--- title: Opening, part 18 — Russian Folk-Tales · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 18, «Russian Folk-Tales» by A. N. Afanas'ev: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: “Give me a kiss, fair maiden!” --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/18/page/2/) [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 Folk-Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/) / Opening, part 18 # Opening, part 18 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/18/) **2** So they passed the time merrily and they sat down.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") The Tsar sat at table and Vasilísa Vasílyevna on his right.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") They ate sweetmeats and they drank strong wines.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Then there came the pie, and as soon as even Vasilísa Vasílyevna’s spoon touched it, it tingled on the pearls; and she flung them and the pie under the table, and began to scold the Tsar.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who,” she asked, “put these into the pie?[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Whatever nonsense have you here, Tsar Bárkhat?[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") I never saw such girlish trash in my father’s house, and I have never heard of them, and yet you find them in Tsar Bárkhat’s food!”[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") And she bade farewell courteously and rode home.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Still the Tsar was utterly at a loss whether it were a maiden, and he had made up his mind to find out.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") So, two days later, the Tsar, at the advice of the old evil-minded housekeeper, had the bath heated, for the old woman said: “If it is only Vasilísa Vasílyevna she will not go into the bath together with the Tsar.”[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") So the bath was heated, and Tsar Bárkhat sent Pope Vasíli another message that he would like to have his son Vasíli Vasílyevich as his guest; and when Vasilísa Vasílyevna heard of it she went into the stable and saddled the grey horse with the silver mane, and galloped away to Tsar Bárkhat’s courtyard.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") He received her at the state entrance.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") They greeted each other friendlily, and she trod on velvet pile into the palace.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") As she came in she prayed devoutly, crossed herself, as is seemly, and bowed to all four quarters, and sat together with the Tsar at table.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") They ate sweetmeats and drank strong wine.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") After the dinner the Tsar said: “Will you not come with me into the bath, Vasíli Vasílyevich?”[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") “If you wish it, mighty Tsar,” Vasilísa Vasílyevna answered.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is a long time since I have had a bath, and I should like a steam bath.”[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") But before ever the Tsar had had time to undress in the front room, she was in the bath and out of it, so quick was she, and the Tsar was as puzzled as ever.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") In the meantime Vasilísa Vasílyevna had written a letter and bade the attendants give it to the Tsar as soon as he came out of the bath.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") And this was what she wrote:[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") “O you crow, you Tsar Bárkhat\![89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") The crow has not caught the falcon in the garden.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") I am not Vasíli Vasílyevich, but Vasilísa Vasílyevna!”[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") This was the way in which Tsar Bárkhat was hoodwinked; and you see how clever and beautiful Vasilísa Vasílyevna was.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") THE DREAM[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") One day an old, old man was wandering about the earth, and he asked for a night’s shelter from the peasant.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") “Certainly,” said the peasant—“I shall be only too glad; only, will you go on telling me stories all night long?”[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, all right\![96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") I will tell you stories; only, let me rest here.”[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then, pray, come in!”[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") So the old man entered the hut and lay down on the sleeping bench on the top of the stove.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") And the master said: “Make yourself ready, honoured guest.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") We shall have supper.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, old man, tell me a story.”[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") “Wait a bit; I had better tell you one in the morning.”[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") “As it please you!”[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") And they lay down to sleep.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the old man went to sleep, and dreamed that there were two candles blazing in front of the images and two birds fluttering in the \_izbá\_.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") \[23\] He felt thirsty, and wanted to drink, got off the sleeping bench, and there were newts running about on the floor.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") And he went up to the table, and saw frogs jumping and croaking on it.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he looked up at the master’s eldest son, and there was a snake lying in between him and his wife.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") And he looked at the second son, and on the second son’s wife there was a cat which was yawning at the man.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he looked at the third son, and between him and his wife there was a young man lying.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") This all seemed rather queer to the old man, and rather strange.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went and lay on the corn-kiln, and there he heard shrieks: “Sister\![113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Sister! come and fetch me!”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went and lay under the fence, and there he heard a cry: “Pull me out and stick me in again!”[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went and lay on the cauldron, and he heard a cry: “I am hanging on the cross-beam\![116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") I am falling on the cross-beam!”[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went back into the hut.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") The master woke up and said: “Now tell me a story.”[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") But the old man replied: “I shall not tell you a story, only the truth.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Do you know what I have just dreamed?[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") I went to sleep and thought I saw two candles blazing in front of the images and two birds fluttering inside the hut.”[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") “Those are my two angels fluttering about.”[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") “And I also saw a snake lying between your son and his wife.”[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") “That is because they quarrel.”[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") “And I looked also at your second son, and there was a cat sitting on his wife, and yawning at the man.”[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") “That means that they are bad friends, and the wife wants to get rid of the husband.”[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then, when I looked at your next son, I saw a youth lying in between them.”[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") “That is not a youth, but an angel who was lying there; and that is why they are on such good and loving terms.”[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why is it, then, master of the house, when I slipped off the sleeping shelf that there were newts running on the floor; and, when I wanted to drink at the table, I saw frogs leaping about and croaking?”[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") “Because,” the peasant answered, “my daughters-in-law do not sweep up the lathes; but put the \_kvas\_ on the table when they are sitting round together without saying grace.”[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then I went to sleep on the corn-kiln, and I heard a cry: ‘Sister\![132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") Sister! come and fetch me!’”[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") “That means that my sons never put the brush back into its place and say the proper blessing.”[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then I went to lie under the fence, and I heard a cry: ‘Pull me out and stick me in again!’”[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") “That means that the stick’s upside-down.”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then I went and lay under the cauldron.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") And I heard a cry of ‘I am hanging on the cross-beam\![138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") I am falling on the cross-beam!’”[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") “That means,” said the master, “that, when I die, my entire house will fall.”[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/18/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/18/) - next →: [Opening, part 19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/19/) - ↑ back to [Russian Folk-Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/)