Tolstoi for the young: Select tales from Tolstoi

VII

Simon the Warrior heard of these things next morning, and went to his brother.

“Tell me,” he said, “where did you get the soldiers from, and where did you take them to?”

“Why not, you fool?”

“Why not, you fool?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“Very well; come into the wood,” Ivan said; “but I had better harness the mare, for you won’t be able to carry it away.”

“Very well. If you want more, come back and I’ll make them for you. There is plenty of straw this year.”

“Very well,” Ivan said; “if you want more, come back and I’ll make it for you. There are plenty of leaves left.”

“The woman had a cow. The children used to drink the milk, but the other day they came to beg a little milk of me. ‘But where’s your cow?’ I asked them, and they said, ‘Taras’ bailiff came and gave mother three golden coins and she gave him the cow; now we have no milk to drink.’ I thought you only wanted to play with the golden coins, but you’ve taken away the cow from the children; I won’t give you any more.”

“Really? Then why didn’t you tell me before? I’ll make you as much as you like.”

“Really! Then why didn’t you tell me before?” he said. “I will make you as many soldiers as you like. It is well Malania and I have threshed so much straw.”

“No,” he said; “I won’t make you any more soldiers.”

“No,” he said; “I won’t make any more money.”

“Matter, indeed! With soldiers one can do anything. One can conquer a kingdom.”

“It will do for the present, thank you, Ivan,” he said.

“Is it enough?” he asked.

“I shall be satisfied with three baskets full,” he said.

“I know I promised, but I won’t make any more.”

“I know I promised, but I won’t make any more.”

“But you promised.”

“But you promised you would.”

“But how can that be?”

“Because your soldiers killed a man. I will not let you have any more.”

“Because your money took a cow away from a woman in the village.”

“Are there enough now?” he asked.

When the two brothers met they told each other how they had come by their soldiers and money.

They rode into the wood. Ivan began to rub the oak leaves, and made a heap of gold.

Then Taras the Pot-bellied asked Ivan the Fool to make him more golden money.

Taras was overjoyed.

Taras was overjoyed.

Taras the Pot-bellied gathered up a whole cartload of money, and went off to trade.

Simon was overjoyed and said, “That will do, Ivan, thank you.”

Simon the Warrior soon put his troops in order, and went away to make war.

Simon the Warrior said to his brother, “I have conquered a kingdom for myself and live well, only I have not enough money to feed my soldiers.”

Simon the Warrior promised to take the soldiers away, and Ivan began to make them. He banged a sheaf on the threshing-floor and a company appeared. He banged another sheaf and a second company appeared. He made so many soldiers that they filled the whole field.

Ivan wondered.

Ivan wondered.

Ivan took his brother to the barn and said, “Look here, if I make the soldiers you must take them away at once, for if we have to feed them they will eat up the whole village in a day.”

Ivan shook his head.

Ivan shook his head.

He had no sooner gone than Taras the Pot-bellied came along. He, too, had heard of yesterday’s affair and he said to his brother, “Tell me where you get gold money from. If only I could get hold of some I could make it bring in money from the whole world.”

Both brothers had gone—Simon to make war and Taras to trade. And Simon the Warrior conquered a kingdom, and Taras the Pot-bellied made much money in trade.

And they came to Ivan.

And the Fool was obstinate and kept to his word.

And he was obstinate, and would not make any more soldiers.

And Taras the Pot-bellied said, “I have made a heap of money, only unfortunately I have no one to guard it.”

And Simon the Warrior said, “Let us go to our brother Ivan. I will ask him to make more soldiers and give them to you to guard your money, and you must ask him to make more money and give it to me to feed my soldiers.”

And Simon said, “I haven’t enough soldiers, brother. Will you make another couple of sheaves for me?”

And the brothers went away and deliberated over their difficult situation in order to find a way out.

Simon said, “This is what we must do. You give me some of your money to feed my soldiers, and I’ll give you half my kingdom and soldiers to guard your money.”

Taras agreed. The brothers divided their possessions, and both became kings and both were rich.