STORY of IVAN
by Unknown · from Celtic Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Ivan was a young man. He worked very hard for seven long years. Ivan was a good worker. He was faithful to his Master. He did his work every day. Seven years passed.
Ivan wanted to go home. The Master called Ivan. "Ivan," said The Master. "You worked well." "You can have your money." "Or you can have good advice." "You must choose." Ivan thought about this.
Ivan chose the good advice. "I want the advice," he said. The Master smiled. "Good choice, Ivan," he said. Ivan gave some money for each advice. He paid for wisdom. He wanted to be wise.
The Master gave the first advice. "Never leave the main road," he said. "Do not take a dark shortcut." Ivan walked home. He saw a dark shortcut. It looked fast. But Ivan remembered the advice. He stayed on the main road. He was safe.
The Master gave the second advice. "Be careful where you rest," he said. Ivan came to an inn. The Tricky Innkeeper smiled big. He wanted Ivan's money. He tried to trick Ivan. But Ivan remembered the advice. He did not stay there. He found a safe place to sleep.
The Master gave the third advice. "Keep your plans to yourself," he said. "Wait for the right time." Ivan had money. He had big plans. He met people. They asked him. Ivan did not tell his plans. He kept them safe. This kept him safe too.
Ivan walked many days. He walked many nights. At last, he saw his home. He was very happy. His long journey was over. He was back in his village.
Ivan went to Maria's house. Maria was his sweetheart. She saw Ivan. She ran to him. Maria was very happy. Ivan was happy too. They hugged each other. They were together again.
Ivan visited The Master. He told The Master his story. "Your advice was good," Ivan said. "It kept me safe. It made me wise." The Master listened. He was happy for Ivan.
The Master was proud of Ivan. Ivan used the advice well. The Master gave Ivan much money. Ivan became a rich man. He married Maria. They lived a good life. Ivan was happy. Good advice is worth more. It helps you be safe and wise.
Original Story
XXII. STORY OF IVAN.
Source.—Lluyd, Archaeologia Britannia, 1707, the first comparative Celtic grammar and the finest piece of work in comparative philology hitherto done in England, contains this tale as a specimen of Cornish then still spoken in Cornwall. I have used the English version contained in Blackwood's Magazine as long ago as May 1818. I have taken the third counsel from the Irish version, as the original is not suited virginibus puerisque, though harmless enough in itself.
Parallels.—Lover has a tale, The Three Advices. It occurs also in modern Cornwall ap. Hunt, Drolls of West of England, 344, "The Tinner of Chyamor." Borrow, Wild Wales, 41, has a reference which seems to imply that the story had crystallised into a Welsh proverb. Curiously enough, it forms the chief episode of the so-called "Irish Odyssey" ("Merugud Uilix maiec Leirtis"—"Wandering of Ulysses M'Laertes"). It was derived, in all probability, from the Gesta Romanorum, c. 103, where two of the three pieces of advice are "Avoid a byeway," "Beware of a house where the housewife is younger than her husband." It is likely enough that this chapter, like others of the Gesta, came from the East, for it is found in some versions of "The Forty Viziers," and in the Turkish Tales (see Oesterley's parallels and Gesta, ed. Swan and Hooper, note 9).
Story DNA
Moral
It is better to pay for good counsel than to suffer the consequences of foolish actions.
Plot Summary
Ivan serves his master for seven years and, upon leaving, chooses to receive three pieces of counsel instead of his wages. The counsels are: 'Never leave the high road for a by-road,' 'Never lodge in a house where the master is old and the mistress young,' and 'Never tell a secret to a woman.' When Ivan returns home, he finds his wife with a child, which she claims is his. He confronts his master, who reveals he is the child's father and rewards Ivan for adhering to the counsels, making him a rich man.
Themes
Emotional Arc
ignorance to wisdom
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale is a specimen of Cornish language from 1707 and has parallels in various European and Eastern traditions, suggesting a widely shared narrative motif about the value of advice.
Plot Beats (10)
- Ivan serves his master faithfully for seven years.
- Upon leaving, Ivan is offered a choice: his wages or three pieces of counsel.
- Ivan chooses the counsel, paying for each piece with a portion of his wages.
- The first counsel is: 'Never leave the high road for a by-road.'
- The second counsel is: 'Never lodge in a house where the master is old and the mistress young.'
- The third counsel is: 'Never tell a secret to a woman.'
- Ivan returns home after his journey.
- He finds his wife with a child, who she claims is his.
- Ivan confronts his master, who reveals he is the child's father.
- The master rewards Ivan for following the counsels, making him a rich man.
Characters
Ivan
A sturdy young man of average height and build, with the weathered hands and strong frame typical of a laborer. His features are honest and open, reflecting his simple upbringing.
Attire: Simple, durable Cornish peasant attire: a coarse linen shirt, a practical wool waistcoat, sturdy breeches, and thick leather boots. His clothes are well-worn but clean, in earthy tones of brown, grey, and undyed linen.
Wants: To earn enough money to return home and marry his sweetheart, and to live a good, honest life.
Flaw: His trusting nature and naivety make him vulnerable to the cunning of others. He is easily swayed by what appears to be good counsel, even when it is self-serving.
Begins as a naive but honest young man, becomes a diligent servant, and through a series of trials and deceptions, learns the harsh realities of the world and the value of wisdom, ultimately returning home wiser and wealthier.
Honest, hardworking, trusting, and initially naive. He is diligent and respectful, but lacks worldly experience, making him susceptible to deception.
The Master
A man of comfortable means, likely a farmer or landowner, with a robust build and a kind, shrewd gaze. He appears well-fed and well-maintained, indicating his prosperity.
Attire: Respectable, practical clothing befitting a prosperous Cornish landowner of the period: a dark wool coat over a fine linen shirt, a patterned waistcoat, and sturdy but well-made breeches. His clothes are of good quality, in muted but rich colors like deep green or navy.
Wants: To find a trustworthy and diligent servant, and to impart valuable life lessons through his 'counsels'. He seems to genuinely care for Ivan's well-being and future.
Flaw: His method of teaching through riddles and indirect advice, while effective, can be initially confusing or costly for the recipient.
Remains a steadfast source of wisdom and guidance, acting as a mentor figure to Ivan. He doesn't change, but rather facilitates Ivan's change.
Wise, generous, observant, and fair. He is a man of principle who values honesty and hard work, and is willing to reward it, but also to test it.
Ivan's Sweetheart
A young Cornish woman of modest beauty, with a gentle demeanor and a hopeful expression. Her build is slender but capable, accustomed to household tasks.
Attire: Simple but neat Cornish peasant dress: a long, practical linen gown in a muted color like pale blue or cream, perhaps with a plain apron over it. Her clothes are clean and well-maintained, reflecting her diligence.
Wants: To marry Ivan and build a life with him. Her primary motivation is love and companionship.
Flaw: Her vulnerability to loneliness and the passage of time, which could lead her to consider other options if Ivan were to fail to return.
Remains a constant, unchanging figure of hope and loyalty, representing Ivan's ultimate goal and reward. She does not change, but her steadfastness is a testament to her character.
Loyal, patient, hopeful, and steadfast. She waits faithfully for Ivan's return, demonstrating deep commitment.
The Innkeeper
A stout, jovial-looking man with a deceptive air. He is well-fed, indicating his prosperity, but his eyes hold a calculating glint.
Attire: Practical but slightly stained innkeeper's attire: a coarse linen shirt, a leather apron over a dark wool vest, and sturdy breeches. His clothes are functional but show signs of his trade, perhaps a few food or drink stains.
Wants: To profit from travelers by any means, including deception and theft. He wants to accumulate wealth.
Flaw: His greed ultimately leads to his downfall when Ivan's wisdom exposes his deceit.
Remains a static character, representing the corrupting influence of greed. He is exposed and punished, but does not undergo a personal transformation.
Greedy, cunning, deceptive, and opportunistic. He feigns hospitality to exploit travelers, particularly those he perceives as naive.
The Innkeeper's Wife
A sharp-featured woman, likely thin and wiry, with a watchful gaze. She appears less outwardly jovial than her husband, but equally cunning.
Attire: Plain, dark, and practical innkeeper's wife attire: a dark wool gown, a simple apron, and perhaps a cap or headscarf. Her clothes are functional and unadorned, reflecting her busy role.
Wants: To support her husband's schemes and share in the ill-gotten gains, ensuring their prosperity.
Flaw: Her complicity in her husband's crimes makes her vulnerable to exposure and punishment.
Remains a static character, serving as an accomplice to her husband. She shares his fate.
Cunning, complicit, and sharp-witted. She is her husband's partner in crime, assisting in their deceptions.
Locations
Ivan's Home Village
A humble, rural Cornish village, likely with small stone cottages and fields. The specific details are sparse, but it's where Ivan begins his journey.
Mood: simple, hopeful, starting point
Ivan departs from his home to seek his fortune.
The Master's Farm
A working farm where Ivan spends seven years in service, accumulating his wages. It implies fields, barns, and a farmhouse, typical of a Cornish agricultural setting.
Mood: laborious, productive, time-passing
Ivan works for seven years, earning his wages and receiving the first two pieces of advice.
The Inn with the Young Wife
A roadside inn, likely a simple, rustic establishment in Cornwall, where Ivan encounters a situation that tests one of his master's counsels: 'Beware of a house where the housewife is younger than her husband.'
Mood: suspenseful, tense, dangerous
Ivan observes the young wife's infidelity and avoids a dangerous situation by following his master's advice.
Ivan's Rebuilt Home
Ivan's original home, now rebuilt and improved, symbolizing his success and the culmination of his journey. It's where he reunites with his family.
Mood: joyful, reunion, prosperous
Ivan returns home, reunites with his family, and reveals his fortune, having successfully applied all the counsels.