Here's another story about Michael Scott, the famous wizard who became famous for his miracles; the same one that split the Eildon Mountains in half. According to an ancient custom accepted among the enlightened and pious people of Scotland, every year an envoy was sent to Rome to the Pope to find out from His Holiness what exact date the first day of Maslenitsa falls on.
It was very important for people to know the exact day, because it depended on when to celebrate all other church holidays in the year. Immediately after Maslenitsa there was Lent, and seven weeks later Easter came. And so on, one holiday after another throughout the twelve months.
It happened one day that the honor of going to Rome fell to Michael Scott. And since he was too busy at that time, he completely forgot what holy task was entrusted to him, and he delayed his journey until Candlemas, that is, until the last holiday before Shrovetide.
There was not a second to lose. If any ordinary mortal were offered to travel to Rome and back in such an insignificant period of time, he would answer that only a madman would agree to this, but he is still sane. But for Michael Scott it was a mere trifle.
He got up early and went to a green meadow where magical horses were grazing - a white star was burning in their foreheads, and their huge eyes sparkled purer than gold.
- How fast can you go? - Michael Scott asked the first horse on the green lawn.
- At the speed of the wind!
“It won’t do,” said Michael and asked the same question to the second horse.
- Faster than the wind! - he answered.
- It's slow for me! - said Michael.
- And I’m flying like a March whirlwind! - said the third horse.
- Too slow! - Michael said and walked up to the last horse. - Well, do you run fast? - he asked him.
- Faster than a pretty girl changes lovers! - answered the horse.
- This suits me! - Michael was delighted and without further ado jumped on his horse, and they set off for Rome.
They flew as if on wings across land and seas. Clack-clack, clack-clack, only sparks flew from under the hooves - along the white crests of the waves, along the snowy mountain peaks, along the green hills. Clack-clack, clink-clack! Faster than time! And now the gray rocks and stormy seas were left behind, and Michael Scott, on the golden wings of the early morning, landed on the square in front of the Pope's palace in Rome.
Without hesitation, Michael conveyed the news to the pope that a certain Scot was waiting for him at the door, and the pope immediately received him in his reception hall.
“I am a messenger from your loyal Scots, who asked to find out, before Candlemas has passed, when Maslenitsa will begin this year,” Michael told him.
“You came a little late,” said dad. “Now there’s no way you can get back to Scotland before Candlemas.”
“Oh, I still have plenty of time,” Michael objected. “Just a few minutes ago I was in my native Scotland. And here I am. Therefore, I will return back just as quickly.
- Just a few minutes ago! - exclaimed the Pope. - I will never believe it! How will you prove this?
Here Michael hand the Pope his beret, which he took off out of respect for His Holiness.
- See the snow on it! - he says. - This is snow from the Scottish mountains, where it is still winter.
- Then this is just a miracle! - Dad exclaimed. “And although I don’t believe in miracles, I will still give you the answer to the question for which you came here.” Maslenitsa always begins on the first Monday of the first lunar month in spring.
Michael was simply delighted with this answer. Previously, envoys brought only one answer from Rome: Maslenitsa this year will begin on exactly such and such a day. And Michael managed to find out the secret of how dad determines this day - what luck!
“Thank you, Your Holiness,” said Michael and immediately went home.
Jumping on a magical horse, he reached Scotland as quickly as from Scotland to Rome, and told his fellow countrymen the news.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru