The Smith and the Devil
by Alexander Afanasyev · from Russian Fairy Tales
Original Story
The Smith and the Devil
Once upon a time there was a smith who had a son six years old—a sturdy
and sensible lad. One day the old man was going into the church, and
stood in front of a picture of the Last Judgment. And he saw there was a
devil painted there so terrible, so black, with horns and tail! “What a
fine devil!” he thought. “I will go and paint such a devil for myself in
the smithy.” So he sent for a painter and told him to paint on the doors
of the smithy a devil who should be exactly the same as the one he had
seen in the church. This was done.
From this time forward, the old man, whenever he went into the smithy,
always looked at the devil and said, “Hail, fellow-countryman!” And soon
after he would go up to the forge, light the fire, and set to work. So
he went on living for some ten years on most excellent terms with the
devil. Then he fell ill and died. His son succeeded him and took over
the smithy. But he had no such respect for the devil as his father had
had. Whether he went early to the smithy or not, nothing prospered; and,
instead of greeting the devil kindly, he went and took his very biggest
hammer and knocked the devil three times on his forehead, and then set
to work. When a holy feast-day came by, he went into the church and lit
a taper in front of the saints; but, as he approached the devil he spat
on him. For three whole years this went on; and every day he greeted the
unclean spirit with a hammer and spat on him.
The devil was very patient, and endured all this maltreatment. At last
it became beyond bearing, and he would stand it no longer. “Time is up!”
he thought. “I must put an end to such contemptuous treatment.” So the
devil turned himself into a fine lad and came into the smithy.
“How do you do, uncle?” he said.
“Very well, thank you!”
“Will you take me into the smithy as an apprentice? I will heat your
coals and will blow the bellows.”
Well, the smith was very glad. “I certainly will!” he said. “Two heads
are better than one.”
So the devil turned apprentice, and he lived a month with him, and soon
got to know all of the smith’s work better than the master himself; and,
whatever the master could not do, he instantly carried out. Oh, it was a
fine sight, and the smith so grew to love him, and was so content with
him—I cannot tell you how much!
One day he did not come into the smithy, and left his underling to do
the work; and it was all done.
Once when the master was not at home, and only the workman was left in
the smithy, he saw an old rich lady passing by. He bobbed out his head,
and cried: “Hail there! There is new work to be done—old folks to be
turned into young!”
Out skipped the old lady from her barouche and into the smithy. “What
are you saying you can do? Is that really true? Do you mean it? Are you
mad?” she asked the boy.
“No reason to start lecturing me,” the Evil Spirit answered. “If I
didn’t know how I should not have summoned you.”
“What would it cost?” the rich woman asked.
“It would cost five hundred roubles.”
“Well, there is the money. Turn me into a young woman!”
The Evil Spirit took the money, and sent the coachman into the village
to get two buckets of milk. And he seized the lady by the legs with the
pinchers, threw her into the forge, and burned her all up. Nothing but
her bones were left. When the two tubs of milk came, he emptied them
into a pail, collected all the bones, and threw them into the milk. Lo
and behold! in three minutes out the lady came, young—yes, alive and
young, and so beautiful!
She went and sat down in the barouche and drove home, went up to her
husband, and he fixed his eyes on her, and didn’t know his wife. “What’s
the matter? Have you lost your eyesight?” the lady asked. “Don’t you see
it is I, young and stately; I don’t want to have an old husband. Go at
once to the smith and ask him to forge you young, and you won’t know
yourself!”
What could the husband do? Husbands must obey, and so off he drove.
In the meantime, the smith had returned home and went to the smithy. He
went, and there was no sign of his man. He looked for him everywhere,
asked everybody, questioned them, but it was no good, and all trace had
vanished. So he set to work by himself and began hammering.
Then the husband drove up and said straight out to the smith: “Make a
young man of me, please!”
“Are you in your senses, master? How can I make a young man of you?”
“Oh! you know how to!”
“I really have not any idea!”
“Liar! fool! swindler! Why, you turned my old woman into a young one. Do
the same by me, otherwise life with her won’t be worth living.”
“But I have not seen your wife!”
“Never mind!—your young man saw her, and if he understood how to manage
the work, surely you, as the craftsman, understand! Set to work quickly,
unless you want to taste worse of me and be birched.”
So the smith had no choice but to transform the master. So he quietly
asked the coachman what his man had done with the lady, and thought:
“Well, I don’t mind! I will do the same; it may come out to the same
tune, or it may not. I must look out for myself.”
So he stripped the lord to his skin, clutched his legs up with nippers,
threw him into the forge, began to blow up the bellows, and burned him
to ashes. Afterwards he threw the bones—hurled them all into the milk,
and began watching would a young master emerge from the bath. And he
waited one hour, and another hour, and nothing happened, looked at the
little tub—all the little bones were floating about all burned to
pieces.
And what was the lady doing? She sent messengers to the smithy. “When
was the master to be turned out?” And the poor smith answered that the
master had wished her a long life. And you may imagine what they thought
of this. Soon she learned that all the smith had done had been to burn
her husband to bits and not to make him young, and she was very angry
indeed, sent her body-servants, and ordered them to take the smith to
the gallows. The order was given, and the thing was done. The attendants
ran to the smith, laid hold of him, and took him to the gallows.
Then the same young man who had acted as a hand to the smith came and
asked: “Where are they taking you, master?”
“They are going to hang me!” the smith said. And he explained what had
happened.
“Well, never mind, uncle!” said the Unholy Spirit. “Swear that you will
never strike me with your hammer, and I will secure you such honour as
your father had. The lady’s husband shall arise young and in full
health.”
The smith swore and made oath that he would never raise the hammer on
the devil and would give him every honour.
Then the workman ran to the smithy, and soon returned with the husband,
crying out to the servants to stop and not to hang the smith, for there
the master was! He then untied the ropes and set the smith free.
And the youth thereafter never more spat on the devil and beat him with
a hammer. But his workman vanished and was never seen again. The master
and mistress lived on and experienced good in their life, and they are
still alive, if they are not dead.
Story DNA
Moral
Treat all beings, even those perceived as evil, with respect, for disrespect can lead to unforeseen and dangerous consequences.
Plot Summary
An old smith's son disrespects a painted devil in his smithy for years. The devil, disguised as an apprentice, magically transforms an old woman into a young one. When the woman's husband demands the same, the smith attempts the process himself, accidentally killing the man and facing execution. The devil reappears, saves the smith, restores the husband, and then vanishes, leaving the smith to live a life of respect.
Themes
Emotional Arc
disrespect to fear to relief to understanding
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Collected by Magnus (Afanas'ev), a prominent collector of Russian folklore in the 19th century, reflecting traditional Russian peasant beliefs and storytelling.
Plot Beats (14)
- An old smith admires a painted devil in his smithy, greeting it daily.
- The old smith dies, and his son takes over the smithy, but disrespects the painted devil by hitting it with a hammer and spitting on it for three years.
- The devil, tired of the abuse, transforms into a young man and becomes the smith's apprentice.
- The devil-apprentice proves to be an exceptional smith, quickly surpassing his master's skills and earning his affection.
- While the smith is away, the devil-apprentice offers to transform an old, rich lady into a young one for 500 roubles.
- The devil-apprentice burns the old lady to bones, then places the bones in milk, miraculously transforming her into a beautiful young woman.
- The rejuvenated lady returns home, and her husband, not recognizing her, is convinced to go to the smithy for his own transformation.
- The smith returns to find his apprentice gone and is confronted by the husband demanding to be made young, threatening him if he refuses.
- The smith, learning the apprentice's method from the coachman, attempts to transform the husband but only burns him to ashes.
- The lady, learning of her husband's demise, orders the smith to be taken to the gallows.
- As the smith is being led to his execution, the devil-apprentice reappears.
- The devil offers to save the smith and restore the husband if the smith swears never to abuse him again.
- The smith swears, and the devil restores the husband, freeing the smith from execution.
- The smith lives respectfully, never again abusing the devil, who vanishes and is never seen again.
Characters
The Smith (son) ★ protagonist
None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be strong from his profession.
Attire: Work clothes appropriate for a smithy, likely leather apron, sturdy trousers, and a shirt.
Initially disrespectful, practical, easily swayed by convenience, ultimately grateful and obedient.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young man in his late teens with a determined expression, short brown hair, and a strong jawline. He wears a simple linen tunic, dark trousers, and a sturdy leather apron. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing muscular forearms. He stands confidently, holding a heavy blacksmith's hammer at his side, with a leather tool belt around his waist. Faint embers glow in the background. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Devil ⚔ antagonist
Initially depicted as terrible and black with horns and a tail in a painting. Later transforms into a 'fine lad'.
Attire: As a 'fine lad', likely simple, period-appropriate clothing for an apprentice. As a devil, none, or implied demonic attire.
Patient, cunning, vengeful, mischievous, powerful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A male figure with crimson red skin, two curved horns protruding from his forehead, glowing yellow eyes, and a pointed tail. He wears a black velvet suit with a high collar and a dark cape. His expression is a sinister smirk, showing sharp teeth. He holds a black pitchfork in his right hand. Standing upright with a confident posture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Rich Lady ○ minor
Old, but transformed into young, alive, and beautiful.
Attire: Rich, elaborate clothing befitting a wealthy lady of the period, likely a full dress and perhaps a bonnet, traveling in a barouche.
Vain, trusting, demanding, easily impressed.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman in her late 70s with a stern, haughty expression. She has tightly coiffed silver hair, sharp cheekbones, and thin lips. She wears a high-collared, deep burgundy velvet dress with intricate gold embroidery, a string of large pearls around her neck, and matching pearl earrings. Her posture is rigid and upright, one hand resting on the head of an ornate, polished wooden cane. She stands with a slight, disdainful tilt to her chin. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Rich Lady's Husband ○ minor
Old, but expected to be made young. Burned to ashes by the smith.
Attire: Rich, elaborate clothing befitting a wealthy gentleman of the period.
Obedient to his wife, demanding, impatient.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man in his late seventies with a frail, slightly hunched posture. He has thin, wispy white hair combed neatly back from a high forehead, deep-set eyes with a mild, distant expression, and prominent cheekbones. He wears a dark navy velvet dressing gown with satin lapels over a crisp white shirt and a loosely tied silk cravat. His trousers are fine grey wool, and he holds a polished wooden cane in one hand. He stands quietly, looking slightly to the side. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Smith (father) ○ minor
None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be a working man.
Attire: Work clothes appropriate for a smithy.
Respectful, superstitious, diligent.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy middle-aged man with a strong build, weathered face, and short-cropped brown hair with streaks of gray. He has kind but tired eyes, a short beard, and calloused hands. He wears a thick leather apron over a simple linen shirt and dark trousers, with sturdy boots. He stands confidently, holding a large blacksmith's hammer resting on his shoulder, his posture straight and protective. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Church
A place of worship with a picture of the Last Judgment prominently displayed, featuring a terrible, black devil with horns and a tail.
Mood: reverent, traditional, slightly awe-inspiring due to the painting
The old smith sees the devil painting that inspires him to commission a similar one for his smithy; the son later lights a taper for the saints here.
Image Prompt & Upload
Inside a vast Gothic church at late afternoon, sunlight streams through stained glass windows casting colored beams across stone floors. The vaulted ceiling arches high above, supported by carved stone pillars. At the far end of the nave, a monumental painting of the Last Judgment dominates the wall, its central figure a terrible black devil with horns and a tail rendered in deep, shadowy pigments. Dust motes float in the slanted light, illuminating wooden pews and an ornate altar. The atmosphere is solemn and reverent, with a cool, muted palette of grays, deep blues, and occasional warm highlights from the stained glass. Intricate stone carvings and religious iconography adorn the walls and columns, creating a sense of ancient grandeur and spiritual weight. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
The Smithy
A workshop where metal is forged, featuring a large painting of a devil on its doors, a forge, and bellows. It is a place of hard work and later, strange transformations.
Mood: initially industrious and respected, later becomes a place of frustration, then magical transformation and chaos
The main setting for the story, where both smiths work, the devil is disrespected and later appears as an apprentice, and the old lady and lord are 'rejuvenated'.
Image Prompt & Upload
A weathered stone and timber smithy at dusk, its heavy oak doors featuring a large, faded crimson painting of a grinning devil. The scene is set under a stormy violet and grey sky, with the last light of sunset breaking through dramatic clouds. The forge glows intensely orange within, casting long, dancing shadows across the dirt yard. A large leather bellows sits beside it. The air feels thick with the promise of rain, and the warm forge light contrasts sharply with the cool, eerie atmosphere. Scattered tools, an anvil, and glowing embers on the ground hint at recent, strenuous work, while a subtle, unnatural glow seems to emanate from the devil's painted eyes. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Gallows
A public execution site, where the smith is taken to be hanged.
Mood: grim, desperate, public spectacle
The smith is brought here for execution before being saved by the devil.
Image Prompt & Upload
At dusk under an overcast, misty sky, a weathered wooden gallows stands in a desolate town square. The structure is simple but stark, with thick beams and a worn rope hanging from a crossbar. Surrounding it are slick, dark cobblestones reflecting the weak, gray light. Bare, gnarled trees with twisted branches frame the scene, their few remaining leaves clinging on. In the background, half-timbered houses with shuttered windows appear dark and unwelcoming. The air feels heavy and still, with a color palette of desaturated grays, deep browns, and muted, sickly greens. The atmosphere is solemn and oppressive, with a chilling stillness in the air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
