Mizgir the Spider

In olden days, in times long past, in lovely springs and warm summers, such a disgrace arose, such a burden in the world: mosquitoes and midges began appearing,…

In olden days, in times long past, in lovely springs and warm summers, such a disgrace arose, such a burden in the world: mosquitoes and midges began appearing, biting people and drawing their warm blood. Along came Mizgir, a bold young fellow, and began shaking his legs and weaving little nets, setting them across the paths and tracks where mosquitoes and midges flew. A dirty fly, a nasty little pest, flew along, nearly tumbled, and fell into Mizgir’s net; then Mizgir began beating her, trying to kill her and squeezing her throat. The fly pleaded with Mizgir:

“Father Mizgir! Don’t beat me, don’t kill me! I have many children who will be left orphans, wandering through the yards and teasing the dogs.”

Then Mizgir let her go. She flew away, buzzing, and warned all the mosquitoes and midges:

“Listen, you mosquitoes and midges! Hide beneath the great aspen root! Mizgir has appeared; he shakes his legs and weaves little nets, setting them across the paths and tracks where mosquitoes and midges fly. He’ll catch you all!”

They flew off and crowded beneath the great aspen root, lying as though dead.

Mizgir went and found a cricket, a cockroach and a bedbug:

“You, cricket, sit on a little mound and take a little snuff; you, cockroach, beat the drum; and you, bedbug Blinnik, go beneath the great aspen root and spread this report about me, Mizgir the wrestler, the fine young fellow: Mizgir the wrestler, the fine young fellow, is no longer alive. He was sent to Kazan; in Kazan they cut off his head on the block, and split the block apart.”

The cricket sat on the little mound and took a little snuff, and the cockroach beat the drum. The bedbug Blinnik went beneath the great aspen root and said:

“Why have you hidden away and lain here as though dead? Mizgir the wrestler, the fine young fellow, is no longer alive! He was sent to Kazan; in Kazan they cut off his head on the block, and split the block apart.”

They rejoiced and made merry, each crossed themselves three times, flew out, nearly tumbled, and all fell into Mizgir’s net. And he said:

“What tiny creatures you are! You should visit me more often, drink a little beer and wine, and serve some to us as well!”