Episode Details

The Fables of Ivan Krylov — Episode Twenty-Four

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

The Motley Sheep (Пёстрые Овцы, Book VII, No. 11) — The Lion cannot bear the sight of a motley sheep — his eyes ache all day at it — yet strangling his subjects outright would stain his good name. The Bear counsels exactly that; the Fox, seeing the Lion frown, offers a gentler plan: give the motley ones rich meadows, and, shepherds being scarce, let the wolves tend them. The counsel is adopted, and soon not only the motley sheep are few. Krylov's closing couplet records what the beasts said about it.

The Mouse and the Rat (Мышь и Крыса, Book V, No. 2) — The Mouse runs in with wonderful news: the Cat, they say, has fallen into the Lion's claws, and now mice may rest at last. The Rat is not deceived — if it ever comes to claws between those two, the Lion is the one who will not come out alive, for there is no beast on earth stronger than the Cat. Krylov's closing moral is for every coward who thinks the whole world sees through his eyes.

The Musicians (Музыканты, Book I, No. 3) — A neighbour is invited to dinner, but the real lure is music: the host's singers strike up, each at random and at full strength, until the guest's ears crack and his head spins. The host concedes they tear a little at the ear — but they never touch liquor, and their conduct is excellent. Krylov's closing line gives his own preference: drink if you will, but know your business.

The Nightingales (Соловьи, Book VII, No. 15) — A fowler catches Nightingales in the spring groves and cages them; they sing, one from grief, one from boredom. One, parted from his mate, reasons wisely: grieving mends nothing, the master loves song, and a beautiful voice might earn his freedom. He greets the evening glow and the sunrise with song — and only makes his lot worse, while the poor singers are let go. The better he sings, the tighter he is guarded.

The Nobleman (Вельможа, Book IX, No. 11) — A Nobleman of ancient days dies and comes to judgement in Hell. Born in Persia, a satrap by rank, he explains that, his health being weak, he never ruled his province himself — he ate, drank, slept, and signed whatever his secretary laid before him. "To Paradise with him, at once!" cries the judge, over Mercury's protest: had a fool with such power taken up affairs, he would have ruined a whole country. Krylov's closing couplet finds another such candidate — in a courtroom, yesterday.

Krylov Fables.

KacheliTV — Russian classics, read aloud.