A Ukrainian folk tale
Read by: Honored Artist of Ukraine Mykhailo Voichuk
Once upon a time there lived two brothers. One was rich; the other was so poor that words can scarcely describe it. The poor one died, leaving behind a son — and the boy grew up poor as well. One day, the young man asked his uncle:
“Uncle, tell me — what’s the better way to live these days: with truth or with deceit?”
The uncle laughed bitterly.
“Ah, where would you find truth now? There’s no truth left in this world — only lies.”
“No, uncle,” said the nephew. “Truth still lives. It’s better to live by truth.”
“Then let’s see who’s right.”
“Shall we go to court?”
“To court? No, let’s go along the road. The first man we meet, we’ll ask him. Whatever he says, that will be the answer. If truth is on your side — my cattle are yours; if it’s on mine — your cattle are mine. We’ll ask three people.”
“Agreed.”
And so they set off. After a while, they met a traveler returning from work.
“Good day to you, kind sir!”
“Good day.”
“Tell us, how is it better to live now — by truth or by falsehood?”
“Ha! Good people, where have you seen truth these days? It’s gone from the world. Better to live by falsehood.”
“That’s one for me!” the uncle said cheerfully.
The nephew’s heart sank. They went on and met a nobleman.
“Let’s ask this gentleman,” said the nephew. “He’s educated — surely he’ll tell us the truth.”
“Very well.”
They greeted the lord and asked.
“Tell us, sir, how is it better to live nowadays — by truth or by falsehood?”
“Good people, there’s no truth left, not even in the courts. Better to live by falsehood.”
“That’s two for me!” cried the uncle.
The nephew grew gloomier still. A little further along the road, they met a priest.
“Let’s ask the priest,” said the nephew. “He’s a man of God — surely he’ll know.”
“All right.”
They greeted the priest and asked.
“Father, how is it better to live these days — by truth or by falsehood?”
“Ah, my good people, truth has vanished from the world. Better to live by falsehood.”
“Three times my truth!” said the uncle, triumphant.
The nephew had no choice but to hand over all his cattle. Left naked, barefoot, and hungry, he wandered the world in despair until, hopeless, he resolved to hang himself.
He took a rope and went into the forest. Looking for a branch strong enough to bear him, he muttered: “That one looks good — I could tie the rope there and end it all.”
Just then, a wolf appeared. Terrified, he scrambled up the tree, forgetting his rope below. As he sat there trembling, three devils came running — and then a fourth, their leader.
The chief devil asked his servants what mischief they’d done. One boasted he had spoiled a dam beyond repair; another, that he had dried up the water in an entire city; the third, that he had bewitched a king’s only daughter so no doctor could cure her.
The leader laughed at each of them.
“You’ve done well,” he said, “but not completely. If someone cuts three trees in the ravine and lays them crosswise, the dam will hold. If someone digs up the raspberry bush in the city square, the water will return. And if someone shaves off the deaf corner and smokes the princess with it — she’ll be well again.”
The man in the tree heard everything. When the devils flew away, he climbed down and thought: “Perhaps it’s true what they said.”
He went to the lord’s estate and offered to fix the dam — and when he did as the devils had said, it held fast. The lord paid him richly in money and horses.
Then he traveled to the city that had no water. He dug up the raspberry bush in the square — and water gushed out, filling every well and street. The people rewarded him with gold and gifts until he was wealthier than his uncle.
At last, he went to the kingdom where the princess lay dying. He told the king he could cure her. The king promised him great riches and his daughter’s hand if he succeeded. The man shaved off the deaf corner, smoked the princess with it — and within three days she was as healthy and beautiful as before.
The king kept his word. When he died, the poor man — who had once been ready to hang himself — became king.
Years passed. One day, a rich merchant came to trade in the kingdom. The king recognized him — it was his uncle. But he said nothing, only welcomed him kindly. When the merchant finished his business, the king sent for him.
“Tell me, from what land do you come?”
“From such and such a place.”
“And your name?”
“So and so.”
Then the king revealed himself:
“Do you know me, uncle? I am your nephew — the one who vanished long ago.”
The uncle was speechless. The king continued:
“You said it was better to live by falsehood than by truth. But see — truth has triumphed. You are a merchant, and I am a king.”
He told him everything that had happened, forgave him, and gave him two ships filled with treasure.
“Take these,” he said, “and tell everyone that it’s better to live by truth than by deceit.”
The uncle took the ships and sailed home. But envy gnawed at his heart. Why was he not a king? Finally, he too went to the same forest, rope in hand — but when he climbed the tree, the devils appeared, seized him, and hanged him from the highest branch.
