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02-ivan the fool-第3部分
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Ivan then told the devil he might proceed； whereupon the latter
began to explain to him how he might become rich。
〃Take；〃 said he to Ivan； 〃the leaves of this oak tree and rub
them in your hands； and the gold will fall to the ground。〃
Ivan did as he was directed； and immediately the gold began to
drop about his feet； and he remarked：
〃This will be a fine trick to amuse the village boys with。〃
〃Can I now take my departure？〃 asked the devil； to which Ivan
replied； 〃With God's blessing you may go。〃
At the mention of the name of God； the devil disappeared into the
earth。
CHAPTER VI。
The brothers； having finished their houses； moved into them and
lived apart from their father and brother。 Ivan； when he had
completed his plowing； made a great feast； to which he invited
his brothers； telling them that he had plenty of beer for them to
drink。 The brothers； however； declined Ivan's hospitality；
saying； 〃We have seen the beer moujiks drink； and want none of
it。〃
Ivan then gathered around him all the peasants in the village
and with them drank beer until he became intoxicated； when he
joined the Khorovody （a street gathering of the village boys and
girls； who sing songs）； and told them they must sing his praises；
saying that in return he would show them such sights as they had
never before seen in their lives。 The little girls laughed and
began to sing songs praising Ivan； and when they had finished
they said： 〃Very well； now give us what you said you would。〃
Ivan replied； 〃I will soon show you；〃 and； taking an empty bag in
his hand； he started for the woods。 The little girls laughed as
they said； 〃What a fool he is！〃 and resuming their play they
forgot all about him。
Some time after Ivan suddenly appeared among them carrying in his
hand the bag； which was now filled。
〃Shall I divide this with you？〃 he said。
〃Yes； divide！〃 they sang in chorus。
So Ivan put his hand into the bag and drew it out full of gold
coins； which he scattered among them。
〃Batiushka；〃 they cried as they ran to gather up the precious
pieces。
The moujiks then appeared on the scene and began to fight among
themselves for the possession of the yellow objects。 In the
melee one old woman was nearly crushed to death。
Ivan laughed and was greatly amused at the sight of so many
persons quarrelling over a few pieces of gold。
〃Oh！ you duratchki〃 （little fools）； he said； 〃why did you almost
crush the life out of the old grandmother？ Be more gentle。 I
have plenty more； and I will give them to you；〃 whereupon he
began throwing about more of the coins。
The people gathered around him； and Ivan continued throwing until
he emptied his bag。 They clamored for more； but Ivan replied：
〃The gold is all gone。 Another time I will give you more。 Now
we will r俿um偂ur singing and dancing。〃
The little children sang； but Ivan said to them； 〃Your songs are
no good。〃
The children said； 〃Then show us how to sing better。〃
To this Ivan replied； 〃I will show you people who can sing better
than you。〃 With that remark Ivan went to the barn and； securing
a bundle of straw； did as the little devil had directed him； and
presently a regiment of soldiers appeared in the village street；
and he ordered them to sing and dance。
The people were astonished and could not understand how Ivan had
produced the strangers。
The soldiers sang for some time； to the great delight of the
villagers； and when Ivan commanded them to stop they instantly
ceased。
Ivan then ordered them off to the barn； telling the astonished
and mystified moujiks that they must not follow him。 Reaching
the barn； he turned the soldiers again into straw and went home
to sleep off the effects of his debauch。
CHAPTER VII。
The next morning Ivan's exploits were the talk of the village；
and news of the wonderful things he had done reached the ears of
his brother Simeon； who immediately went to Ivan to learn all
about it。
〃Explain to me；〃 he said； 〃from whence did you bring the
soldiers； and where did you take them？〃
〃And what do you wish to know for？〃 asked Ivan。
〃Why； with soldiers we can do almost anything we wishwhole
kingdoms can be conquered；〃 replied Simeon。
This information greatly surprised Ivan； who said： 〃Well； why did
you not tell me about this before？ I can make as many as you
want。〃
Ivan then took his brother to the barn； but he said： 〃While I am
willing to create the soldiers； you must take them away from
here； for if it should become necessary to feed them； all the
food in the village would last them only one day。〃
Simeon promised to do as Ivan wished； whereupon Ivan proceeded to
convert the straw into soldiers。 Out of one bundle of straw he
made an entire regiment； in fact； so many soldiers appeared as if
by magic that there was not a vacant spot in the field。
Turning to Simeon Ivan said； 〃Well； is there a sufficient
number？〃
Beaming with joy； Simeon replied： 〃Enough！ enough！ Thank you；
Ivan！〃
〃Glad you are satisfied；〃 said Ivan； 〃and if you wish more I will
make them for you。 I have plenty of straw now。〃
Simeon divided his soldiers into battalions and regiments； and
after having drilled them he went forth to fight and to conquer。
Simeon had just gotten safely out of the village with his
soldiers when Tarras； the other brother； appeared before Ivanhe
also having heard of the previous day's performance and wanting
to learn the secret of his power。 He sought Ivan； saying： 〃Tell
me the secret of your supply of gold； for if I had plenty of
money I could with its assistance gather in all the wealth in the
world。〃
Ivan was greatly surprised on hearing this statement； and said：
〃You might have told me this before； for I can obtain for you as
much money as you wish。〃
Tarras was delighted； and he said； 〃You might get me about three
bushels。〃
〃Well；〃 said Ivan； 〃we will go to the woods； or； better still； we
will harness the horse； as we could not possibly carry so much
money ourselves。〃
The brothers went to the woods and Ivan proceeded to gather the
oak leaves； which he rubbed between his hands； the dust falling
to the ground and turning into gold pieces as quickly as it fell。
When quite a pile had accumulated Ivan turned to Tarras and asked
if he had rubbed enough leaves into money； whereupon Tarras
replied： 〃Thank you； Ivan； that will be sufficient for this
time。〃
Ivan then said： 〃If you wish more； come to me and I will rub as
much as you want； for there are plenty of leaves。〃
Tarras； with his tarantas （wagon） filled with gold； rode away to
the city to engage in trade and increase his wealth； and thus
both brothers went their way； Simeon to fight and Tarras to
trade。
Simeon's soldiers conquered a kingdom for him and Tarras…Briukhan
made plenty of money。
Some time afterward the two brothers met and confessed to each
other the source from whence sprang their prosperity； but they
were not yet satisfied。
Simeon said： 〃I have conquered a kingdom and enjoy a very
pleasant life； but I have not sufficient money to procure food
for my soldiers；〃 while Tarras confessed that he was the
possessor of enormous wealth； but the care of it caused him much
uneasiness。
〃Let us go again to our brother；〃 said Simeon； 〃I will order him
to make more soldiers and will give them to you； and you may then
tell him that he must make more money so that we can buy food for
them。〃
They went again to Ivan； and Simeon said： 〃I have not sufficient
soldiers； I want you to make me at least two divisions more。〃
But Ivan shook his head as he said： 〃I will not create soldiers
for nothing； you must pay me for doing it。〃
〃Well； but you promised；〃 said Simeon。
〃I know I did；〃 replied Ivan； 〃but I have changed my mind since
that time。〃
〃But； fool； why will you not do as you promised？〃
〃For the reason that your soldiers kill men； and I will not make
any more for such a cruel purpose。〃 With this reply Ivan
remained stubborn and would not create any more soldiers。
Tarras…Briukhan next approached Ivan and ordered him to make more
money； but； as in the case of Tarras； Ivan only shook his head；
as he said： 〃I will not make you any money unless you pay me for
doing it。 I cannot work without pay。〃
Tarras then reminded him of his promise。
〃I know I promised；〃 replied Ivan； 〃but still I must refuse to do
as you wish。〃
〃But why； fool； will you not fulfill your promise？〃 asked Tarras。
〃For the reason that your gold was the means of depriving
Mikhailovna of her cow。〃
〃But how did that happen？〃 inquired Tarras。
〃It happened in this way；〃 said Ivan。 〃Mikhailovna always kept a
cow； and her children had plenty of milk to drink； but some time
ago one of her boys came to me to beg for some milk； and I asked；
'Where is your cow？' when he replied； 'A clerk of Tarras…Briukhan
came to our home and offered three gold pieces for her。 Our
mother could not resist the temptation； and now we have no milk
to drink。 I gave you the gold pieces for your pleasure； and you
put them to such poor use that I will not give you any more。'〃
The brothers； on hearing this； took their departure to discuss as
to the best plan to pursue in regard to a settlement of their
troubles。
Simeon said： 〃Let us arrange it in this way： I will give you the
half of my kingdom； and soldiers to keep guard over your wealth；
and you give me money to feed the soldiers in my half of the
kingdom。〃
To this arrangement Tarras agreed； and both the brothers became
rulers and very happy。
CHAPTER VIII。
Ivan remained on the farm and worked to support his father；
mother； and dumb sister。 Once it happened that the old dog；
which had grown up o
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