--- title: Opening, part 37 — Russian Folk-Tales · full text with trees description: Opening, part 37, «Russian Folk-Tales» by A. N. Afanas'ev: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: As soon as he had spoken these words a little devil rose up at once in front of him and said, “Hail, soldier, what do you wish? --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/37/) [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 37 # Opening, part 37 Opening, part 37 of «Russian Folk-Tales» by A. N. Afanas'ev: the whole text, 166 sentences and 2525 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. As soon as he had spoken these words a little devil rose up at once in front of him and said, “Hail, soldier, what do you wish?[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Did you just now not say that you wished to become one of our servants?[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Why, soldier, come up and be hired: we will pay you well.”[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is the work?”[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, the work is easy enough: for fifteen years you must not shave, you must not have your hair cut, you must not blow your nose, and you must not change your garb.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") If you serve this service, then we will go to the king, who has three daughters.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Two of them are mine, but the third shall be yours.”[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well,” said the soldier, “I will undertake the contract; but I require in return to get anything my soul hankers after.”[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") “It shall be so; be at peace; we shall not be in default.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well, let it befall at once.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Carry me at once into the capital and give me a pile of money; you know yourself how little of these goods a soldier ever gets.”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") So the little devil dashed into the lake, got out a pile of gold, and instantaneously carried the soldier into the great city, and all at once he was there\![12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") “What a fool I have been!” said the soldier: “I have not done any service, no work, and I now have the money!”[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") So he took a room, never cut his hair, never shaved, never wiped his nose, never changed his garb, and he lived on and grew wealthy, so wealthy he did not know what to do with his money.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") What was he to do with his silver and gold?[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, very well, I will start helping the poor: possibly they may pray for my soul.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") So the soldier began distributing alms to the needy, to the right and to the left, and he still had money over, however much he gave away\![17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") His fame spread over the whole kingdom, came to the ears of all.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") So the soldier lived for fourteen years, and on the fifteenth year the Tsar’s exchequer gave out.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") So he summoned the soldier.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") So the soldier came to him unwashed, unshaved, uncombed, with his nose unwiped and his dress unchanged.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “Health, your Majesty!”[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “Listen, soldier.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") You, they say, are good to all folks: will you lend me some money?[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") I have not enough to pay my troops.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") If you will I will make you a general at once.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") “No, your Majesty, I do not wish to be a general; but if you will do me a favour, give me one of your daughters as my wife, and you shall have as much money as you wish for the Treasury.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") So the king began to think: he was very fond of his daughters, but still he could not do anything whatsoever without money.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well,” he said, “I agree.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Have a portrait taken of yourself; I will show it to my daughters and ask which of them will take you.”[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") So the soldier returned, had the portrait painted, which was feature for feature, unshaved, unwashed, uncombed, his nose unwiped, and in his old garb, and sent it to the Tsar.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, the Tsar had three daughters, and the father summoned them and showed them the soldier’s portrait.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to the eldest, “Will you go and marry him?[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") He will redeem me from very great embarrassment.”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The Tsarévna saw what a monstrous animal had been painted, with tangled hair, uncut nails and unwiped nose.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") “I certainly won’t!” she said, “I would sooner go to the Devil.”[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") And from somewhere or other the Devil appeared, stood behind her with pen and paper, heard what she said, and entered her soul on his register.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the father asked the next daughter, “Will you go and marry the soldier?”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “What\![39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") I would rather remain a maiden; I would rather tie myself up with the Devil than go with him.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Devil went and inscribed her soul as well.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the father asked his youngest daughter, and she answered, “Evidently this must be my lot: I will go and marry him and see what God shall give.”[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Tsar was very blithe at this, and he went and told the soldier to make ready for the betrothal, and he sent him twelve carts to carry the money away.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the soldier made use of his devil: “There are twelve carts; pile them all high at once with gold.”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") So the devil ran into the lake and the unholy ones set to work.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of them brought up one sack, some two, and they soon filled the carts and sent them to the Tsar, into his palace.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Tsar looked, and now summoned the soldier to him every day, sat with him at one table, and ate and drank with him.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") When they got ready for the marriage the term of fifteen years was over.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") So he called the little devil and said, “Now my service is over: turn me into a youth.”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") So the devil cut him up into little bits, threw them into a cauldron, and began to brew him—brewed him, washed him and collected all his bones, one by one, in the proper way, every bone with every bone, every joint with every joint, every nerve with every nerve: then he sprinkled them with the water of life, and the soldier arose, such a fine young man as no tale can tell and no pen can write.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") He then married the youngest Tsarévna, and they began to live a merry life of good.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") I was at the wedding: I drank mead and beer.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") They also had wine, and I drank it to the very dregs.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") But the little devil ran back into the lake, for his elder hauled him over the coals to answer for what he had done with the soldier.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") “He has served out his period faithfully and honourably: he has never once shaved himself, nor cut his hair, nor wiped his nose, nor changed his clothes.”[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the elder was very angry.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") He said, “In fifteen years you were not able to corrupt the soldier\![57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Was all the money given in vain?[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") What sort of a devil will you be after this?”[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") And he had him thrown into the burning pitch.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh no, please, grandfather,” said the grandson, “I have lost the soldier’s soul, but I have gained two others.”[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") “What?”[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") “Look: the soldier thought of marrying a Tsarévna; the two elder daughters both declined and said they would rather marry a devil than the soldier.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") So there they are, and they belong to us.”[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") So the grandfather-devil approved what the grandson-imp had done, and set him free.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes,” he said, “you know your business very well indeed.”[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") CHRIST AND THE GEESE[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") One day St. Peter and Christ were out walking together.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") St. Peter was deep in thought and suddenly said: “How fine it must be to be God\![69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") If for half a day I might be God, then let me be Peter all the rest of my days!”[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") The Lord smiled.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") “Your will shall be granted.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Be God until nightfall.”[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") They were approaching a village, and saw a peasant girl driving a flock of geese.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") She drove them to the meadow, left them there, and hurried back home.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") “Are you going to leave the geese by themselves?”[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") St. Peter asked.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well, what?—guard them to-day\![78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") It’s a feast-day.”[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") “But who will look after the geese?”[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") “God Almighty, maybe,” she said, and ran away.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") “Peter, you have heard her,” said the Saviour.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") “I should have been delighted to go with you to the village feast, but then the geese might come to some harm.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") You are God until nightfall, and must stay and watch them.”[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") Poor Peter\![85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") He was angry; but had to stay and guard the geese.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") He never again wished to be God.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") CHRIST AND FOLK-SONGS[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") One day Christ and St. Peter were walking about the earth and came to a village.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") In one house folks were singing so finely that Christ stayed to listen, whilst St. Peter went on.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") He turned back and found Christ still at His post.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") St. Peter went on again, and looked back: Christ was still listening.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") St. Peter went on again and then glanced back a third time—and Christ was still listening.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went back and heard a splendid folk-song in the house, stayed a while, and went on to another house where there also was singing.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") There St. Peter stayed, but Christ passed on.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") St. Peter hurried up and looked astounded.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") “What’s the matter?” asked Christ.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") “I could not make out why you stopped to listen to folk-songs and passed by the house where hymns were being sung.”[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, my dear son,” said Christ, “there was a good scent there in the one house where folk-songs were being sung; but there was no reverence about the house where they were chanting hymns.”[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") THE DEVIL IN THE DOUGH-PAN[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") Once a woman was kneading bread, but had forgotten to say the blessing.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") So the demon, Potánka,\[56\] ran up and sat down in it.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she recollected she had kneaded the dough without saying the blessing, went up to it and crossed herself; and Potánka wanted to escape, but could not anyhow, because of the blessing.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") So she put the leavened dough through a strainer and threw it out into the street, with Potánka inside.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") The pigs turned him over and over, and he could not escape for three whole days.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") At last he tore his way out through a crack in the dough and scampered off without looking behind him.[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") He ran up to his comrades, who asked him: “Where have you been, Potánka?”[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") “May that woman be accursed!” he said.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who?”[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") “The one who was kneading her dough and had made it without saying the proper blessing; so I ran up and squatted in it.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she laid hold of me and crossed herself, and after three livelong days I got out, the pigs poking me about and I unable to escape\![111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") Never again will I get into a woman’s dough.”[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") THE SUN, THE MOON, AND CROW CROWSON[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman who had three daughters.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man went into the loft for some groats, and took them home, but there was a hole in the sack, and the groats were running and running out of the sack.[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man went home, and the old woman asked, “Where are the groats?”[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") But all the groats had dripped out.[117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") So the old man went to collect them, and said, “If only the Sun would warm the grain, and the moon show its light on it, and Crow Crowson help me to get the groats, I would give my eldest daughter to the little Sun, and my middle daughter to the Moon, and my youngest to Crow Crowson.”[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") So the old man set to collecting the grain, and the Sun warmed it, and the Moon shone on it, and Vóron Vóronovich helped to collect the grain.[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man came back home and said to the eldest daughter: “You must dress nicely and go out on the steps.”[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") So she dressed and went out on the steps.[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") And the Sun laid hold of her.[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") And he commanded the next daughter in the same way to dress herself finely and to stand on the steps.[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") So she dressed herself up and went out, and the Moon seized and took away the second daughter.[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said to the third daughter, “Dress yourself prettily and stand on the steps.”[125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") So she dressed herself prettily and stood on the steps, and Crow Crowson seized her and carried her away.[126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the old man said, “I think I might go and visit my sons-in-law.”[127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went to the Sun, and at last he arrived there.[128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") The Sun asked him, “With what shall I regale you?”[129](129/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, I don’t wish for anything!”[130](130/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Sun bade his wife make a custard ready.[131](131/ "tree and pragmatics") So the daughter prepared the custard; the Sun sat down in the middle of the floor, and his wife put the pan on him and the custard was soon cooked.[132](132/ "tree and pragmatics") So they gave the old father refreshment.[133](133/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the old father went back home and bade his wife make him a custard; and he sat down on the floor and commanded her to put the pan with the custard on to him.[134](134/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are you talking about?[135](135/ "tree and pragmatics") Bake it on you!” said the old wife.[136](136/ "tree and pragmatics") “Go on!” he replied.[137](137/ "tree and pragmatics") “Put it there; it will be baked!”[138](138/ "tree and pragmatics") So she put the pan on him, and the custard stood there for ages and was not ever cooked, only turned sour.[139](139/ "tree and pragmatics") It was no good.[140](140/ "tree and pragmatics") So in the end the wife put the pan into the stove, and this time the custard was baked and the old man got something to eat.[141](141/ "tree and pragmatics") Next day the old man went to stay as a guest with his second son-in-law, the Moon, and he arrived.[142](142/ "tree and pragmatics") And the Moon said, “With what shall I regale you?”[143](143/ "tree and pragmatics") “I do not wish for anything,” said the old man.[144](144/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Moon got the bath heated ready for him.[145](145/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man said, “Won’t it be very dark in the bath?”[146](146/ "tree and pragmatics") “No,” said the Moon to him, “quite light; only step in.”[147](147/ "tree and pragmatics") So the old man went into the bath, and the Moon twisted his little finger into a chink, and it was quite light in the bathroom.[148](148/ "tree and pragmatics") So the old man steamed himself thoroughly, went back home and told his wife to heat the bath at night.[149](149/ "tree and pragmatics") So the old woman heated it, and he sent her there to steam herself.[150](150/ "tree and pragmatics") “But,” she said, “it will be much too dark to steam myself!”[151](151/ "tree and pragmatics") “Go along! it will be light enough.”[152](152/ "tree and pragmatics") So the old woman went.[153](153/ "tree and pragmatics") And the old man saw how the Moon had lit the place up for him, and he went and bored a tiny hole in the bathroom and thrust his finger through it.[154](154/ "tree and pragmatics") But there was still no light in the bath, and the old woman shrieked out to him, “Dark! much too dark!”[155](155/ "tree and pragmatics") It was not any good.[156](156/ "tree and pragmatics") So she went out, brought a lamp, and enjoyed her steam bath.[157](157/ "tree and pragmatics") On the third day the old man went to Vóron Vóronovich.[158](158/ "tree and pragmatics") He got there.[159](159/ "tree and pragmatics") “How shall I regale you?” asked Vóron Vóronovich.[160](160/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh,” said the old man, “I don’t want anything!”[161](161/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well, let us come and sleep on the perch.”[162](162/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Crow put a ladder up and climbed up there with his father-in-law.[163](163/ "tree and pragmatics") Crow Crowson settled himself comfortably with his head under his wing.[164](164/ "tree and pragmatics") But as soon as ever the old man dropped off to sleep both of them fell down and were killed.[165](165/ "tree and pragmatics") THE LEGLESS KNIGHT AND THE BLIND KNIGHT[166](166/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Opening, part 36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/36/) - next →: [Opening, part 38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/38/) - ↑ back to [Russian Folk-Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/)