The Tale of the Greedy Wolf

THE INSATIABLE GLUTTON DIES OF HUNGER

In ancient times, there lived a wolf. And this wolf was very rich — he owned a lot of land. The wolf was rich, but very greedy and insatiable. He often roamed in search of prey. 

One day, the wolf came across a piece of kazy — horse sausage — on the road. The wolf was delighted.

— Oh, kazy, I will eat you! — he shouted.

— Why? — asked the piece of kazy.

— Because I am hungry! — replied the wolf, snapping his teeth.

You won't be satisfied with me, little one, I am small. But if you go a little further, you will find a whole kazy, then you will be satisfied, — replied the piece of kazy.

— I will run there quickly! — said the greedy wolf and ran.

The wolf saw that indeed there lay a whole kazy on the road.

— Hey, kazy, I will eat you! — exclaimed the wolf.

— Why? — asked the kazy.

— Because I am hungry, — replied the wolf.

— You won't be satisfied with me! Over there on that meadow grazes a white kid. If you eat him, you will be satisfied, — said the kazy.

Before she could finish, the wolf dashed to the meadow where the white kid was grazing. The wolf ran up to him and exclaimed:

— Hey, kid, I will eat you!

— Why? — asked the kid.

— Because I am hungry! — replied the wolf.

— Look, little one, how small and thin I am. You won't be satisfied with me! But if you run to the neighboring pasture, you will see a black goat. She is big and fat. You will be satisfied to the brim with her, — said the kid.

— That's true! — exclaimed the wolf and ran as fast as he could. The wolf arrived at the neighboring pasture and saw the black goat.

— Hey, goat, I will eat you! — shouted the wolf.

— Why? — asked the goat. 

— Because I am hungry! — replied the wolf.

— You can certainly eat me. But you will only be full for one day. And near the nearby swamp grazes a gray mare. You will be satisfied for a long time with her meat, — said the goat.

The goat's advice pleased the greedy wolf, and he ran to the swamp. There indeed was the gray mare. Trouble befell her: she got stuck in the swamp.

— Hey, mare, I will eat you! — exclaimed the wolf.

— Why? — asked the mare.

— Because I am hungry, — the wolf replied impatiently.

— Alright, eat me, but first pull me out of the swamp, — said the mare.

The wolf strained and pulled the mare out of the mire.

— Now can I eat you? — he asked.

— Eat, but first, please write your name on my hoof, — replied the gray mare.

The wolf agreed to this as well. But as soon as he approached the mare, she kicked him with all her might with both hind hooves. The wolf flew aside, and the mare ran away.

The wolf grew sad and began to sing a lamenting song:

Not having eaten a piece of kazy,
Poor little head of mine.
Not having eaten a whole kazy,
Unfortunate little head of mine.
Not having eaten the white kid,
Silly little head of mine.
Not having eaten the black goat,
Bitter little head of mine.
Having saved the gray mare,
Empty little head of mine.
Having written on the mare's hoof,
Learned little head of mine.
So I ended up with nothing,
Greedy little head of mine!