d, for he
dislikes to be roughly treated."

The King's messenger thereupon dismissed them and forbade them to tell
Emelyan that he had summoned them before him. Then he brought raisins,
baked plums, and grapes, and went to the fool. When he came into the
room, he went up to the stove and said: "Emelyan, why are you lying
there?" and with that he gave him the raisins, the baked plums, and
the grapes, and said: "Emelyan, we will go together to the King: I
will take you with me." But the fool replied: "I am very warm here";
for there was nothing he liked so much as being warm. Then the
messenger began to entreat him: "Be so good, Emelyan, do let us go!
You will like the Court vastly." "No," said the fool "I am lazy." But
the messenger entreated him once more: "Do come with me, there's a
good fellow, and the King will give you a fine red coat and cap, and a
pair of red boots." When the fool heard of the red coat he said: "Go
on before, I will follow you." The messenger pressed him no further,
but went out and asked the sisters-in-law if there was any danger of
the fool's deceiving him. They assured him there was not, and he went
away.

Emelyan, who remained lying on the stove, then said to himself: "How
I dislike this going to the King!" And after a minute's thought, he
said: "At the pike's command, and at my desire, up, stove, and away to
the town!" And instantly the wall of the room opened, and the stove
moved out; and when it got clear of the yard, it went at such a rate
that there was no overtaking it; soon it came up with the King's
messenger, and went along with him into the palace. When the King saw
the fool coming, he went forth with all his Court to meet him; and he
was amazed beyond measure at seeing Emelyan come riding on the stove.
But the fool lay still and said nothing. Then the King asked him why
he had upset so many people on his way to the wood. "It was their own
fault," said the fool; "why did they not get out of the way?"

Just at that moment the King's daughter came to the window, and
Emelyan happening suddenly to look up, and seeing how handsome she
was, said in a whisper: "At the pike's command, and at my desire, let
this lovely maiden fall in love with me!" And scarcely had he spoken
the words when the King's daughter fell desperately in love with him.
Then said the fool: "At the pike's command, and at my desire, up,
stove, and away home!" Immediately the stove left the palace, went
through the to