he Wise Wife," in Book vii. No.
22, a tale of magic. For a Servian version of the tale see Vuk
Karajich, No. 7.

[58] Afanasief, v. No. 3. From the Novgorod Government.

[59] Literally, "has bid to live long," a conventional euphemism for
"has died." "Remember what his name was," is sometimes added.

[60] It will be observed that the miser holds out against the pain
which the scalded demon was unable to bear. See above, p. 21.

[61] Professor de Gubernatis remarks that he may sometimes be called
"the first Brutus of popular tradition." "Zoological Mythology," vol.
i. p. 199.

[62] Afanasief, v. No. 53.

[63] _Zavtrakami podchivat_ = to dupe; _zavtra_ = to-morrow; _zavtrak_
= breakfast.

[64] One of the inferior members of the Russian clerical body, though
not of the clergy. But in one of the variants of the story it is a
"pope" or priest, who appears, and he immediately claims a share in
the spoil. Whereupon the Simpleton makes use of his hatchet. Priests
are often nicknamed goats by the Russian peasantry, perhaps on account
of their long beards.

[65] Afanasief, ii. No. 8, v. No. 5. See also Khudyakof, No. 76. Cf.
Grimm, No. 34, "Die kluge Else." Haltrich, No. 66. Asbjoernsen and Moe,
No. 10. (Dasent No. 24, "Not a Pin to choose between them.")

[66] Afanasief, ii. No. 5. Written down by a crown-peasant in the
government of Perm.

[67] _Mizgir_, a venomous spider, like the Tarantula, found in the
Kirghiz Steppes.

[68] In another story bearing the same title (v. 39) the spider lies
on its back awaiting its prey. Up comes "the honorable widow," the
wasp, and falls straight into the trap. The spider beheads her. Then
the gnats and flies assemble, perform a funeral service over her
remains, and carry them off on their shoulders to the village of
Komarovo (_komar_ = gnat). For specimens of the Russian "Beast-Epos"
the reader is referred (as I have stated in the preface) to Professor
de Gubernatis's "Zoological Mythology."

[69] Afanasief, "Legendui," No. 31. Taken from Dahl's collection. Some
remarks on the Russian "legends" are given in Chap. VI.

[70] _Baruinya_, the wife of a _barin_ or seigneur.

[71] The _chort_ of this legend is evidently akin to the devil
himself, whom traditions frequently connect with blacksmiths; but his
prototype, in the original form of this story, was doubtless a demigod
or demon. His part is played by St. Nicholas in the legend of "The
Priest with the Greedy Eyes," for whic