Episode Details

The Fables of Ivan Krylov — Episode Eleven

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

The Elephant in Command (Слон на воеводстве, Book II, No. 22) — The Elephant is made Governor of the forest: high in rank, strong, kind of heart — and not too clever. When the sheep petition him that the wolves are flaying them alive, he thunders at the robbers… and then hears their side of the story.

The Elephant in Favor (Слон в случае, Book V, No. 19) — The Elephant has found favour at the Lion's court, and the whole forest sets to guessing how: the Fox is sure it is the tail, the Bear the claws, the Ox the tusks. The Ass, flapping his long ears, believes he has guessed it.

The Falcon and the Worm (Сокол и Червяк, Book VIII, No. 8) — The Falcon, strong on the wing, mocks the Worm from the height: what good was all that toil to climb so high, to bend with the branch wherever the weather bids? The Worm's answer is the small creature's whole philosophy of life.

The False Accusation (Напраслина, Book V, No. 25) — A Brahmin — fervent in word, lax in deed — is caught baking an egg on a candle in the middle of a fast, and lays the blame on the Devil. But someone small was watching from behind the stove, and learned the lesson rather differently.

The Fastidious Bride (Разборчивая невеста, Book I, No. 7) — She wanted a groom handsome, clever, honoured and young, with everything a groom could have — who would love her, yet never dare be jealous. The suitors rolled up in crowds, and her taste was finer than all of them. Krylov watches the years do their quiet arithmetic.

Krylov Fables.

Intermission: "Wind Swept Flight" — instrumental.

KacheliTV — Russian classics, read aloud.