There lived in a certain kingdom a renowned Prince, Mistafor
Skurlatovich, who had a servant named Goria, the son of Krutshinin.
And Mistafor gave him a skilful master to teach him the art of
shoemaking that he should become the best and most skilful of all
workmen in that craft. Goria went on learning for several years, and
became so clever that he made shoes even better than his master. Then
Mistafor Skurlatovich took him into his house and ordered him to make
some shoes; so he set to work and made twenty dozen pairs, but not a
single pair of them satisfied Mistafor Skurlatovich. So he beat him
unmercifully till the shoemaker, Goria Krutshinin, was half dead, and
lay sick for ten long weeks.
As soon as Goria began to recover, Mistafor Skurlatovich ordered him
to make some more shoes. And when Goria had finished several pairs he
took them to his master to try on; but not a single pair pleased him.
Then Skurlatovich flung the shoes at his head, and beat him until his
face was covered with blood. Goria Krutshinin, who had one poor
copper altine in his pocket, went to spend it in a public-house by the
road-side, and, as he sat down, he said to himself: "I wish the devil
would free me from this master of mine!"
Suddenly a stranger stood before him, and said: "Why are you in such a
passion, my good lad?"
"How can I help it?" replied Goria, the shoemaker; "my master is as
cruel as a mad dog; you see how he has dressed me down, and ten weeks
ago he beat me even still more than now."
"Why does he beat you so?" said the stranger. And Goria replied: "I
have learnt the art of shoemaking better than my teacher, and I make
shoes for my master, but though I work for him all I can, do what I
will, I never can please him; and instead of thanking me, he beats me
as you see."
Then the stranger said: "I know your master well enough; you must be
freed from his cruelty; and, if you like, I will marry Mistafor's
daughter to you instead of to the Prince to whom she is betrothed."
"Are you mad?" said Goria; "what nonsense are you talking?" "Trust
me," replied the stranger, "I can bring it all about." But the
shoemaker could not believe him, and said: "You may talk and promise
what you will, I do not believe a word." "Whether or no, you shall
see that what I promise I can perform."
So saying the stranger desired him to shut his eyes, throw himself on
the ground facing the sun, and then retire two steps backwards. When
Goria had done so, the stranger told him to look at himself. Goria was
amazed at seeing himself attired in a costly dress, and said: "Without
doubt you must be the devil in man's form!"
"Certainly I am a devilkin; you called me, and on your summons I came.
I will serve you, and marry you to Mistafor's daughter." "How is that
possible?" said Goria: "I am known down yonder by every one--the very
dogs know me." But the stranger replied: "Nay, it is not so. No one, I
promise, will recognise you: every one will mistake you for Prince
Dardavan, to whom Mistafor's daughter Dogada is betrothed."
"Good, very good," said Goria, "if what you say prove true." "It shall
all come to pass as I have said," replied the other. And thereupon the
stranger desired Goria to go three steps backward and shut his eyes,
and then open them again. On a sudden Goria saw before him a splendid
palace of white marble, and in amazement, he exclaimed: "You are in
truth the devil himself, and no man, to do such marvellous things!"
"I tell the truth, you see, and do not deceive you," replied the
stranger; "and now I make you a present of this marble palace, and
will remain with you and serve you faithfully. Call me Prituitshkin!"
Thereupon the servant conducted his new master Goria, the shoemaker,
into the courtyard, where he beheld a great throng of servants,
horses, and carriages, in the most splendid array; and the servants
all made their obeisance to him, as to the Prince, and the musicians
played on all sorts of instruments; and when the music ceased, Goria
the shoemaker went into the marble palace, where he saw a table
covered with all kinds of dishes; so he seated himself at the table,
ate and drank his fill, and lived in this palace like a great man.
Meanwhile Prince Dardavan, after his betrothal with Dogada, was
travelling on business to another city; and the trusty servant
Prituitshkin thought this a favourable opportunity to marry Goria the
shoemaker to Dogada. So he went to his master, the shoemaker, and
said: "Now is the time to settle this affair; we must contrive that
Mistafor takes you for Dardavan." So saying, he went out in front of
the marble palace, raised a large tent, and ordered all the musicians
to strike up. When Mistafor heard such a variety of beautiful sounds
he bethought himself that Prince Dardavan must be arrived, and sent to
inquire. As soon as he was informed that the supposed Prince Dardavan
had arrived, he sent a number of his people to invite his dear
son-in-law to a feast. Then the messengers went to Goria, bowed humbly
before him, and invited him in the name of their Prince Mistafor
Skurlatovich to visit him and be his guest. "Go," answered Goria, "and
tell Mistafor Skurlatovich that I will soon come to him." So the
ambassadors bowed low to the shoemaker, and returned and related to
their Prince what they had heard from the supposed Tsarevich Dardavan,
and all they had seen.
After the departure of Mistafor's messengers, Prituitshkin went to
Goria the shoemaker and said: "Now is the time for you to go to
Mistafor; listen to what I say: when you come to the courtyard of the
palace, and dismount from your steed, do not fasten him up, nor give
him to anyone to hold, but only cough loudly, and stamp on the ground
with all your might. When you enter the hall, seat yourself on the
chair numbered One. In the evening, when it is time to retire to rest,
remain behind, and as soon as your bed is ready, do not lie down upon
it, for Prince Dardavan always lies on his own bed, which weighs a
hundred poods. I will provide you with such a bed; and if I delay,
strike me in the presence of Mistafor and his daughter. When you go to
bed, and the servants bring you a number of lights, bid them take the
lights all away, and order me to bring you a stone, which Prince
Dardavan always lays on his table at night. I will bring you this
stone, which shows more light than a thousand candles."
When Goria the shoemaker heard these directions he promised to observe
them all. So he went into the courtyard, and Prituitshkin brought him
the horse saddled. Then Goria mounted the steed, and Prituitshkin
another, and away they rode to Mistafor Skurlatovich; and when they
entered the courtyard, Mistafor came out to meet his beloved
son-in-law, the supposed Prince Dardavan. Then Goria the shoemaker
dismounted from his gallant steed; but he did not fasten him up, nor
did he give him to anyone to hold: he only coughed aloud and stamped
upon the ground. The horse stood, as if rooted to the spot. Then Goria
went into the hall and bowed to all four sides, kissed his host, and
seated himself upon the chair with the number One. Mistafor went to
his daughter Dogada, and bade her come and welcome her betrothed
husband, Prince Dardavan; but Dogada was discreet and cunning, and
replied; "My gracious lord and father, this is indeed not Prince
Dardavan, but our shoemaker Goria Krutshinin." "Don't talk nonsense,"
said Mistafor; "I have seen Prince Dardavan face to face, and know him
well; this is the Prince, and no shoemaker indeed."
"Well and good," said Dogada; "I will go and welcome him; but only
bear in mind what I say: it is not Prince Dardavan, but our shoemaker
Goria, disguised like him. Now mind one thing: when we sit down at
table to eat, order white bread and brown bread to be brought to him:
and if you observe that this guest cuts first a piece of the brown
bread you will know that he is not Prince Dardavan but the shoemaker
Goria, for Dardavan always eats first the white bread."
"Good," said Mistafor, "I will observe."
Then he invited Goria the shoemaker to sit down at table; and, when
they were all seated, and white and brown bread was brought, Goria
first took of the brown bread, and Mistafor and Dogada remarked this.
Then said Mistafor: "My dear and honoured son-in-law, Prince Dardavan,
how is it that you cut so much brown bread and no white?"
When the servant Prituitshkin heard this, he went invisibly up to
Goria and whispered in his ear: "Tell Mistafor that your father, when
he sat at table, always gave first to the poor a piece of bread to
eat, and instead of salt, used to pour out to them a bag of gold: and
so saying, order me to bring you the bag of gold."
Then the supposed Tsarevich Dardavan repeated those words to Mistafor,
cut some more slices of brown bread, and called to his servant
Prituitshkin to bring him the bag of gold. In the twinkling of an eye
Prituitshkin brought the money, which he had stolen from Mistafor's
treasury, and Goria desired him to collect a troop of beggars. So the
servant ran out and returned in a trice with a crowd of hungry men,
and Goria distributed the bread, giving to each a piece of gold out of
the bag. And when he had given away all the bread and the golden
coins, he himself fell to eating.
After dinner Mistafor said to his daughter: "What say you now--is not
this Prince Dardavan?" "No, dear father," replied Dogada, "this is not
the Prince, but our shoemaker Krutshinin."
"Why, have you lost your wits, child?" said Mistafor; "we have got rid
of Goria Krutshinin long ago." "Well, mark you," replied Dogada, "I
will prove that this man is not the Prince. Invite him to spend the
night here, and order a bed to be made ready for him; and if he lies
down upon it he is not Prince Dardavan, but the shoemaker Goria."
When the evening came, and it grew late, Mistafor ordered the best
bed to be made ready for the shoemaker; then Mistafor asked the
pretended Tsarevich whether, as it was growing late, he wished to
retire to rest. So Goria went into the bedchamber, and, seeing that it
was not the bed of which Prituitshkin had spoken, he instantly called
his servant, as if in a passion, and giving him a box on the ears,
said: "You rascal, why have you not made ready my bed? You know very
well that I always sleep on my hundred-pood bed: go instantly and
bring it to me!" Thereupon Prituitshkin ran as fast as he could and
brought the hundred-pood bed, which he had stolen from Prince
Dardavan.
Then Goria the shoemaker undressed, and lay down upon the bed; and
Dogada, on purpose to try him, ordered a number of tapers to be
lighted and taken into his bedchamber. But Goria instantly drove all
the servants away with the lights, and ordered Prituitshkin to give
him the stone, which the latter presently brought, having stolen this
also from Prince Dardavan. Then Goria placed the stone on the table,
and lay down to sleep; and the light shed by the stone was more
dazzling than a meteor in the sky.
At midnight, Dogada sent one of her attendants into the bedroom of the
shoemaker, desiring her to steal away the stone from the table. But
hardly had the girl entered the apartment, and was about to run off
with the stone, than the servant Prituitshkin, who was lying by the
door, jumped up and exclaimed: "Is it not a shame for you, pretty
girl, to rob your future lord and master! You must leave me now a
pledge for your conduct." So saying, he drew off the maid's slipper
and head-dress and dismissed her. Then the girl went to her mistress
and told her the whole affair; but Dogada did not despair, and, after
an hour, thinking that Goria and his servant Prituitshkin would now be
asleep, she sent another maid to steal the stone. When the girl
entered the bedchamber, up jumped Prituitshkin again as before, pulled
off her slipper, head-dress and jacket, and let her go. But after
another hour had passed, Dogada, again thinking they must have fallen
asleep, resolved to go herself and fetch the stone. Scarcely, however,
had she entered the bedroom of the shoemaker Goria, and laid her hand
upon the stone, than up jumped Prituitshkin, and, seizing her,
exclaimed: "How! is it not a shame for your Grace to contrive such
wickedness? It is not becoming the daughter of so renowned a father to
be plotting such tricks; therefore, I must beg of you, fair lady, to
leave me a pledge." No sooner said than done: Prituitshkin slipped
off her jacket, slipper, and head-dress, and dismissed Dogada in shame
and remorse.
Early the next day, when the shoemaker Goria arose, his servant
Prituitshkin told him all that passed during the night, and advised
him, when Mistafor should propose to him a riddle, to answer: "Riddle
me no riddle, but I will give you a riddle, and then," continued he,
"propose to Mistafor this riddle: 'I went to walk in your green
meadows and caught three goats, and stripped from each of them three
skins.' If Mistafor doubts, and says that it is impossible for a goat
to have three skins, call me and order me to bring the skins."
When Goria received these directions from his servant Prituitshkin, he
went to Mistafor, who at once began to propose to him a riddle, but
Goria answered; "I will give you a riddle." And he continued: "I went
to walk in your green meadows and caught three goats, and stripped
from each of them three skins." Mistafor doubted greatly and said: "It
is impossible for a goat to have three skins."
"At all events 'tis quite true," replied Goria; and so saying, he
ordered Prituitshkin to bring the three skins which he had taken from
the three goats. So the servant immediately brought them to him.
When Mistafor beheld his daughter's dress he was troubled, scolded
her in his heart, and asked the pretended Tsarevich how Dogada's dress
had come into his hands. So the shoemaker told him all that had
happened. Mistafor, enraged against his daughter, exclaimed: "Look ye,
did you not say that this was not Prince Dardavan, but the shoemaker
Goria Krutshinin? I have no longer patience--prepare instantly for
your wedding." And Goria the shoemaker married the Princess Dogada
that very day.
Sometime after this the servant Prituitshkin came to Goria and said:
"Now that I have made your fortune, do something for me in return: I
have a request to make. In your garden is a pond, in which I formerly
lived. A maiden was one day washing linen, and dropped a ring into the
pond, and by that means she drove me from it. Order now the water to
be let off and the pond to be cleaned out: desire that whoever finds
the ring shall bring it to you, and when it is found, order the pond
to be filled with clear water and a boat to be built; and in this boat
sail with your wife and me. I will then throw myself into the water,
and when your wife exclaims: 'Ah! the servant Prituitshkin is
drowned!' only reply: 'The devil take him!'"
When Goria the shoemaker heard this, he ordered the pond in the
garden to be emptied and cleaned, and that whatever was found in it
should be brought to him. And when the pond was drained, the ring was
found at the bottom by a boy, who brought it to Goria the shoemaker.
Then Goria ordered the water to be let into the pond, and a boat to be
built. As soon as all was ready, he seated himself, with his wife and
servant, Prituitshkin, in the boat, and sailed out into the middle of
the pond. But on a sudden Prituitshkin jumped into the water, and
Dogada exclaimed: "Ah! see, the servant Prituitshkin is drowned!" Then
said Goria: "The devil take him! I want him no longer."
Prince Dardavan, the real affianced husband of Dogada, was sent out to
battle, and there lost his life. Goria the shoemaker ever after went
by his name, and lived many years with Dogada in great happiness,
forgetting his former unhappy fate.