Tales of the peoples North Caucasus
GRASSHOPPER (compilation)
Rostov-on-Don. Rostov book publishing house, 1986
ORPHAN
Kabardian fairy tale
Early little Fatimat was left without a mother. The father buried his wife and brought a young widow, who had her own children, into the saklya. Little Fatima became very ill. The new mistress dressed her own daughters in expensive dresses, pampered them as best she could. And Fatimat got beatings, abuse and work. She even ate separately, sitting somewhere in the corner. They fed her scraps. The girl's clothes were worn out - only tatters.
A little light she got up. She walked along the water to a mountain stream, kindled a fire in the hearth, swept the yard, milked the cows. Poor Fatimat worked from dawn until late at night, but she could not please her stepmother. The native daughters of the evil stepmother played with dolls, and Fatimat languished from overwork.
One day, on a bright sunny day, she grazed cows and spun yarn. The sun was warm, the merry spindle was buzzing. But suddenly the wind came up and tore the yarn out of the girl's hands. Carried, swirled a bundle of wool and threw it to a distant cave. What was to be done? Do not return home empty-handed. The evil stepmother will beat you. And the orphan went to look for the loss.
In a huge cave, where wool was brought by the wind, emegönsha lived from time immemorial. She saw Fatimat and screamed:
Collect for me, girl, the silver that is scattered around!
The orphan looked around and saw that at the entrance to the cave everywhere pieces of silver were lying around. She collected everything to the last and gave it to the emegönsha.
Now take off your belt, show your pocket. And Fatima did it. The emegönsha was convinced that she had not concealed anything, that the girl had not hidden anything.
OK. I'll go to bed, and you watch here. If white water flows through the cave, wake me up.
The giantess fell into a deep sleep. And immediately the water began to rustle, to boil over the stones, as white as milk.
Woke up Fatimat emegönsha. She woke up, washed the orphan's face with white water and led her to the mirror. The dirty girl looked in the mirror and gasped: she had never seen herself so beautiful. A face as clear as the sun burns, arms and shoulders whiter than moonlight, and expensive brocade robes sparkle. precious stones, gold and silver. Proud and cheerful, Fatimat said goodbye to the good emegönsha and drove her cows home.
On the way, people could not see enough of its sparkling beauty. No one recognized the old mess in the girl. And the evil stepmother, as she saw it, almost burst out of annoyance. However, she didn't show it. She came to her senses and said kindly:
Dear daughter, where did you find such clothes, how did you become such a beauty?
Innocent Fatimat told everything without concealment.
The next morning the stepmother sent her daughter to graze the cows in the same place. And she spun yarn. The wind swooped in, tore out the spindle and carried it along with the wool to a distant cave. The stepmother's daughter ran after her and heard the voice of the emegönsha from the dark cave:
Collect for me, daughter, the silver that is scattered around!
She began to collect and hid the largest pieces in her pocket.
Now take off the belt, show your pocket!
The stepmother's daughter turned out her pocket, and the silver fell out and rolled with a ringing on the stone floor of the cave. The emegyonsha frowned.
Okay, he says, I'm going to sleep. And you watch. As black water flows, wake me up.
She fell into a sound sleep. And immediately the water began to seethe and rustle over the stones, black as soot on a shepherd's cauldron.
The emegönsha woke up, washed the girl's face with black water and led her to the mirror. They buckled at that leg from fear. Half of her face is monkey and half is dog. She ran off in tears. People from it - in all directions.
This is how the good emeghensha punished her stepmother and her daughter for anger and injustice.
And the father kicked out the stepmother and stayed with the beautiful daughter. They lived quietly and happily.
GRASSHOPPER
Kabardian fairy tale
There lived a poor man named Grasshopper. No one really knew why he was called that. Once he went to a neighboring village to beg. On the way he got tired and sat down on a high mound to rest.
Just in those places the Khan's herds grazed. The poor man saw that the herdsmen were sleeping, and the horses descended into a deep hollow. I thought and thought and moved on.
When Grasshopper reached the neighboring village, there was turmoil: the horses of the formidable Khan disappeared without a trace! He realized that in this case you can earn money if you take it wisely.
would let me great khan according to the Kabardian custom, tell fortunes on a handful of beans - I would have found horses for him, - he said.
His words reached the Khan.
Bring the braggart to me at once! Khan ordered.
Grasshopper's servants dragged him to the khan. The poor man scattered a handful of beans on the floor and pretends to guess.
No one captured your herds. I see how they graze in a deep valley, where it is difficult to penetrate even on foot. Towering over that valley two high mountains. If you send, sir, faithful people to the valley, I swear by Allah the All-Seeing, you will get all the horses back without loss. If I deceived - do not guess me more on this bean!
Horsemen rushed there and after a while drove the herds safe and sound. The news of the miraculous soothsayer spread around all the surrounding villages.
And in the yard of the khan again there was a loss: the khan's daughter lost a golden ring with precious stones. By order of the Khan, the Grasshopper was called.
Tell fortunes on the beans and find the ring, otherwise I'll hang you in the morning.
“Why did I deceive him then and pretended to be a fortuneteller? thought the poor man sadly. “Well, I’ll live just one more night, it won’t harm me.” And he said to the Khan:
Then order, O Almighty Khan, to give me a separate room. At night I will tell fortunes in it alone.
It is not difficult to fulfill your request, - the khan answered and ordered the Grasshopper to be locked in the most spacious chamber of the palace.
The poor man did not close his eyes at night, he kept thinking about how they would hang him in the morning. In the dead of midnight, someone knocked on the window.
Who is there and why? - asked the Grasshopper and heard in response the voice of one of the khan's maids:
It's me, the wonderful seer. Of course, you recognized me, unworthy. In the name of Allah, I pray, do not betray me to the formidable Khan. Have pity on the sinner, take the ring, but don't give it away.
The Grasshopper cheered up.
I, - he says, - thought about you all the time. If you had not come with the ring yourself, your head would have been lost. Well, now we will agree this way: let the white goose, whose wing is broken, swallow the ring, and when morning comes, I will order it to be killed and take out the ring with precious stones.
The maid was delighted, thanked him and left. And the Grasshopper went to bed.
It's a bright morning. They took the Grasshopper out of the palace chambers into the courtyard, where almost all the inhabitants of the village had gathered.
What do you say, sorcerer? Khan asked.
You gave me a simple task, sir, - answered the Grasshopper. - I thought I would have to look for a long time, but I found it quickly: the bean grains immediately discovered the truth. There is a ring in the goiter of your own white goose with a broken wing.
A goose was caught, slaughtered and gutted.
The khan looks, and in the goose's goiter is a golden ring.
People were amazed at the art of the soothsayer, and the Khan generously endowed the Grasshopper and let him go in peace.
A lot of time has passed since then. Once a khan went to visit the khan of another state and, as if inadvertently, boasted:
There is a wonderful person in my country: he will be able to reveal any secret, he will unravel everything, no matter what you order.
The owner did not believe. They argued for a long time, then finally decided to bet on a great wealth.
The khan returned to his palace and summoned the Grasshopper.
I argued, - he says, - with my friend, the ruler of the neighboring khanate, that you will be able to open any secret. If you figure out what he orders, I will make you rich, you will become rich for life. If you can't figure it out, I'll order you to hang it.
The khan took the Grasshopper with him and went to the neighboring khanate. They were received by their owner in Kunatskaya. He himself went out into the street and returned, hiding something in his fist.
Find out, soothsayer, what do I hold in my hand?
The poor man shook his head and said to him:
Oh, poor, unfortunate Grasshopper, once he jumped - he escaped reprisals, another time he jumped - he left again, and on the third - he got caught!
The owner got angry and stamped his foot.
The devil, not a man, could have guessed this! he cried, and unclenched his fist, from which a green grasshopper jumped out and chirped on the floor.
The khan, who brought the poor man, was delighted that he won the mortgage, and, returning home, offered the Grasshopper so much goodness that it would be enough for a lifetime.
But the Grasshopper refused.
Only three times did I have the right to guess, ”he said to the khan. I am no longer your servant.
Until now, the Grasshopper lives in abundance and prosperity.
Imprint: M.: Children's Literature, 1994. - 670 p.
Extras: This volume includes 86 fairy tales about animals, fairy and household tales peoples living in the European part of Russia, in Ukraine, in Belarus, Moldova, in the Baltic countries, and fairy tales of the peoples of the Caucasus. CONTENT: flying ship. Ukrainian fairy tale Egle. Lithuanian fairy tale Sedun. Fairy tale Komi Wise girl. Belarusian fairy tale Fat-Frumos and the Sun. Moldavian fairy tale Old gypsies and spores. The Gypsy Tale of the Golden Spinner. Estonian fairy tale Three brothers, three clouds, three magic horses and three princely daughters. Chechen fairy tale The tale of the Deer and Elena the Beautiful. Georgian fairy tale Pokatigoroshka. Ukrainian fairy tale Three brothers. Kalmyk tale Tale of the sun. Sami fairy tale Tale of kurai. Bashkir fairy tale Magic bird. Latvian fairy tale Batyrs from the Chud tribe. Udmurt fairy tale Three testaments. Armenian fairy tale Magic ring. Tatar fairy tale Batyr and Chige-Khursukhal. Chuvash fairy tale Sister of seven brothers. Lezghin fairy tale The secret of friendship. Azerbaijani fairy tale Bewitched orphan. Gypsy tale Sister love. Lithuanian fairy tale Petrified Kingdom. Assyrian fairy tale Tailor, bear, devil and Viryava. Mordovian fairy tale The mystery of the noseless Silayma. Ingush fairy tale Black duck. Karelian fairy tale of Santa Saaja and Safa Saaja. Abkhaz fairy tale Oh and golden snuffbox. Belarusian fairy tale peasant son worked for the sun. Chuvash fairy tale Three brothers. Abaza fairy tale The younger brother of the Abokovs. Karachaev's fairy tale Irreplaceable ruble. Estonian fairy tale Dobry Ivanchu. Gagauz fairy tale Nonchyk-patyr. Mari fairy tale Tuku. Gagauz fairy tale Vishap, the son of King Chinmachin. Armenian fairy tale Invincible Chemid-Chudzin. Bashkir fairy tale Sea horse. Avar fairy tale The tenth son of a shepherd. Kurdish fairy tale Golden bird. Balkar fairy tale Dubolgo Pichai. Mordovian fairy tale by Ion Moldavanu. Moldavian fairy tale Adventures of a hunter. Karachai fairy tale Boy Bebele. Jewish fairy tale Wonderful belt. Ossetian fairy tale A fairy tale about Ivan and a wonderful book. Ukrainian fairy tale Zaza, the red cow. Lak tale Faithful friends Movsur and Magomed. Chechen fairy tale Sheydulla-lazy. Azerbaijani fairy tale Son of the Raven. Georgian fairy tale Twelve smart brothers. Vepsian tale How a stupid son went to Riga. Latvian fairy tale Wallet. Ukrainian fairy tale Whose work is harder? Kurdish fairy tale Being a king is not a craft. Georgian fairy tale Peyma Khanum. Kumyk fairy tale The young blacksmith. Estonian fairy tale A grain of wheat the size of an egg. Azerbaijani fairy tale The lame leg is not to blame. Nogai tale A tale of a poor man and his wife. Armenian fairy tale Reasonable daughter. Belarusian fairy tale Which of them is more stupid. Circassian fairy tale Learned cat. Azerbaijani fairy tale How the master was taught a lesson. Latvian fairy tale Labor money. Kabardian fairy tale Hare servant. Tale of the Crimean Tatars Datua and Petrikel. Georgian fairy tale Light bread. Belarusian fairy tale The sky is collapsing. Lithuanian fairy tale Happiness, intelligence and wealth. Balkar fairy tale How the old man outwitted the shaitans. Ingush fairy tale Real nonsense. Armenian fairy tale The tiger is the protector of the cat. Georgian fairy tale How a dove learned to make a nest. Azerbaijani fairy tale Lion's share. Tatskaya tale How old cat converted to haji. Adyghe fairy tale Spider and fly. Latvian fairy tale Cockerel and hen. Ukrainian fairy tale Kuklukhay. Dargin fairy tale Fox-cunning. Belarusian fairy tale Dog shepherd. Moldavian fairy tale Orphan fox. Bashkir fairy tale Why badger and fox live in holes. Belarusian fairy tale Mouse and magpie. Tale Komi wolf and sheep. Estonian fairy tale How man conquered all animals. Kabardian fairy tale
Tales of the peoples of the North Caucasus younger age GRASSHOPPER Tales of the peoples of the North Caucasus Editor VV Bezbozhny. Artist V. V. Vtorenko. Art editor V. S. Ter-Vartanyan. Technical editor G. Ya. Gramotenko. Proofreaders E. E. Agafonova, V. Ya. Ponomareva CONTENTS Orphan (Kabardian fairy tale) Grasshopper (Kabardian fairy tale) Musil - Mukhad (Lak fairy tale) Blue bird (Dargin fairy tale) Fox and quail (Avar fairy tale) ORphan Early little Fatimat was left without a mother. The father buried his wife and brought a young widow, who had her own children, into the saklya. Little Fatima became very ill. The new mistress dressed her own daughters in expensive dresses, pampered them as best she could. And Fatimat got beatings, abuse and work. She even ate separately, sitting somewhere in the corner. They fed her scraps. The girl's clothes were worn out - only tatters. A little light she got up. She walked along the water to a mountain stream, kindled a fire in the hearth, swept the yard, milked the cows. Poor Fatimat worked from dawn until late at night, but she could not please her stepmother. The native daughters of the evil stepmother played with dolls, and Fatimat languished from overwork. One day, on a bright sunny day, she grazed cows and spun yarn. The sun was warm, the merry spindle was buzzing. But suddenly the wind came up and tore the yarn out of the girl's hands. Carried, swirled a bundle of wool and threw it to a distant cave. What was to be done? Do not return home empty-handed. The evil stepmother will beat you. And the orphan went to look for the loss. In a huge cave, where wool was brought by the wind, emegönsha lived from time immemorial1. She saw Fatimat, shouted: - Collect for me, girl, the silver that is scattered around! 1 Emegönsha is a giantess. The orphan looked around and saw that at the entrance to the cave everywhere pieces of silver were lying around. She collected everything to the last and gave it to the emegönsha. - Now take off your belt, show your pocket. And Fatima did it. The emegönsha was convinced that she had not concealed anything, that the girl had not hidden anything. - OK. I'll go to bed, and you watch here. If white water flows through the cave, wake me up. The giantess fell into a deep sleep. And immediately the water began to rustle, to boil over the stones, as white as milk. Woke up Fatimat emegönsha. She woke up, washed the orphan's face with white water and led her to the mirror. The dirty girl looked in the mirror and gasped: she had never seen herself so beautiful. A face as clear as the sun burns, arms and shoulders whiter than moonlight, and costly brocade robes sparkle with precious stones, gold and silver. Proud and cheerful, Fatimat said goodbye to the good emegönsha and drove her cows home. On the way, people could not see enough of its sparkling beauty. No one recognized the old mess in the girl. And the evil stepmother, as she saw it, almost burst out of annoyance. However, she didn't show it. She came to herself and said affectionately: - Daughter, dear, where did you find such clothes, how did you become such a beauty? Innocent Fatimat told everything without concealment. The next morning the stepmother sent her daughter to graze the cows in the same place. And she spun yarn. The wind swooped in, tore out the spindle and carried it along with the wool to a distant cave. The stepmother's daughter ran after her and heard the emegyonsha's voice from the dark cave: - Collect for me, daughter, the silver that is scattered around! She began to collect and hid the largest pieces in her pocket. - Now take off the belt, show your pocket! The stepmother's daughter turned out her pocket, and the silver fell out and rolled with a ringing on the stone floor of the cave. The emegyonsha frowned. “Okay,” he says, “I’m going to sleep. And you watch. As black water flows, wake me up. She fell into a sound sleep. And immediately the water began to seethe and rustle over the stones, black as soot on a shepherd's cauldron. The emegönsha woke up, washed the girl's face with black water and led her to the mirror. They buckled at that leg from fear. Half of her face is monkey and half is dog. She ran off in tears. People from it - in all directions. This is how the good emeghensha punished her stepmother and her daughter for anger and injustice. And the father kicked out the stepmother and stayed with the beautiful daughter. They lived quietly and happily. Grasshopper There lived a poor man named Grasshopper. No one really knew why he was called that. Once he went to a neighboring village to beg. On the way he got tired and sat down on a high mound to rest. Just in those places the Khan's herds grazed. The poor man saw that the herdsmen were sleeping, and the horses descended into a deep hollow. I thought and thought and moved on. When Grasshopper reached the neighboring village, there was turmoil: the horses of the formidable Khan disappeared without a trace! He realized that in this case you can earn money if you take it wisely. - If the great khan would allow me, according to the Kabardian custom, to tell fortunes on a handful of beans - I would find horses for him, - he said. His words reached the Khan. - Bring the braggart to me immediately! Khan ordered. Grasshopper's servants dragged him to the khan. The poor man scattered a handful of beans on the floor and pretends to guess. - No one captured your herds. I see how they graze in a deep valley, where it is difficult to penetrate even on foot. Two high mountains rise above that valley. If you send, sir, faithful people to the valley, I swear by Allah the All-Seeing, you will get all the horses back without loss. If I deceived - do not guess me more on this bean! Horsemen rushed there and after a while drove the herds safe and sound. The news of the miraculous soothsayer spread around all the surrounding villages. And in the yard of the khan again there was a loss: the khan's daughter lost a golden ring with precious stones. By order of the Khan, the Grasshopper was called. - Tell fortunes on the beans and find the ring, otherwise I'll hang it in the morning. “Why did I deceive him then and pretended to be a fortuneteller?” the poor man thought sadly. “Well, if I live just one more night, this will not harm me.” And he said to the khan: - Then order, O almighty khan, to give me a separate room. At night I will tell fortunes in it alone. - Your request is not difficult to fulfill, - the khan answered and ordered the Grasshopper to be locked in the most spacious chamber of the palace. The poor man did not close his eyes at night, he kept thinking about how they would hang him in the morning. In the dead of midnight, someone knocked on the window. - Who is there, why did you come? - Grasshopper asked and heard in response the voice of one of the Khan's maids: - It's me, a wonderful seer. Of course, you recognized me, unworthy. In the name of Allah, I pray, do not betray me to the formidable Khan. Have pity on the sinner, take the ring, but don't give it away. The Grasshopper cheered up. - I, - he says, - was thinking about you. If you had not come with the ring yourself, your head would have been lost. Well, now we will agree this way: let the white goose, whose wing is broken, swallow the ring, and when morning comes, I will order it to be killed and take out the ring with precious stones. The maid was delighted, thanked him and left. And the Grasshopper went to bed. It's a bright morning. They took the Grasshopper out of the palace chambers into the courtyard, where almost all the inhabitants of the village had gathered. - What do you say, sorcerer? - Khan asked. - You asked me a simple task, sir, - answered the Grasshopper. - I thought I would have to search for a long time, but I found it quickly: the bean grains immediately discovered the truth. There is a ring in the goiter of your own white goose with a broken wing. A goose was caught, slaughtered and gutted. The khan looks, and in the goose's goiter is a golden ring. People were amazed at the art of the soothsayer, and the Khan generously endowed the Grasshopper and let him go in peace. A lot of time has passed since then. Once a khan went to visit the khan of another state and, as if inadvertently, boasted: - There is a wonderful person in my country: he will be able to reveal any secret, he will unravel everything, whatever you order. The owner did not believe. They argued for a long time, then finally decided to bet on a great wealth. The khan returned to his palace and summoned the Grasshopper. - I argued, - he says, - with my friend, the ruler of the neighboring khanate, that you will be able to open any secret. If you figure out what he orders, I will make you rich, you will become rich for life. If you can't figure it out, I'll order you to hang it. The khan took the Grasshopper with him and went to the neighboring khanate. They were received by their owner in Kunatskoy1. He himself went out into the street and returned, hiding something in his fist. 1 Kunatskaya - guest room. - Find out, soothsayer, what do I hold in my hand? The poor man shook his head and said to him: - Oh, poor, unfortunate Grasshopper, once he jumped - he escaped reprisal, another time he jumped - he left again, and on the third - he got caught! The owner got angry and stamped his foot. “The devil, not a man, could have guessed this!” he shouted and opened his fist, from which a green grasshopper jumped out and chirped on the floor. The khan, who brought the poor man, was delighted that he won the mortgage, and, returning home, offered the Grasshopper so much goodness that it would be enough for a lifetime. But the Grasshopper refused. - Only three times I had the right to guess, - he said to the Khan. - I am no longer your servant. Until now, the Grasshopper lives in abundance and prosperity. MUSIL - MUHAD There lived or did not live one poor man, nicknamed Musil-Muhad. He had many children. So he sowed the field, and it was harvest time. Father and eldest daughter Raiganat went to the field. The girl began to reap, and Musil-Muhad knitted sheaves. And under one sheaf, he saw a large snake. “Musil-Muhad,” said the serpent, “marry your daughter to me, and you will be greatly benefited for this.” Musil-Muhad was so frightened that he was unable to tie the sheaf. The girl asked: - What are you doing, father? Why don't you knit a sheaf? - How to knit, my daughter? This serpent asks me to marry you to him, and promises me great benefits for this. - Well, it's better to stay without me than to starve the whole family, - the daughter answered. - Marry me to a snake, just ask how he can please you. Then Musil-Muhad went up to the snake and said: - I will marry my daughter to you, but what will you please me? - And you and your family will not endure the need for anything all your life. After that, the serpent led the father and daughter to one field. There was a hole in the middle of this field. They entered the hole and descended the steps carved from stone. They saw a wide street, and on it houses-fortresses. All roads are guarded by azhdah1. 1 Azhdaha is a dragon. Seeing them, the azhdaha began to exhale fire. But the serpent made them bow. We entered the rooms, and there all things are made of gold and silver, the floors are covered with carpets. The serpent turned around and told Raiganat to put her foot on his tail. She stepped on the tail, and out of the snake scales came young man whose beauty is indescribable. The girl and father were overjoyed. The young man said: - Musil-Muhad, don't think about anything now, I am your son. Having opened the chest, he took out a tablecloth and turned to his father: - Take this tablecloth, go home and say: "Tablecloth, turn around!" - and all kinds of food will appear on it. When you finish eating, say: "Tablecloth, roll up!" Musil-Muhad went home and, as soon as he had gone halfway, could not stand it, threw the tablecloth on the ground and said: - Turn around, tablecloth! The tablecloth unfolded, and all sorts of dishes appeared on it, which only exists in the world. Musil-Muhad came home, called his wife and children to eat. The wife brought the children, asked: - Where is your food? I don't see anything yet. And where is Raganath? - Raiganat got married and lives happily. Look here, - he said, threw the tablecloth on the floor and said: - Tablecloth, turn around! The tablecloth was spread all over the room, and a variety of dishes, fruits and drinks appeared on it. - Eat what you want, drink what you want, treat whoever you want. Everyone was delighted and lived for several days as they wanted. And then the news about Raiganat and her husband spread throughout the village. Three envious people lived next to the Musil-Muhad family. They began to say: - What an amazing thing, Musil-Muhad immediately got fat, his children got better. Why did they get rich? And so they found out about the tablecloth and stole it one night. In the morning the children got up and started looking for a tablecloth to eat, but there is no tablecloth. That day they were hungry. Then Musil-Muhad went to his son-in-law and told him that the tablecloth had been stolen. The son-in-law gave him hand millstones and said: - If you order: "Millstones, millstones, spin!" - they will spin and grind flour. When you've had enough, say: "Millstones, millstones, stop." They will stop. Musil-Muhad took the millstone and went. When he went halfway, he put the millstones on the road and said: - Millstones, millstones, spin! The millstones began to spin, and flour fell out of them. Then he ordered them to stop. Almost dying of joy, he went home. He put millstones in a large room and said: - Millstones, millstones, spin! The whole room immediately filled with flour. And so they began to bake bread and eat, and sold the rest of the flour. But envious neighbors again stole millstones and flour. Again Musil-Muhad went to his son-in-law with tears and told that the millstones had been stolen. He gave him a donkey. - Go home and say: "Donkey-mosel, pur-mur" - and coins will fall out of it. Musil-Muhad went home with the donkey. He brought the donkey into the same large room, tied it to a strong nail and said: - Donkey-monkey, pur-mur. The room was filled with coins to the ceiling. He gave the donkey a full cup of dates and laid it on the coins. Musil-Muhad became even richer. But again, the same thieves managed to steal the donkey along with the coins. Musil-Muhad again went to his son-in-law and wept. The son-in-law asked: - Why did you come? What's happened? - I swear, son-in-law, I'm already ashamed to go to you. Now the donkey has been kidnapped. - All right, my father. We can easily find all these things. The son-in-law brought three large sticks with sharp thorns. - Go home with these sticks, sit at the threshold and say: "Sticks-malki, tark-mark! On the head of those who stole the tablecloth, the millstone and the donkey. Rumble, do not stop until everything is brought home." Taking these sticks, Musil-Muhad went home and, when he had gone halfway, could not stand it and said: - Sticks-malki, tark-mark! And the sticks began to beat Musil-Muhad. “Oh, I said stop on purpose!” he shouted. The sticks stopped. He came home and sat at the threshold, and the thieves were already waiting for him. They approached and asked: - Neighbor, did you find the stolen one? We all mourn your loss. - How can I find the stolen? - answered Musil-Muhad. - Better sit down, I'll show you one thing. All the neighbors gathered and sat down beside him. Musil-Muhad put all three sticks in front of him and ordered: - Hey, sticks, thieves of my tablecloth, my donkey and my millstones - on the head until they bring these things to my house. Don't stop, tark mark, rumble! The sticks jumped up and began to beat the thieves. The thieves wanted to hide in their homes, and the sticks chased after them and beat them until they begged Musil-Muhad to save them and promised to return everything stolen. Musil-Muhad said: - It's none of my business. Until the stolen goods are returned to my house, the sticks will not stop. Then the thieves returned everything they had stolen and began to ask Musil-Muhad: - Have mercy, neighbor! Save us! “Palki, stop!” he ordered. After that, he put them in a corner and said: - Look, if a thief comes to me, beat him without stopping! Since then, thieves have been afraid of Musil-Muhad. And he lived with the children the way he wanted. BLUE BIRD In one country there lived a khan, and he had three sons. Once, when the khan was hunting, he sat down to rest near the spring. Suddenly a blue bird flew in. The khan looked at her and was blinded by her brilliance. The khan wandered through the forest for a long time and returned home by force. The khan called his sons and told them everything that had happened: - Vision will return to me only if, - the khan finished his story, - if at least one feather of a blue bird falls into my hands. And so the eldest son of the Khan went in search of a bird. He wandered around the world for a long time, but found nothing and returned home. After that, the second son went, but he, like Older brother, came back with nothing. Then the youngest son got ready to go. He wandered for a long time in search of a bird. Once the khan's son met a blind old man and told him his whole story. - I, too, went blind because of the blue bird, - answered the old man. - It is difficult to find it. But if you are not afraid of anything, I will give you one piece of advice. Get on that mountain. There is a courtyard surrounded by a fence, and a bridle hangs on the gate. Every evening a herd of horses comes there. You take the bridle and stand at the gate. From the whole herd, choose the horse that fits this bridle. Get on the horse and obey it in everything. The Khan's son thanked the old man and acted on his advice. As soon as the young man got on the horse, it started galloping and spoke in a human voice: - When we reach the fortress, I will jump into the courtyard through the high wall. Tie me to iron post and enter the house yourself. There you will see a hero and sit next to him. Soon the fortress appeared. The horse soared like a bird and jumped over the wall. In the middle of the courtyard stood an iron pillar that reached to the very sky. The young man tied the horse and entered the house. Seeing the hero, he sat down next to him. The hero was surprised: how could a guest enter him? So far, no one has been able to do this. The hero called his nukers1 and ordered them: 1 Nuker is a bodyguard. - In the evening, invite an uninvited guest to dinner and kill him! But the nukers could not do anything with the khan's son. Then they turned to an old fortune-teller. “You cannot defeat the guest,” said the fortune-teller, “because he is a Nart.” Tomorrow he will go to catch the blue bird. 1Nart - a hero endowed with magical powers. The next morning, the Khan's son approached his horse. - A blue bird lives in the sky, - said the horse. - We will climb this iron pillar, and you will see a bird. You must grab her and hold her until she says, "For the sake of your horse, let me go." The Khan's son jumped into the saddle, and the horse galloped up the post. As soon as they reached the sky, the young man saw a blue bird and grabbed it. The bird beat in his hands for a long time and finally said: - Let me go for the sake of your horse, now I am yours. The young man released the bird, and she became completely submissive. Soon the khan's son, riding his horse and with a bird on his shoulder, descended the iron pillar to the ground. As soon as the young man jumped off the horse, the blue bird turned into a beautiful girl. The hero was very jealous of the sledge, but was powerless before him. The hero had to arrange a luxurious feast, and then the khan's son took the girl and went home. An hour later he was at his father's. It turned out that he received his sight at the moment when the young man grabbed the blue bird. They played a wedding, and the khan's son became the husband of the beauty. THE FOX AND THE QUAIL Once a hungry fox caught a fat quail and wanted to eat it. - Do not eat me, fox! - said the quail. - Be my named sister. - What else can you think of! - the fox was surprised. - Well, so be it, I agree. Just feed me once, make me laugh once and scare me once. Hurry, I'm very hungry! - Well, - said the quail, - I will feed you, make you laugh, scare you! The quail fluttered up and flew away. She saw a woman who was carrying lunch to the plowmen in the field, returned to the fox, ordered her to run after her. She brought the fox to the field and said: - Hide behind this bush! After that, she flew out onto the road and sat down. The woman saw the quail and wanted to catch it. She put the bundle with jugs on the road and began to catch up with the quail. The quail ran away a little and sat down again. The woman chased after her again. So the quail beckoned the woman until she was taken away from the road. Meanwhile, the fox untied the bundle, ate the whole dinner and left. The quail caught up with her and asked: - Are you full, fox? - Sat. - Well, now I'll make you laugh... Follow me! The quail flew closer to the plowmen, and the fox ran after it. And the plowmen got hungry, waited for dinner and stopped the bulls. The quail again hid the fox behind the bush and sat on the horn of the motley bull. - Look, look! - the drovers shouted to the plowman. - The quail sat on the horn of your bull ... Grab her! The plowman swung his stick - he wanted to knock down a quail, and the quail - prr! - flew away. The blow fell on the bull's horns. The bull began to rush about in all directions, he frightened the other bulls. They smashed both plows and harness. The fox saw this and began to laugh. She laughed, laughed, laughed, laughed, laughed so hard that she was even tired. “Are you satisfied?” asks the quail. - Satisfied! - Well, lie here. Now I'll scare you, - said the quail. She flew in the direction where the hunter walked with dogs. The dogs saw the quail and rushed after it, and the quail began to lead them all over the field. Carried-carried and led directly to the fox. The fox - run, and the dogs - after her. They run on the heels, do not lag behind, completely drove the fox. The fox ran exhausted to its hole. Barely alive left, and the tail did not have time to hide. The dogs grabbed the fox's tail and tore it off. The fox got angry, found the quail and said: - You disgraced me in front of all my family. How can I live without a tail now? “You yourself asked me to feed you, make you laugh and scare you,” the quail replies. But the fox was so angry that she did not want to listen. She opened her mouth and grabbed the quail. The quail sees - it's bad. She says to the fox: - Well, eat me, I don't mind, just tell me before: is today Friday or Saturday? - And why do you need this? - Angrily shouted the fox and unclenched her teeth. And the quail needed only that: it escaped and flew away.
Kabardian fairy tale
Early little Fatimat was left without a mother. The father buried his wife and brought a young widow, who had her own children, into the saklya. Little Fatima became very ill. The new mistress dressed her own daughters in expensive dresses, pampered them as best she could. And Fatimat got beatings, abuse and work. She even ate separately, sitting somewhere in the corner. They fed her scraps. The girl's clothes were worn out - only tatters.
A little light she got up. She walked along the water to a mountain stream, kindled a fire in the hearth, swept the yard, milked the cows. Poor Fatimat worked from dawn until late at night, but she could not please her stepmother. The native daughters of the evil stepmother played with dolls, and Fatimat languished from overwork.
One day, on a bright sunny day, she grazed cows and spun yarn. The sun was warm, the merry spindle was buzzing. But suddenly the wind came up and tore the yarn out of the girl's hands. Carried, swirled a bundle of wool and threw it to a distant cave. What was to be done? Do not return home empty-handed. The evil stepmother will beat you. And the orphan went to look for the loss.
In a huge cave, where wool was brought by the wind, emegönsha lived from time immemorial. She saw Fatimat and screamed:
Collect for me, girl, the silver that is scattered around!
The orphan looked around and saw that at the entrance to the cave everywhere pieces of silver were lying around. She collected everything to the last and gave it to the emegönsha.
Now take off your belt, show your pocket. And Fatima did it. The emegönsha was convinced that she had not concealed anything, that the girl had not hidden anything.
OK. I'll go to bed, and you watch here. If white water flows through the cave, wake me up.
The giantess fell into a deep sleep. And immediately the water began to rustle, to boil over the stones, as white as milk.
Woke up Fatimat emegönsha. She woke up, washed the orphan's face with white water and led her to the mirror. The dirty girl looked in the mirror and gasped: she had never seen herself so beautiful. A face as clear as the sun burns, arms and shoulders whiter than moonlight, and costly brocade robes sparkle with precious stones, gold and silver. Proud and cheerful, Fatimat said goodbye to the good emegönsha and drove her cows home.
On the way, people could not see enough of its sparkling beauty. No one recognized the old mess in the girl. And the evil stepmother, as she saw it, almost burst out of annoyance. However, she didn't show it. She came to her senses and said kindly:
Dear daughter, where did you find such clothes, how did you become such a beauty?
Innocent Fatimat told everything without concealment.
The next morning the stepmother sent her daughter to graze the cows in the same place. And she spun yarn. The wind swooped in, tore out the spindle and carried it along with the wool to a distant cave. The stepmother's daughter ran after her and heard the voice of the emegönsha from the dark cave:
Collect for me, daughter, the silver that is scattered around!
She began to collect and hid the largest pieces in her pocket.
Now take off the belt, show your pocket!
The stepmother's daughter turned out her pocket, and the silver fell out and rolled with a ringing on the stone floor of the cave. The emegyonsha frowned.
Okay, he says, I'm going to sleep. And you watch. As black water flows, wake me up.
She fell into a sound sleep. And immediately the water began to seethe and rustle over the stones, black as soot on a shepherd's cauldron.
The emegönsha woke up, washed the girl's face with black water and led her to the mirror. They buckled at that leg from fear. Half of her face is monkey and half is dog. She ran off in tears. People from it - in all directions.
This is how the good emeghensha punished her stepmother and her daughter for anger and injustice.
And the father kicked out the stepmother and stayed with the beautiful daughter. They lived quietly and happily.
GRASSHOPPER
Kabardian fairy tale
There lived a poor man named Grasshopper. No one really knew why he was called that. Once he went to a neighboring village to beg. On the way he got tired and sat down on a high mound to rest.
Just in those places the Khan's herds grazed. The poor man saw that the herdsmen were sleeping, and the horses descended into a deep hollow. I thought and thought and moved on.
When Grasshopper reached the neighboring village, there was turmoil: the horses of the formidable Khan disappeared without a trace! He realized that in this case you can earn money if you take it wisely.
If the great khan would allow me, according to the Kabardian custom, to tell fortunes on a handful of beans - I would find horses for him, ”he said.
His words reached the Khan.
Bring the braggart to me at once! Khan ordered.
Grasshopper's servants dragged him to the khan. The poor man scattered a handful of beans on the floor and pretends to guess.
No one captured your herds. I see how they graze in a deep valley, where it is difficult to penetrate even on foot. Two high mountains rise above that valley. If you send, sir, faithful people to the valley, I swear by Allah the All-Seeing, you will get all the horses back without loss. If I deceived - do not guess me more on this bean!
Horsemen rushed there and after a while drove the herds safe and sound. The news of the miraculous soothsayer spread around all the surrounding villages.
And in the yard of the khan again there was a loss: the khan's daughter lost a golden ring with precious stones. By order of the Khan, the Grasshopper was called.
Tell fortunes on the beans and find the ring, otherwise I'll hang you in the morning.
“Why did I deceive him then and pretended to be a fortuneteller? thought the poor man sadly. “Well, I’ll live just one more night, it won’t harm me.” And he said to the Khan:
Then order, O Almighty Khan, to give me a separate room. At night I will tell fortunes in it alone.
It is not difficult to fulfill your request, - the khan answered and ordered the Grasshopper to be locked in the most spacious chamber of the palace.
The poor man did not close his eyes at night, he kept thinking about how they would hang him in the morning. In the dead of midnight, someone knocked on the window.
Who is there and why? - asked the Grasshopper and heard in response the voice of one of the khan's maids:
It's me, the wonderful seer. Of course, you recognized me, unworthy. In the name of Allah, I pray, do not betray me to the formidable Khan. Have pity on the sinner, take the ring, but don't give it away.
The Grasshopper cheered up.
I, - he says, - thought about you all the time. If you had not come with the ring yourself, your head would have been lost. Well, now we will agree this way: let the white goose, whose wing is broken, swallow the ring, and when morning comes, I will order it to be killed and take out the ring with precious stones.
The maid was delighted, thanked him and left. And the Grasshopper went to bed.
It's a bright morning. They took the Grasshopper out of the palace chambers into the courtyard, where almost all the inhabitants of the village had gathered.
What do you say, sorcerer? Khan asked.
You gave me a simple task, sir, - answered the Grasshopper. - I thought I would have to look for a long time, but I found it quickly: the bean grains immediately discovered the truth. There is a ring in the goiter of your own white goose with a broken wing.
A goose was caught, slaughtered and gutted.
The khan looks, and in the goose's goiter is a golden ring.
People were amazed at the art of the soothsayer, and the Khan generously endowed the Grasshopper and let him go in peace.
A lot of time has passed since then. Once a khan went to visit the khan of another state and, as if inadvertently, boasted:
There is a wonderful person in my country: he will be able to reveal any secret, he will unravel everything, no matter what you order.
The owner did not believe. They argued for a long time, then finally decided to bet on a great wealth.
The khan returned to his palace and summoned the Grasshopper.
I argued, - he says, - with my friend, the ruler of the neighboring khanate, that you will be able to open any secret. If you figure out what he orders, I will make you rich, you will become rich for life. If you can't figure it out, I'll order you to hang it.
Tales of the peoples of the North Caucasus
For younger age
Grasshopper Tales of the peoples of the North Caucasus
Editor V.V. Bezbozhny.
Artist V. V. Vtorenko.
Art editor V. S. Ter-Vartanyan.
Technical editor G. Ya. Gramotenko. Proofreaders E. E. Agafonova, V. Ya. Ponomarev
Orphan (Kabardian fairy tale)
Grasshopper (Kabardian fairy tale)
Musil - Muhad (Lak tale)
Blue bird (Dargin tale)
Fox and quail (Avar fairy tale)
Early little Fatimat was left without a mother. Father buried his wife and brought
into a saklya a young widow who had her own children. It got really bad
little Fatima. The new mistress dressed her native daughters in expensive dresses,
pampered them as best she could. And Fatimat got beatings, abuse and work. Even ate
she is alone, sitting somewhere in a corner. They fed her scraps. Clothes at
the girls are worn out - only rags.
A little light she got up. She walked along the water to a mountain stream, lit a fire in
hearth, swept the yard, milked the cows. Poor Fatimat labored from sunrise to
late at night, but she could not please her stepmother. The native daughters of the evil stepmother played
dolls, and Fatimat languished from overwork.
One day, on a bright sunny day, she grazed cows and spun yarn. Grelo
the sun, a merry spindle buzzed. But suddenly the wind came up and snatched from the hands
girls yarn. Carried, swirled a bundle of wool and threw it to a distant cave.
What was to be done? Do not return home empty-handed. Will beat the evil one
stepmother. And the orphan went to look for the loss.
In a huge cave, where wool was brought by the wind, lived from time immemorial
emegönsha1. She saw Fatimat and screamed:
Collect for me, girl, the silver that is scattered around!
1 Emegönsha is a giantess.
The orphan looked around and saw that at the entrance to the cave everywhere pieces of silver
lying around. She collected everything to the last and gave it to the emegönsha.
Now take off your belt, show your pocket. And Fatima did it.
The emegönsha was convinced that she had not concealed anything, that the girl had not hidden anything.
OK. I'll go to bed, and you watch here. If white water flows
cave, wake me up.
The giantess fell into a sound sleep. And immediately rustled, burbled over the stones
water white as milk.
Woke up Fatimat emegönsha. She woke up, washed the orphan's face white
water and led her to the mirror. The dirty girl looked in the mirror and gasped: never
She didn't see herself as beautiful. A face as clear as the sun burns, hands and
shoulders whiter than moonlight, and costly brocade robes sparkle with precious stones, gold and silver.
Proud and cheerful, Fatimat said goodbye to a kind emegyonsha and drove her
cows home.
On the way, people could not see enough of its sparkling beauty. None
I recognized the old mess in the girl. And the evil stepmother, as she saw, a little
vexation did not burst. However, she didn't show it. She came to her senses and said kindly:
Daughter, dear, where did you find such clothes, how did you become so
beauty?
Innocent Fatimat told everything without concealment.
The next morning the stepmother sent her daughter to graze the cows for the same
place. And she spun yarn. The wind swooped in, tore out the spindle and carried away along with
wool to a distant cave. The stepmother's daughter ran after her and heard a voice
emegönshi from the dark cave:
Collect for me, daughter, the silver that is scattered around!
She began to collect and hid the largest pieces in her pocket.
Now take off the belt, show your pocket! The stepmother's daughter turned out her pocket, and
the silver fell out and rolled with a clang across the stone floor of the cave. frowned
emegönsha.
Okay, he says, I'm going to sleep. And you watch. Like black water
flow, wake me up.
She fell into a sound sleep. And immediately the water began to seethe, rustling over the stones,
black as the soot on a shepherd's cauldron.
The emegönsha woke up, washed the girl's face with black water and led her to
mirror. They buckled at that leg from fear. Half of her face is monkey, and
half are dogs. She ran off in tears. People from her - in everything
This is how the kind emegyonsha punished her stepmother and her daughter for anger and
injustice.
And the father kicked out the stepmother and stayed with the beautiful daughter. They lived quietly and
happily.
GRASSHOPPER
There lived a poor man named Grasshopper. Nobody really knew why
so called. Once he went to a neighboring village to beg. By
tired on the road and sat down on a high mound to rest.
Just in those places the Khan's herds grazed. The poor man saw
the herdsmen are sleeping, and the horses have descended into a deep hollow. I thought and thought and went
When Grasshopper got to the neighboring village, there was turmoil: without a trace
the horses of the formidable khan are gone! He realized that in this business you can earn,
if you take it wisely.
Would the great khan allow me, according to the Kabardian custom, to tell fortunes on
a handful of beans - I would have found horses for him, - he said.
His words reached the Khan.
Bring the braggart to me at once! Khan ordered.
Grasshopper's servants dragged him to the khan. The poor man scattered a handful on the floor
beans and pretends to guess.
No one captured your herds. I see how they graze in the deep
valley, where it is difficult to penetrate even on foot. Towering above that valley are two tall
mountains. If you send, sir, faithful people to the valley, I swear by Allah
all-seeing, you will get back all the horses without loss. If I cheated - no
guess me more on this bean!
Horsemen rushed there and after a while drove the herds to
safety and security. The news of the miraculous soothsayer spread all around
And in the yard of the khan again there was a loss: the khan's daughter lost
gold ring with precious stones. By order of the Khan, the Grasshopper was called.
Tell fortunes on the beans and find the ring, otherwise I'll hang you in the morning.
"Why did I deceive him then and pretended to be a fortuneteller?" thought sadly
poor man. - Well, I'll live at least one more night, this will not harm me. "And
Khan said:
Then order, O Almighty Khan, to give me a separate room. At night I
I will tell fortunes in it alone.
It is not difficult to fulfill your request, - the khan answered and ordered to lock
Grasshopper in the most spacious room of the palace.
The poor man did not close his eyes at night, he kept thinking about how they would hang him in the morning. IN
dead midnight someone knocked on the window.
Who is there, why did you come? - Grasshopper asked and heard a voice in response
one of the Khan's servants:
It's me, the wonderful seer. Of course, you recognized me, unworthy. Name
I pray to Allah, do not betray me to the formidable Khan. Have pity on the sinner, take the ring
just don't give it out.
The Grasshopper cheered up.
I, - he says, - was thinking about you. If you had not come with the ring yourself,
lost would be your head. Well, now we will agree with you: give
the ring to be swallowed by a white goose whose wing is broken, but like the morning
comes, I order him to slaughter and take out the ring with precious stones.
The maid was delighted, thanked him and left. And the Grasshopper went to bed.
It's a bright morning. They took the Grasshopper out of the palace chambers into the courtyard, where
almost all the inhabitants of the village gathered.
What do you say, sorcerer? - asked the khan.
You asked me a simple task, sir, - answered the Grasshopper. - I thought,
You will have to look for a long time, but I found it quickly: the bean grains immediately discovered the truth.
There is a ring in the goiter of your own white goose with a broken wing.
A goose was caught, slaughtered and gutted.
The khan looks, and in the goose's goiter is a golden ring.
People were amazed at the art of the soothsayer, and the Khan generously endowed the Grasshopper and
let go in peace.
A lot of time has passed since then. Once the khan went to visit the khan
another state and as if inadvertently boasted:
There is a wonderful person in my country: he will be able to reveal any secret,
everything will figure out whatever you say.
The owner did not believe. They argued for a long time, then finally decided to fight against
bet on great wealth.
The khan returned to his palace and summoned the Grasshopper.
I argued, - he says, - with my friend, the ruler of the neighboring
khanates that you can reveal any secret. If you figure out what he
I will give you orders, I will gold you, you will become a rich man for the rest of your life. Do not guess - I command
hang up.
The khan took the Grasshopper with him and went to the neighboring khanate. accepted them
owner in kunatskoy1. He himself went out into the street and returned, hiding something in his fist.
1 Kunatskaya - guest room.
Find out, soothsayer, what do I hold in my hand?
The poor man shook his head and said to him:
Oh, poor, unfortunate Grasshopper, once he jumped, he escaped reprisal,
another time he jumped - he left again, and on the third - he got caught!
The owner got angry and stamped his foot.
The devil, and not a man, could have guessed this! - he cried and opened his fist,
from which a green grasshopper jumped out and chirped on the floor.
The khan, who brought the poor man, was delighted that he won the mortgage, and,
returning home, he offered Grasshopper so much goodness that for life
would be enough.
But the Grasshopper refused.
Only three times did I have the right to guess, he said to the Khan.
not a servant.
Until now, the Grasshopper lives in abundance and prosperity.
MUSIL - MUHAD
There lived or did not live one poor man, nicknamed Musil-Muhad. He had
a lot of children.
So he sowed the field, and it was harvest time. Father with eldest daughter
Raiganat went to the field. The girl began to reap, and Musil-Muhad knitted sheaves. And so
under one sheaf he saw a large serpent.
Musil-Muhad, - said the serpent, - give me your daughter, and you for this
there will be a big benefit.
Musil-Muhad was so frightened that he was unable to tie the sheaf. Young woman
asked:
What are you doing, father? Why don't you knit a sheaf?
How to knit, my daughter? This snake asks me to marry you to him
married, and promises me great benefits for it.
Well, it's better to stay without me than to starve the whole family, -
answered the daughter. - Marry me to a snake, just ask what it is to you
can please.
Then Musil-Muhad approached the snake and said:
I will give you my daughter, but how will you please me?
And you and your family will not endure the need for anything all your life.
After that, the serpent led the father and daughter to one field. in the middle of it
the field was a hole. They entered the hole and descended the steps hewn from
stone. They saw a wide street, and on it houses-fortresses. All roads
protect azhdah.
1 Azhdaha is a dragon.
Seeing them, the azhdaha began to exhale fire. But the serpent made them bow.
We entered the rooms, and there all things are made of gold and silver, the floors are covered
carpets. The serpent turned around and told Raiganat to step on his foot.
tail. She stepped on the tail, and a young man came out of the snake scales,
whose beauty cannot be described. The girl and father were overjoyed.
The young man said:
Musil-Muhad, don't think about anything now, I am your son.
Opening the chest, he took out the tablecloth and turned to his father:
Take this tablecloth, go home and say: "Tablecloth, turn around!" - and on
she will have all kinds of food. When you finish eating, say: "Tablecloth,
roll up!"
Musil-Muhad went home and, as soon as he had gone halfway, could not stand it,
threw the tablecloth on the ground and said:
Turn around, tablecloth!
The tablecloth unfolded, and all sorts of dishes appeared on it, which only
is in the world.
Musil-Muhad came home, called his wife and children to eat. The wife brought the children
asked:
Where is your food? I don't see anything yet. And where is Raganath?
Raiganat got married and lives happily. Look here, he said.
he threw the tablecloth on the floor and said: - Tablecloth, turn around!
The tablecloth was spread all over the room, and a variety of
food, fruits and drinks.
Eat what you want, drink what you want, treat whoever you want.
Everyone was delighted and lived for several days as they wanted.
And then the news about Raiganat and her husband spread throughout the village.
Three envious people lived next to the Musil-Muhad family. They became
speak:
What an amazing thing, Musil-Muhad immediately got fat, he had children
recovered. Why did they get rich?
And so they found out about the tablecloth and stole it one night. Morning children
got up and started looking for a tablecloth to eat, but there is no tablecloth. On this day
they were hungry.
Then Musil-Muhad went to his son-in-law and told him that the tablecloth had been stolen.
The son-in-law gave him hand millstones and said:
If you order: "Millstones, millstones, spin!" - they will spin and
grind flour. When you've had enough, say: "Millstones, millstones, stop."
They will stop.
Musil-Muhad took the millstone and went. When he got halfway, he put
millstone on the road and said:
The millstones began to spin, and flour fell out of them. Then he ordered
them to stop.
Almost dying of joy, he went home.
He put a millstone in the big room and said:
Millstones, millstones, spin!
The whole room immediately filled with flour.
And so they began to bake bread and eat, and sold the rest of the flour.
But envious neighbors again stole millstones and flour. Again Musil-Muhad with
he went to his son-in-law in tears and said that the millstones had been stolen. He gave him a donkey.
Go home and say: "Donkey-mosel, pur-mur" - and they will pour out of it
Musil-Muhad went home with the donkey. Brought the donkey to the same big
room, tied him to a strong nail and said:
Donkey-mosyol, pur-mur.
The room was filled with coins to the ceiling. He gave the donkey a full cup
dates and laid it on the coins.
Musil-Muhad became even richer. But again, the same thieves managed to kidnap the donkey
along with coins.
Musil-Muhad again went to his son-in-law and wept. The brother-in-law asked:
Why did you come? What's happened?
I swear, son-in-law, I'm already ashamed to go to you. Now the donkey has been kidnapped.
Okay, my father. We can easily find all these things.
The son-in-law brought three large sticks with sharp thorns.
Go home with these sticks, sit at the threshold and say: "Sticks-malki,
tark mark! On the head to those who stole the tablecloth, the millstone and the donkey. Rumble,
don't stop until everything is brought home."
Taking these sticks, Musil-Muhad went home and, when he had gone halfway, did not
endured and said:
Sticks-malki, tark-mark!
And the sticks began to beat Musil-Muhad.
Oh, I said on purpose, stop! - he shouted.
The sticks stopped.
He came home and sat at the threshold, and the thieves were already waiting for him. Came up and
ask:
Neighbor, did you find what was stolen? We all mourn your loss.
How can I find what I have stolen?” answered Musil-Muhad. “Better sit down, I
I'll show you one thing.
All the neighbors gathered and sat down beside him. Musil-Muhad laid before him
all three sticks and ordered:
Hey, little sticks, to the thieves of my tablecloth, my donkey and my
millstones - on the head until they bring these things to my house. Without
stops, tark-mark, rumble!
The sticks jumped up and began to beat the thieves. The thieves wanted to hide themselves
at home, and the sticks chased after them and beat them until they became
beg Musil-Muhad to save them and did not promise to return everything stolen.
Musil-Muhad said:
It's none of my business. Until the stolen goods are returned to my house, the sticks will not
stop.
Then the thieves returned everything they had stolen and began to ask Musil-Muhad:
Have mercy, neighbor! Save us!
Sticks, stop!” he ordered. Then put them in a corner and
Look, if a thief comes to me, beat him without stopping!
Since then, thieves have been afraid of Musil-Muhad. And he and his children lived like
BLUE BIRD
In one country there lived a khan, and he had three sons. Once, when the khan was
hunting, he sat down to rest near the spring.
Suddenly a blue bird flew in. The khan looked at her and was blinded by her brilliance.
The khan wandered through the forest for a long time and returned home by force.
The khan summoned his sons and told them everything that had happened:
Vision will return to me only if - finished his khan
story - if at least one feather of a blue bird falls into my hands.
And so the eldest son of the Khan went in search of a bird. For a long time he wandered
light, but found nothing and returned home.
After that, the second son went, but he, like his older brother,
came back with nothing.
Then the youngest son got ready to go. He wandered for a long time in search of a bird.
Once the khan's son met a blind old man and told him all his
I, too, was blind because of the blue bird, - the old man answered. - It is difficult to find it. But
if you are not afraid of anything, I will give you one piece of advice. Get on that mountain. There
there is a courtyard surrounded by a fence, and a bridle hangs on the gate. Every evening there
a herd of horses arrives. You take the bridle and stand at the gate. From the whole herd
choose the horse that fits this bridle. Get on the horse and listen to it
The Khan's son thanked the old man and acted on his advice. Barely a youth
sat on the horse, as it galloped off and spoke in a human voice:
When we reach the fortress, I will jump into the courtyard through the high wall.
Tie me to an iron post, and enter the house yourself. There you will see a hero
and sit next to him.
Soon the fortress appeared. The horse soared like a bird and jumped over
through the wall. In the middle of the yard stood an iron pillar that reached right up to
sky. The young man tied the horse and entered the house. Seeing the hero, he sat down next to
The hero was surprised: how could a guest enter him? So far this
no one succeeded. The bogatyr summoned his nukers1 and ordered them:
1 Nuker is a bodyguard.
In the evening, invite an uninvited guest to dinner and kill him!
But the nukers could not do anything with the khan's son. Then they
turned to one old woman-fortune-teller.
You cannot defeat the guest, - said the fortune-teller, - because he is a Nart.
Tomorrow he will go to catch the blue bird.
1Nart - a hero endowed with magical powers.
The next morning, the Khan's son approached his horse.
The blue bird lives in the sky, said the horse. We will climb this
iron post and you will see a bird. You must grab it and hold it until then.
until she says, "For the sake of your horse, let me go."
The Khan's son jumped into the saddle, and the horse galloped up the post. How
as soon as they reached the sky, the young man saw a blue bird and grabbed it. For a long time
the bird beat in his hands, and finally said:
Let me go for your horse, I'm yours now.
The young man released the bird, and she became completely submissive. Soon the Khan's son
riding on his horse and with a bird on his shoulder, he went down the iron pole to
As soon as the young man jumped off the horse, the blue bird turned into a beautiful one.
girl. The hero was very jealous of the sledge, but was powerless before him. I had to
arrange a luxurious feast for the hero, and then the khan's son took the girl and
went home.
An hour later he was at his father's. It turned out that he received his sight in an instant,
when the young man grabbed the blue bird. They played a wedding, and the khan's son became a husband
beauties.
FOX AND QUAIL
Once a hungry fox caught a fat quail and wanted to eat it.
Don't eat me, fox! - said the quail. - Be my named sister.
What else can you think of! - the fox was surprised. - Well, so be it, I agree.
Just feed me once, make me laugh once and scare me once. Hurry, I
very hungry!
Well, - said the quail, - I will feed you, make you laugh, scare you!
The quail fluttered up and flew away.
She saw a woman who was carrying lunch to the plowmen in the field, returned to
fox, told her to run after her. She brought the fox to the field and said:
Hide behind that bush!
After that, she flew out onto the road and sat down.
The woman saw the quail and wanted to catch it. She put a bundle with
pitchers on the road and began to catch up with the quail. The quail ran a little and
sat down again. The woman chased after her again. So the quail beckoned the woman,
until I took her far from the road. And the fox, meanwhile, untied the knot,
I ate all my lunch and left.
The quail caught up with her and asked:
Are you fed up, fox?
Well, now I'll make you laugh... Follow me!
The quail flew closer to the plowmen, and the fox ran after it. A
the plowmen got hungry, waited for dinner and stopped the bulls.
The quail again hid the fox behind the bush and sat on the horn of the motley bull.
Look, look! - the drovers shouted to the plowman. - The quail sat on the horn
your bull... Grab her!
The plowman swung his stick - he wanted to knock the quail, and the quail -
frr! - flew away. The blow fell on the bull's horns. The bull began to rush into everything
hand, scared the other bulls. They smashed both plows and harness.
The fox saw this and began to laugh. She was laughing, she was laughing
I laughed, laughed, laughed so hard that I was even tired.
Are you satisfied? - asks the quail.
Satisfied!
Well, lie here. Now I'll scare you, - said the quail.
She flew in the direction where the hunter walked with dogs. Dogs
they saw a quail and rushed after it, and the quail began to lead them around
field. Carried-carried and led directly to the fox.
The fox - run, and the dogs - after her. They run on the heels, do not lag behind, at all
hunted the fox. The fox ran exhausted to its hole. Barely alive left, and the tail
didn't have time to hide. The dogs grabbed the fox's tail and tore it off.
The fox got angry, found a quail and said:
You have disgraced me in front of my entire family. How can I live without a tail now
You yourself asked me to feed you, make you laugh and scare, - answers
quail.
But the fox was so angry that she did not want to listen. She opened her mouth and
grabbed a quail.
The quail sees - it's bad. She says to the fox:
Well, eat me, I don't mind, just tell me before: Friday
today or saturday?
And why do you need this? - the fox shouted angrily and unclenched her teeth.
And the quail needed only that: it escaped and flew away.
