"IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T LISTEN; BUT DON'T SPOIL MY LIES."[1]
There once lived three brothers, two of whom were clever, and the third was stupid. One day they went into the forest to cut wood, when it occurred to them that it would be a pleasant thing to have their meals there; so they put some grouts in a pot and then added some cold water, but when it came to the boiling they did not know whence to get the fire! Now it so happened that not very far from where they were was a hut, in which lived an old man who kept bees. The eldest brother, remembering this, said,—
"I will go and ask that old man for some fire to boil our porridge with."
Away he went to the hut where he found the old man looking after his bees.
"Little father!" said the young fellow, "give me some fire!"
"Sing me a song first," replied the old man.
"I cannot sing, little father."
"Well then, let me see you dance."
"I can't dance!"
"Well then, go and send some one who can, somebody who is not quite such an ass as you."
So the eldest returned to his brothers without the fire.
- ↑ A Russian proverb.
