“What’s that to me? Dress yourself quickly that I may carry you to the presence of the king.”
Quoth Emelian:
“What have I to do there?”
The officer, enraged at his answering so disrespectfully, struck him on the cheek. The fool, feeling himself struck, said softly:
“At the pike’s behest, and at my request, oak sapling, break their hands and shins.”
The sapling hopping forth, began to beat them, drubbing them all preciously, both officer and soldiers, so that the officer was obliged to return discomfited. Arriving at the city, he related to the king how the fool had beaten them all. The king was very much astonished, and did not believe it possible that he could have beaten so many. The king, however, selected a prudent man, whom he sent with an
injunction to bring the fool to him if possible, even though he should have recourse to deceit. The king’s envoy, arriving at the village where Emelian lived, sent for the starost, and said to him:
“I am sent by the king to fetch your fool; but first of all, bring before me the people with whom he lives.”
The starost instantly ran and brought the sisters-in-law; and the envoy asked them—
“What does the fool like?”