Evil Allures, but Good Endures (Tolstoy)
Division into sections is editorial.
The good master and his contented slaves
In ancient times, there lived a good and kindly man who possessed abundant worldly goods and many slaves to serve him. The master treated his servants with exceptional kindness, feeding and clothing them well, giving them work suited to their abilities, and never speaking harshly to anyone.
His slaves praised him constantly, declaring:
There is no better lord than ours under the sun. He feeds and clothes us well... He wishes us well, does good, and speaks kindly to us. We do not wish for a better life.
The slaves lived in harmony with their master, content with their treatment. However, the Devil observed this peaceful arrangement and became vexed by the love and harmony between master and servants. Determined to disrupt this goodness, he gained power over one slave named Aleb and ordered him to tempt the others.
One day, as the slaves rested together and spoke of their master's goodness, Aleb raised his voice in contradiction.
The Devils wager and Alebs destructive act
Aleb challenged his fellow slaves' loyalty, arguing:
The Devil himself would be kind to you, if you did what he wanted... Just try how it will be if, instead of humouring him, we do him some harm instead.
The other slaves denied Aleb's claims and eventually made a wager with him. Aleb undertook to make their master angry the next morning. If he failed, he would lose his holiday garment, but if he succeeded, the others would give him theirs. They also promised to defend him and set him free if he were imprisoned.
The next morning, when the master brought visitors to see his valuable sheep, Aleb prepared to execute his plan. The master walked about the enclosure, showing his guests the ewes and lambs. He particularly wanted to display his finest ram, saying:
All the rams are valuable, but I have one with closely twisted horns, which is priceless. I prize him as the apple of my eye.
The sheep, startled by the strangers, rushed about the enclosure. Each time they settled, Aleb deliberately startled them again, preventing the visitors from seeing the prized ram clearly. Growing tired of this confusion, the master asked Aleb to catch the ram with the tightly twisted horns very carefully. Instead of obeying gently, Aleb committed a shocking act of cruelty.
Aleb rushed in among the sheep like a lion, and clutched the priceless ram... before his master's eyes, lifted it and jerked it so that it snapped like a dry branch.
Aleb had deliberately broken the ram's leg, and the animal fell bleating to its knees. Then he seized the right hind leg while the left hung limp and twisted. The visitors and slaves exclaimed in dismay, and the Devil, sitting in a nearby tree, rejoiced that Aleb had performed his task so cleverly.
The masters merciful response and triumph over evil
Initially, the master's reaction seemed to fulfill Aleb's expectations:
The master looked as black as thunder, frowned, bent his head, and did not say a word... waiting to see what would follow.
However, after remaining silent for a while, the master shook himself as if throwing off a burden. He lifted his head and raised his eyes heavenward, remaining so for a short time. The wrinkles gradually passed from his face, and he looked down at Aleb with a smile. His response demonstrated the triumph of good over evil:
Oh, Aleb, Aleb! Your master bade you anger me; but my master is stronger than yours. I am not angry with you, but I will make your master angry.
Instead of punishment, the kind master granted Aleb his freedom before all the guests, allowing him to keep his holiday garment. The master returned to his house with his visitors, while the Devil, grinding his teeth in defeat, fell from the tree and sank through the ground.