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TWO IN A SACK
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And at once the two rogues with their big sticks crept out of the sack, and began to belabour her as they sang:
'Would you beat your husband true?
Don't cry so!
Now we'll beat you black and blue!
Oh! Oh!'
Don't cry so!
Now we'll beat you black and blue!
Oh! Oh!'
The woman screamed out: 'Old man, old man! Come here, quick! Here are two ruffians pommelling me fit to break my bones.'
Her husband only strolled up and down and laughed, as he said: 'Yes, they'll beat you well, old lady.'
And the two thumped away and sang again:
'Blows will hurt, remember, crone,
We mean you well, we mean you well;
In future leave the stick alone,
For how it hurts, you now can tell,
One—two—'
We mean you well, we mean you well;
In future leave the stick alone,
For how it hurts, you now can tell,
One—two—'
At last her husband took pity on her, and cried:
'Two into the sack.'
He had hardly said the words before they were back in the sack again.
From this time the man and his wife lived so happily together that it was a pleasure to see them, and so the story has an end.
[From Rüssiche Märchen.]
