I think there's a degree of deception involved when you try to pin stories like these to actual people. If you leave out the last line, yes, the story has value. But the fabricated link makes one more likely to dismiss the story as junk.
Сказка ложь да в ней намек
Добрым молодцам урок.
Tale of sense, if not of truth!
Food for thought to honest youth.
http://journal.petajinnathandersen.com/2008/03/fairy-tale-fr...