Here's the question from a Russian reader. Does anybody know about the sources of the image of the Turtle (“On his back all vows are made; he sees the truth but mayn't aid”)? There is a verse of a Russian poet written in 1966. It is about a great ancient Crocodile who lives on the edge of the world; all the wisdom of death is in his belly, and all the secrets of heaven are on his paws; he wants to save and hopes to help, but his eyes are covered by eternal night and moreover, he is deaf. I wonder whether the two authors had a similar source for inspiration, or was it just a coincidence.