Mizgir
In the olden days, in the ancient times, in the fair spring, in the warm summers, such a commotion arose, a burden upon the world: mosquitoes and gnats began to appear, biting people, draining their hot blood. Then appeared Mizgir, a bold and brave young lad, who began to shake his legs and weave nets, setting them on paths and trails where mosquitoes and gnats would fly.The filthy fly, the unclean line, flew and almost fell, then got caught in Mizgir's net. Mizgir began to beat her, to destroy her, to choke her by the throat. The fly pleaded with Mizgir:
"Father Mizgir! Do not beat me, do not destroy me: I have many children who will be orphaned, wandering the courtyards and teasing the dogs."
So Mizgir let her go. She flew away, buzzing, and informed all the mosquitoes and gnats:
"O you, mosquitoes and gnats! Hide under the aspen bark: Mizgir has appeared, shaking his legs, weaving nets, setting them on paths and trails where mosquitoes and gnats fly; he will catch you all!"
They flew away, hid under the aspen bark, and lay there as if dead.
Mizgir went and found a cricket, a cockroach, and a bedbug:
"You, cricket, sit on a hummock and smoke your tobacco; and you, cockroach, beat the drum; and you, bedbug-pancake maker, go under the aspen bark and spread such fame about me, Mizgir the fighter, the brave young lad, that Mizgir the fighter, the brave young lad, is no longer alive: he was sent to Kazan, where his head was cut off on the block, and the block was split."
The cricket sat on the hummock smoking his tobacco, and the cockroach beat the drum. The bedbug-pancake maker went under the aspen bark and said:
"Why are you lying there as if dead? Mizgir the fighter, the brave young lad, is no longer alive: he was sent to Kazan, where his head was cut off on the block, and the block was split."
They rejoiced and were glad, crossed themselves thrice, flew, almost fell, and all got caught in Mizgir's net.
He said:
"Why are you so small? You should visit me more often, drink beer and wine, and offer some to me!"
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