The Priest with the Envious Eyes
by Alexander Afanasyev · from Russian Fairy Tales
Original Story
The Priest with the Envious Eyes
There was once a priest who lived in the parish of St. Nicholas. He
served St. Nicholas for some years, and all his earnings were that he
had neither house nor home, nor a roof over his head. So our good priest
got together all his keys, and seeing the icon of St. Nicholas, struck
it down, and left his parish to go whithersoever his eyes should guide
him. And he went roaming on his way.
Suddenly an unknown man met him. “How do you do, good man?” he said to
the pope.[18] “Whither are you going? and whence do you come?” “Take me
with you as a companion.” So they went off together. They went on some
versts, and became tired. It was time to rest.
Now the pope had two biscuits, and his new friend had two wafers. The
pope said to him: “We will first of all eat up your wafers, and we will
then go on with the biscuits.”
“All right!” the unknown man said to him. “Let us first eat up my
wafers, and leave your biscuits for a dessert.”
So they ate the wafers, ate them all up, and they were fully sated, and
there were still wafers over.
So the pope became envious. “Why,” he thought, “I will steal them.” The
old man lay down to sleep after dinner, and the pope was all agog to see
how he could steal those wafers. The old man went to sleep; so the pope
abstracted the wafers from his pocket and silently began eating them.
The old man woke up and felt for his wafers, and could not find them
anywhere. “Where are my wafers? Who has eaten them up? Have you, pope?”
“No, I did not,” answered the pope.
“Well, all right; I don’t mind.”
So they shook themselves up, and they went on their way and journey,
went on and on, and the roads suddenly divided and they came to a
carfax. So they both went on a single road and arrived at a kingdom.
Now, in this kingdom the Tsar’s daughter was near her death, and the
Tsar had promised any one who should cure her half of his reign and rule
and realm; but any one who failed was to have his head cut off and
placed on a pole.
When they arrived in front of the Tsar’s courtyard, they got themselves
up finely, and they called themselves doctors. The henchmen sallied out
of the Tsar’s courtyard, and asked them: “What sort of people are you?
What is your race? What is your city? What do you require?”
“We,” they answered, “are doctors, and we can cure the Tsarévna.”
“Well, if you are doctors, come into the palace.”
So they went into the palace, looked at the Tsarévna, asked for special
huts from the Tsar, for a can of water, for a curved sabre, and a large
table. The Tsar gave them all they required.
They then locked themselves up in the huts, tied the princess down on
the big table, cut her up with the curved sabre into little bits, put
them all into the cauldron, washed them, and rinsed them out. Then they
began to put them together—bit by bit, fragment by fragment. And the old
man breathed on them. Piece clove to piece, and made one. Then he took
all the pieces, breathed on them for the last time, and the princess
trembled all over, and woke alive and well.
The Tsar himself came into their hut. “In the Name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost!”
“Amen!” they answered.
“Have you cured the Tsarévna?” asked the Tsar.
“Yes,” the doctors answered—“there she is!” The Tsarévna came out with
the Tsar alive and well.
The Tsar said to the doctors: “What good thing do you desire—gold or
silver? Ask and you shall have.” So they began to bring gold and silver.
And the old man took as much as he could take with his thumb and two
fingers, but the pope took it by handfuls, and he rammed it all into his
wallet and hid it away, concealed it, lifted it up as much as ever his
power could.
The old man then said to the pope: “Let us bury all the money in the
earth and again go a-healing.”
So they went on and went on, and they arrived at another kingdom in
which there also was a princess on the verge of death, and the Tsar
promised any one who should cure her half of his realm and rule and
reign; but any one who failed was to have his head cut off.
But the Evil One was tempting the envious pope—how he should manage to
tell nothing to the old man, but to cure her by himself, and so get all
the gold and silver for himself. So he dubbed himself a doctor, arrayed
himself finely, and arrived at the Tsar’s courtyard, just as they had
done before. In the same way he asked for the same implements from the
Tsar, shut himself up in the special hut, tied the princess down on the
table, took out the curved sabre; and however much the Tsarévna might
cry out and wriggle, the pope disregarded all her shrieks, and all her
yelpings, poor girl, and cut her to bits like mincemeat. He then cut it
all up fine, threw it into the cauldron, washed it and rinsed it, took
it out, put piece to piece exactly the same as the old man had done. And
he then wanted to put them altogether, breathed on them—and nothing
happened! He pumped his lungs out, but nothing happened. It was all to
no purpose. So he put all the fragments back into the water, rinsed and
scoured them through, fitting the pieces together, and breathed on them.
It was all of no good.
“Oh, whatever shall I do?” the pope thought. “This is simply horrible!”
In the morning the Tsar went to him and saw that the doctor had had no
luck. He had mixed up the whole body on the floor. So the Tsar ordered
the doctor to the gallows.
The pope then began to beg. “Tsar! Tsar! I am a free man. Give me a
short space of time. I will go and look out for another old man who can
really cure the Tsarévna.” So the pope went to look for the old man,
found him, and said: “Old man, I am a depraved sinner. The fiends
tempted me. I wanted to cure the Tsar’s daughter all by myself, and I
was not able, and they are now going to hang me. Do come and help me!”
So the old man went with the pope, and the noose was put round the
pope’s neck. Then the old man said to the pope: “Pope, who ate up my
wafers?”
“I really didn’t; I swear I didn’t!”
So they made him mount one rung higher, and again the old man said to
him: “Pope, who ate my wafers up?”
“I really didn’t; I swear I didn’t!”
So he went up the third rung, and again said he didn’t. This time he had
his head in the noose tight, and still he said: “I did nothing of the
sort!”
So the old man said to the Tsar: “I am a free man. Will you let me cure
the Tsarévna, and if I do not succeed, have a second noose got ready for
my neck: one for me and one for the pope.”
Then the old man took the morsels of the Tsarévna’s body, bit by bit,
breathed on them, and she arose alive and well.
Then the Tsar rewarded them both with gold and silver.
“Now let us go and divide the money,” said the old man.
So they started. They put all the money into three little piles, and the
pope looked on, and said: “What do you mean? There are only two of us.
Who is to have the third?”
Said the old man: “That is for the thief who ate up my wafers.”
“Oh, it was I who ate them up!” the pope cried out. “I really did! I
swear it!”
“Then you may have all the money, and my own share as well. Henceforth
serve your parish faithfully. Do not be a miser, and do not beat St.
Nicholas on the shoulders with the keys!” the old man said, and
vanished.
Story DNA
Moral
Envy and greed lead to suffering and expose one's true character, while honesty and humility are rewarded.
Plot Summary
A discontented priest abandons his parish and encounters a mysterious old man. The priest, driven by envy, steals the old man's wafers and denies it. Together, they miraculously cure a dying princess, but the priest's greed leads him to disastrously attempt a solo cure on a second princess, resulting in his condemnation to death. At the gallows, the old man forces the priest to confess his past deceit, then saves him and the princess, revealing himself as St. Nicholas, and instructs the priest to live righteously.
Themes
Emotional Arc
arrogance to desperation to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a traditional Russian folk tale structure, often featuring encounters with disguised holy figures or supernatural beings who test human morality.
Plot Beats (15)
- A poor priest, dissatisfied with his earnings, strikes an icon of St. Nicholas and leaves his parish.
- He encounters an unknown old man and they decide to travel together.
- The priest, envious of the old man's wafers, proposes they eat the old man's first, then his own biscuits.
- After eating the wafers, the priest secretly steals and eats the remaining ones while the old man sleeps, denying it when questioned.
- They arrive in a kingdom where the Tsar's daughter is dying, and a reward (half the kingdom) or punishment (decapitation) is offered for her cure.
- Posing as doctors, they obtain specific tools; the old man dismembers the princess, reassembles her, and brings her back to life with his breath.
- They are rewarded with gold and silver; the old man takes a small amount, while the priest takes handfuls.
- They travel to another kingdom with a similar dying princess and reward/punishment.
- Driven by greed, the priest attempts to cure the second princess alone, dismembering her but failing to reanimate her.
- The Tsar orders the priest's execution for his failure.
- The priest begs for time, finds the old man, and confesses his predicament, asking for help.
- At the gallows, the old man repeatedly asks the priest about the stolen wafers, forcing the priest to confess his theft.
- The old man then cures the second princess, saving both himself and the priest.
- The old man divides the reward money into three piles, stating one is for the wafer thief, prompting the priest to confess again.
- The old man reveals himself as St. Nicholas, gives all the money to the priest, and instructs him to return to his parish and live honestly, then vanishes.
Characters
The Priest ★ protagonist
None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be capable of physical travel and carrying items.
Attire: Priestly vestments, later disguised as a doctor. Carries a wallet for money.
Envious, greedy, deceitful, cowardly.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with kind, weary eyes and short, salt-and-pepper hair. He wears simple, long, earth-brown robes with a deep hood resting on his shoulders, a rope belt at his waist, and worn leather sandals. A small, carved wooden sun amulet hangs from his neck. His posture is upright but gentle, one hand resting on a tall, gnarled walking staff. His expression is one of quiet determination and compassion. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Man ◆ supporting
None explicitly mentioned, but described as 'old man'.
Attire: Simple, unassuming clothing, later disguised as a doctor.
Wise, patient, observant, just, possesses magical healing abilities.
Image Prompt & Upload
A very old man with a deeply wrinkled face, kind, tired eyes, and a long, white beard. He wears a simple, worn tunic of faded brown wool over rough trousers, secured with a rope belt. His posture is slightly stooped, leaning gently on a gnarled wooden walking stick. He holds a single red apple in his other hand. His expression is gentle and wise. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Tsar ○ minor
None explicitly mentioned.
Attire: Royal attire, befitting a Tsar.
Powerful, desperate, just (in his punishments and rewards).
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly male ruler in his sixties with a long white beard and stern, weathered face. He wears an ornate royal crown encrusted with red gemstones, a heavy crimson velvet robe with gold embroidery and ermine fur trim over a dark brocade tunic. He holds a golden scepter in one hand and stands with a rigid, authoritative posture, looking directly forward with a proud, solemn expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Tsarévna (First Kingdom) ○ minor
Near death, later restored to health.
Attire: Royal garments, likely a fine dress.
Suffering, passive.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her late teens with a serene expression and a graceful, upright posture. She has long, flowing chestnut hair partially braided with delicate gold threads, adorned with a small, intricate tiara of pearls and pale sapphires. She wears a fitted, elegant gown of deep royal blue velvet with long, tapered sleeves and a high collar, trimmed with silver embroidery. A heavy, ornate cloak of white ermine fur is draped over her shoulders. She stands calmly, one hand lightly resting on her hip, the other holding a single white rose. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Tsarévna (Second Kingdom) ○ minor
Near death, later restored to health.
Attire: Royal garments, likely a fine dress.
Suffering, passive, shrieking when cut.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult woman with a serene expression, standing gracefully. She has long, braided auburn hair adorned with a small golden tiara. She wears an elegant, floor-length gown of deep blue velvet with intricate gold embroidery along the neckline and sleeves, a high waistline, and a full skirt. Her posture is poised and regal, with her hands gently clasped before her. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Road
A long, winding road where the priest and the unknown man travel together, eventually dividing into a carfax.
Mood: journey, companionship, eventually leading to temptation
The priest and the old man meet, share food, and the priest's envy first manifests over the wafers.
Image Prompt & Upload
A long, winding dirt road stretches through an ancient, misty forest in late afternoon. Golden sunlight filters through the dense canopy of towering, gnarled trees, casting long shadows and illuminating dust motes in the air. The road, worn and pale, curves gently into the distance before reaching a carfork where it splits into two distinct paths. One path continues deeper into the shadowy woods, while the other veers towards a sunlit meadow dotted with wildflowers. The atmosphere is quiet and mysterious, with a soft fog clinging to the ground. The palette features deep greens, earthy browns, and the warm gold of the fading day. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Tsar's Courtyard
The entrance to the Tsar's palace, where the priest and the old man present themselves as doctors.
Mood: formal, expectant, grand
The 'doctors' arrive to cure the first princess, presenting themselves to the Tsar's men.
Image Prompt & Upload
Grand palace courtyard at dusk, imposing Slavic-inspired architecture with onion domes and intricate carvings. Massive arched gates of dark, weathered wood stand open, flanked by towering stone pillars topped with gilded mythical beasts. The cobblestone ground is uneven, reflecting the fading light. Ornate lanterns with stained glass cast a warm, flickering glow. Deep red and gold tapestries hang from high balconies. A dramatic sky of bruised purple and orange peeks over the high palace walls. Atmosphere is solemn and mysterious. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Special Huts within the Palace
Huts requested by the 'doctors' inside the palace, where the princess is brought for the healing ritual. Contains a large table, a can of water, and a curved sabre.
Mood: mysterious, clinical, intense, later gruesome
The first princess is miraculously healed here by the old man; the second princess is gruesomely dismembered and left unhealed by the envious priest.
Image Prompt & Upload
Interior of a grand palace chamber transformed into a mystical healing hut. Evening light filters through tall, arched stained-glass windows, casting pools of deep blue and amber across a worn stone floor. In the center stands a massive, dark oak table, its surface scarred and polished. Upon it rests a simple clay water can and a wickedly curved, ceremonial sabre with an ornate hilt. The walls are a mix of palace stone and rough-hewn wooden planks, draped with drying herbs and silken tapestries depicting celestial charts. Warm, flickering light from hanging bronze lanterns creates long, dramatic shadows, highlighting the steam rising from a brass brazier. The atmosphere is heavy with incense, anticipation, and ancient secrets. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Gallows
A public execution site where the priest is brought to be hanged for failing to cure the second princess. Features a noose and multiple rungs.
Mood: tense, desperate, public spectacle
The priest is brought to be executed, and the old man uses this moment to extract a confession about the wafers.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rain-soaked cobblestone square at twilight under a heavy, grey sky. In the center stands a weathered wooden gallows with a thick rope noose and three ascending rungs. Mist clings to the ground, swirling around the base of the structure. The distant, shadowy spires of a gothic castle are visible through the drizzle. The scene is lit by the cold, fading light of dusk, casting long shadows and reflecting dimly on the wet stones. Colors are desaturated: damp browns, greys, and deep blues, with the stark red-brown of the rope as a focal point. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
