There once lived a widow, and she was black as pitch and old as a roadside stone. And the more she aged, the younger and more beautiful she considered herself. This old woman had one and only servant, named Burtumier. They lived in the middle of the forests in a huge castle, where bats and owls lived. The old woman had seven barrels filled with Spanish gold coins in her dungeon, and every morning she dried her treasures in the sun.
One morning, when she, as usual, was laying out her gold on the grass, a handsome knight rode by on a black horse.
- Hello, madam! What are you doing?
“Fair knight, I am drying my widow’s inheritance in the sun.”
“Madam, the inheritance is wonderful, but its owner is even better.” Do you want to marry me?
- Beautiful knight, go on your way. Go on your way and come back for me on the night of four bad weathers.
A year later, at midnight, a handsome knight knocked on the castle door.
- Hey, lady, wake up! It's time to celebrate our wedding.
- Beautiful knight, what is the weather today?
- Madam, it’s raining like buckets.
- Beautiful knight, go on your way. The time has not yet come for me to get married.
A year later, at midnight, the beautiful knight knocked on the castle door again.
- Hey, lady, wake up! It's time to celebrate our wedding.
- Beautiful knight, what is the weather today?
- Madam, the rain is pouring like buckets, the storm is howling like a beast.
- Beautiful knight, go on your way. It's not time for me to get married yet
A year later, at midnight, the beautiful knight knocked on the castle door again.
- Hey, lady, wake up! It's time to celebrate our wedding.
- Beautiful knight, what is the weather today?
“Mistress, the rain is pouring down like buckets, the storm is howling like a beast, the wind is uprooting trees.”
- Beautiful knight, go on your way. The time has not yet come for me to get married.
A year later, at midnight, the beautiful knight knocked on the castle door again.
- Hey, lady, wake up! It's time to celebrate our wedding.
- Beautiful knight, what is the weather today?
- Madam, the rain is pouring like buckets, the storm is howling like a thunderstorm, the wind is uprooting trees, there is frequent hail, and each hailstone is the size of a fist.
- Beautiful knight, this is the night of four bad weathers. Hurry, hurry, it's time to celebrate our wedding! Hey Burtumier, hurry up! Bring and saddle your white mare.
- Hey, Burtumier, saddle, saddle,
Quickly saddle my donkey!
An hour later, the old woman in her wedding dress, Burtumier and the handsome knight galloped through the forest. The rain poured down in buckets, the storm howled like a beast, the wind uprooted trees, there was frequent hail, and each hailstone was the size of a fist
- Hey, Burtumier, whip, whip,
Whip my donkey harder!
- Okay, madam!
- Hey, Burtumier, whip, whip,
Whip my donkey harder!
Burtumier, what beautiful weather!
- Yes, madam!
- Hey, Burtumier, whip, whip,
Whip my donkey harder!
Burtumier, do you see these lights in the forest?
- Yes, lady, we are being pursued by wolves. Their eyes sparkle in the impenetrable darkness.
- Hey, Burtumier, whip, whip,
Whip my donkey harder!
No. Burtumier! This beautiful knight ordered to light the road in my honor. How rich he is! How he loves me!
- Yes, madam!
- Hey, Burtumier, whip, whip,
Whip my donkey harder!
Burtumier, do you hear the howling in the forest?
- Yes, lady, these are the wolves howling from hunger. They threaten us.
- Hey, Burtumier, whip, whip,
Whip my donkey harder!
No, Burtumier! This wonderful knight organized a holiday in my honor. How rich he is! How he loves me!
Then the wolves attacked the old woman and her donkey. Burtumier grabbed his sword, but the handsome knight stopped him:
- Burtumier, let these animals eat to their heart's content. You won't regret it!
When the wolves had had enough and left, the handsome knight spoke.
“Burtumier, get off your horse and see what’s left of the old woman and her donkey.”
“A wonderful knight, the old woman left a golden leg, the donkey left four golden horseshoes with diamond nails.”
- Burtumier, take them for yourself. Take everything and get on the road!
They both returned to the old woman's castle and lived there richly and happily.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru