Skazka - Zmeya I rybak - a bull's hide

Robert Chandler kcf19 at DIAL.PIPEX.COM
Sat Sep 11 11:22:57 UTC 2010


Dear all,

This is from a Cossack skazka about ingratitude.

Have I translated the last words correctly?

 --Злом платят за добро люди. Я своему хозяину землю пашу, и всю посею, и
воды 
навожу. Время придет -- хозяин зарежет меня, мясо сварит, шкуру снимет,
расстелет и по мне ходить будет.

The bull replied, ‘People repay good with evil.  I plough my master’s land
for him, I sow it and I fetch water for him.  But when the time comes, my
master will slaughter me, cook my meat, take off my hide, spread it out on
the ground and walk on me.’

This give the impression that the bull’s hide will be used to cover a floor,
which I find a little surprising.

Am just wondering whether it really means that his hide will be stretched
and made into shoe leather.

All the best,

Robert

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------



More information about the SEELANG mailing list