and sent for more money from the house. So they piled the plates higher still, but all the money vanished, and still all the goods had not been used up.
"What is to be done, potter? Why are you so greedy?"
"There is nothing to be done."
"I have a very high esteem for you, potter, but do you know what?"
"Do you carry me in to the courtyard, and I will give you the goods and the money back as well."
So the boyár hesitated: he was very sorry to lose his money and for himself, but he could not help himself, and so they agreed. They unharnessed the horse, and the peasant sat in the carriage and the boyár walked on. The potter sang a song, and the boyár drew it along, drew it along. "How far must I take you in front of that courtyard?"
The potter went on singing joyously and said, "In front of the house, at the very top of the carriage."
When he reached the palace he stood up erect and sang, joyously.
The Tsar heard him singing and ran to the flight of steps, and recognised the potter. "Ha! welcome, potter!"
"Thank you, your honour."
"What are you travelling with?"
"With folly."
"Now, you fine potter, you have known how to sell your goods. boyár, take off your gay costume and your boots; and you, potter, take off your kaftán and your bast shoes. Put the peasant's smock on, boyár, and you, potter, put on the boyár's robes. You have sold your goods very finely, potter; you have done very little, and you have won much. But as for you, boyár, you were not able to keep your rank. Now, potter, were there any geese flying over Russia? Did you pluck a feather out of them, or did you leave them in peace?"
"No, I plucked them bald."
