By God’s good measure—
let this or that appear! and you will get it at once.”
So the peasant put the pike back into the water, went to his hut, sat down at the table and said:
“At the pike’s good pleasure,
By God’s good measure—
let the table be covered and my dinner ready.”
Then from somewhere or other all sorts of dishes and drinks appeared on the table, enough to please a Tsar, and a Tsar would not have been ashamed of it. So the poor man crossed himself, said “Glory be to Thee, O Lord! now I can break the fast.” So he went to the church, attended Matins and Mass, turned back and again broke his fast, ate and drank as well, went outside the door and sat at the counter.
Just about then the Princess had an idea that she would go abroad in the streets, and she went with her attendants and maids of honour, and for the sake of the holy festival went to give alms to the poor; she gave to them all but forgot the poor peasant. Then he said to himself:
“At the pike’s good pleasure,
Of God’s good treasure—