Translation:Collection of Slavic Folk Tales/VI
THE FROST THE SUN AND THE WIND
(TALE FROM WHITE RUSSIA)
One day a traveler met on his way the Sun, the Frost, and the Wind.
"Good day," he shouted to them.
"To which of us did he say good day?" wondered the three companions.
"To me," said the Sun, "for he is afraid that I might burn him."
"To me," said the Frost, "for he is not so afraid of you as of me."
"You both lie," replied the Wind; "it was not you, it was me that the man greeted."
And there they went, starting to argue and quarrel; they were about to come to blows.
"After all," cried the Wind, "what is the use of disputing? Let us go ask him ourselves to whom he said good day."
They run after him, catch up with him, and question him.
"It was to the Wind," answers the man, "that I said good day."
"Ah! ah! was I not right?" cries the Wind.
"That is how it is," resumes the Sun in fury, "beware. I will scorch you; you will remember me."
"Fear nothing," cries the Wind; "he will not scorch you: I will blow and cool you."
"Then it is I, rascal, who will take charge of freezing you," cries the Frost.
"Do not worry, my good fellow," says the Wind, "if the Frost attacks you, I will not blow and she will do you no harm; without the wind, the cold cannot bite, nor the sun burn along with it."[1]
- ↑ One can compare with this tale the fable of La Fontaine which bears the title: Borée et Phébus, Book VI, 3.