o the King to invite him and all
his Court. So the servant went along the crystal bridge which the fool
had made, and when he came to the Court, the ministers brought him
before the King, and Emelyan's messenger said: "Please, your Majesty,
I am sent by my master to invite you to dinner." The King asked him
who his master was, but he answered: "Please, your Majesty, I can tell
you nothing about my master (for the fool had ordered him not to tell
who he was), but if you come to dine with him, he will inform you
himself." The King, being curious to know who had sent to invite him,
told the messenger that he would go without fail. The servant went
away, and when he got home the King and his Court set out along the
crystal bridge to go and visit the fool; and, when they arrived at the
castle, Emelyan came forth to meet the King, took him by his white
hands, kissed him on his sugared lips, led him into his castle, and
seated him at the oaken tables covered with fine diaper tablecloths,
and spread with sugar-meats and honey-drinks. The King and his
ministers ate and drank and made merry. When they rose from the table
and retired, the fool said to the King: "Does your Majesty know who I
am?" As Emelyan was now dressed in fine clothes, and was very
handsome, it was not possible to recognize him; so the King replied
that he did not know him. Then the fool said: "Does not your Majesty
recollect how a fool came riding on a stove to your Court, and how
you fastened him up in a pitched cask with your daughter, and cast
them into the sea? Know me now--I am that Emelyan."

When the King saw him thus in his presence he was greatly terrified
and knew not what to do. But the fool went to the Princess and led her
out to him; and the King, on seeing his daughter, was greatly
rejoiced, and said: "I have been very unjust to you, and so I gladly
give you my daughter, to wife." The fool humbly thanked the King; and
when Emelyan had prepared everything for the wedding, it was
celebrated with great magnificence, and the following day the fool
gave a feast to the ministers and all the people. When the festivities
were at an end, the King wanted to give up his kingdom to his
son-in-law, but Emelyan did not wish to have the crown. So the King
went back to his kingdom, and the fool remained in the castle and
lived happily.

THE JUDGMENT OF SHEMYAKA

Two brothers once lived upon a little plot of ground--one rich, the
other poor. The poor