Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore. Anonymous

[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. Asbjörnsen 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 which, and for further comment on the story, see Chap. VI.