Chương Chương 174 · The Peasant and the Devil

. The Peasant and the Devil

There was once on a time a far-sighted, crafty peasant whose tricks

were much talked about. The best story is, however, how he once got

hold of the Devil, and made a fool of him. The peasant had one day been

working in his field, and as twilight had set in, was making ready for

the journey home, when he saw a heap of burning coals in the middle of

his field, and when, full of astonishment, he went up to it, a little

black devil was sitting on the live coals. “Thou dost indeed sit upon a

treasure!” said the peasant. “Yes, in truth,” replied the Devil, “on a

treasure which contains more gold and silver than thou hast ever seen

in thy life!” “The treasure lies in my field and belongs to me,” said

the peasant. “It is thine,” answered the Devil, “if thou wilt for two

years give me the half of everything thy field produces. Money I have

enough of, but I have a desire for the fruits of the earth.” The

peasant agreed to the bargain. “In order, however, that no dispute may

arise about the division,” said he, “everything that is above ground

shall belong to thee, and what is under the earth to me.” The Devil was

quite satisfied with that, but the cunning peasant had sown turnips.

Now when the time for harvest came, the Devil appeared and wanted to

take away his crop; but he found nothing but the yellow withered

leaves, while the peasant, full of delight, was digging up his turnips.

“Thou hast had the best of it for once,” said the Devil, “but the next

time that won’t do. What grows above ground shall be thine, and what is

under it, mine.” “I am willing,” replied the peasant; but when the time

came to sow, he did not again sow turnips, but wheat. The grain became

ripe, and the peasant went into the field and cut the full stalks down

to the ground. When the Devil came, he found nothing but the stubble,

and went away in a fury down into a cleft in the rocks. “That is the

way to cheat the Devil,” said the peasant, and went and fetched away

the treasure.