's for thee, O rich man. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/22/) — Pots of money didst thou bury but thou couldst not hide them. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/23/) — There didst thou bury them that we might not be able to keep watch over them. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/24/) — At the gate people are always riding about, the horses crush our heads with their hoofs, and in the corn-kiln we get beaten with flails." - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/25/) — As soon as the fiends had gone away the moujik said to the Fiddler: - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/26/) — "If you get out of here, tell my children to dig up the money--one pot is buried at the gate, and the other in the corn-kiln--and to distribute it among the poor." - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/27/) — Afterwards there came a whole roomful of evil ones, and they asked the rich moujik: - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/28/) — "What have you got here that smells so Russian?" - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/29/) — "You have been in Russia and brought away a Russian smell with you," replied the moujik. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/30/) — "How could that be?" they said. - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/31/) — Then they began looking, they found the Fiddler, and they shouted: - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/32/) — "Ha, ha, ha! - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/33/) — Here's a Fiddler." - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/34/) — They pulled him off the stove, and set him to work fiddling. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/35/) — He played three years, though it seemed to him only three days. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/36/) — Then he got tired and said: - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/37/) — "Here's a wonder! - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/38/) — After playing a whole evening I used always to find all my fiddle-strings snapped. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/39/) — But now, though I've been playing for three whole days, they are all sound. — checked by a teacher - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/40/) — May the Lord grant us his blessing!" - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/41/) — \[394\] - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/42/) — No sooner had he uttered these words than every one of the strings snapped. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/43/) — "There now, brothers!" says the Fiddler, "you can see for yourselves. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/44/) — The strings are snapped; I've nothing to play on!" - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/45/) — "Wait a bit!" said one of the fiends. " - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/46/) — I've got two hanks of catgut; I'll fetch them for you." - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/47/) — He ran off and fetched them. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/48/) — The Fiddler took the strings, screwed them up, and again uttered the words: - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/49/) — "May the Lord grant us his blessing!" - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/50/) — In a moment snap went both hanks. - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/51/) — "No, brothers!" said the Fiddler, "your strings don't suit me. - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/52/) — I've got some of my own at home; by your leave I'll go for them." - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/53/) — The fiends wouldn't let him go. " - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/54/) — You wouldn't come back," they say. - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/55/) — "Well, if you won't trust me, send some one with me as an escort." - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/56/) — The fiends chose one of their number, and sent him with the Fiddler. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/57/) — The Fiddler got back to the village. - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/58/) — There he could hear that, in the farthest cottage, a wedding was being celebrated. - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/59/) — "Let's go to the wedding!" he cried. - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/60/) — "Come along!" said the fiend. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/61/) — They entered the cottage. - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/62/) — Everyone there recognized the Fiddler and cried: - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/63/) — "Where have you been hiding these three years?" - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/64/) — "I have been in the other world!" he replied. - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/65/) — They sat there and enjoyed themselves for some time. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/66/) — Then the fiend beckoned to the Fiddler, saying, "It's time to be off!" - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/67/) — But the Fiddler replied: "Wait a little longer! - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/68/) — Let me fiddle away a bit and cheer up the young people." - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/69/) — And so they remained sitting there till the cocks began to crow. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/70/) — Then the fiend disappeared. - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/71/) — After that, the Fiddler began to talk to the sons of the rich moujik, and said: - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/72/) — "Your father bids you dig up the money--one potful is buried at the gate and the other in the corn-kiln--and distribute the whole of it among the poor." - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/73/) — Well, they dug up both the pots, and began to distribute the money among the poor. - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/74/) — But the more they gave away the money, the more did it increase. - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/75/) — Then they carried out the pots to a crossway. - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/76/) — Every one who passed by took out of them as much money as his hand could grasp, and yet the money wouldn't come to an end. - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/77/) — Then they presented a petition to the Emperor, and he ordained as follows. - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/78/) — There was a certain town, the road to which was a very roundabout one. - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/79/) — It was some fifty versts long, whereas if it had been made in a straight line it would not have been more than five. - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/80/) — And so the Emperor ordained that a bridge should be made the whole way. - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/81/) — Well, they built a bridge five versts long, and this piece of work cleared out both the pots. - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/82/) — About that time a certain maid bore a son and deserted him in his infancy. - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/83/) — The child neither ate nor drank for three years and an angel of God always went about with him. - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/84/) — Well, this child came to the bridge, and cried: - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/85/) — "Ah! what a glorious bridge! - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/86/) — God grant the kingdom of heaven to him at whose cost it was built!" - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/87/) — The Lord heard this prayer, and ordered his angels to release the rich moujik from the depths of hell. - [88](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/88/) — \[395\] - [89](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/89/) — With the bridge-building episode in this "legend" may be compared the opening of another Russian story. - [90](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/90/) — In it a merchant is described as having much money but no children. - [91](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/91/) — So he and his wife "began to pray to God, entreating him to give them a child--for solace in their youth, for support in their old age, for soul-remembrance\[396\] after death. - [92](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/92/) — And they took to feeding the poor and distributing alms. - [93](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/93/) — Besides all this, they resolved to build, for the use of all the faithful, a long bridge across swamps and where no man could find a footing. - [94](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/94/) — Much wealth did the merchant expend, but he built the bridge, and when the work was completed he sent his manager Fedor, saying-- - [95](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/95/) — "'Go and sit under the bridge, and listen to what folks say about me--whether they bless me or revile me.' - [96](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/96/) — "Fedor set off, sat under the bridge, and listened. - [97](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/97/) — Presently three Holy Elders went over the bridge, and said one to another-- - [98](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/98/) — "'How ought the man who built this bridge to be rewarded?' ' - [99](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/99/) — Let there be born to him a fortunate son. - [100](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/100/) — Whatsoever that son says--it shall be done: whatsoever he desires--that will the Lord bestow!'" **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/52/page/2/) - ← previous: [Ghost Stories., part 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/51/) - next →: [Ghost Stories., part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/53/) - ↑ back to [Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/)