Skazka - Zmeya I rybak - a bull's hide

[Perova Natasha]

Dear Robert
your translation is absolutely correct. Hides are often used as rugs,
especially bears' hides but others as well. I've seen it many times in
various parts of the former USSR.

Natasha Perova
Glas New Russian Writing
tel/fax: (7)495-4419157
perova at glas.msk.su
www.glas.msk.su

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Chandler" <kcf19 at DIAL.PIPEX.COM>
To: <SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu>
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2010 3:22 PM
Subject: [SEELANGS] Skazka - Zmeya I rybak - a bull's hide


Dear all,

This is from a Cossack skazka about ingratitude.

Have I translated the last words correctly?

--Çëîì ïëàòÿò çà äîáðî ëþäè. ß ñâîåìó õîçÿèíó çåìëþ ïàøó, è âñþ ïîñåþ, è
âîäû
íàâîæó. Âðåìÿ ïðèäåò -- õîçÿèí çàðåæåò ìåíÿ, ìÿñî ñâàðèò, øêóðó ñíèìåò,
ðàññòåëåò è ïî ìíå õîäèòü áóäåò.

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

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