Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/42

26 Danílo. But Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, dressed himself as a sorry beggar and asked for holy alms. They all gave to him; only Danílo the Unfortunate alone said and thought, "What shall I give him? I have nothing to give." So, as it was Easter Day, he gave him the golden egg. Alyósha Popóvich took that golden egg and changed into his former garb.

Prince Vladímir summoned them all to him, all to his palace to dessert: so they ate and drank and were refreshed, and they exalted themselves. Danílo drank until he was drunk; and, when he was drunk, made boast of his wife. Alyósha Popóvich bragged at the feast that he knew Danílo's wife. But Danílo said, "If you know my wife you may cut off my head; and, if you do not know her, you shall forfeit your own."

So Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, went whither his eyes might go, and he went and wept.

Then the old woman met him on his way and asked, "Why are you weeping, Alyósha Popóvich?"

"Go away, old woman with the swollen belly; I have naught to do with you."

"Yet I shall be of service to you."

Then he began to ask her, "O my own grandmother, what did you wish to tell me?"

"Ha! am I now your own grandmother?"

"O, I was boasting I knew Danílo's wife!"

"O bátyushka, how do you know her: was there any little bird that told you? Do you go up to a certain house and invite her to feast with the Prince. She will wash herself, busk herself, and put a little chain out of the window. You take that chain and show it to Danílo the Unfortunate."

So Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, went to the window jamb, and called the Swan-bird, the fair maiden, to dine with the Prince. She was starting to