In a kingdom plagued by poverty, a gipsy struggles to provide for his wife and seven children. Too lazy to work and too cowardly to steal, he seeks help from a brave warrior on his way to deliver a message to God. The gipsy asks the warrior to inquire about his purpose in life. The warrior agrees but forgets to deliver the message twice. On the third encounter, the gipsy demands a golden stirrup as collateral to ensure the warrior remembers his request. The warrior finally delivers the message to God, who informs him that the gipsy's trade will be to steal and deceive. Upon returning, the warrior relays this message, but the gipsy denies ever taking the stirrup, thus perjuring himself. The gipsy then sells the stirrup to a lord for a thousand roubles, promising to deliver it once the full payment is made. The lord sends his servant with the remaining five hundred roubles, but the gipsy tricks the servant into drinking too much and denies ever having the stirrup. The lord, furious, demands justice and takes the gipsy to court. The gipsy cleverly argues that a poor peasant could not possibly own a golden stirrup, and the court sides with him. The lord leaves empty-handed, while the gipsy continues to live merrily, having outsmarted both the warrior and the lord. The tale illustrates themes of cunning, deception, and the consequences of greed.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1831 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Folklore