Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 29, 1918.djvu/214

204 dwelling in the village of Goosefka in the Government of Saratov:

When Alexander of Macedon conquered the whole world he decided to visit Paradise. To find his way to it he procured a Bible in his own kingdom. It was not a Bible as we have them now, but an old one as they had them in the days of Adam, and in it was described the way to reach Paradise. He took all his army and started on his way according to this Bible. Now he was getting quite near when the angel who guards Paradise runs to God and says: "O God! Alexander of Macedon is coming to our Paradise." Then God causes wide rivers to flow across Alexander's path, but the warrior builds ships and bridges, crosses the rivers and advances to Paradise. Again the angel runs to God: "O God! Alexander is coming." Then God puts in his way thick forests filled with huge fierce beasts. Alexander catches the beasts, feeds his army with them, cuts down the forests and comes nearer. Once more the angel runs to God and says: "Alexander is coming." Then God raises in front of the king impassable mountains, but Alexander takes pick-axes, hammers and shovels, and breaks a passage through the mountains; one sees no one, but one hears a great noise as of thunder under ground.

The angel tells this to God, who only now guesses that Alexander must have a Bible to help him. He commands the angel to get possession of it.

Alexander lies down to sleep, but he does not let go the Bible and holds it tightly by one corner. The angel arrives and seizes the book. Alexander wakes up and squeezes his fingers more tightly round the corner. The angel gives a strong pull and draws the Bible out of