THE TSARÉVICH AND DYÁD'KA[1]
Once upon a time, in a certain kingdom, in a city of yore, there was a King who had a dwarf son. The Tsarévich was fair to behold, and fair of heart. But his father was not good: he was always tortured with greedy thoughts, how he should derive greater profit from his country and extract heavier taxes.
One day he saw an old peasant passing by with sable, marten, beaver, and fox-skins; and he asked him:
"Old man! whence do you come?"
"Out of the village, Father. I serve the Woodsprite with the iron hands, the cast-iron head, and the body of bronze."
"How do you catch so many animals?"
"The Woodsprite lays traps, and the animals are stupid and go into them."
"Listen, old man; I will give you gold and wine. Show me where you put the traps."
So the old man was persuaded, and he showed the King, who instantly had the Woodsprite arrested and confined in a narrow tower. And in all the Woodsprite's forests the King himself laid traps.
The Woodsprite-forester sat in his iron tower inside the royal garden, and looked out through the window. One day, the Tsarévich, with his nurses and attendants and very many faithful servant-maids, went into the garden to play. He passed the door, and the Woodsprite cried out to him: "Tsarévich, if you will set me free, I will later on help you."
- ↑ Affectionate term for old servant, equivalent to uncle.
137
