Пастушонок and three merchants

Passed three merchants by one village and have decided to make a halt on a clearing, to give to a horse роздых and a little bit to take rest. And on that glade rural children grazed cows and calfs. Fellows had fun, rustled. Only one sat aside, did not participate in the general entertainments.

The traveller a merchant also speaks to the associates:

- See, the fellow sits, having propped up a hand a head, and about something has reflected?

- We see, - they have answered. - and what here surprising? The fellow has reflected and sits, having propped up a head рукою.

- Surrenders to me, that that fellow of considerable reason, is more useless to it to remain simple пастушонком. To it to become a large merchant, and even the tsar.

They have called up the fellow, have asked, whence it comes, whether mother and the father are live at it. The little boy answered, that in a family at them poverty great, lives at it mother-old woman, all economy in decline, and to correct it it is impossible: in the shepherd's purse of money not densely. Here of what he thought, sitting from all aside.

- Well, whether I was right? Knowingly I have praised the fellow? - The merchant has told. - now towards evening we will come to it home, we will talk to mother - let will give it to us in ученье. And we about it would take care, the person would make. Simply sin that such clever fellow remained all the century long the shepherd.

Both its companions have agreed with it, have asked to reduce the fellow them to it home. That with hunting has led them.

On a threshold has welcomed visitors mother пастушонка.

- Good evening, respectable, - merchants said. - whether you will allow to be to us today your visitors?

- That, welcome, sonnies, make yourself at home. Only do not judge too severely: there is nothing me you to treat. There is no at us even a bread for a supper.

- Allow to remain to us, the mother, and about a supper do not worry, - travellers have answered.

Well, they have entered into the house, to the fellow of a distance of money, ordered to buy any food for a supper. And having had supper nourishingly also it is tasty, have started conversation with the old woman: whether will give the son in ученье - to them to a bench. Promised to help to it to be beaten out in people, and to her distances of money that she could live comfortably whole year, and still promised to send, when term will appear in time. Увидав it is so much money in hands at merchants, the old woman has agreed. It would not be desirable it, the truth to give the fellow to unfamiliar hands, yes, it is visible, money happens sometimes more expensively the native son.

Merchants under старухиным a shelter have spent night, and next morning have taken away its fellow and have gone to a city, - a way not small, to go it was necessary hours six. And there was that city capital, the tsar there lived.

Merchants of the fellow have lodged at a bench, began the reading and writing to train. The fellow ученье has comprehended all quickly. And when it has started to trade little by little in a bench, on it нарадоваться could not. All who saw, marvelled to its skill. Buyers flocked, the gain has gone the big.

And other merchants to envy a steel - after all at them trade has decayed. They ask the tsar: let orders, that owners of the fellow opened the bench not earlier than midday.

The tsar has listened them челобитью. The bench of three merchants began to begin trade only after a dinner. Well and well, buyers began to wait for a dinner, and to another do not go!

What here to do? All dealers once again to the tsar have gone and have complained: is not present supposedly сладу with three merchants, and more than all - with their salesman. Let the tsar will banish them absolutely from a city.

The tsar did not know what to answer the such request. Thought, thought and has decided to get rid of successful merchants in another way at last. He has called them for itself(himself) and speaks:

- Here listen... I See, you three. The people you sensible... Give a practical advice: where to me to find the wife that all - both the person, and mind - it was similar to the late tsarina. I give to you three days on meditation. Will not answer - heads from shoulders.

Merchants have bowed and in tears have started wandering in the bench. Увидал the fellow, that owners cry, - has asked, why they so have become sad.

- About, the end to us has come, the guy! - merchants answered. - the tsar that we have found the spouse to him, on its late wife in accuracy the similar demands.

- So what for to cry?! - the fellow has told. - take away me in three days to the tsar, I will not be live - and I will answer it a question.

Услыхали those speeches merchants also have sighed more freely. And as the third day has come, have taken away the fellow to the tsar.

- Sovereign! - the fellow speaks. - permit me before which about what you to ask, and then I will answer your question.

- Well, we will listen, that you will tell! - the tsar replied.

- Only I ask you, пресветлый the tsar, judge fairly, under country laws. Here about what I wish to ask: if there is at somebody a garden full of marvellous colours, and among colours there is one, the most marvellous and the finest tell to me, whether it is possible for the owner to break that marvellous flower and to bring it in the house, there to admire it, revelling in its aroma?

- Under the law - it is possible quite, - the tsar, and the advisers nearby standing has told, words have confirmed it.

- But then after all and you, your majesty, can choose the best among the finest - the native daughter - and to make its spouse. After all only it, only your daughter, also is similar in all to the late tsarina!

Услыхал it is the tsar, was surprised. But also it and advisers have approved a reasoning: so the fellow has turned, that supposedly under country laws всяк of the good is free to dispose, as to it will take in head. Have settled, have published the decree and as it is necessary, have fastened the seals - the tsar as wife should to take, say, the darling daughter. And to the bride the order have written, that prepared for wedding. To the fellow the big award отвалили and home have released. So, it has rescued merchants from fierce death, and they for pleasure did not remember themselves, did not know, how to it to please.

As a tsarevna that the father with her soon has taken in head has learnt to get married, - and the life to it is not become lovely. Hands wished to impose on itself, yes has come round, it has decided to be overcome with the father. She also has thought up how to get rid of a terrible fate. On the sly descended to the skilful master (it did any furniture for imperial chambers), has given to it of money and ordered скорехонько to make a chest, yes such that in it long time to live it was possible and that from within it was locked, yes would be a lung - would weigh with cargo so much, how many empty chests usually weigh. Took сундучник a payment, has made a chest and has carried it in a tower to a tsarevna. A tsarevna has received a chest, has put in it a lot of gold and jewelry different, has taken with itself and the big press государеву. Moreover took in a chest and meal and drink and before most in a chest to hide, has called true the servant and ordered to carry a chest on a market and to sell to somebody for nothing.

It was locked in a chest, and the servant on a shoulder it has lifted and in a city has incurred. It here went, went, thought, thought - to whom to sell! Also has recollected improvised three merchants, - it it is frequent in their bench bought any goods. For a long time the young salesman that was able both to sell the goods was grew fond to it, and the reasonable word to tell, and the good fellow nice was itself.

And a tsarevna when to run has gathered, has written on that chest: "Who will buy - will repent. And who will not buy - will repent".

Many asked the price of a chest while the servant went on a market to that bench where the fellow sat, yes as saw царевнину an inscription: "Who will buy - will repent. And who will not buy - will repent" - at once were receded. So it also has not sold the servant, has brought in a bench.

The fellow has had a look at a chest, at once an inscription has noticed. He has understood, that a chest - special, with какою cunning, whether only here on good, whether on harm - it is not known. It has started to bargain. Well, has managed to get at last a trunk and has carried to itself in a room.

Night passed. And in the morning when the guy has left in a bench, in a moment a tsarevna has opened a chest, left in a room yes has cleaned it so what to look ljubo-was expensively. The fellow Has come back home late at night, was surprised. It wanted to it to open somewhat quicker a trunk - yes where there! As fought, anything at it did not leave. And to break - the lock has regretted, and боязно was, as an inscription has recollected... In hands took - a trunk absolutely easy. Thought, thought what to do, yes so anything and has not thought up.

And has returned for the second day by the evening, sees, it is again cleaned beautifully in its room. That for a miracle! For the third day he has decided to leave a copper with a soup on fire that it помаленьку cooked. Hardly it has left, as a tsarevna has opened a chest, has prepared foods different and has again hidden. By the evening the fellow, увидал a table covered for a supper has come back home, and has understood: no, the trunk is not empty, someone in it sits!

Next morning it has hidden and waits - something will be!

He has waited not for long. The cover has risen, and there was on will a tsarevna. Before it the fellow here has appeared, for a hand took, has asked - whose it who such and what for in a chest has got.

The maiden has told:

- Know, I the imperial daughter. The father wishes to take me as wife. And I do not wish. Here also has hidden here, and now in your hands has got. You think up how to disappear to us together with you yes secretly to get married. Of money do not care, it is a lot of money - after all I at the father of half-treasury have carried away.

- You have correctly arrived, - the guy has answered it. - well, give we will escape, I agree. We will make here is how: at first I will send you to mother, there you live not for long - while I will pay off with merchants and I will hand over them a bench.

Tsarevna has given согласье. And immediately the guy has sent it to mother: has given in guides of the fellow villager, the true friend, that and delivered a chest directly in the house of the groom.

Well, there was a tsarevna a trunk, has dressed up in men's wear - it was presented by the son of the old woman. Has then agreed to skilful masters, and they have constructed to it a beautiful palace on sea coast.

It wanted to a tsarevna to look, as the wedding dress will go to it to the person. She has put on, and in a window is casual увидал its malicious boatman and has immediately guessed, that it not the guy, and the girl. It Has struck itself(himself) in a breast a fist and has sworn to steal it as soon as the case will be presented.

In some days a tsarevna has decided to inform the groom, that the palace is already built and it is necessary to get married more soon. Took from it mother of the groom письмецо and has gone to the sea, on landing stage, to look, who would go to a city and delivered the letter. On a sin, that boatman has turned up. It has pledged a word to deliver the letter, and itself unpacked it, has read yes in exchange has composed another, false, as though from mother to the son: "Well and the girl you have sent to me, the sonny! The real chippy! Only unless to dogs it is not confused! Come somewhat quicker yes finish with the libertine, after all such shame and me not to endure, not that that to you, the lovely son!"

Many any dirty tricks that boatman, and all on behalf of mother has written to the groom. It also has brought that letter with наветами to a city. The guy has read, has knocked itself on a forehead, and then on a knee: "Oh I, the poor creature! Well for misfortune! To me, the fair guy to take as wife such развратницу! Эх you, the imperial daughter! Be gone you пропадом, time you such. It is necessary to go home yes to throw it to the sea - and all is short!"

Has paid off with merchants, has said goodbye and has come back home. Has asked nothing neither mother, nor at a tsarevna, and has called the beauty in the evening as if to take a walk on seacoast. They have approached to breakage edge, and the guy has pushed off the maiden directly in sea abyss, and has rushed home.

And the damned boatman was already here as here, secretly guarded, sitting in a boat. Admired, as the poor girl as it tried to be rescued from storming waves suffered. At last has seized it by a hand, has dragged to itself in a boat, has brought to the den, and has locked on nine locks: a door behind a door and everyone - on the lock. And in some days, only a tsarevna has recovered, - has decided not delaying to take her as wife. To tomorrow and wedding has appointed. Yes a tsarevna in the заточенье, fortunately, has found a small saw; all locks, all locks from doors has quickly cut - and to run! The boatman has heard, has following rushed off, well - absolutely was has caught, yes a tsarevna has told: "the Damned boatman! Yes is better I will be drowned!" - also has rushed in the sea. Also have in a moment carried away its waves somewhere far-far.

Happens so, that three guys have somehow thrown a seine and instead of fish have caught a tsarevna. As they have looked at the maiden - have immediately quarrelled: everyone wished to take her as wife!

While they argued, time has much passed. A tsarevna has regained consciousness - and well to beg them! Said, that it already married, - yes where there! Still more guys have begun to argue, whose it will be женою.

And for that time the hero - with a gun yes with pistols passed nearby on a game. Услыхал he as three guys because of the girl quarrel, has noticed, that the girl itself is nice, has jumped up, has seized it by a hand, has lifted in a saddle and for a back to itself has planted, to a horse has put spurs, and remember as called! The unfortunate imperial daughter out of the frying pan into the fire has got.

Here the athlete has brought it to wood, has removed from a horse and has told: "Be моею женою".

- Well! - the crafty girl answered. - you wish to marry me? It agree. But at first buy to me men's wear, a horse - though such as yours, give оружье, and then marry, well.

- All right, let - will be your way! - the athlete answered. - if you want, put on my dress, and оружье take, and a horse. Walk a little: I wish to look, as the costume will go to you.

And only that also it is necessary to a tsarevna! Has in a moment put on, villages astride a horse, has driven a little and it was turned back back; and has then jumped in a saddle once again, has driven off far away, has at parting given up as a bad job - and it was that.

It has hopped to the nearest city and has lodged there on an inn. And in some days has ordered to itself a rich dress of the pasha, has dressed up in it, has written фирман and has set on it the imperial seal, and has then gone to the pasha and has shown to it фирман: let the pasha will leave the place and leaves. As the pasha on фирмане has seen the press of the tsar - has obeyed immediately. And the imperial daughter became the pasha.

A little a tsarevna later has enjoined to write to one painter it in a dress, and a portrait to put at a crossroads, at чешмы. At чешмы has put guard and ordered to listen attentively, that passers-by will speak about a portrait. And if who that about it tells - now to deliver that in a palace.

Happens on a sin, that the first accepted that boatman. Hardly увидал it the portrait, has struck itself a fist in a breast and has exclaimed:

- Ah, whether yes you is a portrait, damned!

Guard in a trice has seized it and has led to the pasha. A tsarevna ordered to put on the villain of a chain immediately and to fling in prison.

And in some days went by this place of three guys-fishermen. As have seen the girl on a portrait, immediately it recognised.

- Look, after all it is that, that to us in a network has got!

Well, guard, clearly, and them has taken away in a palace of the pasha. A tsarevna has set them in one of rooms and has treated on glory.

A little later the hero passed by чешмы, has seen a portrait and is sad has sighed. Well, and it have led in a palace. A tsarevna too has planted it in a separate room, has given also meal and drink.

And at last the groom of a tsarevna has passed by чешмы. Has seen a portrait and even has begun to cry. Has seized its guard, has sent to the pasha in a palace. It too have planted in a separate room and have treated as follows.

Here and all friends and enemies of a young tsarevna have gathered in chambers of the pasha, and it began to interrogate them. At first has asked the groom:

- What for you have pushed off me in the sea?

That has told to it about the false letter of the boatman and there and then the certificate of mother all declared: "the Maiden of observed fairly". Have interrogated the boatman. That has no place to disappear - admitted in all.

Then a tsarevna to all who sat before it has addressed:

- Tell, who from you has learnt that maiden, whose image hung at чешмы?

Nobody began to lie. All have renounced.

- You hear? - A tsarevna to the groom has told. - I am true to you, and you on malicious навету in the sea me, not guilty, have thrown. Well, you see now, the truth is heavier some gold, and from abyss will come up!

She has ordered to executioners to adhere a stone to a neck of the boatman, and to dump the criminal in the sea. To the rests has given many money and has sent them back home. And a tsarevna has then put on the white dress, has got married with favourite and has returned with it together to its village. Увидала their old mother and so was delighted, as to tell it is impossible.

Well, and the tsar has soon died, and began to correct the country of spouses of a young tsarevna because it is cleverer than it there was nobody in all state.

Here is how the shepherd can at times and to become the tsar!