Although you should beat them
With stout wooden cudgels:
They stick to their folly,
And nothing can move them.
They raised such a clamour
That those who were passing
Thought, "Surely the fellows
Have found a great treasure
And share it amongst them!"

They all had set out 40
On particular errands:
The one to the blacksmith's,
Another in haste
To fetch Father Prokoffy
To christen his baby.
Pakhom had some honey
To sell in the market;
The two brothers Goobin
Were seeking a horse
Which had strayed from their herd. 50

Long since should the peasants
Have turned their steps homewards,
But still in a row
They are hurrying onwards
As quickly as though
The grey wolf were behind them.
Still further, still faster
They hasten, contending.