--- title: Opening, part 8 — Russian Folk-Tales · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 8, «Russian Folk-Tales» by A. N. Afanas'ev: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: But the younger brother, who had turned to the left, heard that there was a fair princess in a certain kingdom who was indescribably lovely. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/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 8 # Opening, part 8 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/) **2** But the younger son smote his mare with the back of his hand and said, “You are a mare; now become a maiden!”[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") So the mare turned into the fair Tsarévna.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") They made peace, became friends and wedded.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a magnificent wedding.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") I was there, I drank mead and it flowed up to my beard, but none came into my mouth.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") MARK THE RICH[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") In a country, in a kingdom far away, once upon a time there lived a merchant, Mark the Rich; and, what with all his estates and revenues, you couldn’t count them.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") He lived, and was merry, and never suffered the poor man to come to his door, so ungracious was he.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") One day he had a dream: “Make ready, Mark the Rich, and wait.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") God Himself will be thy Guest!”[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") In the morning Mark got up, called his wife, and bade her make a banquet.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") He covered all of his courtyard with scarlet velvet and golden brocade, and at every side-path he posted journeymen and servants to keep out all the hunger-brothers and scare them outside.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Mark the Rich came, and sat awaiting the Lord.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") The hours went by, and never a guest.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") And then the poor heard that there was a great feast at the house of Mark the Rich.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") They all gathered round for the hallowed gifts; but the journeymen and servants drove them all away.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") But one poor beggar, bent with age, and all in rags, went up to the door of Mark the Rich.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") And as Mark the Rich saw him from the window, he cried out in a fierce voice: “Hi, you sluggards and louts\![97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Eyes and no eyes?[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Look at the beast that is traipsing up and down our courtyard: get rid of him.”[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") And all the servants scampered up, laid hold of the poor old fellow, and rushed him out the back way.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") One good old woman saw him, and said: “Come to me, you poor old beggar; I will feed and rest you.”[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") She took him in, fed him, gave him to drink, and laid him to sleep; and thus Mark the Rich had never found the Lord for whom he was waiting.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") At midnight the lady had a dream, and heard some one knock at the window and ask: “Old and righteous man, are you sleeping here to-night?”[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes,” said the old man.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") “In a village near by a poor peasant has had a son; how will you reward him?”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor man said: “He shall be lord of all the domains of Mark the Rich!”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") Next day the poor old man left his hostess and went forth to roam.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") The old peasant woman went to Mark the Rich and told him of her dream.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Mark went to the peasant and asked for the baby.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") “Give him to me—I will adopt him; he shall grow up; I will teach him well; and when I die he shall have all my wealth.”[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") This was what he said, but his thoughts were quite different.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") He took the little boy, went home, and threw him into a snow-drift.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") “Lie there and freeze; that’s the way to become master of Mark’s wealth!”[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") But that same night hunters, passing by, hunting for hares, found the boy, took him home, and brought him up.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Many years passed by, and much water flowed in the river, and one day Mark the Rich went out with those huntsmen, saw the young boy, heard his story, and spoke about him, and knew it was the same he had cast forth.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") So Mark the Rich asked the youth to go home and take a letter to his wife; but in that letter he bade her poison the boy like a dog.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor foundling set out on his road; when on his way, he met a poor man with nothing on but a shirt; but this beggar was Christ Himself.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") He stopped the wayfarer, took the letter, and held it for one minute, and the letter was changed in all it said.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") The wife of Mark the Rich was to receive the bearer with all honour, and marry him to her daughter.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") It was said, and it was done.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Mark the Rich returned home; and was very wroth at seeing his new son-in-law, and said: “In the evening go to my distillery and look after the work”; whilst he secretly told the men to hunt him into the burning cauldron as soon as ever he appeared.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") So the boy made ready to go to the distillery; but a sudden sickness befell him, and he had to go back home.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Mark the Rich waited his time, and went to see what had become of his son-in-law, and tumbled into his own distillers’ clutches, into the burning cauldron\![123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") BY COMMAND OF THE PRINCE DANIEL[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Once upon a time there was an aged queen who had a son and a daughter, who were fine, sturdy children.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") But there was also an evil witch who could not bear them, and she began to lay plots how she might contrive their overthrow.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") So she went to the old Queen and said: “Dear Gossip, I am giving you a ring.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") Put it on your son’s hand, and he will then be rich and generous: only he must marry the maiden whom this ring fits.”[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") The mother believed her and was extremely glad, and at her death bade her son marry only the woman whom the ring fitted.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") Time went by and the boy grew up: he became a man and looked at all the maidens.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") Very many of them he liked, only as soon as he put the ring on their finger it was either too broad or too narrow.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") So he travelled from village to village and from town to town, and searched out all the fair damsels, but he could not find his chosen one, and returned home in a reflective mood.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") “What’s the matter, brother?” his sister asked him.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") So he told her of his trouble, explained his sorrow.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") “What a wonderful ring you have!” said the sister.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let me try it on.”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") She tried it on her finger, and the ring was firmly fixed as if it had been soldered on, as though it had been made for her.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, sister! you are my chosen bride, and you must be my wife.”[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") “What a horrible idea, brother\![139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") That would be a sin.”[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") But the brother would not listen to a word she said.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") He danced for joy and told her to make ready for the wedding.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") She wept bitter tears, went in front of the house, and sat on the threshold and let her tears flow.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") Two old beggars came up, and she gave them to eat and to drink.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") They asked what her trouble was, and she needs must tell the two.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now, weep no more, but do what we say.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") Make up four dolls and put them in the four corners of the room.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") After your brother calls you in for the betrothal, go; and if he calls you into the bridal chamber, ask for time, trust in God, and follow our advice.”[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") And the beggars departed.[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/) - next →: [Opening, part 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/9/) - ↑ back to [Russian Folk-Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/)