“Because your soldiers killed a man. I was ploughing the other day near the road, and I saw a woman taking a coffin along in a cart, and crying. I asked her who was dead. She said, ‘Simon’s soldiers have killed my husband in the war.’ I thought the soldiers would only play tunes, but they have killed a man. I won’t give you any more.”

And he stuck to it, and would not make any more soldiers.

Tarás the Stout, too, began to beg Iván to make him more gold money. But Iván shook his head.

“No, I won’t make any more,” said he.

“Didn’t you promise?”

“I did, but I’ll make no more,” said he.

“Why not, fool?”

“Because your gold coins took away the cow from Michael’s daughter.”