Episode Details

Five fables by Ivan Krylov (1769–1844), in new English verse translations made for this show, read aloud over a gentle instrumental bed.

The Bream (Лещи, Book VIII, No. 20) — In the squire's garden pond the Bream live golden days, sporting in schools by the shore — until the squire orders some fifty Pike to be let loose among them. His friend begs for mercy: not one fin of the Bream will remain. But the squire only smiles, and asks what ever made anyone think he was so fond of the Bream.

The Brook (Ручей, Book II, No. 9) — A little Brook, hearing a shepherd mourn his drowned lamb, lectures the greedy River at length: give *it* such waters, and it would do good all along its way and reach the sea as pure as silver. Within the week a rain cloud settles over the mountain — and Krylov's closing moral tells why so many brooklets murmur so sweetly.

Bulat (Булат, Book VIII, No. 10) — The keen blade of a bulat saber — steel of fame — is thrown on the scrap heap and sold to a peasant for next to nothing, who mounts it with a handle and sets it to stripping bast, splitting kindling and trimming stakes, until the children ride it astride. When the Hedgehog asks if Bulat is not ashamed, the blade's closing answer lays the shame where it belongs.

Cannons and Sails (Пушки и Паруса, Book VIII, No. 12) — Aboard ship the Cannons rise against the Sails: canvas idlers, fit only to swell and strut, while the guns do the thundering in battle. Boreas obeys their plea and tears the Sails to shreds — and the moral at the close weighs what remains of a power whose parts are no longer wisely ordered.

The Cart (Обоз, Book II, No. 20) — A train of carts laden with pots must come down a steep hill. The good old horse bears his cart down step by careful step on his croup, while the young horse above rains mockery on him: watch *her* — she won't lead her cart down, she'll roll it! Krylov's moral closes the tale.

Krylov Fables.

Intermission: "Luminous Springs" — instrumental.

KacheliTV — Russian classics, read aloud.