Ivan the Fool

MP3 Audio CD. IVAN THE FOOL.



CHAPTER I

In a certain kingdom there lived a rich peasant, who had three
sons--Simeon (a soldier), Tarras-Briukhan (fat man), and Ivan (a
fool)--and one daughter, Milania, born dumb. Simeon went to war, to
serve the Czar; Tarras went to a city and became a merchant; and Ivan,
with his sister, remained at home to work on the farm.

For his valiant service in the army, Simeon received an estate with high
rank, and married a noble’s daughter. Besides his large pay, he was in
receipt of a handsome income from his estate; yet he was unable to make
ends meet. What the husband saved, the wife wasted in extravagance. One
day Simeon went to the estate to collect his income, when the steward
informed him that there was no income, saying:

“We have neither horses, cows, fishing-nets, nor implements; it is
necessary first to buy everything, and then to look for income.”

Simeon thereupon went to his father and said:

“You are rich, batiushka [little father], but you have given nothing
to me. Give me one-third of what you possess as my share, and I will
transfer it to my estate.”