THE FISHERMAN AND THE GOLDFISH
Translated from the Russian by Louis Zelikoff ©
Illustrated by B. Dekhteryov
FOREIGN LANGUAGES PUBLISHING HOUSE
MOSCOW
There once lived an old man and his goodwife Now the goldfish began to implore him, |
To his wife the old fisherman hastened To tell her about this great marvel. “I caught only one fish this morning- A goldfish it was, most uncommon; It spoke like a Christian, and begged me To put it back into the ocean, And promised to pay a rich ransom, To give me whatever I asked for. But how could I ask for a ransom? I released it without any payment.” His wife started scolding her husband: “Oh you simpleton! Oh you great silly! Couldn’t make a mere fish pay a ransom! You at least might have asked for a wash-tub- For ours is all falling to pieces!” The old man returned to the seashore, |
To his wife the old fisherman hastened, And behold-there it was, the new wash-tub. But she scolded him louder than ever: “Oh you simpleton! Oh you great silly! To ask for a tub-a mere wash-tub! What good can you get from a wash-tub? Return to the goldfish, you silly, Bow down low and ask for a cottage.” Again he went back to the seashore, |
So back the old man turned his footsteps; Not a sign did he see of his hovel. In its place stood a new gabled cottage, With a chimney of brick, newly whitewashed, A fence with oak gates stood around it; And there sat his wife at a window; When she saw him, she scolded him roundly. “Oh you simpleton! Oh you great silly! To ask for no more than a cottage! Go and bow to the goldfish, and tell it That I’m tired of being a peasant, That I want to be made a fine lady.” The old man then returned to the seashore, |
To his wife the old fisherman hastened, And what did he see?-A tall mansion; On its white marble stairs-his old woman. She was wearing a rich sable jacket, And a head-dress, in gold all embroidered, Her neck was with pearls heavy laden, She wore golden rings on her fingers; She was shod in the softest red leather; Zealous servants bowed meekly before her, As she cuffed them and rated them roundly. The old man then approached his wife, saying: “Greetings, your ladyship, greetings, fine lady! Now I hope that your soul is contented!” She angrily bade him be silent And sent him to serve in the stables. First a week slowly passed, then another, |
The old man went down to the seashore (The ocean was swollen and sullen). He called out aloud for the goldfish, And the goldfish swam up and demanded: “What is it, old man, you are wanting?” With a bow, the old man said in answer: “Forgive me, Your Majesty Goldfish! Again my old woman’s gone crazy! Now she’s tired of being a lady! She wants to be made a Tsaritsa.” The goldfish murmured in answer: “Do not worry, go home, God be with you! Very well! She shall be a Tsaritsa!” |
To his wife the old fisherman hastened, And what did he see? A grand palace; In the palace he saw his old woman, At the table she sat, a Tsaritsa, Attended by nobles and boyards; They were pouring choice wines in her goblet, She was nibbling sweet gingerbread wafers; Around her, grim guards stood in silence, With halberds upon their broad shoulders. The old man was aghast when he saw this, He bowed to her feet and said humbly: “Greetings, Oh mighty Tsaritsa! Now I hope that your soul is contented!” |
But she gave not a glance at her husband- She ordered him thrust from her presence. The boyards and nobles all hastened And drove him with blows from the chamber; The guards at the door waved their halberds And threatened to cut him to pieces. All the people derided him, saying: “Serves you right, now, you ill-bred old fellow. You churl-this will teach you a lesson, To keep to your station in future!” |
First a week slowly passed, then another; The old woman grew prouder than ever. She sent for her husband one morning, And her chamberlain haled him before her. The old woman spoke thus to her husband: “Go, bow to the goldfish, and tell it That I’m tired of being Tsaritsa, Of the seas I want to be mistress, With my home in the blue ocean waters; The goldfish I want for my servant To do my commands and my errands.” The old man durst not contradict her, He sadly set out for the seashore. |
He called out aloud for the goldfish. The goldfish swam up and demanded: “What is it, old man, you are wanting?” With a bow, the old man said in answer: “Forgive me, Your Majesty Goldfish! What shall I do with my cursed old woman? She is tired of being Tsaritsa, Of the seas she now wants to be mistress, With her home in the blue ocean waters: She even wants you for her servant, To do her commands and her errands.” Not a word spoke the goldfish in answer, It just swished its tail, and in silence Disappeared in the depths of the ocean. He waited in vain for an answer,
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