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diff --git a/30109-h/30109-h.htm b/30109-h/30109-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..54270e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/30109-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7586 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Russian Garland, by Robert Steele. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + a {text-decoration: none;} + + img {border: none;} + + em {font-style: italic;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-style: normal; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .amends {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; padding: 1em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .dropcap {float: left; width: auto; padding-right: 3px; font-size: 350%; line-height: 83%;} + /* Plain dropcaps */ + + .caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; padding-bottom: 2em;} + .subcapt {font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 40%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: .2em; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + .tdl {text-align: left; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} /* left align cell */ + .tdr {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} /* right bottom align cell */ + + .sig {text-align: right; margin-right: 4em;} /* signature aligned right */ + + .xlrgfont {font-size: 180%;} + .lrgfont {font-size: 120%;} + .smlfont {font-size: 90%;} + + .padtop {padding-top: 3em;} + .padbase {padding-bottom: 3em;} + .ipadtop {padding-top: 2em;} + .widebord {margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30109 ***</div> + +<h1 class="xlrgfont padtop smcap">The Russian Garland</h1> + +<p class="widebord lrgfont padbase">BEING RUSSIAN FOLK TALES: TRANSLATED +FROM A COLLECTION OF CHAP-BOOKS +MADE IN MOSCOW: EDITED BY +ROBERT STEELE AND PICTURED BY +J. R. DE ROSCISZEWSKI.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter padtop padbase" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/trg01.jpg" width="150" height="99" +alt="Publisher's device" /> +</div> + + +<p class="center padtop padbase">A. M. PHILPOT, LIMITED,<br /> +69 GREAT RUSSELL STREET, LONDON,<br /> +W.C. 1.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 410px;"> +<a name="horse" id="horse"></a> +<img src="images/trg02.jpg" width="410" height="600" +alt="Prince Astrach rides his horse across the countryside" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">The horse grew restive, reared higher than the waving forest.<br /> +<span class="subcapt">Page <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="80%" summary="Table of contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Foreword</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_vii">vii</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of Lyubim Tsarevich and the Winged Wolf</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of the most wonderful and noble Self-Playing Harp</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">The Seven Brothers Simeon</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of Ivan, the Peasant’s Son</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of the Golden Mountain</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Iliya of Murom and the Robber Nightingale</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">The Renowned Hero, Bova Korolevich and the Princess Drushnevna</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">The Mild Man and his Cantankerous Wife</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of the Duck with Golden Eggs</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of Bulat the Brave Companion</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of Prince Malandrach and the Princess Salikalla</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of a Shoemaker and his Servant Prituitshkin</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Emelyan, the Fool</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">The Judgment of Shemyaka</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of Prince Peter with the Golden Keys, and the Princess Magilene</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Sila Tsarevich and Ivashka with the White Smock</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Story of the Knight Yaroslav Lasarevich and the Princess Anastasia</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></p> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="80%" summary="List of illustrations"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">The Horse grew restive, reared higher than the waving forest</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#horse"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Instantly upstarted Lyubim Tsarevich, put on his armour and leapt upon his steed</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#armour">4</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">At length they fell in with a cripple on the road</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#road">64</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">“Alas! my gracious mother, why have you put me in prison?”</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#mother">74</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">The Judge thought that the bundle was full of roubles</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#judge">184</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">And so saying, he stretched out his hand to take the sword</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#sword">226</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>FOREWORD</h2> + + +<p>The special interest of this volume of Russian +Folk Tales is that it is a translation from a +collection of peasant Chap-books of all sorts +made in Moscow about 1830, long before the +Censorship had in great measure stopped the +growth of popular literature. It is not necessary +to dilate upon the peculiarities of Chap-books and +their methods: in the conditions of their existence +many of the finest qualities of the primitive +stories are eliminated, but on the other hand +certain essentials are enforced. The story must +be direct, the interest sustained, and the language +however fine, simple and easily understood.</p> + +<p>It is to be hoped that some of these merits have +been preserved in this translation: for this book +is intended to appeal to a class of severe and incorruptible +critics—the children of to-day. To +older critics the matter is also interesting. Who on +earth would ever expect to find in a Russian Chap-book +printed in Slavonic type on a coarse broadside +sheet the Provençal legend of “Pierre et +Maguelonne” or the Old English tale of “Bevis +of Hampton.” And the mystery deepens when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span> +one is told that Bevis of Hampton is ages old in +Russia, however the names have been re-furbished +by the printer to—not the English, but—the Italian +form. Some of the tales are evidently of German +origin—adopted and made Russian, like that of +the “Seven Simeons” or “Emelyan, the Fool”; +others are as evidently Eastern. A few date from +the Russian Epics, like that of “Iliya of Murom” +and “Ivan the Peasant’s Son”; others are of +later date, like that of “The Judgment of Shemyaka,” +who was a historic character who lived +about 1446.</p> + +<p>It is hardly necessary to dilate on the peculiar +expressions here to be found; how that a child +grows “not day by day, but hour by hour,” how +that when the Tsar wants to drink “beer is not +brewed nor brandy distilled,” seeing he is served +at once, how the hero passes through “thrice nine +lands to the thirtieth country,” how brothers are +always in threes, and how the youngest always +succeeds where his elders fail. Students of folklore +will know all about them, and the rest of us +must take them on trust. Do you <em>know</em> why you +must never go under a ladder?</p> + +<p class="sig">R. S.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF LYUBIM TSAREVICH AND THE +WINGED WOLF</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a certain country there once lived a Tsar +named Elidarovich, with his wife, Militissa +Ibrahimovna, who had three sons. The eldest +son was named Aksof Tsarevich, the second Hut +Tsarevich, and the youngest, Lyubim Tsarevich; +and they grew, not from day to day, but from +hour to hour. And when the eldest son was twenty +years of age, he begged leave of his parents to travel +in other countries, and seek a beautiful princess +for his wife. So his parents at last consented, gave +him their blessing, and dismissed him to the four +quarters of the earth.</p> + +<p>Not long after this, Hut Tsarevich in like manner +begged permission of his parents to travel; and +Tsar Elidar and the Tsarina gave their consent +with the greatest pleasure. And so Hut Tsarevich +went out into the world too, and they wandered +about a long while, until at length nothing more +was heard or seen of them, and they were given up +for dead.</p> + +<p>As the Tsar and the Tsarina were troubled and +wept for their lost sons, came the youngest son, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +Lyubim Tsarevich, and likewise entreated them +to let him go forth to seek his brothers. But his +parents said to him: “Son, you are too young +and cannot undertake so long a journey; and how +can we part with you, our only child left to us? +We are already in years, and to whom should we +leave our crown?” But Lyubim Tsarevich would +not be denied; he remained firm to his purpose, +and said: “It is needful for me to travel and see +the world; for if ever I am called to rule over the +country, I must learn to do so with justice.”</p> + +<p>When the Tsar Elidar and Tsarina Militissa +heard these words from their son, they were overjoyed, +and gave him their consent to travel; but +only for a short time, and making him promise to +have no companions, nor expose himself to any +great dangers. Upon taking leave, Lyubim bethought +him how to provide himself with a knightly steed +and a suit of armour; and as he went musing thus +to the city, an old woman met him, who said: +“Why are you so sad, my dear Lyubim Tsarevich?” +But he did not give her an answer, and +passed by the old woman without saying a word. +But then he bethought him that old folk are wiser +than young ones, turned round, and going up to +the old woman, accosted her. And Lyubim Tsarevich +said to her: “At the first meeting, mother, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +I disdained to tell you why I was sad, but it came +into my mind that old folk must know more than +young ones.” “There it is, Lyubim Tsarevich,” +said the old woman, “you can’t easily get away +from old folk. Say, why are you sad? Tell the old +wife.” And Lyubim Tsarevich said to her: “I +have no good horse and no armour, yet I must +travel far and wide in search of my brothers.” +Then the old woman said: “What think you? +There is a horse and a suit of armour in your +father’s forbidden meadow,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> behind twelve gates, +and this horse is fastened by twelve chains. On +that meadow is also a broadsword and a fine suit of +armour.”</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> The “royal forbidden meadows” were those belonging to the +Sovereign, the use of which was strictly forbidden to his subjects. +When an enemy came into the country they first pitched their +camp in these fields, as a declaration of hostilities.</p></div> + +<p>When Lyubim Tsarevich had heard this, and +thanked the old woman, he went straightway, overjoyed, +to the forbidden meadow. On reaching the +place where the horse was, he stopped, and bethought +him, “How shall I break through the +twelve gates?” At last he made the attempt, and +presently broke down one gate; then the steed +perceived by his scent the presence of the brave +youth, and with a great effort burst his chains; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +and then Lyubim Tsarevich broke through three +more gates, and the steed trampled down the rest. +Then Lyubim Tsarevich surveyed the steed and +the armour; and put on the armour, but left the +steed in the meadow; after which he went to his +home, found his parents, and with great joy told +them all that had befallen him, and how an old +woman had helped him, and begged their blessing +on his travels. So his parents gave him their blessing, +and, mounting his good steed, he set forth on +his journey. And he went his way, and travelled +until he came at length to a place where three roads +met; in the centre stood a column, with three +inscriptions, which ran as follows: “He who +turns to the right will have plenty to eat, but his +steed will starve; he who goes straight forward +will hunger himself, but his steed will have food +enough; and whoever takes the left road will be +slain by the Winged Wolf.”</p> + +<p>When Lyubim Tsarevich read this, he pondered +over it, and resolved to go no other road but to +choose the left, and either be slain himself, or +destroy the Winged Wolf, and free all those who +might be travelling that way. So he journeyed on +until he came to the open plains, where he pitched +his tent to rest, when on a sudden he perceived in +the west the Winged Wolf come flying toward +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +him. Instantly upstarted Lyubim Tsarevich, put +on his armour, and leaped upon his steed. And +Lyubim rode at the Wolf, which beat him so hard +with his wings that he nearly fell from his horse; +nevertheless, Lyubim kept his seat, flew into a +violent rage, and with his battle-sword struck the +Winged Wolf a blow that felled him to the ground, +and injured his right wing so that he could no longer +fly.</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 402px;"> +<a name="armour" id="armour"></a> +<img src="images/trg03.jpg" width="402" height="600" +alt="Lyubim raises his sword as the wolf runs towards him" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">Instantly upstarted Lyubim Tsarevich, put on his armour, +and leapt upon his steed.</p> + +<p>When the Wolf came to himself he said to +Lyubim Tsarevich, in a human voice: “Do not +kill me! I will be useful to you and serve you as +your trusty servant.” Then Lyubim Tsarevich +replied: “Know you where my brothers are?” +And the Wolf answered: “They have long ago +been slain; but we will bring them to life again +when we have won the beautiful Princess.” “How +shall we do that?” said Lyubim Tsarevich. +“Hark ye,” replied the Wolf; “leave your +steed here, and——.”</p> + +<p>“How! What shall I do without my horse?” +cried Lyubim.</p> + +<p>“Only hear me out,” said the Wolf; “I will +change myself into a horse, and carry you; but +this steed of yours is not fit for the task we have +to do; in the city where the Princess lives, there +are strings from the walls to all the bells in the city; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +and we must leap over all these without touching +the smallest, otherwise we shall be taken.” Lyubim +Tsarevich saw at once that the Wolf spoke wisely, +so he consented, and exclaimed, “On then!”</p> + +<p>Away they went, until they came to the white +stone wall of the city; and when Lyubim Tsarevich +looked on it he grew frightened. “How is it +possible to leap over this high white stone wall?” +said he to the Wolf. But the Wolf replied: “It is +not hard for me to jump over this; but afterwards +fresh obstacles will arise, from your falling in love; +then you must bathe in the water of life, and take +some for your brothers, and also some of the water +of death.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon they leaped safely over the city wall, +without touching a stone. Lyubim Tsarevich +stopped at the palace and went to the court of the +beautiful Princess. And as he entered the first +apartment he found a number of chamber women +all fast asleep, but the Princess was not there; he +found her not. Then went Lyubim Tsarevich into +the second room, where he found a number of +beautiful ladies-in-waiting, all fast asleep, but the +Princess was still not there. Then Lyubim went +into the third apartment, and there he saw the +Princess herself, sleeping; and his heart was on +fire with her beauty, and he fell so deeply in love +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +that he could not tear himself away from her +presence. But at last, fearing he might be seized +if he remained too long, he went into the garden +to fetch some of the waters of life and of death. +Then he bathed in the water of life, and taking +with him bladders-full of both waters, he returned +to his Wolf. And as he was sitting on his Wolf-steed, +the Wolf said to him: “You have become +very heavy. We cannot leap back over the wall, but +shall strike against it and wake everyone up. Nevertheless +you shall kill them; and when they are all +slain, be sure to seize on a white horse. I will then +help you to fight; and as soon as we reach our +tent, take your own steed, and I will mount the +white horse. And when we have slain all the warriors, +the Princess herself will come to meet you +and offer to be your wife, professing a violent love +for you.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon they attempted to leap over the high +city wall; but they touched the strings, and instantly +the bells rang an alarm through all the city, +and the drums beat. Then every one jumped up +and ran out of the court with their weapons, whilst +some opened the gate that no misfortune might +befall the Princess. Presently the Princess herself +awoke; and, perceiving that a youth had been in +the apartment, she gave an alarm, which soon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +brought all the courtiers around her. There was +speedily gathered a crowd of famous and valiant +knights, and she said to them: “Now ye brave +warriors, go forth and fetch hither this youth and +bring me his head; so shall his boldness be punished!”</p> + +<p>And the valiant knights promised her: “We +will not rest until we have slain him, and brought +his head to you, even if he were in the midst of an +army.” So the Princess dismissed them, and went +up into her balcony, and gazed after her army and +after the stranger who had dared to intrude into +the privacy of her court, and caress her in her sleep.</p> + +<p>When the alarm was given, Lyubim Tsarevich +had already ridden a great distance on his Wolf-steed, +and was half-way to his tent before he could +be overtaken. As soon as he saw them approach, +he wheeled about and grew furious at beholding +such an array of Knights in the field. Then they +fell upon him; but Lyubim Tsarevich laid about +him valiantly with his sword, and slew many, whilst +his horse trod down still more under his hoofs, +and it ended in their slaying nearly all the little +knightlets. And Lyubim Tsarevich saw one single +knight mounted upon a white steed, with a head +like a beer-barrel, who rode at him; but Lyubim +Tsarevich slew him also, leaped on the white horse, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +and left the Wolf to rest. When they had rested +they betook themselves to their tent.</p> + +<p>When the beautiful Princess saw Lyubim Tsarevich +overcome singly such a large host, she collected +a still larger army and sent them forth against him, +whilst she went back again to her balcony.</p> + +<p>But Lyubim Tsarevich came to his tent, and there +the Wolf transformed himself into a valiant knight, +such as no one could imagine except in a fairy-tale. +And presently the army of the beautiful Tsarevna +was seen approaching—a countless host; whereupon +Lyubim Tsarevich mounted his white steed, +accompanied by his companion the Wolf, and +awaited their attack; and when the army of the +beautiful Tsarevna was near, Lyubim, taking the +right wing, ordered the Wolf to attack the left, +and they made ready for the charge. Then on a +sudden they fell upon the warriors of the Tsarevna +with a fierce onset, mowing them down like grass, +until only two persons remained on the field, the +Wolf and Lyubim Tsarevich. And after this dreadful +fight was ended the brave Wolf said to Lyubim: +“See, yonder comes the beautiful Tsarevna herself, +and she will ask you to take her to wife; there +is nothing more to fear from her; I have expiated +my crimes through my bravery; dismiss me now, +and let me return to my own kingdom.” So +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +Lyubim Tsarevich thanked him for his service +and counsel and bade him farewell.</p> + +<p>The Wolf thereupon vanished; and when +Lyubim Tsarevich saw the beautiful Princess coming +toward him, he rejoiced, and, going to meet her, +he took her by her white hands, kissing her honey-sweet +mouth, pressed her to his stormy heart, and +said: “Did I not love you, my dearest fair Tsarevna, +I should not have remained here; but you have +seen that my love was stronger than your armies.” +Then the fair Tsarevna replied: “Ah! thou +valiant knight. Thou hast overcome all my powers, +and my strong and famous knights, on whom my +hopes relied; and my city is now desolate. I will +leave it and go with you; henceforth you shall be +my protector.”</p> + +<p>“Joyfully do I take you for my wife,” replied +Lyubim Tsarevich, “and I will guard and protect +you and your kingdom faithfully.” Conversing +thus they entered the tent, and sat down to rest and +feast.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning they mounted their +horses and set out on their journey to the kingdom +of Elidar; and on the way Lyubim Tsarevich +said: “Ah! thou fair Princess, I had two elder +brothers, who left our home before I did, in hopes +of winning your hand; in these wilds they have +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +been murdered, and where their remains lie I do +not know; but I have brought with me the waters +of life and death, and will seek and restore them +to life; they cannot be far distant from our road; +do you therefore ride on to the pillar with the inscriptions, +and wait for me. I shall soon rejoin +you.”</p> + +<p>So saying, Lyubim Tsarevich parted from his +fair Princess, and went forth to seek his brothers’ +remains. He found them at last among some trees; +and after sprinkling them with the water of death, +they grew together; then he sprinkled them with +the water of life, and his two brothers became alive, +and stood up on their feet. Then Aksof and Hut +Tsarevich exclaimed: “Ah! brother! how long +have we been sleeping here?” And Lyubim Tsarevich +said: “Ay, indeed, and you might have still +slept on for ever, had it not been for me.” Then +he related to them all his adventures—how he had +conquered the Wolf, and won the beautiful Princess, +and had brought them the waters of life and death. +Thereupon they repaired to the tent, where the +fair Tsarevna was waiting for them; and they all +rejoiced and feasted together.</p> + +<p>When they had retired to rest, Aksof Tsarevich +said to his brother Hut Tsarevich: “How shall +we go to our father Elidar and our mother Militissa, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +and what shall we say to them? Our youngest +brother can boast that he won the beautiful Princess +and awakened us from death. Is it not disgraceful +for us to live with him? Had we not better kill +him at once?” So they agreed, and took the battle-sword +and cut Lyubim Tsarevich to pieces, and +cast his remains to the winds. Then they threatened +the Princess with the same fate if she betrayed +the secret to anyone; and, drawing lots, +the waters of life and death fell to Hut, and the +beautiful Princess to Aksof Tsarevich.</p> + +<p>So they journeyed on to their father’s kingdom; +and when they reached the forbidden meadows, +and had pitched their tents, the Tsar Elidar sent +messengers to demand who had encamped there. +Then Hut replied: “Aksof and Hut Tsarevich +are come, with a beautiful Princess; and tell our +father, the Tsar, that we have brought with us the +waters of life and death.”</p> + +<p>The messenger immediately returned to the +Court and told this to the Tsar, who inquired +whether all his three sons were come; but the +messenger replied: “Only the two eldest, your +Majesty; the youngest is not with them.” The +Tsar, nevertheless, rejoiced greatly, and hastened +to tell the Tsarina, his wife, of the return of their +two eldest sons.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +Then Tsar Elidar and Tsarina Militissa arose +and went to meet their sons in the way, and unarmed +them, and embraced them tenderly. And +when they returned to the palace a great banquet +was made, and they feasted seven days and seven +nights. At the end of this time they began to think +of the wedding, and to make preparations, and +invite the guests, boyars, and brave warriors and +knights.</p> + +<p>Now, the Winged Wolf, who knew that they +had slain their brother, Lyubim Tsarevich, ran +and fetched the waters of life and death, collected +all the remains of Lyubim, and sprinkled them +with the water of death; thereupon the bones +grew together, and no sooner had he sprinkled +them with the water of life than the brave youth +stood up, as if nothing had happened to him, and +said: “Ah, what a time I have slept!” Then the +Wolf answered: “Ay, you would have slept on +for ever had I not come to awaken you”; and he +related to Lyubim all that his brothers had done; +and, changing himself into a horse, he said: +“Hasten after them—you will be sure to overtake +them; to-morrow your brother Aksof Tsarevich +is to marry the Princess.”</p> + +<p>So Lyubim instantly set out, and the Wolf-steed +galloped over hill and dale, until they arrived +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +at the city of the Tsar, where Lyubim dismounted. +Then he walked through the market, and bought +a gusli; and stationed himself in a spot which the +Princess would pass. And, as she was being conducted +to the church, Lyubim Tsarevich began +to sing the events of his youth, accompanying +himself on the gusli; and when the beautiful +Princess drew nigh, he sang of his brothers, and +how cruelly they had slain him and deceived their +father. Then the Princess stopped her carriage, +and ordered her attendants to call to her the +stranger with the gusli, and to ask his name and +who he was. But without answering a word, +Lyubim went straight to the Princess; and when +she saw him, she was overjoyed, and, seating him +in her carriage, they drove off to his parents.</p> + +<p>When the Tsar Elidar and his wife Militissa, +beheld their son Lyubim, they were unspeakably +glad; and the beautiful Princess said: “Lyubim +Tsarevich it was, and not Aksof, who gained my +hand, and it was he, too, who obtained the waters +of life and death.” Then Lyubim related all his +adventures; and the Tsar and Tsarina, after +summoning their sons, Aksof and Hut, asked them +why they had acted so unnaturally; but they +denied the charge. Thereat the Tsar waxed wroth, +and commanded that they should be shot at the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +gate of the city. Lyubim Tsarevich married the +beautiful Princess, and they lived in perfect harmony +for many years; and so this story has an +end.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF THE MOST WONDERFUL AND +NOBLE SELF-PLAYING HARP</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a certain country there lived a king named +Filon, whose wife Chaltura had an only son, +named Astrach, who from his earliest years +had a strong desire to render himself famous by +knightly deeds. When he arrived at mature age, +Astrach began to think of marrying, and he asked +his father in what kingdom lived the most beautiful +of all Tsar’s or King’s daughters. The King replied: +“If it is your wish to marry, my dearest +son, my noble child, I will show you the portraits +of the daughters of the Tsars and Kings of all +lands.” So saying, he led Prince Astrach to a +gallery, and showed him the pictures. After examining +them all closely, Astrach fell passionately +in love with the Tsarevna Osida, daughter of Afor, +the Tsar of Egypt. Then he besought his father’s +blessing, and asked leave to repair to the Court of +the Egyptian Sultan, to sue for the hand of Osida. +King Filon rejoiced at the thought of his son’s +marrying, gave him his blessing, and dismissed him.</p> + +<p>Then Prince Astrach went to seek a goodly +steed in the royal stables, but could find none +there to his mind. So he bade farewell to his father +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +and mother, and started for his journey to Egypt +alone on foot; and he wandered long, here and +there, far and near, until at length he saw on the +plain a palace of white marble, roofed with gold, +which emitted beams of light, shining like the +sun. Prince Astrach went up to the palace; and, +on reaching it, he walked round the building, +looking in at every window, to see if any persons +were there; but he could discover no one. So he +went into the courtyard, and wandered up and +down for a long time; but there, too, he could +see no living soul; then he entered the marble +palace, and went from room to room, but all was +silent and deserted. At length he came to an apartment, +in which a table was spread for one person; +and being very hungry, Prince Astrach sat down, +and ate and drank his fill; after which he laid himself +down on a bed and fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>As soon as he awoke, he wandered again through +the palace until he came to a room, from the window +of which he saw the most beautiful garden he had +ever beheld, and it came into his mind to go for a +walk in it. Then he went out of the palace and +strolled about for a long time; and at length came +to a stone wall, in which was an iron door, with a +massive lock. As the Prince touched the lock he +heard behind the door the neighing of a horse; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +and, wishing to remove the lock, he took up a huge +stone in his arms and fell to hammering the door. +At the first blow it burst open, and there behind it +was a second iron door, with a lock like the first. +This, too, he broke open, and found behind it ten +other doors, through all of which he forced his +way in like manner; and behind the last he beheld +a noble charger, with a complete suit of armour. +Then he went up and stroked the horse, which +stood still as if rooted to the spot.</p> + +<p>Prince Astrach forthwith proceeded to saddle +his horse with a Tcherkess saddle, put a silken +bridle into his mouth, and leading him out, mounted, +and rode into the open fields. But as soon as he +applied the spur, the horse grew restive, reared +higher than the waving forests, plunged lower +than the flying clouds; mountains and rivers he +left behind; small streams he covered with his tail +and broad rivers he crossed at a bound, until at +length Prince Astrach so tired out the brave steed +that he was covered with foam.</p> + +<p>Then the horse spoke with a man’s voice the +following words: “O Prince, thou my noble +rider, it is now three-and-thirty years since I +served the dead Yaroslav Yaroslavovich—that +stout and powerful knight—and I have borne him +in many a single combat and battle; yet never +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +have I been so worn out as to-day; now I am +ready to serve you faithfully till death.” Then +Prince Astrach returned into the courtyard, put +his brave steed into the stable, and gave him white +corn and spring water; after which he went into +the marble palace, ate and drank his fill, and then +laid him down to sleep.</p> + +<p>The following morning he rose early, saddled +his good horse, and rode forth towards Egypt, to +Tsar Afor, to sue for the hand of his daughter, the +beautiful Tsarevna Osida. When he arrived at +the court he announced himself as the son of King +Filon, whereupon Tsar Afor received him with all +honour, and enquired what purpose had brought +him thither, to which Prince Astrach replied: +“Great Tsar of all the lands of Egypt, I am not +come to your Court to feast and banquet, but to +ask for your lovely daughter to wife.”</p> + +<p>“Brave Knight, Prince Astrach,” answered the +Tsar, “I will gladly bestow my daughter on you; +but one service you must render me. The unbelieving +Tartar Tsar is drawing near, and threatens +to lay waste my kingdom, to carry off my daughter, +and slay me and my wife.” Prince Astrach replied: +“My gracious lord, Tsar Afor, readily will I go +forth to battle for the Faith with this unbelieving +Tsar; and to protect your city from untimely +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +destruction.” Whereat Tsar Afor was glad at heart, +and ordered a great banquet to be prepared for the +bold and fair Prince Astrach; so there was great feasting, +and the betrothal took place with all solemnity.</p> + +<p>The next day the Busurman army of three +hundred thousand men arrived before the city, +whereat Tsar Afor was greatly alarmed, and took +counsel with Astrach. Then the Prince saddled +his steed, went into the royal palace, and offered +up his prayers, bowing himself to all four quarters +of the globe. After this he took leave of Tsar Afor +and his wife, and his betrothed Tsarevna, the +beautiful Osida, and rode straight to the enemy’s +camp; and when he spurred his charger, the +steed bounded from the earth higher than the +waving forests, and lower than the drifting clouds; +mountains and valleys he left beneath his feet, +small streams he covered with his tail, wide rivers +he sprang across, and at length arrived at the +enemy’s camp. Then Prince Astrach fell upon the +Busurmen with fearful slaughter, and in a short +time cut them to pieces; and wherever he waved +his arm, a way was opened, and where he turned +his horse there was a clear space for him; so he +routed and destroyed the whole army, took the +Busurman Tsar himself prisoner, and brought him +to Tsar Afor, who threw him into prison.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +Then there was great feasting and rejoicing, +and the revels lasted for a whole fortnight. At the +end of this time, Prince Astrach reminded Tsar +Afor of his marriage contract with the Tsarevna +Osida; and Tsar Afor ordered a great banquet to +be made, and bade his daughter prepare for the +wedding. When the Tsarevna heard this, she called +Prince Astrach and said: “My beloved friend +and bridegroom, you are in too great a haste to +marry; only think how dull a wedding feast +would be without any music, for my father has +no players. Therefore, dear friend, ride off, I +entreat you, through thrice nine lands, to the thirtieth +kingdom, in the domain of the deathless +Kashtshei, and win from him the Self-playing +Harp; it plays all tunes so wonderfully that every +one is bound to listen to it, and it is beyond price: +this will enliven our wedding.”</p> + +<p>Then Astrach, the King’s son, went to the royal +stable and saddled his steed; and, after taking +leave of Tsar Afor and his betrothed Princess, +mounted his good horse and rode off to the kingdom +of the deathless Kashtshei, in search of the +Self-playing Harp. As he rode along he saw an +old hut, standing in a garden facing a wood; and +he called out with his knightly voice: “Hut, hut, +turn about, with your back to the wood, and your +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +front to me!” And instantly the hut turned itself +round. Then Prince Astrach dismounted and +entered the hut, and there was an old witch sitting +on the floor spinning flax. And the witch screamed +with a frightful voice: “Fu! fu! fu! never before +has the sound of a Russian spirit been heard here; +and now a Russian spirit comes to sight!” Then +she asked Prince Astrach: “Wherefore, good +youngling, Prince Astrach, art thou come hither—of +thine own free will or not? Hither no bird flies, +no wild beast wanders, no knight ever passes my +hut. And how has God brought you here?”</p> + +<p>But Prince Astrach replied: “You silly old +wife, first give me food and drink, and then put +your questions.” Thereupon the old witch instantly +set food before Prince Astrach, whipped him into +the bath-room, combed his locks, made ready his +bed, and then fell again to questioning him. “Tell +me, good youth, whither art thou travelling—to +what far country? and dost thou go of thine own +free will or no?”</p> + +<p>And Prince Astrach answered: “Willingly as +I go, yet I go twice as unwillingly through thrice +nine lands into the thirtieth kingdom, the domain +of the deathless Kashtshei, to fetch the Self-playing +Harp.”</p> + +<p>“Ho! ho! ho!” cried the old witch. “You’ll +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +find it a hard task to gain the Harp; but say your +prayers and lie down to rest; the morning is the +time for such exploits, but the night for sleep.” +So Astrach, the King’s son, laid himself down to +sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning the witch awoke early, got +up, and aroused Prince Astrach. “Bestir yourself, +Prince Astrach, it is time for you to set out on your +travels.” So Astrach arose and speedily dressed +himself, pulled on his stockings and boots, washed, +and said his prayers, bowing himself north, south, +east, and west, and made ready to take leave of the +witch. Then she said: “How! will you go away +without asking an old woman like me how you can +gain the Self-playing Harp?” And when he asked +her she said: “Go your way, in God’s name, and +when you come to the realm of the deathless +Kashtshei, manage to arrive exactly at noon. Near +his golden palace is a green garden, and in this +garden you will see a fair Princess walking about. +Leap over the wall and approach the maiden; she +will rejoice to see you, for it is now six years since +she was carried off from her father’s court by the +deathless Kashtshei. Enquire of this maiden how +you can obtain the Self-playing Harp, and she will +direct you.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon Prince Astrach mounted his good +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +steed and rode far and fast, and came into the +kingdom of the deathless Kashtshei. Then he repaired +to the golden palace, and heard the sound +of the Self-playing Harp: he stood still to listen, +and was absorbed by its wonderful music. At last +he came to himself, leaped over the wall into the +green garden, and beheld there the Princess, who +was at first sight terrified; but Prince Astrach +went up to her, quieted her fears, and asked her +how he could obtain the Self-playing Harp. Then +the Tsarevna Darisa answered: “If you will take +me with you from this place I will tell you how to +obtain the Harp.” So Prince Astrach gave her his +promise. Then she told him to wait in the garden, +and meanwhile she herself went to the deathless +Kashtshei and began to coax him with false and +flattering words. “My most beloved friend and +intimate, tell me, I pray you, will you never die?”</p> + +<p>“Assuredly never,” replied Kashtshei.</p> + +<p>“Then,” said the Princess, “where is your +death? Is it here?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly,” he replied; “it is in the broom +under the threshold.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon Tsarevna Darisa instantly seized +the broom and threw it into the fire; but, although +the besom burned, the deathless Kashtshei still +remained alive. Then the Tsarevna said to him: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +“My beloved, you do not love me sincerely, for +you have not told me truly where is your death; +nevertheless, I am not angry, but love you with +my whole heart.”</p> + +<p>And with these fawning words, she entreated +Kashtshei to tell her in truth where was his death. +Then he said with a laugh: “Have you any +reason for wishing to know? Well, then, out of +love I will tell you where it lies; in a certain field +there stand three green oaks, and under the roots +of the largest oak is a worm, and if ever this worm +is found and crushed, that instant I shall die.”</p> + +<p>When the Tsarevna Darisa heard these words, +she went straight to Prince Astrach, and told him +how he must go to that field, and seek for the +three oaks, dig up the worm under the biggest oak +and crush it. So the Prince went forth, and rode +on from morning to night, until at length he came +to the three green oaks. Then he dug up the worm +from the roots of the largest, and having killed it, +he returned to the Tsarevna Darisa, and said to +her: “Does the deathless Kashtshei still live? +I have found the worm and destroyed it.” And +she replied, “Kashtshei is still alive.”</p> + +<p>Then said Prince Astrach, “Go again and ask +him right lovingly where is his death.” So the +Princess went, and said to him with tears: “You +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +do not love me, and don’t tell me the truth, but +treat me as a stupid”; and at last King Kashtshei +yielded to her entreaties, and told her the whole +truth, saying: “My death is far from hence, and +hard to find, on the wide ocean: in that sea is the +island of Bujan, and upon this island there grows +a green oak, and beneath this oak is an iron chest, +and in this chest is a small basket, and in this +basket a hare, and in this hare a duck, and in this +duck an egg; and he who finds this egg, and +breaks it, at that same instant causes my death.”</p> + +<p>As soon as the Tsarevna heard these words she +hastened back to Prince Astrach and told him all. +And thereupon he straightway mounted his good +steed, and rode to the seashore. There he saw a +fisherman in a boat, and asked him to carry him +to the island of Bujan; and, taking a seat in the +boat, they speedily reached the island, where he +landed. Prince Astrach soon found the green +oak, and he dug up the iron chest, and broke it in +pieces, and opened the basket, and took out of the +basket the hare, and tore in pieces the hare, when +out flew a grey duck; and as she flew over the +sea, she let fall the egg into the water. Thereat +Prince Astrach was very sorrowful, and ordered +the fisherman to cast his nets into the sea, and +instantly the man did so, and caught a huge pike. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +So Prince Astrach drew the pike out of the net, +and found in it the egg which the duck had dropped: +and, seating himself in the boat, he bade the fisherman +make for the shore. Then, after rewarding +the man for his trouble, the Prince mounted his +steed and returned to the Tsarevna Darisa.</p> + +<p>As soon as he arrived and told her that he had +found the egg, the Princess said: “Now fear +nothing; come with me straight to Kashtshei.” +And when they appeared before him, Kashtshei +jumped up, and would have killed Prince Astrach; +but the Prince instantly took the egg in his hand +and fell to crushing it gradually. Then Kashtshei +began to cry and roar aloud, and said to the Tsarevna +Darisa: “Was it not out of love that I told +you where my death was? And is this the return +you make?” So saying he seized his sword from +the wall to slay the Tsarevna; but at the same +moment Astrach, the King’s son, crushed the egg, +and Kashtshei fell dead upon the ground like a +sheaf of corn.</p> + +<p>Then the Tsarevna Darisa led Astrach into the +palace, where was the Self-playing Harp, and said +to him: “The Harp is now thine—take it; but +in return for it, conduct me back to my home.” +So Prince Astrach took up the Harp, and it played +so gloriously that he was struck dumb with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +amazement at its sounds, as well as its workmanship +of the purest Eastern crystal and gold strings. After +gazing at it for a long time, Prince Astrach left the +palace, and mounting his gallant steed with Darisa, +set out upon his return. First he carried the Tsarevna +back to her parents, and afterwards went on +his way to Egypt, to Tsar Afor, and gave the Self-playing +Harp to his betrothed, the Tsarevna +Osida. Then they placed the Harp on the table, +and it fell to playing the most beautiful and merry +tunes.</p> + +<p>The next day Prince Astrach married the fair +Tsarevna Osida, and in a short time left Egypt, +and returned to his native country. When his +father and mother saw their dear son again they +rejoiced exceedingly. Not long afterwards King +Filon died, and Prince Astrach wore his father’s +crown, and lived with his beloved Queen Osida +in all joy and happiness until they died.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE SEVEN BROTHERS SIMEON</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE were once upon a time two old serfs, +who lived together for many years without +children; and in their old age they prayed +for a child to keep them from want when they +were no longer able to labour. After seven years +the good woman gave birth to seven sons, who +were all named Simeon; but when these boys +were in their tenth year, the old folk died, and the +sons tilled the ground which their father left them.</p> + +<p>It chanced one day that the Tsar Ador drove +past, and wondered sore to see such little fellows +all busy at work in their field. So he sent his oldest +boyar to ask them whose children they were, and +why they were working so hard, and the eldest +Simeon answered, that they were orphans, and +had no one to work for them, and that they were +all called Simeon. When the boyar told this to +Tsar Ador, he ordered the boys to be brought +along with him.</p> + +<p>On returning to the palace, the Tsar called together +all his boyars, and asked their advice, +saying: “My boyars, you see here seven poor +orphans, who have no kinsfolk; I am resolved to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +make such men of them that they shall hereafter +have cause to thank me; and therefore I ask your +advice—what handicraft or art shall I have +them taught?” Then the boyars replied: “Your +Majesty, seeing that they are old enough to have +understanding, it would be well to ask each brother +separately what craft he wishes to learn.”</p> + +<p>This answer pleased the Tsar, and he said to +the eldest Simeon: “Tell me, friend, what art or +trade would you like to learn? I will apprentice +you to it.” But Simeon answered: “Please your +Majesty, I wish to learn no art; but if you will +command a smithy to be put up in the middle of +your court, I will raise a column which shall reach +to the sky.” By this time the Tsar at once saw that the +first Simeon wanted indeed no teaching if he was +so good a smith as to do such work; but he did not +believe that he could make so tall a pillar; so he +ordered a smithy to be built in his courtyard, and +the eldest Simeon straightway set to work.</p> + +<p>Then the Tsar asked the second Simeon: “What +craft or art would you learn, my friend?” and the +lad replied: “Your Majesty, I will learn neither +craft nor art; but when my eldest brother has +smithied the iron column, I will mount to the top +of it, look around over the whole world, and tell +you what is passing in every kingdom.” So the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +Tsar saw there was clearly no need to teach this +brother, as he was clever enough already.</p> + +<p>Thereupon he questioned the third Simeon: +“What craft or what art will you learn?” He replied: +“Your Majesty, I want to learn neither +craft nor art; but if my eldest brother will make +me an axe I will build a ship in the twinkling of an +eye.” When the Tsar heard this he exclaimed: +“Such master workers are just the men I want! +Thou also hast nothing to learn.”</p> + +<p>Then he asked the fourth Simeon: “Thou +Simeon, what craft or what art will thou learn?” +and he answered: “Your Majesty, I need to +learn nothing; but when my third brother has +built a ship, and the ship is attacked by enemies, +I will seize it by the prow, and draw it into the +kingdom under the earth; and when the foe has +departed, I will bring it back again upon the sea.” +The Tsar was astonished at such marvels, and +replied: “In truth you have nothing to learn.”</p> + +<p>Then he asked the fifth Simeon: “What trade +or what art would you learn, Simeon?” And he +replied: “I need none, your Majesty; but when +my eldest brother has made me a gun, I will shoot +with it every bird that flies, however distant, if I +can see it.” And the Tsar said: “You’ll be a +famous hunter truly!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +The Tsar now asked the sixth Simeon: “What +art will you learn?” and he replied in like manner: +“Sire, I will follow no art, but when my fifth brother +has shot a bird in the air I will catch it before it +falls to the ground, and bring it to your Majesty.” +“Bravo!” said the Tsar; “you will serve in the +field as well as a retriever.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon the Tsar enquired of the last Simeon +what craft or art he would learn. “Your Majesty,” +he replied, “I will learn neither craft nor trade, +for I am already skilled in a precious art.” “What +kind of art do you understand then?” said the +Tsar. “I understand how to steal better than any +man alive.” When the Tsar heard of such a wicked +art, he grew angry, and said to his boyars: “My +Lords, how do you advise me to punish this thief +Simeon? What death shall he die?” But they all +replied: “Wherefore, O Tsar, should he die? +Who knows but that he may be a clever thief, and +prove useful in case of need?” “How so?” said +the Tsar. “Your Majesty,” replied the boyars, +“has for ten long years sued for the hand of the +beautiful Tsarina Helena in vain, and has already +lost many armies and great store of money. Who +knows but that this thief Simeon may in some way +steal the fair Tsarina for your Majesty.”</p> + +<p>“Well spoken, my friends,” replied the Tsar; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +and, turning to the thief Simeon, he said: “Hark +you, friend, can you pass through thrice nine +lands into the thirtieth kingdom and steal for me +the fair Queen Helena? I am in love with her, +and if you can bring her to me I will reward you +richly.”</p> + +<p>“Leave it to us,” answered Simeon; “your +Majesty has only to command.”</p> + +<p>“I do not order you, I entreat you then,” said +the Tsar, “not to tarry longer at my Court, but +take with you all the armies and treasure you +require.” “I want not your armies nor your treasure,” +said Simeon; “only send us brothers forth together; +without the rest I can do nothing.” The Tsar was +unwilling to let them all go; nevertheless he was +obliged to consent.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the eldest Simeon had finished the +iron column in the smithy of the palace-yard. Then +the second Simeon climbed up it, and looked +around on all sides, to see whereabouts the kingdom +of fair Helena’s father lay; and presently he called +out to the Tsar Ador: “Please, your Majesty, +beyond thrice nine lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, +sits the fair Tsarina at her window. How beautiful +she is! One can see the very marrow of her bones, +her skin is so clear.” On hearing this the Tsar was +more in love than ever, and cried aloud to the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +Simeons: “My friends, set out instantly on your +journey, and come back as soon as possible; I can +no longer live without the fair Tsarina.”</p> + +<p>So the eldest Simeon made for the third brother +a gun, and took bread for their travels; and the +thief Simeon took a cat with him, and so they set +out. Now thief Simeon had so accustomed this +cat to him, that she ran after him everywhere like +a dog; and whenever he stopped, she sat up on +her hind legs, rubbed her coat against him and +purred. So they all went their way, until they came +to the shore of the sea over which they must sail. +For a long time they wandered about, seeking +wood, to build a ship with. At last they found +a huge oak. Then the third Simeon took his axe +and laid it at the root of the tree, and in the twinkling +of an eye the oak was felled, and a ship built +from it, fully rigged, and in the ship there were all +kinds of costly wares.</p> + +<p>After some months’ voyage they arrived safely +at the place to which they were bound, and cast +anchor. The next day Simeon the thief took his +cat and went into the city; and walking straight +up to the Tsar’s palace, he stood under the window +of Queen Helena. Immediately his cat sat up on +her hind legs, and fell to rubbing him and purring. +But you must know that no cat had ever been seen +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +or heard of in this country, nor was anything known +of such an animal.</p> + +<p>The fair Tsarina Helena was sitting at her +window, and observing the cat, she sent her attendants +to inquire of Simeon what kind of animal +it was, and whether he would sell it, and for +how much. And when the servants asked him, +Simeon replied: “Tell her Majesty that this +creature is called a cat, but I cannot consent +to sell her; if, however, her Majesty pleases, +I shall have the honour of presenting the cat to +her.”</p> + +<p>So the attendants ran back and told what they +had heard from Simeon; and when the Tsarina +Helena knew it, she was overjoyed, and went herself +to him, and asked why he would not sell it, +but would only give it to her. Then she took +the cat in her arms, went into her room, and invited +Simeon to accompany her; and, going to +her father, the Tsar Sarg, the Tsarina showed him +the cat, and told him that a stranger had presented +it to her. The Tsar gazed at the wonderful animal +with delight, and commanded the thief Simeon +to be summoned; and when he came, the Tsar +wanted to reward him richly for the cat. But +Simeon would not take anything; and the Tsar +said: “Stay here in my palace for a time, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +meanwhile the cat will become better used to my +daughter in your presence.”</p> + +<p>Simeon, however, had no desire to remain, and +answered: “Your Majesty, I would stay in your +palace with pleasure had I not a ship, in which I +came to your kingdom, and which I cannot entrust +to anyone; but if your Majesty pleases, I will +come every day to the palace and accustom the +cat to your fair daughter.”</p> + +<p>This offer pleased the Tsar: so every day Simeon +went to the fair Queen; and once he said to her: +“Gracious Lady, Your Majesty, often as I have +come to visit you, I have not observed that you +ever go out to take a walk. If you will come once +on board my ship, I will show you a quantity of +fine wares, diamonds and gold brocades, more +beautiful than you have ever seen before.” Thereupon +the Tsarina went to her father and asked his +permission to take a walk upon the quay. The Tsar +consented, bidding her take her attendants and +lady’s-maids with her.</p> + +<p>When they came to the quay, Simeon invited +the Tsarina on board his ship, where he and his +brothers displayed to her all kinds of wares. Then +said Simeon the thief to the fair Helena: “You +must order your attendants to leave the ship, and +I will show you some more costly wares which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +they must not see.” So the Tsarina ordered them +to return to shore; and Simeon the thief instantly +desired his brothers to cut the cable, set all the +sails, and put out to sea.</p> + +<p>Meantime he amused the Tsarina by unpacking +the wares and making her various presents. In +this manner hours passed by; and at last she told +him it was time for her to return home, as her +father would be expecting her back. So saying, +she went up from the cabin and perceived that the +ship was already far out at sea, and almost out of +sight of land. Thereat she beat her breast, changed +herself into a swan, and flew away. But in an instant +the fifth Simeon seizing his gun, fired at her; +and the sixth brother caught her before she fell +into the water, and placed her on the deck, when +the Tsarina changed back into a woman.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the attendants and lady’s-maids, +who were standing on the shore, and had seen the +ship sail away with the Tsarina, went and told the +Tsar of Simeon’s treachery. Then the Tsar instantly +commanded his whole fleet to go in pursuit; +and it had already got very near to the +Simeons’ ship when the fourth brother seized the +vessel by the prow and drew it into the subterranean +region. When the ship disappeared, all the +sailors in the fleet thought it had sunk, together +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +with the beautiful Tsarina Helena, and went +back to the Tsar Sarg and told him the sad tidings. +But the seven brothers Simeon returned safely to +their own country, and conducted the Tsarina +Helena to Tsar Ador, who gave the Simeons their +freedom as a reward for the services they had +rendered, together with much gold and silver and +precious stones. And the Tsar lived with the beautiful +Queen Helena for many years in peace and +happiness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF IVAN, THE PEASANT’S SON</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a certain village there lived a poor peasant +with his wife, who for three years had no children: +at length the good woman had a little +son, whom they named Ivan. The boy grew, but +even when he was five years old, could not walk. +His father and mother were very sad, and prayed +that their son might be strong on his feet; but, +however many their prayers, he had to sit, and +could not use his feet for three-and-thirty years +long.</p> + +<p>One day the peasant went with his wife to +church; and whilst they were away, a beggar man +came to the window of the cottage and begged alms +of Ivan the peasant’s son. And Ivan said to him: +“I would gladly give you something, but I cannot +rise from my stool.” Then said the beggar: +“Stand up and give me alms! Your feet are stout +and strong!” In an instant Ivan rose up from his +stool, and was overjoyed at his newly acquired +power: he called the man into the cottage and +gave him food to eat. Then the beggar asked for a +draught of beer, and Ivan instantly went and +fetched it; the beggar, however, did not drink it, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +but bade Ivan empty the flask himself, which he +did to the very bottom. Then the beggar said: +“Tell me, Ivanushka, how strong do you feel?” +“Very strong,” replied Ivan. “Then fare you +well!” said the beggar; and disappeared, leaving +Ivan standing lost in amazement.</p> + +<p>In a short time his father and mother came +home, and when they saw their son healed of his +weakness, they were astonished, and asked him how +it had happened. Then Ivan told them all, and the +old folk thought it must have been no beggar but +a holy man who had cured him; and they feasted +for joy and made merry.</p> + +<p>Presently Ivan went out to make a trial of his +strength; and going into the kitchen garden, he +seized a pole and stuck it half its length into the +ground, and turned it with such strength that the +whole village turned round. Then he went back +into the cottage to take leave of his parents and ask +their blessing. The old folk fell to weeping bitterly +when he spoke of leaving them, and entreated him +to stay at least a little longer; but Ivan heeded not +their tears, and said: “If you will not give me +your consent, I shall go without it.” So his parents +gave him their blessing; and Ivan prayed, bowing +himself to all four sides, and then took leave of +his father and mother. Thereupon he went straight +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +out of the yard, and followed his eyes, and wandered +for ten days and ten nights until at length he came +to a large kingdom. He had scarcely entered the +city when a great noise and outcry arose; whereat +the Tsar was so frightened that he ordered a proclamation +to be made, that whoever appeased the +tumult should have his daughter for wife, and half +his kingdom with her.</p> + +<p>When Ivanushka heard this he went to the Court +and desired the Tsar to be informed that he was +ready to appease the tumult. So the doorkeeper +went straight and told the Tsar, who ordered Ivan +the peasant’s son to be called. And the Tsar said +to him: “My friend, is what you have said to the +doorkeeper true?”</p> + +<p>“Quite true,” replied Ivan; “but I ask for no +other reward than that your Majesty gives me whatever +is the cause of the noise.” At this the Tsar +laughed, and said: “Take it by all means, if +it is of any use to you.” So Ivan the peasant’s +son made his bow to the Tsar and took his leave.</p> + +<p>Then Ivan went to the doorkeeper and demanded +of him a hundred workmen, who were instantly +given him; and Ivan ordered them to dig a hole +in front of the palace. And when the men had +thrown up the earth, they saw an iron door, with +a copper ring. So Ivan lifted up this door with one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +hand, and beheld a steed fully caparisoned, and a +suit of knightly armour. When the horse perceived +Ivan, he fell on his knees before him, and said with +a human voice: “Ah, thou brave youth! Ivan the +peasant’s son! the famous knight Lukopero placed +me here; and for three-and-thirty years have I +been impatiently awaiting you. Seat yourself on +my back, and ride whithersoever you will: I will +serve you faithfully, as I once served the brave +Lukopero.”</p> + +<p>Ivan saddled his good steed, gave him a bridle +of embroidered ribands, put a Tcherkess saddle +on his back, and buckled ten rich silken girths +around him. Then he vaulted into the saddle, +struck him on the flank, and the horse chafed at +the bit, and rose from the ground higher than the +forest; he left hill and dale swiftly under his feet, +covered large rivers with his tail, sent forth a thick +steam from his ears, and flames from his nostrils.</p> + +<p>At length Ivan the peasant’s son came to an +unknown country, and rode through it for thirty +days and thirty nights, until at length he arrived +at the Chinese Empire. There he dismounted, and +turned his good steed out into the open fields, +while he went into the city and bought himself a +bladder, drew it over his head, and went round the +Tsar’s palace. Then the folks asked him whence +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +he came, and what kind of man he was, and what +were his father and mother’s names. But Ivan +only replied to their questions, “I don’t know.” +So they all took him for a fool, and went and told +the Chinese Tsar about him. Then the Tsar ordered +Ivan to be called, and asked where he came from +and what was his name; but he only answered +as before, “I don’t know.” So the Tsar ordered +him to be driven out of the Court. But it happened +that there was a gardener in the crowd, who begged +the Tsar to give the fool over to him that he might +employ him in gardening. The Tsar consented, +and the man took Ivan into the garden, and set +him to weed the beds whilst he went his way.</p> + +<p>Then Ivan lay down under a tree and fell fast +asleep. In the night he awoke, and broke down all the +trees in the garden. Early the next morning the +gardener came and looked round, and was terrified +at what he beheld: so he went to Ivan the peasant’s +son and fell to abusing him, and asked him who +had destroyed all the trees. But Ivan only replied, +“I don’t know.” The gardener was afraid to tell +this to the Tsar; but the Tsar’s daughter looked +out of her window and beheld with amazement +the devastation, and asked who had done it all. +The gardener replied that fool Know-nothing had +destroyed the noble trees; but entreated her not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +to tell her father, promising to put the garden into +a better condition than it was before.</p> + +<p>Ivan did not sleep the next night, but went and +drew water from the well, and watered the broken +trees; and early in the morning they began to +rise and grow; and when the sun rose they were +all covered with leaves, and were even finer than +ever. When the gardener came into the garden +he was amazed at the change; but he did not again +ask Know-nothing any questions, as he never returned +an answer. And when the Tsar’s daughter +awoke, she rose from her bed, and looking out into +the garden, she saw it in a better state than before; +then, sending for the gardener, she asked him how +it had all happened in so short a time. But the man +answered that he could not himself understand it, +and the Tsar’s daughter began to think Know-nothing +was in truth wonderfully wise and clever. +From that moment she loved him more than herself, +and sent him food from her own table.</p> + +<p>Now the Chinese Tsar had three daughters, +who were all very beautiful: the eldest was named +Duasa, the second Skao, and the youngest, who +had fallen in love with Ivan the peasant’s son, was +named Lotao. One day the Tsar called them to +him and said to them: “My dear daughters, fair +Princesses, the time is come that I wish to see you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +married; and I have called you now to bid you +choose husbands from the princes of the countries +around.” Then the two eldest instantly named two +Tsareviches with whom they were in love; but +the youngest fell to weeping, and begged her +father to give her for wife to Know-nothing. At +this request the Tsar was amazed, and said: “Have +you lost your senses, daughter, that you wish to +marry the fool Know-nothing, who cannot speak +even a word?” “Fool as he may be,” she answered, +“I entreat you, my lord father, to let me marry +him.” “If nothing else will please you,” said the +Tsar sorrowfully, “take him—you have my consent.”</p> + +<p>Soon after, the Tsar sent for the Princes whom +his eldest daughters had chosen for husbands; +they obeyed the invitation instantly, and came with +all speed to China, and the weddings were celebrated. +The Princess Lotao also was married to +Ivan the peasant’s son, and her elder sisters +laughed at her for choosing a fool for a husband.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards a great army invaded the +country, and its leader, the knight Polkan, demanded +of the Tsar his daughter, the beautiful Lotao, for +wife, threatening that, if he did not consent, he +would burn his country with fire and slay his +people with the sword, throw the Tsar and Tsarina +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +into prison, and take their daughter by force. +At these threats the Tsar was aghast with terror, +and instantly ordered his armies to be collected; +and they went forth, commanded by the two +Princes, against Polkan. Then the two armies met, +and fought like two terrible thunder-clouds, and +Polkan overthrew the army of the Chinese Tsar.</p> + +<p>At this time the Princess came to her husband, +Ivan the peasant’s son, and said to him: “My +dear friend Know-nothing, they want to take me +from you; the infidel knight Polkan has invaded +our country with his army and routed our hosts +with his terrible sword.” Then Ivan told the +Princess to leave him in peace; and, jumping out +of the window, he ran into the open fields, and +cried aloud:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Sivka Burka! he!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fox of Spring! Appear!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like a grass blade, here<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stand before me!”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The horse galloped until the earth trembled: +from his ears came steam, from his nostrils flames. +Ivan the peasant’s son crept into his ear to change +himself, and came out looking such a brave knight +as no pen can write down or story tell. Then he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +rode up to the army of Polkan, and laid about him +with his sword, trod the army down under his +horse’s hoofs, and drove it quite out of the kingdom. +At the sight of this the Chinese Tsar came to +Ivan, but knew him not, and invited him to his +palace; but Ivan answered: “I am not your subject +and I will not serve you.” And so saying, away +he rode, let his horse run loose in the open fields, +went back to the palace, crept again through the +window, drew the bladder over his head, and lay +down to sleep.</p> + +<p>The Tsar gave a public feast for this great victory, +and it lasted several days; until the knight +Polkan once more invaded the country with a fresh +army, and again demanded with threats the youngest +Princess for his wife. The Tsar instantly assembled +his armies again, and sent them against +Polkan; but the knight defeated them forthwith. +Then Lotao went to her husband, and everything +happened exactly as before; and Ivan again drove +Polkan and his army out of the empire. Thereupon +the Tsar invited him to his palace; but without +heeding him, Ivan turned off his horse in the +fields, went back to the palace, and lay down to +sleep. So the Tsar gave another feast, in honour of +the victory over Polkan; but he marvelled what hero +it could be who had so bravely defended his realm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +After a while, Polkan a third time invaded the +empire, and all fell out as before: Ivan jumped +out of the window, ran into the fields, mounted +his steed, and rode forth against the enemy. Then +the horse said in a human voice: “Listen, Ivan +Peasantson! we have now a hard task to perform; +defend yourself as stoutly as possible, and stand +firm against Polkan—otherwise you and the whole +Chinese army will be destroyed.” Then Ivan +spurred his steed, rode against Polkan’s host, and +began to slay them right and left. When Polkan +saw that his army was defeated, he flew into a +rage, and fell upon Ivan the peasant’s son like a +furious lion, and a fight began between the two +horses, at the sight of which the whole army stood +aghast. They fought for a long time, and Polkan +wounded Ivan in the left hand. Thereupon Ivan +the peasant’s son, in a fierce rage, aimed his +javelin at Polkan, and pierced him through the +heart: then he struck off his head, and drove the +whole army out of China.</p> + +<p>Ivan now went to the Chinese Tsar, who bowed +to the ground, and invited him to his palace. The +Princess Lotao, seeing blood upon Ivan’s left +hand, bound it up with her handkerchief, and invited +him to remain in the palace; but, without +heeding her, Ivan mounted his steed and trotted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +off. Then he turned his horse into the fields, and +went himself to sleep.</p> + +<p>The Tsar again ordered a great banquet to be +prepared; and the Princess Lotao went to her +husband and tried to awaken him, but all in vain. +On a sudden she beheld with surprise golden hair +upon his head, from which the bladder had fallen +off; and, stepping up to him, she saw her handkerchief +bound on his left hand; and now she +knew that he it had been who had three times +defeated and at last slain Polkan. Then she ran +instantly to her father, led him into the apartment, +and said: “See, my father! You told me I had +married a fool; look closely at his hair, and at +this wound which he received from Polkan.” Then +the Tsar saw that it had been he who had thrice +delivered his empire, and he rejoiced greatly.</p> + +<p>When Ivan the peasant’s son awoke, the Emperor +took him by his white hands, led him into the +palace, thanked him for the services he had rendered; +and being himself far advanced in years, +he placed the crown upon Ivan’s head. Then Ivan +mounted the throne, and ruled happily, and lived +with his wife for many years in the greatest harmony +and love.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a certain country there lived a Tsar with his +wife, who had three handsome sons; the eldest +was named Vasili Tsarevich, and the second +Fedor Tsarevich, and the youngest son Ivan +Tsarevich. One day the Tsar went out with his +Tsarina for a walk in the garden, and on a sudden +a violent storm came on, which carried off the +Tsarina from his sight. The Tsar was very much +grieved, and mourned a long time for his wife; +and the two eldest sons, seeing their father’s sorrow, +begged his blessing and permission to go forth +and wander in search of their mother. So he consented, +and dismissed them.</p> + +<p>The two sons travelled for a long time, until at +length they came to a wide desert, where they +pitched their tents, and waited until some one +should pass who might show them the way. +For three whole years they waited, but saw no +one.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the youngest brother, Ivan Tsarevich, +grew up, and went likewise to his father, begged +his blessing, and took leave. And he wandered +for a long time, until at length he discerned +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +in the distance some tents, up to which he rode; +and there he discovered his brothers. “What +brings you to such a desolate place, brothers?” +said he; “let us join company and travel in search +of our mother.” The others followed his advice, +and they all journeyed on together.</p> + +<p>They rode on and on for many days, until at +length they saw afar off a palace, built of crystal, +and surrounded by a fence of the same material. +So they rode up to the palace, and Ivan Tsarevich +opened the gate, and entered the courtyard; and +at the entrance-door he saw a pillar, into which +were fastened two rings, one of gold and the other +of silver. Then drawing his bridle through both +these rings, he tied up his steed, and went up the +stairs. At the head of the stairs the King himself +came to meet him; and, after a long conversation, +he found out that Ivan Tsarevich was his nephew. +So he conducted him into his hall, and invited in +his brothers also.</p> + +<p>After remaining in the palace a long time, the +King gave the brothers a magic ball, which they +bowled away, and then rode after it, until they +came to a mountain, so high and steep that they +could not ascend it. Ivan Tsarevich rode round and +round the mountain, until at last he found a cleft. +He stepped into it and beheld an iron door, with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +a copper ring; and on opening this he perceived +some iron hooks, which he fastened to his hands +and feet, and by their aid he climbed up the mountain. +On reaching the top he was very tired, and +sat down to rest; but no sooner had he taken off +the hooks than they disappeared.</p> + +<p>In the distance upon the mountain Ivan beheld +a tent of fine cambric, upon which was represented +a copper kingdom, and on its top was a +copper ball. Then he approached the tent; but +at its entrance there lay two huge lions, which +allowed no one to enter. Ivan Tsarevich seeing +two copper basins standing close by, poured some +water into them, and quenched the thirst of the +lions, who then let him freely enter the tent. And +when he got in, Ivan beheld a beautiful Queen +lying on a sofa, and sleeping at her feet a dragon +with three heads, which he cut off at a single blow. +The Queen thanked him for this service, and gave +him a copper egg, in which was contained a copper +kingdom, whereupon the Tsarevich took his leave +and went his way further.</p> + +<p>After travelling for a long time, he descried a +tent of fine gauze, fastened to a cedar tree by silver +cords, with knobs of emeralds; upon the tent was +represented a silver kingdom, and on the top was +a silver ball. At the entrance lay two immense +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +tigers, to which he in like manner gave to drink, +and they permitted him to pass. On entering the +tent he beheld, seated on a sofa, a Queen richly +attired, who far surpassed the first one in beauty. +At her feet lay a six-headed dragon, as large again +as the other. Then Ivan Tsarevich struck off all +the heads at a blow, and, as a reward for his valor, +the Queen presented him with a silver egg, in +which was enclosed a silver kingdom. Thereupon +he took leave of the Queen and journeyed on.</p> + +<p>After a time Ivan came to a third tent, made of +silk, upon which was embroidered a golden kingdom, +and on its top was placed a ball of pure gold. +The tent was fastened to a laurel tree with golden +cords, from which hung knobs of diamonds. +Before the entrance lay two huge crocodiles, which +breathed forth flames of fire. The Tsarevich gave +them some water to drink, and thus gained an +entrance into the tent, in which he beheld a Queen, +who in beauty far surpassed the former ones. At +her feet lay a dragon with twelve heads, all of +which Ivan Tsarevich struck off at two blows. +The Queen, in return for this service, gave him a +golden egg, which contained a golden kingdom; +and with the egg she gave him also her heart. As +they were conversing together, Ivan asked the +Queen whether she knew where his mother was; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +then she showed Ivan her dwelling, and wished +him success in his enterprise.</p> + +<p>After travelling a great distance, Ivan Tsarevich +came to a castle; he entered, and went through +many apartments, but without finding anyone. At +length he came to a spacious hall, where he beheld +his mother sitting, arrayed in royal robes. Ivan +embraced her tenderly, telling her how he had +travelled far and wide with his brothers in search +of her. Then the Tsarina told Ivan Tsarevich that +a spirit would soon appear, and bade him hide +himself in the folds of her cloak. “When the spirit +comes and tries to embrace me,” she added, “try +all you can to seize his magic wand with both +hands: he will then rise up with you from the +earth; fear not, but remain quiet, for he will +presently fall down again, and be dashed to pieces. +These you must collect and burn, and strew the +ashes in the field.”</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the Tsarina spoken, and wrapped +Ivan in her cloak, when the Spirit appeared and +offered to embrace her. Then Ivan Tsarevich +started up, as his mother had directed, and seized +the magic wand. In a furious rage the Spirit flew +with him high up into the air, but soon fell to the +ground and was dashed in pieces. Then the Tsarevich +gathered up the remains and burned them, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +and kept the magic wand; after which he took +with him his mother and the three Queens he had +rescued, came to an oak tree, and let them all slide +down the mountain in a linen cloth. When his +brothers saw him left alone on the mountain, they +pulled the cloth from his hands, conducted their +mother and the Queens back to their own kingdom, +and made them promise solemnly to tell +their father that it was the elder brothers who had +found and rescued them.</p> + +<p>Ivan Tsarevich was thus left alone on the mountain, +and knew not how to get down. Lost in thought +he wandered about; and, throwing by chance the +magic wand from one hand to the other, on a +sudden a man stood before him, who said: “What +is your pleasure, Ivan Tsarevich?” Thereat Ivan +wondered greatly, and asked the man who he was, +and how he had come to that uninhabited mountain. +“I am a Spirit,” replied the figure, “and was +subject to him whom you have destroyed; but as +you now possess his magic wand, and have changed +it from one hand to the other—which you must +always do when you have need of me—I am here +ready to obey you.” “Good!” said Ivan Tsarevich; +“then do me now the first service, and +carry me back to my own kingdom.”</p> + +<p>No sooner had Ivan uttered these words than he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +found himself at once transported to his native +city. He wished first to know what was passing in +the castle; but instead of going in directly, he +went and took work in a shoemaker’s shop, thinking +that he should not be easily recognised in such +a place. The next morning the shoemaker went +into the city to buy leather, and returned home so +tipsy that he was unable to work, and left it all to +his new assistant. But Ivan, being quite ignorant +of shoemaking, called the Spirit to his aid, ordered +him to take the leather and make it into shoes, and +then lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning, when the shoemaker +awoke, he went to see what work Ivan had done; +but, perceiving him still fast asleep, he flew into a +rage, and exclaimed: “Up, you lazy loon! have +I engaged you only to sleep?” Ivan, stretching +himself slowly, replied: “Have patience, master; +first go to the workshop, and see what you shall +find.” So the shoemaker went to the shop; and +what was his astonishment at beholding a quantity +of shoes all made and ready! And when he took +up a shoe, and examined the work closely, his +amazement only increased, and he could scarcely +believe his eyes, for the shoes had not a single +stitch, but were just as if cast in a mould.</p> + +<p>The shoemaker now took his goods, and went into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +the city to sell them; and no sooner were these +wonderful shoes seen than they were all bought in +the twinkling of an eye. In a short time the man +became so renowned that his fame reached the +palace; then the Princesses desired him to be +summoned, and ordered of him many dozens of pairs +of shoes; but they were all to be ready without +fail the next morning. The poor shoemaker in +vain assured them that this was impossible; they +only threatened that, unless he obeyed their will +his head should be struck off, as they saw clearly +that there was some magic in the affair.</p> + +<p>The shoemaker left the castle in despair, and +went into the city to buy leather. Late in the evening +he returned home, threw the leather on the +floor, and said to Ivan: “Hark ye, fellow, what a +piece of work you have made with your devilish +tricks!” Then he told Ivan what the Princesses +had ordered him to do, and how they had threatened +him unless he fulfilled their commands. “Do not +trouble yourself,” said Ivan Tsarevich, “go to bed +and sleep—an hour in the morning is worth two at +night.” The shoemaker thanked him for his advice, +threw himself on the bench, and soon began to snore +aloud. Then Ivan Tsarevich summoned the Spirit, +ordered him to have the work done and in readiness +by the morning, and then lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Early the next morning, when the shoemaker +awoke, he called to mind that he was to lose his +head that day; so he went in despair to Ivan to +bid him farewell, and asked him to come and have +a drink so that he could bear up. But Ivan said: +“Fear nothing, man; go into the workshop and +take the work which was ordered.” The shoemaker +went distrustfully into the shop; but when he +beheld all the shoes ready made, he capered about, +not knowing what to do for joy, and embraced his +companion. Then he took all the shoes, and hastened +to the castle.</p> + +<p>When the Princesses saw all this they were more +than ever convinced that Ivan Tsarevich must be +in the city; and they said to the shoemaker; +“You have well and truly fulfilled our orders; +but there is another service which you must render +us; to-night a golden castle must be built opposite +to ours, with a porcelain bridge from one to the +other, covered with velvet.” The shoemaker stood +aghast on hearing this demand, and replied: “I +am indeed only a poor shoemaker, and how can I +possibly do such a thing?” “Well,” replied the +Princesses, “unless you fulfil our wish your head +shall assuredly be struck off.”</p> + +<p>The poor fellow left the castle overwhelmed +with grief, and wept bitterly. On his return home, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +he told Ivan Tsarevich what a feat he had been +ordered to accomplish. “Go quietly to bed,” +replied Ivan; “the morning sun shall see it done.” +So the shoemaker lay down on the bench and fell +fast asleep. Then Ivan called up the Spirit, and +desired him to fulfil the command of the King’s +daughters, after which he went to bed.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning Ivan Tsarevich awoke +his master, and giving him a goose’s wing, bade +him go on to the bridge and sweep off the dust. +Meanwhile Ivan went into the Golden castle. And +when the Tsar and the Princesses went out early +on to the balcony they were amazed at beholding +the Castle and the bridge; but the Princesses were +out of their wits with joy, for they were now quite +sure that Ivan Tsarevich was in the city; and +presently after, indeed, they saw him at a window +in the golden castle. Then they begged the Tsar +and Tsarina to go with them into the castle; and +as soon as they set foot on the staircase, Ivan Tsarevich +came out to meet them. Thereupon his mother +and the three Princesses ran and embraced him, +exclaiming: “This is our deliverer!” His brothers +looked down ashamed, and the Tsar stood dumb +with amazement; but his wife soon explained it all +to him. Thereat the Tsar fell into a passion with +his eldest sons, and was going to put them all to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +death; but Ivan fell at his feet and said: “Dear +father, if you desire to reward me for what I have +done, only grant my brothers their lives, and I am +content.” Then his father raised him up, embraced +him, and said: “They are truly unworthy of such +a brother!” So they all returned to the castle.</p> + +<p>The next day three weddings were celebrated. +The eldest son, Vasili Tsarevich, took the Princess +of the copper kingdom; Fedor Tsarevich, the +second son, chose the Princess of the silver kingdom, +and Ivan Tsarevich settled with his Princess +in the golden kingdom. He took the poor shoemaker +into his household, and they all lived happily for +many years.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<h2>ILIYA OF MUROM AND THE ROBBER +NIGHTINGALE</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the famous city of Murom there once lived +a countryman named Ivan Timofeyevich. Now +Ivan had a son named Iliya, the joy of his heart, +who was thirty years of age before he could walk; +when all at once he acquired such strength that he +could not only run about, but made for himself a +suit of armour and a steel spear, saddled his steed, +and went to his parents and begged their blessing. +“Dear father and mother,” said he “grant me permission +to go to the famous city of Kiev.” So his +parents gave him their blessing and dismissed +him, saying: “Go straight to Kiev, straight to +the city Chernigov, but do no wrong upon your +way, nor shed Christian blood in vain.”</p> + +<p>Then Iliya of Murom took leave of his parents, +and journeyed on, far into the depths of a dark +forest, until he came to a camp of robbers. When +the robbers saw him they longed to possess his +noble steed, and conspired together to kill Iliya +and seize the horse. So they fell upon Iliya of +Murom, five-and-twenty men. But Iliya of Murom +reined in his steed, drew an arrow from his quiver, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +laid it on his bow, and shot the shaft deep into the +ground till it scattered the earth far and wide +over three acres. When the robbers saw this, they +were struck dumb with terror, fell on their knees, +and said: “Our lord and father, dear good youth, +we have done you wrong: in punishment for our +crime, take all our treasures and rich dresses, and +as many steeds as you desire.” Iliya laughed and +said: “What should I do with your treasures? +But if you have any regard for your lives, beware +in future how you run such risks.” And so saying +he journeyed on to the famous city of Kiev.</p> + +<p>On his way, Iliya came to the city of Chernigov, +which was besieged by a countless Pagan army, +threatening to destroy its houses and churches, +and to carry off into slavery all the princes and +voyevodes. Iliya of Murom was terrified at the +sight of such an army; nevertheless, at last he +summoned courage, and resolved to die for his +religion. So with a brave heart and a stout spear he +attacked the unbelieving host, scattered them to +the winds, took their leader prisoner, and carried +him in triumph to Chernigov. Then the citizens +came out to meet him, headed by the governor and +nobles, and offered him thanks for their deliverance; +whereupon they conducted Iliya to the +palace and gave him a grand banquet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +After this, Iliya of Murom followed the straight +road to Kiev, which the Robber Nightingale had +held for thirty years, and on which he suffered no +traveller to pass, on foot or horse; putting them +all to death, not with the sword, but with his +robber’s whistle. When Iliya came into the open +fields, he rode into the Brianski forest, passing over +swamps, on bridges of elder, to the river Smarodienka. +Then the Robber Nightingale, seeing him +approach at a distance, sounded his robber whistle. +The hero’s heart quailed not, but when he was +within ten versts the Nightingale whistled so loud +that Iliya’s steed fell down upon his knees. Then +Iliya of Murom went straight up to the nest, which +was built upon twelve oaks, and the Robber Nightingale +looked forth upon the Russian hero, whistled +with all his might, and tried to slay him. But Iliya +took his strong bow, and laying an arrow upon it, +shot straight into the nest and hit the Robber +Nightingale in his right eye; whereupon he fell +down from the tree like a sheaf of oats.</p> + +<p>Then Iliya of Murom bound the Robber Nightingale +fast to his stirrup and rode off to the famous +city of Kiev. On the road he passed the palace of +the Nightingale, where he saw the daughters of +the Robber looking out of the window. “See!” +cried the youngest, “here comes riding our father, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +bringing a peasant bound to his stirrup.” But the +eldest daughter eyed Iliya more closely, and fell +to weeping bitterly, exclaiming: “Nay, that is +not our father, but some strange man, bringing +our father prisoner.” Then they called aloud to their +husbands, beseeching them to ride out and meet +the stranger, and deliver their father. Now their +husbands were famous horsemen, and they rode +out with their stout lances to meet the Russian +rider, and slay him. But the Robber Nightingale, +seeing them approach, cried out: “My sons, +bring not disgrace upon yourselves, by provoking +so brave a rider to slay you; invite him rather to +come to our palace and drink a glass of vodka.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 406px;"> +<a name="road" id="road"></a> +<img src="images/trg04.jpg" width="406" height="600" +alt="Iliya and Dobrinja meet the man and his dog" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">At length they fell in with a cripple on the road.</p> + +<p>Then Iliya of Murom, at their invitation, turned +to go into the palace, little anticipating the danger +that awaited him, for the eldest daughter had +drawn up by a chain a huge rafter to let fall and +slay Iliya as he rode through the gate. But Iliya +perceived her design, and slew her with his lance. +Thereupon he rode on toward Kiev, and going +straight to the palace, prayed to God and saluted +the nobles. And the Prince of Kiev said to Iliya, +“Tell me, brave youth, what is your name, and +whence do you come?” “My lord,” replied Iliya, +“my name is Iliyushka, and I was born in the city +of Murom.” Then the Prince asked him which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +way he had come; and Iliya answered: “I rode +from Murom to Chernigov, where I slew a countless +army of pagans, and delivered the city. Thence +I came straight hither, and on my road have captured +the mighty Robber Nightingale, and brought him +prisoner bound to my stirrup.” But the Prince +was wroth, for he thought Iliya was deceiving him. +Then two of the knights, Alescha Popovich and +Dobrinja Nikitich, rode forth to ascertain the +truth of the matter; and when the Prince was +convinced, he ordered a glass of vodka to be given +to the brave youth, and begged to hear the famous +whistle of the Robber Nightingale. So Iliya of +Murom took the Prince and Princess under his +arm, wrapped in his sable pelisse, and ordered +the Robber Nightingale to sound his whistle +softly. But the Robber whistled so loud that he +stunned all the knights and they fell flat upon the +ground, whereat Iliya of Murom was so enraged that +he slew him on the spot.</p> + +<p>Then Iliya formed a close friendship with +Dobrinja Nikitich; and saddling their steeds they +rode off, and journeyed on for three months without +meeting any enemy. At length they fell in with +a cripple on the road; his beggar’s cloak weighed +fifty poods, his bonnet nine poods, and his crutch +was six feet long. Then Iliya of Murom rode at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +him to try his courage; but the cripple said: +“Ah, Iliya of Murom, do you not remember me, +and how we studied together at the same school? +And have you now the heart to slay me, a poor +helpless cripple? Know you not that a great +calamity has befallen the famous city of Kiev? +An unbelieving knight, with a head as big as a beer-barrel, +eyebrows a span apart, and shoulders six +feet broad, has entered it? He devours a whole +ox at a time, and drinks off a barrel of beer at a +draught. The Prince is lamenting your absence.”</p> + +<p>Then Iliya of Murom drew the cripple’s cloak +around him, rode off to the city of Kiev, and going +straight up to the Prince’s palace, cried aloud, +“Ho there, Prince of Kiev! give alms to a poor +cripple.” And when the Prince heard this he said: +“Come into my palace, and I will give you meat +and drink, and money for your journey.” Then +Iliya went into the palace, and seated himself near +the stove; and close by sat the idolator, who +called for food and drink. Thereupon the attendants +brought him a whole roasted ox, which he ate +up, bones and all; and seven-and-twenty men +brought him a barrel of beer, which he emptied at +a draught. Then said Iliya of Murom: “My +father had once a greedy horse, which ate so much +that he burst.” At this the idolator knight fell into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +a violent rage and exclaimed: “How dare you +provoke me with such talk, you miserable cripple? +Are you forsooth a match for me? Why, look ye, +I could set you on the palm of my hand, and squeeze +you like an orange. You had indeed a valiant hero +in your country, Iliya of Murom, with whom I +would fain wage a battle; but you indeed——!”</p> + +<p>“Here stands Iliya of Murom!” exclaimed the +cripple; and so saying, he took off his hat, and +struck him a blow on the head, which, although +not hard, drove it through the wall of the palace. +Then Iliya took up the body, and flung it into the +courtyard. And the Prince rewarded Iliya richly, +and retained him at his court as his boldest and +bravest knight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE RENOWNED HERO, BOVA KOROLEVICH, +AND THE PRINCESS DRUSHNEVNA</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N the famous city of Anton ruled the brave +and mighty King Guidon; who heard so much +from his own subjects, as well as foreigners, +of the beauty of the Princess Militrisa Kirbitovna, +that he longed to see her. So he set out, and travelled +to the city of Dimichtian, where he saw her +many times, and fell deeply in love with her.</p> + +<p>When King Guidon returned home, he sent his +servant Litcharda as ambassador to King Kirbit +Versoulovich, the father of the Princess Militrisa +Kirbitovna, with a letter written by his own hand, +to ask for his daughter in marriage. When Litcharda +arrived at the city of Dimichtian, he +delivered to King Kirbit the letter from his master; +and after Kirbit had read it through, he went at +once to the Princess Militrisa, and said to her: +“My dear daughter, the fame of your beauty has +reached the brave and powerful King Guidon. He +has been in the city to see you, and has fallen deeply +in love with you. He has sent a messenger to demand +your hand, and I have already given my +consent.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +As King Kirbit spoke these words, Militrisa fell +to weeping; and her father seeing this said: +“Grieve not, dear daughter, Guidon is powerful, +renowned, and rich; he will be a good husband to +you, and you will share the government with him. +To refuse his request is impossible, for he would +return with a large army, storm our city, and carry +you off by force.”</p> + +<p>When the Princess Militrisa heard this, she +began to sob, fell on her knees, and said: “My +lord and father, you have sovereign power over +me, but let me confess the truth: I have seen +Guidon, but his very look terrified me; I fear +therefore to marry him. I entreat you, dear father, +to alter your resolution, and to give me to Tsar +Dadon, who is our neighbour, a faithful friend, +and protector of our kingdom.” But Kirbit did +not listen to her entreaties, and sent her to King +Guidon to be his wife, in the city of Anton. Guidon +rejoiced exceedingly at her arrival, ordered a great +feast to be prepared for their wedding the following +day, and set at liberty all the prisoners in his +kingdom on this joyous event.</p> + +<p>For three years Guidon lived with Militrisa, +and they had one only son, named Bova Korolevich, +who was of a powerful figure and handsome +bearing, and he grew, not from day to day, but +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +from hour to hour. One day Queen Militrisa +Kirbitovna called her faithful servant Litcharda, +and said: “Do me a true service; I will repay +you with gold and precious stones: take this +letter to Tsar Dadon, without the knowledge of +King Guidon: fail not to do my bidding, or you +shall die a miserable death.”</p> + +<p>Litcharda took the private letter of the Queen, +mounted his horse, rode to Tsar Dadon, and +delivered the letter to him. When Dadon read it +through he laughed, and said to Litcharda: “Your +Queen either jokes or wishes to affront me: she +invites me to lead my army before the city of +Anton, and promises to deliver up her husband +to me; this cannot truly be meant, because she +has a young son.” But Litcharda replied: “Mighty +Tsar Dadon, let not this letter arouse your suspicion; +put me in prison with food and drink, +collect your army, and march to the city of Anton, +and if the contents of the letter prove untrue, let +me suffer death.”</p> + +<p>When Tsar Dadon heard these words from +Litcharda, he rejoiced, and ordering the trumpets +to sound, he collected an army of thirty thousand +men, marched upon the city of Anton, and encamped +on the royal meadows. No sooner was +Militrisa Kirbitovna informed that Tsar Dadon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +was encamped before the city with his army, than, +dressing herself in her best attire, she went to +King Guidon, and, pretending to be ill, begged +him to go out and slay a wild boar for her to eat. +The King was glad to oblige his wife, and mounting +his trusty horse, rode out to hunt.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had left the city, Militrisa ordered +the drawbridges to be raised and the gates to be +shut. And hardly had King Guidon approached +Tsar Dadon’s rearguard, when the latter instantly +pursued him. Guidon turned his horse towards +the city, but flight was in vain; when he came to +the gates, and found them closed, and the drawbridges +up, he was sad at heart, and exclaimed: +“Most miserable of men! Now I see the cunning +of my wicked wife, and the death she has prepared +for me. But Bova, my dear boy, why did you not +tell me of your mother’s treachery?” As he spoke +these words Dadon rode at him, pierced him +through the heart with his lance, and Guidon fell +dead from his horse.</p> + +<p>When Militrisa Kirbitovna saw this from the +city walls, she ordered the gates to be opened and +the bridges let down, and went out to meet Tsar +Dadon, kissed him on the lips, took him by the +white hands, and conducted him into the castle. +Here they sat together at a table where a banquet +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +was spread, and they began to feast. But the little +boy, Bova Korolevich, young as he was, when he +saw his mother’s wicked conduct, went out of the +castle to the stable, and sitting down under a manger +was sad at heart. His attendant, Simbalda, saw +him sitting there, and wept at the sight, and said: +“My dear young master, Bova Korolevich, your +cruel mother has let Tsar Dadon kill my good lord +your father, and now she feasts and sports with +the murderer in the palace. You are young, my +child, and cannot avenge your father’s death; indeed, +who knows but that she may kill you likewise? +To save our lives, therefore, we will fly to +the city of Sumin, over which my father rules.” +And so saying, Simbalda saddled for himself a +good steed, and for Bova a palfrey, took with him +thirty stout young fellows, and hurried out of the +city.</p> + +<p>As soon as Dadon’s followers saw this, they +went and told their master that Bova and Simbalda +had escaped towards Sumin. When Tsar Dadon +heard this he forthwith commanded his army to +be collected, and sent in pursuit of Bova Korolevich +and his protector Simbalda, whom they +overtook at a short distance from Sumin. Simbalda +at once saw their danger, and, setting spurs to his +horse, galloped off to the city and shut the gates. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +But Bova Korolevich, who was very young, could +not hold his seat upon the horse, and fell to the +ground. Then the pursuers seized Bova, and carried +him to Tsar Dadon, who sent him to his mother, +Militrisa; and, collecting all his army, he rode up +to the city of Sumin, in order to take it by force, +and put to death its inhabitants and Simbalda; +and pitched his tent on the forbidden meadows +around the city.</p> + +<p>One night Dadon dreamed that Bova Korolevich +pierced him through with a lance: and when he +awoke he called to him his chief boyar, and sent +him to Queen Militrisa, bidding her to put Bova +to death. But when Militrisa Kirbitovna heard +this message she replied: “I cannot myself kill +him, for he is my own son; but I will command +him to be thrown into a dark dungeon, and kept +without food or drink, and so he will die of +hunger.”</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Tsar Dadon lay encamped before +the city of Sumin for half a year, but could neither +take it by force nor starvation; so at length he +broke up his camp and returned to Anton. After +his departure, Simbalda assembled an army of +fifteen thousand men, marched upon the city of +Anton, surrounded it on all sides, and demanded +that Bova should be given up to him. But Dadon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +collected an army twice as strong as Simbalda’s, +and drove him back into the city of Sumin.</p> + +<p>One day, as Queen Militrisa was walking in her +garden, she by chance passed the prison where +Bova Korolevich was confined. Then he cried +aloud: “Alas! my gracious mother, fair Queen +Militrisa, why are you so enraged against me? +Why have you put me in prison and given me no +food on purpose to let me die of hunger? Have I +grieved you by any ill conduct or cruel words, +that you treat me in this way, or have wicked people +spoken evil of me to you?” Militrisa answered: “I +know of nothing wrong in you, and have only put +you in prison on account of your irreverence to +Tsar Dadon, who defends our kingdom against +our enemies, while you are young; but I will soon +set you at liberty, and will send you now some +sweetmeats and meat; you can eat as much as you +like.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 404px;"> +<a name="mother" id="mother"></a> +<img src="images/trg05.jpg" width="404" height="600" +alt="Bova looks through the prison bars at his mother" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">“Alas! my gracious mother, why have you put me in prison?”</p> + +<p>So saying, Queen Militrisa went into the palace +and set to work to make two cakes, of wheaten +dough and serpent’s fat, which she baked and sent +to Bova Korolevich by a servant maid named +Chernavka. But when the maid came to Bova she +said: “Master, do not eat the cakes which your +mother has sent, but give them to the dogs, for +they are poisoned, here is a piece of my own +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +bread.” So Bova took the cakes and threw them to +the dogs, and as soon as they tasted them they +died. And when he saw Chernavka’s kindness and +fidelity, he took her black bread and ate it, and +begged her not to close the prison door: so she +left it open, and when she came again to Militrisa +she told her she had given the cakes to Bova.</p> + +<p>As soon as the servant was gone, Bova escaped +from his prison and went to the harbour to forget +his sorrow. There some drunken people seized +and carried him on board a ship, and the merchants +on it asked him of what condition he was. Bova +Korolevich told them that he was of the poor class, +and that his mother got her living by washing +linen for strangers. When the sailors heard this +they wondered that he should look so handsome, +and bethought them how they might keep him with +them. They began to wrangle as to who should be +his master, but as soon as Bova perceived their +intention, he told them not to quarrel for his +sake, for that he would serve them all in turn.</p> + +<p>Then the shipmen left the city of Anton and +sailed out to sea, to the Armenian kingdom of +King Sensibri Andronovich. There they cast +anchor, and went into the city to follow their +business; whilst Bova went on shore, and wandered +about, playing on the lute. Meantime the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +port officers came on board the ship, whom King +Sensibri sent to enquire whence the ship had come, +who the merchants were, and what was their +business. But when they heard Bova Korolevich +playing, and saw the beauty of his features, they +forgot what they had come for, and returning to +King Sensibri, said only that they had seen a youth +of unspeakable beauty on board the ship, who +played on the lute so wonderfully that they were +never tired of listening to him; adding, that they +had quite forgotten to enquire what wares the ship +contained. When the King heard this he went +himself to the ship, and when he had seen Bova, +he offered to purchase him, but the merchants +would not sell him for any price, telling the King +that he belonged to them all equally, and relating +how they had picked him up on the seashore. At +this King Sensibri flew into a rage, and instantly +ordered them to be driven out of his kingdom, +forbidding them ever to return. On hearing this +order, the merchants agreed to sell Bova Korolevich +for three hundred bars of gold.</p> + +<p>When Bova was brought to the Court, the King +called to him and said: “Tell me, young fellow, +to what class do you belong, and what is your +name?” And Bova replied: “Gracious King, +Sensibri Andronovich, I am of the poor class, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +lost my father at an early age: my mother washes +linen for strangers; and thus supports herself and +me. My name is Anhusei, and I will serve thee +henceforth faithfully.”</p> + +<p>When the King heard this he said: “As you +are of the lowest class and cannot remember your +father, go into my stables, and you shall be the +head over all my grooms.” So Bova made his bow +and went into the stable.</p> + +<p>Bova often drove out with his comrades to the +forbidden meadows of the King, to get grass for +the horses; but he never took a sickle with him, +but pulled all the grass with his hands, and +gathered himself as much as ten men together +could mow. When the other grooms saw this they +were amazed at his strength. His fame at length +reached the King’s daughter, the fair Drushnevna, +who went to see him: and as soon as she beheld +Bova, she was enraptured with his uncommon +beauty. And one day she said to the King: “My +gracious father, you are indeed powerful and renowned, +not only in your own kingdom, but in all +countries far and near, and no King, Tsar, or +Knight can compare with you; but, O King! +you have no trusty and clever steward in your +household. Now, I have heard that there is a young +lad in our royal stables whom you have purchased +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +from some shipmen; his name is Anhusei. This +lad will prove trusty and useful in your service; +order him to be taken from the stable and employed +in your household.”</p> + +<p>King Sensibri replied: “My dear daughter, I +have never refused to grant any one of your wishes, +and in this matter too you are free to do as you +will.” When the Princess Drushnevna heard these +words, she thanked her father, made her obeisance, +and went out. Then she ordered Bova to be called +and desired him to leave his old task and to enter +on his new employment in the household.</p> + +<p>The next day she called Bova to her and said: +“Hark ye, Anhusei, to-morrow my father will +have a great feast, and all the princes, boyars, and +knights will be present to eat and drink and sport; +you must stand near me at the table to do my +bidding.” Thereupon Bova made his bow and was +going away, but the Princess Drushnevna called +him back, and said: “Tell me the truth, young +fellow, what class do you belong to—of boyar or +kingly race? Or are you the son of some brave +knight, or of a merchant from a foreign land? And +what is your true name? I believe not that you are +born of common folk as you told my father.” Then +Bova replied: “Gracious Lady, I have told your +royal father truly my name and condition, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +can only repeat it to you.” And so saying he left +the room.</p> + +<p>On the morrow the King held a great feast, and +Bova had to hold a roasted swan to the Princess +Drushnevna, which she began to carve; and, on +purpose, she let fall a fork on the floor. Bova instantly +picked it up, and as he held it out to her +she kissed him on the head. As soon as the feast +was ended, Bova lay down to sleep, and slept +three days and three nights; no shaking could +arouse him. The fourth day, when he awoke, he +rode out into the open country, walked into +the forbidden meadows, gathered some beautiful +flowers, and, making a wreath, placed it on his +head, and so went into the city. When the Princess +saw him thus decked out, she called him before +her, and bade him take the wreath from his head +and place it on hers. Bova did not obey; but he +took the wreath from his head, pulled it to pieces, +and flung it on the ground; then he left the room, +and shut the door after him with such force that +he pulled out the silver handle, and a stone fell +from the wall and wounded him on the head. The +fair Drushnevna hearing this, cured his wound +with her medicines; and when it was healed Bova +lay down again to sleep, and slept five days and five +nights.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +Now at this time King Marcobrun came from +the kingdom beyond the Don, with many hundred +thousand warriors; and surrounding the Armenian +city with his army, he sent an ambassador to Sensibri +to demand the Princess his daughter Drushnevna +for wife; promising, in return, to reward +and defend him; but threatening, in case of his +refusal, to destroy the city with fire and sword, +to throw him into prison, and carry off his daughter +by force. Then King Sensibri answered: “Tell +your Master, the renowned King Marcobrun that, +until this day, I have never had any disagreement +with him, but have lived in friendship and good-will; +and that I have no desire now to quarrel +with him; but better it had been to have sent +you with a simple request instead of threats. +I pardon him, however, on account of his youth, +and invite him to my royal castle to eat bread +and salt, and to celebrate the marriage with my +daughter.”</p> + +<p>King Sensibri dismissed the messenger, and +commanding the city gates to be opened, went +himself to meet King Marcobrun, took him by +his white hands, led him into the marble palace, +seated him at an oaken table spread with checkered +tablecloths and sweetmeats, and they fell to eating +and drinking and disport.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +Just then Bova Korolevich awoke from his five +days’ sleep, and heard the confused sounds of men, +and the neighing of horses, outside the city. Whereupon +he went into the white marble palace to +Princess Drushnevna, and said: “Gracious Lady, +I hear the sounds of men and horses outside the +city, and people say that Marcobrun’s nobles are +amusing themselves with holding a tournament. I +have a wish to join in it; command, I pray, a good +steed to be given me, and allow me to go forth and +see the sports.”</p> + +<p>The Princess answered: “My little fellow +Anhusei, how can you ride with Marcobrun’s +nobles? You are still very young, and cannot sit +fast on a horse. However, if you have so great a +longing to go, choose a good horse and ride off to +see the sport; but take no weapon, and do not +mingle in their games.”</p> + +<p>The instant Bova received this permission he +went into the stable, straddled across a broom, and +so rode out of the city. And as soon as Marcobrun’s +nobles saw Bova Korolevich riding upon a broom, +they began to laugh at him, and cried: “Look, +look at King Sensibri’s groom! riding cock-horse +upon a broom! to sweep the field and make us +room!” But Bova did not relish their jokes, and +riding up to them, he defended himself with his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +broom, laying about him right and left, and knocking +them down by twos and threes. When Marcobrun’s +nobles saw this sport they rushed upon Bova, ten +or more at once; but he took them as they came, +and overthrew them all. Thereat the other knights +were enraged, and attacked Bova, two hundred in +a body, and tried to ride him down. Still Bova +flinched not, but slew them all, one after another, +to the number of two hundred thousand men. +When the King’s daughter saw this from her +window, she went to her father and said: “My +gracious father, command your servant Anhusei to +return. He has ridden forth to see the sports of +Marcobrun’s nobles; but they are engaged against +him, and are attacking him with great fury. It were +a shame to let him be slain: he is still but a young +child, and has little strength.” So King Sensibri +Andronovich instantly sent to Bova, and ordered +him to return to the city.</p> + +<p>Bova obeyed the command, rode back to the +city, lay down to sleep, and slept for nine days and +nine nights. Meanwhile the powerful Tsar and +knight Lukoper came to the Armenian kingdom: +his head was as large as a beer-barrel, his eyebrows +were a span apart, his shoulders an arrow’s length +broad, and he was as tall as a journey. Never before +had such a powerful knight been heard of; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +he came at the head of a host twice as strong as the +army of Marcobrun. Then he surrounded the city +of King Sensibri, and sent an ambassador to him, +demanding the hand of the Princess Drushnevna; +threatening, if he refused, to lay waste his city with +fire and sword, to imprison all the inhabitants, to +overthrow Marcobrun’s army, slay both Kings, +and carry off the Princess Drushnevna. But if +Sensibri assented to his demand, Lukoper promised +him his aid and protection.</p> + +<p>When King Sensibri heard this message he +dared not refuse, and dismissed the ambassador +without an answer. Then he called Marcobrun, +and took counsel with him, and they agreed to +attack Lukoper with all their forces. They forthwith +ordered their horses to be saddled; each +seized in his right hand a steel sword, and in his +left a sharp lance, and they rode forth out of the +city. When the Tsar Lukoper beheld them, he rode +with the blunt end of his lance against Marcobrun +and Sensibri, overthrew them one after another, +took them prisoners, and sent them to his father, +Saltan Saltanovich, who was encamped with his +army on the seashore. Then Lukoper fell upon the +armies of Sensibri and Marcobrun, and slew them +without mercy, while his gallant steed trampled +down still more than he killed; and in a short +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +time the royal forbidden meadows were covered +with the dead.</p> + +<p>Just at this time Bova Korolevich awoke from +his sleep, and heard the noise of Lukoper’s army, +and the neighing of the horses. Then he went to +the Princess Drushnevna and said: “Gracious +Lady, I hear the noise of Lukoper’s warriors, who +are disporting in a tourney after the victory over +your father and Marcobrun, whom he has sent +prisoners to his father the Tsar Saltan Saltanovich, +on the seashore. I am therefore come, as your +faithful servant, to crave permission to take from +the royal stable a good horse, with trappings, a +sword, and a steel lance. Let me go forth against +Lukoper’s army, measure my strength with him, +and try the valour of his boasting warriors.” The +Princess answered: “I will consent to your wish, +young fellow; but you must first tell me truly of +what rank of life you are, and what is your real +name? You have not told my father the truth: +your handsome figure and valorous deeds show +clearly that you are no poor man’s son.”</p> + +<p>“Lady,” replied Bova Korolevich, “I would +not disclose to you my true rank and name, but +that I am now going forth to a battle of life and +death, and know not whether I shall return from +it alive, or lose my head in rescuing my King from +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +prison; therefore I will confess the truth. My +father was the renowned King Guidon, a mighty +hero in the field, and a merciful prince to his subjects. +My mother is Queen Militrisa, daughter of +the Tsar Kirbit Versoulovich: my name is Bova. +I left my country in early youth, when King Dadon +laid waste our kingdom, treacherously murdered +my father, and seized upon his dominions. He +sought to kill me too; but I fled, sailed with some +merchants to your kingdom, and was bought by +your father.”</p> + +<p>When the Princess heard this story she loved +Bova Korolevich still more, and she said to him: +“Brave Knight, you would engage in a fight of +life and death with the Tsar Lukoper, but you do +not know, perhaps, how powerful he is, and what +an immense army he has with him; besides, you +are still very young, and have not the strength of +manhood. Stay rather in my city, take me for your +wife, and protect my country and people against +our foes.”</p> + +<p>Bova, however, was unmoved by her words; +and again entreated her to let him have a steed +and armour. When the Princess Drushnevna saw +how earnestly he begged, she took from the wall a +battle sword, buckled it on him with her own hands, +put on his armour, and led him to the stone stable +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +to fetch a steed, which stood there behind twelve +iron doors and twelve huge locks. Then she commanded +the grooms to strike off the locks; but +as soon as the horse perceived a rider worthy of +him, he began to burst the doors with his hoofs, +broke them all down, ran out, set himself on his +hind legs before Bova, and neighed so loud that +the fair Drushnevna and all the bystanders were +ready to fall down senseless.</p> + +<p>When Bova took the horse by his black-grey +mane and began to pat him, he stood still as if +rooted to the spot; and Bova Korolevich seeing +this, placed a Tcherkess saddle upon him, with +girths of Persian silk and golden buckles. And +when he vaulted into the saddle and took leave of +the Princess Drushnevna, she embraced and kissed +him. The royal Chamberlain, named Orlop, who +saw this, began to reproach her, which angered +Bova so much that he hurled him to the ground +half-dead with the butt-end of his lance, and rode +out of the city. Then Bova struck the flanks of his +steed, which started, rose from the ground, and +leaped over the city wall.</p> + +<p>When Bova beheld the camp of the Tsar Lukoper, +in which the tents stood as thick as trees in a forest, +he drew his battle sword and mace, and rode +straight against the mighty Tsar. The crash of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +two mountains falling upon one another is not so +great as was the onset between these two powerful +knights. Lukoper struck at Bova’s heart with his +lance, but Bova parried the thrust with his shield, +and the lance was shivered in pieces. Then Bova +struck Lukoper on the head with his sword, and +cleft his body in twain to the very saddle; after +which he fell upon Lukoper’s army, and many as +he slew with his battle-axe, as many again were +trodden down under his horse’s hoofs. Bova fought +five days without resting, and overthrew well nigh +the whole army; a small number only escaped, +who fled to the Tsar Saltan, and said to him: +“Our Lord Tsar Saltan Saltanovich, after we had +taken prisoners Tsars Sensibri and Marcobrun, +and had overthrown all their enemies, a young fellow +of handsome look rushed out of Sensibri’s city, +who slew your brave son Lukoper in single combat, +and routed our whole army. He is even now in +pursuit of us, slaying all whom he can overtake, +and will presently attack you.”</p> + +<p>On hearing this, Tsar Saltan was seized with +terror, and hastened with his troops on board his +ships, leaving all his tents and treasures behind, +cut the cable, and instantly set sail from the +Armenian kingdom. But hardly had he left the +shore when Bova rode into the camp, and found +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +not a single living soul except the Kings Marcobrun +and Sensibri, who lay bound hand and foot +beside Saltan’s tent. Bova Korolevich freed them +from their bonds, and rode with them back to the +Armenian kingdom.</p> + +<p>On the way Sensibri Andronovich said to Bova: +“My trusty servant Anhusei, I see your fidelity +and valour; I owe my liberty to you, and I know +not how to reward you: ask of me whatsoever you +desire—my treasures are at your command.” Then +Bova answered: “My gracious lord King, I am +rewarded by your royal favour, and ask no more; +but I will serve you faithfully to the best of my +power.” And as they conversed thus they came to +the Armenian city, where they feasted and made +merry. Then Bova lay down to sleep, and slept +nine days and nine nights.</p> + +<p>At length Kings Sensibri and Marcobrun, tired +of feasting, rode out into the fields to hunt for +three days. And meanwhile it happened that the +Chamberlain, jealous of the favour that the King +showed to Bova, called to him thirty young fellows +and said: “My friends, you see that this rascal +Anhusei has deceived our King and the Princess +Drushnevna, and, turning their favour from us, +drives us from their presence. Come with me into +the stable where he sleeps; let us put him to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +death, and I will reward you with gold and silver, +with jewels and fine clothes.” When Orlop had +told his plan, one of the thirty answered: “We +are not strong enough to slay Anhusei in his sleep; +should he awake he would kill us all. A better plan +would be for one of us to lie in the King’s bed, +whilst he is out at the chase, to summon Anhusei, +and give him a letter to the Tsar Saltan Saltanovich +desiring him to put Anhusei to death.”</p> + +<p>When the Chamberlain Orlop heard this he +leaped for joy, embraced the fellow who had given +this wicked advice, and rewarded him more than +the rest. And when the letter was prepared, Orlop +went and lay down in the King’s bed, called Bova +to him, and said: “Do me a service, Anhusei; +take this letter and give it to the Tsar Saltan with +your own hand. On your return I will reward you +in any way you may desire.” Bova, who was half +asleep, did not discover the cheat, but took the +letter, went out and saddled a good horse, and rode +off to the kingdom of the Tsar Saltan.</p> + +<p>Bova rode for two months, until he came to a +desert, where there was neither river, brook, nor +fountain, and grew sore athirst. At length he met +a pilgrim, who had a leather bottle full of water, +and he begged him for a draught to quench his +thirst. The old man secretly put a sleeping powder +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +into the water and gave it to Bova; but hardly +had he drunk it than it took effect, and he fell +from his horse and slept like one dead. Then the +old man took the battle sword, mounted the horse +and rode off, leaving Bova alone and unarmed in +the midst of the desert.</p> + +<p>Bova slept on for ten days; and when he awoke +and saw that his steed, his sword, and battle-axe +were all gone he wept bitterly and said to himself: +“It seems that I am doomed to lose my life in this +service, and that King Sensibri has sent me to +Tsar Saltan only to meet death in return for my +fidelity.” Then he went his way on foot, and his +head hung lower than his shoulders.</p> + +<p>When Bova Korolevich appeared before the +Tsar Saltan he bowed to the ground, handed him +the letter and said: “Long life to you, gracious +lord and Tsar Saltan Saltanovich! I am sent by +King Sensibri to your Majesty to bring news of +his health, to enquire after yours, and to deliver +to your Majesty this letter.” Then Saltan took the +letter, broke the seal, and after reading it exclaimed +aloud: “Where are my valiant knights, my faithful +servants and warriors? Seize this messenger +from King Sensibri, and lead him to the gallows, +for he has slain my dear son and destroyed our +mighty army.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +Thereupon sixty of Saltan’s knights rode forth, +surrounded Bova, and led him into the open fields +to hang him. On the way Bova bethought him how +he could have deserved such a shameful death, +and to lose his life in the flower of his days. “Better +had it been,” said he, “if my mother had killed +me in the city of Anton, or if I had been slain by +Marcobrun’s nobles or by Lukoper in the field.” +And with that he rose up, overthrew all the sixty +knights, and fled out of the kingdom.</p> + +<p>When the Tsar Saltan heard this, he instantly +commanded the trumpets to sound, and collected +his knights to the number of a hundred thousand, +pursued Bova Korolevich, and surrounded him +on all sides. Bova had neither a good steed, a sharp +sword, nor a steel lance—he had nothing with +which to defend himself. Then he seized one of +Saltan’s warriors, and began to fight with him; +but he saw that he could not slay them all, and +gave himself up prisoner. So they seized him, +bound his hands, and led him before Saltan Saltanovich. +As soon as the Tsar saw Bova he ordered the +hangman to be fetched, to hang him.</p> + +<p>Just then the Tsar’s daughter, the fair Princess +Miliheria, fell on her knees before her father and +said: “My gracious lord and father, do not let +Bova be hung, but allow me to speak; his death +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +will not bring either my brother or your army to +life again. Rather grant him his life, turn him to +our faith, and make him the successor to your +throne. Then will he be a defence in war to your +old age.”</p> + +<p>The Tsar answered: “My dear daughter, +Miliheria, you comfort me with your tender words +and wise advice; I give Bova into your hands, and +if he embraces our faith he shall be my successor +and your husband, and I will resign to him all my +cities and villages, my treasures of gold and jewels.”</p> + +<p>The Tsar’s daughter made her obeisance to her +father, left the hall, and ordered Bova to be brought +before her. Then she endeavoured with gentle +speech to persuade him to adopt her faith; but +Bova answered that neither for the whole kingdom, +nor all the treasures of gold and jewels, would he +consent to change his faith.</p> + +<p>Then Miliheria commanded Bova to be led to +prison, and the entrance to be stopped up with +sand, and that he should have no food nor drink +for five days. At the end of this time she put on a +gold-embroidered dress, adorned with jewels, and +went to the prison. Then she ordered the sand to +be removed, and the door to be opened, and, +going in, she said to Bova: “Now, young fellow, +have you considered the matter? Will you change +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +your faith, and live, and rule over my father’s kingdom, +or have you not yet overcome your obstinacy +and will rather end your life on gallows?”</p> + +<p>“Never, as long as I live, will I deny my faith,” +answered Bova, “nor abandon it for yours. Tempt +me not in vain with cunning words and promises; +I will rather suffer death than be a despicable +man.”</p> + +<p>The Princess Miliheria was very angry at Bova’s +answer; she went instantly to her father and said: +“My lord and father, I confess to you my wrong +in having interceded for the life of this unbelieving +prisoner, in the hope of converting him to our +faith, and making him a good subject of your +Majesty. But now I see his obstinacy and hard +heart, I no longer plead for him, but give him back +into your hands; do with him as you will.” And +so saying she went out.</p> + +<p>Saltan Saltanovich, on hearing this, called to him +thirty bold knights, and sent them to Bova’s prison; +but when they came thither they could not remove +the sand from the door as the Tsar’s daughter, in +her anger, had heaped up too much; and they +thought of taking off the roof and dragging Bova +out. Then Bova Korolevich was sad at heart, and +said, weeping: “Alas, I am the most unfortunate +of men! I have neither sword nor battle-axe, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +while my foes are numberless, and I am moreover +weakened by five days’ hunger and confinement.” +Then he sat down in a corner of the prison and felt +close to him on the ground a sword of steel. He +seized it, overjoyed, turned it round and round, +and scarcely trusted his unlooked-for prize. Then +he went to the spot where Saltan’s knights were +letting themselves down into the prison; and +cutting off their heads, one after the other as they +came down, he laid them in a heap.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Saltan was awaiting the return of +the knights whom he had sent after Bova; at last +he was angered at their long delay, and sent as +many more to their help; but Bova slew these +likewise, and piled up their bodies in a heap; and +climbing up this he escaped from prison and hastened +to the harbour, where he saw a ship lying at anchor. +Then he cried with a loud voice: “Ho, masters! +take an honest young fellow on board your ship! +Save me from a cruel death, and I will reward you +richly.”</p> + +<p>When the merchants heard this they sent a boat +to the shore and took Bova Korolevich on board +the ship. Presently his pursuers came galloping +up in pursuit of Bova, and with them the Tsar +Saltan Saltanovich himself. Then Saltan cried +aloud to the sailors: “Ho! you foreign merchants, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +surrender instantly yon malefactor, who has escaped +from my prison and taken refuge in your ship! +Deliver him up or I will never again allow you to +trade in my kingdom, but command you to be +seized and put to a miserable death.”</p> + +<p>The merchants were terrified by these threats, +and were about to send Bova back to shore; but +he drew a sword from under his cloak, laid about +him, and slew them right and left. At the sight of +this the rest fell on their knees before him, and +promised to sail with him wherever he wished. +Then Bova ordered them to set sail and steer for the +open sea. And after a voyage of three months they +came to the kingdom over the Don; and not knowing +it he enquired of a fisherman what country it was +he saw in the distance. “Yonder lies the Sadonic +kingdom,” replied the fisherman, “and the king +of it is named Marcobrun.” Then Bova asked: +“Can it be the same Marcobrun who went to seek +the hand of the daughter of King Sensibri?” +“The same,” replied the fisherman, “and he has +not long returned home with his betrothed, the +Princess Drushnevna; their wedding is speedily +to be celebrated.”</p> + +<p>When Bova Korolevich heard this, he staggered, +and for a time could not utter a word. At length +he came to himself, and said to the fisherman: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +“Land me on the other side, my good fellow, and +I will reward you handsomely.” Then he divided +among the ship’s crew the property of the merchants +he had slain, took leave of them, and went to the +Sadonic kingdom. On landing, Bova directed his +steps towards Marcobrun’s chief city. For two +days he went on and on without meeting anyone. +On the third day he met the pilgrim who had +given him the sleeping powder and robbed him +of his sword, his battle-axe, and steed. Then Bova +seized and flung him on the ground, saying: +“Villain! you robbed me with a pitcher of water, +carried off my brave steed, and left me helpless in +a desert, to be torn to pieces by wild beasts. Now +take your reward and die.”</p> + +<p>Then the pilgrim entreated Bova for mercy: +“Brave knight, have pity and grant my life! I +will give back your horse, your sword, and battle-axe, +and, for my crime, three powders besides. +Wash yourself with one of these and you will become +old, so that no one will recognize you; if +you wash with the second, you will grow young as +before; and if you put the third powder into any +person’s drink he will sleep as soundly as if he were +dead for nine days.”</p> + +<p>When Bova Korolevich heard this, he took the +powders, the battle sword, and the battle-axe; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +but gave back the horse and his clothes to the +pilgrim. Thereupon he washed himself with the +first powder, and went to the royal court and +began to beg alms in the kitchen, in the name of +Bova Korolevich. One of the cooks, hearing this, +seized a brand from the hearth, beat Bova on the +head, exclaiming: “Be off, you worthless fellow! +don’t come begging here in Bova’s name: it is +forbidden in this country to utter his name under +pain of death.”</p> + +<p>Bova did not feel the blow, but seized a brand, +belaboured the cook, and said: “What mean +you, scoundrel, to beat your betters? You might +first have tried words before coming to blows.” +But the poor cook had already given up the ghost, +and this exhortation was thrown away upon him. +When his comrades saw this they ran out and told +the Seneschal, who went into the kitchen and asked +Bova how the matter stood. Then Bova said to the +Seneschal: “Noble sir, I know not the customs of +this country, and have heard nothing of your prohibition. +I begged alms of your cook, in the name of +Bova Korolevich, knowing that he was everywhere +honoured for his valour; but the man beat me +with a cudgel, without saying a word; I returned +the blows and have killed him unintentionally.”</p> + +<p>When the Seneschal heard this, his anger was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +turned into favour, and he said to Bova: “Hark +ye, old man; from this hour on never more beg +alms in Bova’s name, for we are commanded to +slay anyone who speaks a word in his praise in +this country; you are, however, pardoned for your +ignorance. Go straight to the back court, where you +will see the fair Princess Drushnevna, who gives +alms to beggars like you. In three days her wedding +with King Marcobrun is to be celebrated.”</p> + +<p>Bova bowed to the Seneschal, and went to the +back court, where he beheld Drushnevna; but +there was such a crowd of beggars that he could +not make his way up to her, and many of them beat +and pushed about the old man. This annoyed Bova, +and he began to push in turn, and soon made his +way to the fair Drushnevna, and said: “Gracious +Princess, betrothed to the renowned King Marcobrun, +give me alms, in the name of Bova Korolevich!”</p> + +<p>When the Princess heard these words her +countenance changed: she let fall from her hand +the dish with the money, and could scarcely stand. +Then she ordered one of her maids to distribute +the alms amongst the beggars, called Bova to her, +and asked him why he had begged alms in that +name. And Bova answered: “My gracious Lady, +I know Bova Korolevich well, for I was with him +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +in the same prison, in the kingdom of the Tsar +Saltan; we ate black bread and drank dirty water +together, and I shared with him hunger and cold; +he confessed to me that you, fair Princess, loved +him dearly, and had pledged him your word to +marry no one but him. Therefore I have had the +boldness to beg alms in his name.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, my good man,” said Drushnevna, “where +did you leave Bova Korolevich? If I but knew +where he was I would instantly go and seek him, +were it through thrice nine lands to the thirtieth +country.”</p> + +<p>“He was released from prison with me,” replied +Bova; “and I came to this kingdom in his company; +he stayed behind, and whither he is gone +I know not; but I wandered to this city.” As he +spoke, King Marcobrun entered, and saw tears in +Drushnevna’s eyes; he asked her why she wept, +and whether anyone had offended her. “No, King +Marcobrun, I wept on hearing from this man that +my father is lying on his death-bed.” Then Marcobrun +ordered Bova to go away, and tried to comfort +the Princess. “My dear Drushnevna, grieve not +for your father’s illness; he will recover; your +grief cannot help him, and will only injure your +health: your dark eyes will be dimmed with tears, +and sorrow will destroy your beauty.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +As the King was speaking, Bova went into the +stable, where his trusty steed stood fastened with +twelve chains. And when the horse heard his brave +rider approach, he began to burst through the +iron doors and break his chains; and having done +so, and escaped into the open fields, he galloped +up to Bova, seated himself on his hind legs, and +tried to embrace him. Bova seized him by the +mane and stroked his neck.</p> + +<p>When the grooms saw this they went and told +it all to Marcobrun. And the King hastened into +the courtyard, and saw Bova and the horse; then, +calling to him, he ordered him to serve in the +stables of his court and to tend his war-horse. +When the Princess Drushnevna heard this, she +summoned Bova and asked him how he could +undertake to tame this steed, which no one ever +ventured to approach on account of his rage. And +Bova answered: “Gracious Princess, this horse +is restive and fierce to King Marcobrun’s grooms, +who have never ridden on him; but he knows his +former master in the kingdom of Sensibri Andronovich, +and him he obeys. The horse recognized +me at once, and you have thrice spoken with me, +and have not discovered that I am Bova Korolevich!”</p> + +<p>So saying, he was going away, but the Princess +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +held him back, and said: “Trouble me not with +your prate, old man, nor mock my grief; I know +Bova Korolevich; he is young and handsome, +but you are old and grey-headed.”</p> + +<p>“If you believe me not,” replied Bova, “order +some water to be brought, and you shall see +whether I speak the truth.” So they brought a +basin of water, and Bova washed himself before +the eyes of Drushnevna with the white powder, +and instantly he was young and handsome as +before. And when the Princess saw this she jumped +from her seat for joy, threw her arms round Bova’s +neck, and said: “My dear friend, Bova Korolevich, +for your sake I have refused these three years to +obey my father and listen to the suit of King +Marcobrun; but not hearing any tidings of you +for so long a time I thought you were dead, and +was compelled, against my will, to come with +Marcobrun to his kingdom. Here I have deferred +the wedding from day to day, in the hope of hearing +some tidings of you; but now that I see you face +to face I can boldly dismiss Marcobrun and wander +with you to the end of the world.”</p> + +<p>“My dear Drushnevna,” replied Bova Korolevich, +“you may rely on my valour; but we +cannot now leave this place openly on account of +the great number of Marcobrun’s warriors, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +the multitudes of people, whom not ten of the +bravest knights could slay, especially in the heart +of their city. But take this powder and mix it in +Marcobrun’s drink: he will then sleep soundly +for nine days, and in this time we can fly from his +dominions.”</p> + +<p>Hardly had he spoken, given her the powder, +and gone away, when King Marcobrun came in. +Then Drushnevna spoke with him softly and +kindly, brought him a glass of sweet mead on a +silver tray, and shook the sleeping powder into it: +Marcobrun, charmed by her coaxing manner, +instantly took the mead, drank it off, and presently +fell asleep.</p> + +<p>The Princess Drushnevna went out and ordered +her faithful servants to bring her a good nag, and +the kingly steed for Bova Korolevich. Then she +gave him a suit of armour, and in the darkness of +the night they fled out of the kingdom. For three +days they rode on without stopping, and on the +fourth they chose out a pleasant spot, halted by a +clear brook, pitched a tent, and, tired with their +journey, fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>It was a fine morning when Bova Korolevich +took his steed to water, and on a sudden the horse +began to neigh and stamp on the ground, and thus +gave Bova to understand that an enemy was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +advancing against him. Then he saddled his steed, +donned his armour, girded on his battle sword, +and went into the tent and took leave of Drushnevna +saying: “My dear Princess, I am going out to +fight with a great army, but grieve not for me. +Before the sun goes down I shall have gained the +victory and returned to you.” So saying, he rode +forth against the enemy, and defeated them, so +that only three men were left alive. And when he +heard that the army was sent by Marcobrun in +pursuit of him, he said to these three knights: +“Tell King Marcobrun to beware of pursuing me +lest he lose his whole army, for he knows well who +I am.” Thereupon these three rode back to their +King, and told him that Bova had slain the army +of three hundred thousand men, and that they +three alone survived. Then Marcobrun ordered +the trumpets to sound, and assembled an army of +four million men, and said to his boyars: “My +faithful servants, pursue Bova, and bring him and +Drushnevna alive to me.” And all the kingdom +answered with one voice: “Our Lord and King, +you have a knight Polkan who has been confined +in prison for many years; perhaps he can overtake +Bova, for he clears seven versts at a single leap. +From his head to his waist he is a man—the rest +of his body is in the form of a horse.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +On hearing this from the knights, Marcobrun +sent immediately for Polkan, and said to him: +“Sir Polkan, pursue Bova Korolevich and bring +him and Drushnevna to me; I will reward you +richly.” So Polkan promised to fulfil his command, +and hastened after Bova and the Princess.</p> + +<p>One day Bova was walking in the fields near his +tent when on a sudden he heard Polkan come +running; he stepped into the tent and said to +Drushnevna: “My dear Princess I can hear a +powerful knight come riding this way in the direction +from Marcobrun’s kingdom; but I do not +know whether he will prove a friend or foe.” Then +Drushnevna answered: “No doubt it is some one +whom Marcobrun has sent in pursuit of us, and +he must be the stout knight Polkan, who can leave +behind him seven versts at a bound: he will soon +overtake us.”</p> + +<p>Bova took his battle sword, mounted his steed, +and rode forth. Polkan met him, and cried aloud +with a terrible voice: “Ha, rascal! you shall not +escape out of my hands!” And so saying, he tore +up by the roots an oak of a hundred years’ growth +and struck Bova with it on the head; but Bova +staggered not under the blow; with both hands he +seized his battle sword, and aimed at Polkan to slay +him; but he missed his blow, and the sword was struck +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +half-way up to the hilt in the earth, and Bova fell +from his saddle. Then Polkan caught his horse; +but the horse began to fight with his feet, and bite +with his teeth, until Polkan fled. The horse followed +him, until Polkan’s strength quite failed him and +he dropped half-dead near the tent of Bova Korolevich. +Then Bova went up to Polkan and asked +him whether he had rather live or die; and Polkan +replied: “Brother Bova, let us make peace with +one another and be brothers, and there will not be +our match in the wide world.” So Bova made a +treaty with Polkan, and Bova was to be the elder +and Polkan the younger brother.</p> + +<p>Then Bova mounted his good steed and Drushnevna +her palfrey, and Polkan followed them. Thus +they rode for a long time, and at length they saw +before them the city of Kostel, in which ruled the +Tsar Uril. And when Uril heard of their approach +he ordered the city gates to be closed and made +fast. Then Polkan ran and leaped over the walls +and opened the gates, whereupon Bova and +Drushnevna rode into the city. The Tsar Uril +came to meet them with the Tsarina, and conducted +them with great honour into the palace, and they +all fell to feasting and making merry.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile King Marcobrun advanced against +the city of Kostel with three times a hundred +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +thousand men, beleaguered the city, and sent an +ambassador to the Tsar Uril, commanding him +fiercely to deliver up to him Bova, Drushnevna, +and Polkan. Then Tsar Uril assembled his army, +took with him his two sons, and went out to fight +with Marcobrun; they fought bravely, but Marcobrun +overthrew their whole army, and took the +Tsar and his sons prisoners. Then Uril promised +King Marcobrun to deliver up Bova, Drushnevna, +and Polkan, and left his sons as hostages. So +Marcobrun dismissed the Tsar Uril, and gave him +a million and a half men from his army, to fetch +Bova and Polkan.</p> + +<p>The Tsar Uril went into his chamber and lay +down to sleep; but Polkan stepped to the door +of his room and listened to what the Tsar should +say of him to his wife. Then the Tsar told the +Tsarina how he had left his sons as hostages with +Marcobrun and promised to deliver up Bova, +Drushnevna, and Polkan. And the Tsarina replied: +“My dear husband, it is impossible to +give them up.” At these words the Tsar struck +her in the face, saying: “Women have long hair, +but short wits.” When Polkan heard this he was +enraged, opened the door, entered the room, +seizing the Tsar by his head, flung him to the +ground and killed him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +Polkan now looked down into the courtyard and +perceived that it was filled with Marcobrun’s +soldiers; so, without more ado, he took Bova’s +battle sword and slew ten thousand men, drove +all the rest out of the city, closed the gates, and +barred them fast, after which he returned into the +castle, awakened Bova Korolevich, and told him all +that had happened. Bova embraced him and thanked +him for his faithful service; thereupon they armed +themselves, and rode out of the city against Marcobrun’s +army. Bova took the right side and Polkan +the left, and they overthrew the whole army, and +set free the children of the Tsar Uril. King Marcobrun +fled into the Sadonic kingdom, and bound +himself, his children, and his grandchildren with +an oath never to pursue Bova.</p> + +<p>Bova and Polkan now returned with Uril’s sons +to the city of Kostel; and when they arrived at +the castle Bova said to the Tsarina: “Here are +your children, Lady!” The remains of the army +he made swear allegiance to Uril’s sons, and left +them to govern as before.</p> + +<p>Then Bova rode with the knight Polkan and the +fair Drushnevna to the city of Sumin, to his attendant +Simbalda, in order to raise a small army to +march against King Dadon and expel him from +the city of Anton. They rode a long time, and at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +length halted in a meadow, and pitched their white +tent to rest. Drushnevna had two sons born here, +and Bova named one Litcharda and the other +Simbalda.</p> + +<p>One day, as Bova was walking with Polkan +around his tent, they beheld in the distance a thick +cloud of dust; then said Bova to Polkan: “Hasten +and see whether an army is advancing, or a bold +knight comes riding this way, or a merchant’s +caravan is on the road.” When Polkan heard this +request, he rode forth and presently brought back +some warriors bound. And Bova asked: “Tell +me, you warriors, freely and without resistance, +what power comes yonder, and from what country, +who is your King, and wherefore are you sent out?” +The soldiers answered: “Brave Knight, we are +sent with a great army by King Dadon to the kingdom +of Armenia to demand the stepson of our +King who ran away in his youth, to be given up +by the Tsar Sensibri Andronovich; his name is +Bova.”</p> + +<p>“Face about, and tell the commander of your +army not to march into the Armenian kingdom, +but await me on the spot where you meet him. +I am Bova Korolevich, and will soon follow you to +inspect your army.”</p> + +<p>So saying, Bova dismissed the prisoners, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +said to Polkan: “Comrade, I will now ride out to +fight with Dadon’s army which is sent against me: +I pray you to remain near my white tent to protect +my wife against enemies and wild beasts; but tell +her not that I am gone out to battle; for I shall +soon return to reward your faithful service, and if +need be, to lay down my life for you.” So saying he +took leave of Polkan, mounted his steed, and rode +with all haste against Dadon’s army; and he +speedily laid about him right and left, and slew +them until the few who survived fell on their knees +and begged for mercy.</p> + +<p>Whilst Bova was thus engaged, and Drushnevna +was sitting in the tent, two huge lions rushed out +of the forest and flew at Polkan to tear him to pieces. +Polkan attacked them bravely, and slew one with +a single stroke; but the other lion he could not +overcome so easily, and after a long fight Polkan +and the lion at last both fell dead. Shortly after +Drushnevna went out of the tent, and when she +saw the dead bodies of Polkan and the lions she +thought that Bova must also have been killed by +these wild beasts. So she took her two sons, +mounted her palfrey, which was tied up to the +tent, and rode away from that fearful spot as fast +as she could.</p> + +<p>When Drushnevna arrived at the city of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +Tsar Saltan, she dismounted and turned her palfrey +loose in the fields, saying: “Go your way, rove +where you will, my trusty nag, until you find a +good master!” Then she went to a brook, washed +herself with the black powder, and became on a +sudden dark-coloured and haggard; and thus +she went her way to the city.</p> + +<p>After Bova Korolevich had destroyed King +Dadon’s army, he returned to the place where he had +left his wife and Polkan, to take them with him to +the city of Sumin. When he came to his tent, what +was his horror at beholding the dead bodies of Polkan +and the lions; and, not finding either Drushnevna +or her children in the tent, he imagined that the +lions had killed both Polkan and his wife. Then +sorrow struck Bova to the heart, and after weeping +long and bitterly upon that fatal spot, he rode +off alone to his faithful attendant Simbalda.</p> + +<p>When Bova arrived at the city of Sumin he was +received with great honour by Simbalda; and he +speedily ordered an army to be assembled, took +with him Tervis, the son of Simbalda, and marched +against the city of Anton.</p> + +<p>At this time King Dadon was living in his city, +without care or trouble, and awaiting from hour +to hour the surrender of Bova by King Sensibri, +little dreaming that the army he had sent to fetch +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +him had been destroyed. On a sudden messengers +came running to him to announce that Bova Korolevich +was besieging the city of Anton on all sides. +When King Dadon heard this, he instantly commanded +his whole army to be assembled; and he +collected above thrice one hundred thousand men, +and marched out to battle. But Bova did not wish +to shed blood needlessly, and ordered all his +warriors not to stir from the spot. Then he looked +steadfastly at Dadon, rode at him full gallop, +and struck him a sword-blow on the head which, +though a light one, cleft his skull, and Dadon fell +dead from his horse. Bova ordered the body to be +taken up and borne into the city of Anton that +Queen Militrisa should herself behold his end. +Meanwhile he went to his father’s grave and wept +over it, and then returned to the city of Sumin.</p> + +<p>When Dadon’s body was brought before Militrisa, +she fell to weeping bitterly; and, as she washed +the blood off with her tears, she perceived that he +was still living. Instantly she sent her faithful +servants into all the kingdoms round about to fetch +a doctor for King Dadon, promising to reward him +richly.</p> + +<p>Bova, on learning that Dadon was still alive, +and had sent to seek a doctor, resolved to go himself +to the city of Anton, disguised as a physician, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +and to kill King Dadon. Thereupon he washed +himself with the black powder, and was instantly +changed into an old man, dressed himself like a +doctor, and took with him Tervis and a sharp +sword. On reaching the city, Bova sent word to +King Dadon that some physicians had come from +a foreign country to cure his wounds. When the +King heard this he instantly commanded the +strangers to be brought before him, and promised +that if they healed his wounds they should be +richly rewarded. Then Bova Korolevich bowed +himself, and said that he would speedily cure the +King; but that all the bystanders must go away, +and leave the King alone with him. Dadon instantly +assented; and as soon as they were alone, +Bova seized him by his beard, drew the sword +from under his cloak, and exclaimed: “Villain, +take the reward for letting yourself be seduced by +the beauty of Queen Militrisa treacherously to +murder my father.”</p> + +<p>So saying, Bova struck off King Dadon’s head, +laid it upon a silver dish, covered it with a white +cloth, and went to his mother Militrisa. When he +entered her chamber he said to her: “My gracious +Mother, I am come to inform you that your beloved +husband Dadon is quite recovered from his +wounds, and has sent us to announce the glad +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +tidings to you with this present.” Thereupon he +gave into her hands the dish, with King Dadon’s +head upon it. When Militrisa raised the cloth and +beheld the head, she was so horror-struck that for +some time she could not utter a word; at length +she fell to tearing her hair and clothes, and took +an oath to kill Bova Korolevich for slaying Dadon +and having called himself her son.</p> + +<p>Then Bova took some water, washed himself +with the white powder, and in an instant was young +and handsome as ever. Militrisa at once knew him, +fell at his feet, and began to beg for pardon. But +Bova ordered Tervis to take her and nail her up +in a cask, and roll her into the sea. Then he called +together the princes and boyars and announced to +them that he was Bova Korolevich, the rightful +heir to the throne of his father Guidon, returned +from foreign lands, and required of them the oath +of allegiance. Immediately all the princes, boyars +and others swore fidelity to Bova, and wished him +a happy accession to the throne; after which the +King ordered feasts and rejoicings to be made for +a whole month.</p> + +<p>After the feasts Bova sent an ambassador with +presents to Saltan, to demand his daughter, Miliheria +in marriage, as he believed Drushnevna to +have been torn to pieces by the lions. Then Saltan +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +sent for his daughter and said: “My dear child, +I have just received a letter from the knight whom +you shut up in prison and endeavoured to convert +to our faith. He is a King’s son, and rules over his +own kingdom: he has sent me presents, and sues +for your hand. Tell me now whether you will give +your consent.”</p> + +<p>On hearing this the Princess Miliheria was glad +at heart, and said that she was ready in all things +to obey her father’s will. The same day Saltan +received presents from the ambassador, and forthwith +ordered everything to be prepared for the +journey.</p> + +<p>Whilst all this was passing, the Queen Drushnevna +was living in the same city, and washed linen +for her livelihood. And thus she maintained her +two sons, who grew not from day to day, but from +hour to hour, and surpassed all other children in +beauty. She had no thought that Bova Korolevich +was still alive; but when by chance she heard +that an ambassador had been sent by him to the +Tsar Saltan to demand the hand of his daughter, +and that Saltan had consented to the match, she +took with her her two sons, and went into the city +of Anton where he ruled, travelling slowly and +with great fatigue. At length she arrived, the very +same day that Bova was to be married to Miliheria. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +Then she washed herself with the white powder, +and was as beautiful as ever; and she sent her +sons to the castle to present themselves to Bova +Korolevich, and inform him of their condition and +adventures.</p> + +<p>Litcharda and Simbalda (so the boys were named) +stationed themselves in the passage through which +Bova had to pass with his princes and boyars on +his way to dinner. And as he was entering his +apartment, his eye fell upon the lads, and he asked +who they were, and for whom they were waiting. +Then the elder son made his obeisance and said: +“We are, O King, the children of the most renowned +knight and hero in the wide world, Bova +Korolevich, and the fair Queen Drushnevna; +our beloved father left us when very young in the +open country under a tent, with our mother and +the knight Polkan, who was killed by lions. But +we fled from the spot, with our mother, and have +ever since been wandering about in various countries +in search of our father.”</p> + +<p>Then Bova Korolevich embraced them tenderly, +exclaiming: “My sons, my sons! I am your +father, and little had I hoped to have ever seen you +again alive. But where is my beloved wife, your +mother?”</p> + +<p>Then Litcharda told him where they had left +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +Drushnevna; and Bova instantly sent some of his +boyars to conduct her to the castle.</p> + +<p>When Bova beheld her again he was overjoyed; +and, for such unexpected happiness, he ordered +the feasting to be doubled, and the taxes to be +remitted to his subjects for the two whole months. +His faithful servant Simbalda he rewarded with +many towns; and to his son Tervis he gave the +fair Miliheria Saltanovna; then he sent them to +her father, bidding him to love and honour his +new son-in-law, and adding, that it had been +impossible for him to marry her after the return +of his wife Drushnevna.</p> + +<p>Then Bova sent Simbalda’s brother Ohen with +an army into the Armenian kingdom to win it from +Orlop, whom he ordered to be put to death. Bova +gave the Armenian kingdom to Ohen and his +successors; but he himself remained in the city +of Anton, and ruled happily.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE MILD MAN AND HIS CANTANKEROUS +WIFE</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE lived once upon a time, in great +poverty, a countryman and his wife: he +was mild as a calf, and she as cunning as a +serpent. She abused and drubbed her husband for +every trifle. One day she begged some corn of a +neighbour to make a loaf of bread, and she sent +her husband with it to the mill to have it ground. +The miller ground the corn, but charged them +nothing on account of their poverty; and the +countryman set out on his return home with his +pan full of flour. But on a sudden there arose such +a strong wind that in the twinkle of an eye all the +flour was blown out of the pan, which he carried +on his head. So he went home and told his wife; +and when she heard it she fell to scolding and +beating him without mercy; and she threatened +him on and on, until at length she grew tired; +then she ordered him to go to the wind which had +blown away the flour and get paid for it, either in +money or in as much flour as there had been in the +pan.</p> + +<p>The poor countryman, whose bones ached with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +the blows he had received from his wife, went out +of the house weeping and wringing his hands; +but whither to turn his steps he knew not. And at +last he came to a large and dark forest, in which +he wandered here and there. At last an old woman +met him and said: “My good man, where are +you going, and how are you going to find your +way? What has brought you into this country, +where rarely a bird flies, and rarely does a beast +run?”</p> + +<p>“Good Mother,” replied the man, “force has +driven me hither. I went to the mill with some +corn, and when it was ground I shook the flour +into a pan and went my way home; but suddenly +a wind arose and carried off the flour out of the +pan; and when I came without it to the house and +told my wife, she beat me, and has sent me to seek +the Wind, and ask him either to give me back the +meal or to pay me for it in money. So now I go +here and there to look for the Wind, and know not +where to find it.”</p> + +<p>“Follow me,” said the old woman: “I am the +mother of the Winds, and have four sons; the +first son is the East Wind, the second is the South +Wind, the third is the West Wind, and the fourth +the North Wind. Tell me, now, which Wind it is +that has blown away your meal?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +“The South Wind, Mother dear,” answered +the countryman.</p> + +<p>Then the old woman led the man deeper into +the forest, and came to a little hut, and said: “Here +I live, master woodman; creep on to the stove, +and wrap yourself up; my children will soon be +here.”</p> + +<p>“But why should I wrap myself up?” said the +peasant.</p> + +<p>“Because my son the North Wind is very cold, +and you would be frozen,” said the old woman.</p> + +<p>Not long after, the old woman’s sons began to +assemble; and when at length the South Wind +came, the old woman called the countryman from +the stove and said to her sons: “South Wind, +my dear son, a complaint is brought against you; +why do you injure poor folks? You have blown +away this man’s flour from out of his dish; pay +him now for it with money, or how you will.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, Mother,” replied the Wind, “I +will pay him for his flour.” Then he called the +countryman and said: “Hark ye, my little farmer, +take this basket; it contains everything you can +wish for—money, bread, all kinds of food and +drink; you have only to say: ‘Basket, give me +this and that,’ and it will instantly give you all you +desire. Go home now—you have here payment +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +for your flour.” So the countryman made his bow +to the South Wind, thanked him for the basket, +and went his way home.</p> + +<p>When the man came home, he gave the basket +to his wife, saying: “Here, wife, is a basket for +you, which contains everything you can wish for—only +ask it.” So the good woman took the basket, +and said: “Basket, give me good flour for bread!” +And instantly the basket gave her as much as ever +she could desire. Then she asked again for this +thing and that, and the basket gave her everything +in the twinkling of an eye.</p> + +<p>A few days after, it happened that a nobleman +passed by the countryman’s cottage; and when +the good woman saw him, she said to her husband; +“Go and invite this lord to be our guest; if you +don’t bring him here, I will beat you half dead.”</p> + +<p>The countryman dreaded a beating from his +wife. So he went and invited the nobleman to +dinner. Meanwhile the good woman took all kinds +of food and drink out of the basket, spread the +table, and then sat down patiently at the window, +laying her hands in her lap, awaiting the arrival +of her husband and their guest. The nobleman +was astonished at receiving such an invitation and +laughed, and would not go home with the man; +but instead, he ordered his servants who attended +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +him to go with the countryman, to dinner, and +bring him back word how he treated them. So +the servants went with the countryman, and when +they entered his cottage, they were greatly amazed: +for, to judge by his hut, he must be very poor, but +from the dishes upon the table he was evidently +a person of some consequence. Then they sat +down to dinner, and made merry; but they remarked +that, whenever the good woman wanted +anything, she asked the basket for it, and obtained +all she required. So they did not leave the room +at once, and sent one of their comrades home to +make as quickly as possible just such another +basket and bring it to them, without letting the +countryman or his wife observe it.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the man ran as fast as he could, and +got a basket just like the other; and when he +brought it to the cottage, the guests secretly took +the countryman’s basket and put theirs in its place. +Then they took leave of the man and his wife, and +returned to their master and told him how daintily +the countryman had treated them.</p> + +<p>The countryman’s wife threw away all the food +that was left, intending to cook fresh on the morrow. +The next morning she went to her basket and +began to ask it for what she wanted; and when she +found that the basket gave her nothing, she called +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +her husband and said: “Old Greybeard, what +basket is this you have brought me? Likely enough +it has served us once and for all; and what good +is it now if it gives us nothing more? Go back to +the Wind and beg him to give us back our flour, +or I’ll beat you to death.”</p> + +<p>So the poor man went back to the Winds. When +he came to the old woman, their mother, he fell +to complaining of his wife. The old woman told +him to wait for her son, who would soon come +home.</p> + +<p>Not long after came the South Wind, and the +countryman began to complain of his wife. Then +the Wind answered: “I am sorry, old man, that +you have such a wicked wife; but I will assist +you, and she shall not beat you any more. Take +this cask, and when you get home and your wife +is going to beat you, place yourself behind the +cask and cry: ‘Five! out of the cask and thrash +my wife!’ and when they have given her a good +beating, then say: ‘Five! back to the cask!’” +Then the peasant made a low bow to the Wind, +and went his way.</p> + +<p>When he came home he said: “There, I have +brought you here a cask instead of the basket.”</p> + +<p>At this the good woman flew into a rage and said: +“A cask, indeed! What shall I do with it? Why +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +have you brought back no flour?” And, so saying, +she seized the poker, and was going to beat her +husband. But the poor man stepped quietly behind +the cask and cried: “Five! out of the cask! +Thrash my wife instantly!” In a moment five +stout young fellows jumped out of the cask and +fell to cudgelling the woman. And when her husband +saw that she was beaten enough, and she +begged for mercy, he cried: “Five! back to the +cask!” Then instantly they stopped beating her, +and crept back into the cask.</p> + +<p>The countryman thought over his loss and decided +to go forthwith to the nobleman and challenge +him to fight. The nobleman laughed outright at +the folly of the man; nevertheless he would not +refuse, as he wished to have some sport; so he +told the man to go into the field. So he tucked his +cask under his arm, betook himself to the field, +and waited for the nobleman, who came riding +to meet him with a number of attendants; and, +when he drew near, he ordered his servants, for a +joke, to thrash the peasant soundly. The man saw +that they were mocking him, and he was wroth +with the nobleman, and said: “Come, Sir! give +me my basket back this instant, or it shall fare ill +with you all, I promise!” Nevertheless they did +not stop beating, so he cried out: “Out, Five +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +to each! thrash them soundly!” Immediately +five stout fellows sprang out of the cask upon +every man of them and began to beat them unmercifully. +Then the nobleman thought that they +would kill him, and roared out with might and +main: “Stop, stop, my good friend and hear +me!” So the countryman, upon this, cried: +“Hold! you fellows! back to the cask!” Then +they all stopped beating, and crept back into the +cask again. And straightways the nobleman +ordered his servants to fetch the basket and give +it to the countryman, who took it and hied back +home, and lived ever after with his wife in peace +and harmony.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF THE DUCK WITH GOLDEN +EGGS</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NCE upon a time there lived an old man +named Abrosim, with his old wife Fetinia: +they were in great poverty and want, and +had a son named Ivanushka, who was fifteen years +of age. One day the old man Abrosim brought +home a crust of bread for his wife and son to eat; +but hardly had he begun to cut the bread than +Krutchina (Sorrow) sprang from behind the stove, +snatched the crust out of his hands and ran back. +At this the old man bowed low to Krutchina, and +begged her to give him back the bread as he and +his wife had nothing to eat. Old Krutchina +answered: “I will not give you back the bread; +but I will give you instead a duck, which lays a +golden egg every day.”</p> + +<p>“Well and good,” said Abrosim; “at all events +I shall go to bed without a supper to-night; only +do not deceive me, and tell me where I shall find +the duck.”</p> + +<p>“Early in the morning, as soon as you are up,” +replied Krutchina, “go into the town and there +you will see a duck in a pond; catch it and bring +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +it home with you.” When Abrosim heard this, he +laid himself down to sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning the old man rose early, went to +the town, and was overjoyed when he really saw +a duck in the pond: so he began to call it, and +soon caught it, took it home with him, and gave +it to Fetinia. The old wife handled the duck and +said she was going to lay an egg. They were now +both in great delight, and, putting the duck in a +bowl, they covered it with a sieve. After waiting +an hour, they peeped gently under the sieve and +saw to their joy that the duck had laid a golden +egg. Then they let her run about a little on the +floor; and the old man took the egg to town to +sell it; and he sold the egg for a hundred roubles, +took the money, went to market, bought all kinds +of vegetables, and returned home.</p> + +<p>The next day the duck laid another egg, and +Abrosim sold this also; and in this way the duck +went on, laying a golden egg every day, and the +old man in a short time grew very rich. Then he +built himself a grand house, and a great number of +shops, and bought wares of all sorts, and set up in +trade.</p> + +<p>Now, Fetinia had struck up a secret friendship +with a young shopman, who did not care for the +old woman, but persuaded her he did to make her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +give him money. And one day, when Abrosim was +gone out to buy some new wares, the shopman +called to gossip with Fetinia, when by chance he +espied the duck; and, taking her up, he saw +written under her wing in golden letters: “Whoso +eats this duck will become a Tsar.” The man said +nothing of this to Fetinia, but begged and entreated +her for love’s sake to roast the duck. Fetinia told +him she could not kill the duck, for all their good +luck depended upon her. Still the shopman +entreated the old woman only the more urgently +to kill and cook the duck; until at length, overcome +by his soft words and entreaties, Fetinia +consented, killed the duck and popped her into the +stove. Then the shopman took his leave, promising +soon to come back and Fetinia also went into the +town.</p> + +<p>Just at this time Ivanushka returned home, and +being very hungry, he looked about everywhere +for something to eat; when by good luck he espied +in the stove the roast duck; so he took her out, ate +her to the very bones, and then returned to his +work. Presently after, the shopman came in, and +calling Fetinia, begged her to take out the roast +duck. Fetinia ran to the oven, and when she saw +that the duck was no longer there she was in a +great fright, and told the shopman that the duck +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +had vanished. Thereat the man was angry with +her, and said: “I’ll answer for it you have eaten +the duck yourself!” And so saying he left the +house in a pet.</p> + +<p>At night Abrosim and his son Ivanushka came +home, and, looking in vain for the duck, he asked +his wife what had become of her. Fetinia replied +that she knew nothing of the duck; but Ivanushka +said: “My father and benefactor, when I came +home to dinner, my mother was not there; so, +looking into the oven, and seeing a roast duck, I +took it out and ate it up; but, indeed, I know not +whether it was our duck or a strange one.”</p> + +<p>Then Abrosim flew into a rage with his wife, +and beat her till she was half-dead, and hunted +his son out of the house.</p> + +<p>Little Ivan betook himself to the road, and +walked on and on, following the way his eyes led +him. And he journeyed for ten days and ten nights, +until at length he came to a great city; and as he +was entering the gates, he saw a crowd of people +assembled, holding a moot; for their Tsar was +dead, and they did not know whom to choose to +rule over them. Then they agreed that whoever +first passed through the city gates should be elected +Tsar.</p> + +<p>Now just at this time it happened that Little +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +Ivan came through the city gates, whereupon all +the people cried with one voice: “Here comes +our Tsar!” and the Elders of the people took +Ivanushka by the arms, and brought him into the +royal apartments, clad him in the Tsar’s robes, +seated him on the Tsar’s throne, made their +obeisance to him as their sovereign Tsar, and +waited to receive his commands. Ivanushka fancied +it was all a dream; but when he collected himself, +he saw that he was in reality a Tsar. Then he +rejoiced with his whole heart, and began to rule +over the people, and appointed various officers. +Amongst others he chose one named Luga, and +calling him, spoke as follows: “My faithful +servant and brave knight Luga, render me one +service; travel to my native country, go straight +to the King, greet him for me, and beg of him to +deliver up to me the merchant Abrosim and his +wife; if he gives them up, bring them hither; but +if he refuses, threaten him that I will lay waste his +kingdom with fire and sword, and make him +prisoner.”</p> + +<p>When the servant Luga arrived at Ivanushka’s +native country he went to the Tsar, and asked him +to give up Abrosim and Fetinia. The Tsar knew +that Abrosim was a rich merchant living in his +city, and was not willing to let him go; nevertheless, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +when he reflected that Ivanushka’s kingdom +was a large and powerful one, fearing to offend +him, he handed over Abrosim and Fetinia. And +Luga received them from the Tsar, and returned +with them to his own kingdom. When he brought +them before Ivanushka, the Tsar said: “True +it is, my father, you drove me from your home; I +therefore now receive you into mine: live with me +happily, you and my mother, to the end of your +days.”</p> + +<p>Abrosim and Fetinia were overjoyed that their +son had become a great Tsar, and they lived with +him many years, and then died. Ivanushka sat +upon the throne for thirty years, in health and +happiness, and his subjects loved him truly to the +last hour of his life.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF BULAT THE BRAVE +COMPANION</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once upon a time a Tsar named +Chodor, who had an only son, Ivan Tsarevich. +Chodor gave him in his youth various +masters to teach him the different knightly exercises; +and when Ivan was grown up, he begged +leave of his father to travel in other countries, in +order to see the world. Tsar Chodor consented, +and bade him show his skill and valour in foreign +lands, and bring renown on his father.</p> + +<p>Then Ivan Tsarevich went into the royal stables +to choose a good steed; and he thought that if he +could find one on whose back he could lay his hand, +without the horse’s going on his knees, it would +be just the one to suit him. So he looked in all the +stalls, but found no horse to his mind, and he went +his way with a heavy heart. Then he took his crossbow +and arrows and roved about in the open fields +to drive away his sadness. As he was walking thus +along, he saw high in the air a swan, and he drew +his bow and shot; but he missed the swan, and +his arrow vanished from his sight. Then Ivan was +sad at losing a favourite arrow, and with tears in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +his eyes he sought for it the whole field over. At +last he came to a little hill, and heard a man’s voice +calling to him: “Come hither, Ivan Tsarevich!” +Ivan wondered to himself not a little at hearing a +voice and seeing no one. But the voice called +again; and Ivan went toward the spot whence it +came, and remarked in the hill a little window, +with an iron lattice; and at the window he saw +a man, who beckoned to him with the hand. Ivan +came up, and the man said to him: “Why are you +so sad, my good lad, Ivan Tsarevich?”</p> + +<p>“How can I help grieving?” replied Ivan; +“I have lost my favourite arrow, and can find it +nowhere, and my sorrow is the greater because I +can not discover a steed to please me.”</p> + +<p>“That is no great matter to grieve for,” said +the man; “I will get you a good horse, and give +you back your arrow since it flew down to me +here; but what will you give me for it?”</p> + +<p>“Anything you ask,” replied Ivan, “if you will +give me what you promise.”</p> + +<p>“Nay,” said the man, “I want nothing more than +that you will free me from this place.”</p> + +<p>“And how and by whom were you caged up +thus?”</p> + +<p>“Your father imprisoned me here,” replied the +man. “I was a famous robber, and was called Bulat +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +the Brave Companion. He was enraged against +me, and ordered me to be taken and imprisoned; +and here I have been confined for three-and-thirty +years.”</p> + +<p>“Hark ye, Bulat, brave Companion,” said Ivan, +“I cannot set you free without my father’s consent; +were he to hear of it he would be wroth.”</p> + +<p>“Fear not,” replied Bulat; “your father will +hear nothing; for as soon as you set me at liberty +I shall go into other lands and not live here.”</p> + +<p>“Well then,” said Ivan Tsarevich, “I consent, +only on condition that you give me back my arrow +and tell me where I can find a trusty steed.”</p> + +<p>“Go into the open fields,” said Bulat the Brave +Companion, “and there you will see three green +oaks; and, on the ground under these oaks, an +iron door, with a copper ring. Under the door is a +stable, in which stands a good steed, shut in by +twelve iron doors with twelve steel locks. Heave +up this door, strike off the twelve steel locks, and +open the twelve doors; there you will find a horse; +mount him and come to me; I will give you back +your arrow, and then you will let me out of this +prison.”</p> + +<p>When Ivan Tsarevich heard this he went into +the open fields, saw the three green oaks, and found +the iron door with the copper ring. So he hove up +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +the door, knocked off the twelve locks, and opened +the twelve doors, and entered a stable, where he +beheld a knightly steed and a suit of armour. +Then Ivan Tsarevich laid his hand upon the +horse, and the horse fell not upon his knees, but +merely bent himself a little. And as soon as the +horse saw a knight standing before him, he neighed +loudly, and let Ivan saddle and bridle him. Ivan +Tsarevich took the steed, the battle-axe, and sword, +led the horse out of the stable, leaped into the +Tcherkess saddle, and took the silken bridle in his +white hand. Then Ivan wished to try his steed, +and struck him on the flank: the horse chafed his +bit, and rose from the ground, and away he went +over the tall forests and under the flying clouds, +left hill and dale beneath his feet, covered small +streams with his tail, bounded over wide rivers +and marshes; and so at last Ivan came to Bulat +the Brave Companion, and said with a loud voice: +“Now give me back my arrow, Bulat my brave +fellow, and I will let you out of your cage.” So +Bulat instantly gave him back his arrow, and Ivan +set him free.</p> + +<p>“I thank you, Ivan Tsarevich,” said Bulat, +“for giving me freedom. I will, in return, render +you good service; whenever you are in any difficulty, +and want me, only say: ‘Where is my +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +Bulat, the Brave Companion?’ and I will instantly +come to you and serve you faithfully in your need.”</p> + +<p>So saying, Bulat cried with a loud voice:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Sivka Burka! he!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fox of Spring! Appear!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like a grass blade, here<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stand before me!”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Instantly a steed stood before Bulat the Brave, +who crept into his ear, ate and drank his fill, and +then crept out at the other ear; and he became +such a handsome youth as no one can imagine, no +pen can describe, nor story tell. Then Bulat +mounted his horse and galloped off, exclaiming: +“Farewell, then, for the present, Ivan Tsarevich!”</p> + +<p>Ivan now mounted his good steed and rode to +his father, and with tears in his eyes, took leave of +him; then, taking with him his squire, he rode +forth into foreign lands. And after they had ridden +for some time they came to a wood; the day was +bright and hot, and Ivan Tsarevich grew thirsty. +So they wandered all about the wood, seeking +water, but could find none. At length they found +a deep well, in which there was some water; and +Ivan said to his squire: “Go down the well and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +fetch me up some water; I will hold you by a rope to +prevent you being drowned.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, Ivan Tsarevich,” said the squire, “I +am heavier than you, and you cannot hold me +up; you had better descend, for I can support +you.”</p> + +<p>So Ivan followed his squire’s advice, and let +himself down into the well. And when Ivan had +drunk enough, he told the squire to draw him up; +but the squire answered: “Nay, I will not draw +you out until you give me your word in writing +that you are my servant and I am your master, +and that my name is Ivan Tsarevich; if you refuse +this I will drown you in the well.”</p> + +<p>“My dear squire,” cried Ivan, “do not drown +me, but draw me up, and I will do all you desire.” +“No, I don’t believe you,” said the squire; “swear +me an oath.” So Ivan swore that he would be +true.</p> + +<p>Thereupon the squire drew him out, and Ivan +Tsarevich took a piece of paper, wrote the writing, +and gave it to the squire. Then he took off his own +cloak, and exchanged it for the squire’s, and they +went on their way. After some days they came to +the kingdom of the Tsar Panthui. And when the +Tsar heard of the arrival of Ivan Tsarevich he +went out to meet him; and, greeting the false +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +Tsarevich, he took him by the white hands, conducted +him into his marble halls, seated him at his +oaken table, and they feasted and made merry. +Then Tsar Panthui asked the false Tsarevich what +had brought him to his kingdom, and he answered: +“My gracious lord, I am come to sue for the hand +of your daughter, the fair Princess Tseria.”</p> + +<p>“Gladly will I give you my daughter to wife,” +replied Panthui.</p> + +<p>In the course of their talk the false Ivan said to +the Tsar Panthui: “Let my servant, I pray, do +the lowest work in the kitchen, for he has greatly +annoyed me on my journey.” So the Tsar immediately +commanded Ivan to be set to do the most +menial work, whilst his squire feasted and made +merry with the Tsar.</p> + +<p>A few days after this an army was seen marching +against the kingdom of Panthui, threatening to lay +it waste and take the Tsar prisoner. Thereupon +Panthui called the false Ivan and said: “My dear +future son-in-law, a hostile army has come to attack +my dominions: drive the enemy back and I will +give you my daughter, but only on this condition.” +And the squire answered; “Well and good, I will +do as you desire; but only by night—in the day I +have no luck in fight.”</p> + +<p>As soon as night drew on and everyone in the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +castle had gone to rest, the false Ivan went out +into the open court, called to him the true Tsarevich, +and said: “Ivan Tsarevich, be not angry +with me for taking your place; forget it all, do me +one service, and drive the enemy from this kingdom.” +And Ivan answered: “Go and lie down +to sleep—all shall be accomplished.” Then the +squire went and lay down to sleep, and Ivan cried +with a loud voice: “Where is my Bulat, the +Brave Companion?” In an instant Bulat stood +before him, and asked: “What service do you +require now? What is your need? Tell me forthwith.” +Then Ivan Tsarevich told him his need, +and Bulat desired him to saddle his horse and put +on his armour; and then cried with a loud voice:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Sivka Burka! he!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fox of Spring! Appear!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like a grass blade, here<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stand before me!”<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>The horse bounded till the ground shook; +from his ears rose a column of steam, and from his +nostrils issued flames; but when he came up to +Bulat he stood still. Then Bulat the Brave Companion +mounted the horse, and Ivan Tsarevich +seated himself upon his steed, and so they rode +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +forth from the courtyard. Meanwhile the Princess +Tseria, who was not yet asleep, was sitting at the +window, and overheard all that Ivan Tsarevich +had spoken with the squire and Bulat the Brave Companion.</p> + +<p>As soon as they reached the hostile army, Bulat +said to Ivan: “Fall thou upon the enemy on +the right, I will attack them on the left.” And so +they began to mow down this mighty army with +the sword, and to trample them down with their +horses’ hoofs; and in an hour’s time they had +stretched on the earth a hundred thousand men. +Then the hostile King fled with the small remains +of his army back into his own kingdom, and Ivan +Tsarevich returned with Bulat the Brave Companion +to the castle of the Tsar Panthui, unsaddled +his steed, led him into the stable, and gave him +white wheat to eat. After that he took leave of +Bulat the Brave Companion, went back into the +kitchen, and lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the Tsar went out on +to his balcony, and looked forth over the country +where the hostile army lay; and when he saw that +it was all cut down and destroyed, he called to him +the false Ivan, and thanked him for having saved +his kingdom; he rewarded him with a rich present +and promised soon to give him his daughter to wife.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +After a fortnight the same Tsar marched again +with a fresh army and besieged the city. And the +Tsar Panthui in terror called again upon the false +Ivan and said: “My dear friend, Ivan Tsarevich, +save me once more from the enemy, and drive +them from my kingdom, and I will immediately +give you my daughter to wife.” And so it all fell +out again exactly as before, and the enemy were +quite driven away by Ivan and Bulat the Brave.</p> + +<p>The hostile King, however, soon returned to +attack Tsar Panthui a third time, and over and +over again he was driven back, until at last he was +himself killed. Then Ivan and Bulat the Brave +Companion went back, unsaddled their steeds, +and put them into the stable. Thereupon Bulat +took leave of Ivan Tsarevich, and said: “You +will never see me more.” With this he mounted +his horse and rode forth; and Ivan went into the +kitchen and lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the Tsar went again on +to his balcony, and looked forth over the country +where the hostile army had been; and when he +saw that it was all destroyed, he sent for his future +son-in-law and said: “Now I will give you my +daughter to wife.” Then all the preparations were +made for the wedding; and a few days after, the +squire married the fair Princess Tseria; and when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +they had returned from church, and were sitting +at table, Ivan Tsarevich begged the head cook to +let him go into the banquet-hall and see his master +and his bride seated at the table. So the cook +consented, and gave him a change of dress. When +Ivan entered the royal hall he stationed himself +behind the other guests and gazed at his squire +and the fair Tseria. But the Princess espied Ivan, +and recognised him instantly; then she jumped +up from the table, took him by the hand, led him +to the Tsar, and said: “This is the true bridegroom +and the saviour of your kingdom, and not +yon man who was betrothed to me.”</p> + +<p>Then the Tsar Panthui asked his daughter what +it all meant, and begged her to explain the mystery. +And when the Princess Tseria had related to him +all that had passed, Ivan Tsarevich was placed at +the table beside her, and his squire was shot at +the gate for his treacherous conduct. Ivan married +the Princess, and returned with her to his father’s +kingdom. Tsar Chodor placed the crown upon his +head, and Ivan mounted the throne, and ruled over +the kingdom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF PRINCE MALANDRACH AND +THE PRINCESS SALIKALLA</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a certain country, in the city of Anderika +there lived a Tsar, a clever man, named Abraham +Tuksalamovich, with his wife for thirty +years in peace and happiness, but they had no child. +At last Tsar Abraham Tuksalamovich prayed, +with tears, that Heaven would give them a son; +their wish was fulfilled, and they had a brave little +boy, whom they named Malandrach Abrahamovich. +The little fellow grew, not by days but by hours; +as buck-wheat dough rises with yeast, so did the +Tsarevich grow and grow. The Tsar had his son +taught all kinds of arts; and when the boy came +to mature years, he went to the Tsar and said: +“My lord and father, you have instructed me in +various arts, but there is one which I have not yet +learnt.”</p> + +<p>“My bold and dear son, Malandrach,” said +the Tsar, “tell me and let me know what art you +desire to learn; I will provide you careful teachers.” +And thereupon the Tsarevich answered: +“My lord and father, yesterday I was reading a +Swedish book, in which I found that there are +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +people able to fly in the air with wings. I have now +a great desire to learn this art, and I entreat you to +procure me masters who may teach it me.”</p> + +<p>The Tsar replied: “My bold child, it is impossible +that men should fly in the air; you must +have been reading something silly, or a fairy-tale; +do not believe such stories. Nevertheless, I will +send into all foreign lands to make search for any +such people; and if they can be found I will order +them to be brought hither, and have you instructed +in their art.”</p> + +<p>When the Tsar wants them, he does not wait +for beer to be brewed nor brandy to be distilled; +so the Tsar instantly sent messengers into distant +lands, commanding them to seek everywhere for +flying men, and, if they found any, to bring them +to his Court. So the messengers went forth into +various countries, and after three years they found +a master of the art in the city of Austripa, and +brought him to the Tsar Abraham; and when +Malandrach saw him he was overjoyed. Then the +Tsar asked this person whether he understood the +art of flying, and the man replied: “Gracious +sovereign, although it is not for me to praise myself, +yet in truth I am the first master in our +country. If your Majesty desire me to teach Prince +Malandrach to fly in the air only command a large +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +and lofty hall to be built, two hundred ells long +and as many wide, and one hundred ells in height: +this hall must be quite empty, have a great number +of windows, and a little closet adjoining it.”</p> + +<p>When the Tsar heard this, he instantly ordered +such a palace to be built at once. And as soon as +all was ready, the highflyer made two pairs of wings—one +for himself and the other for Malandrach—and +he began to teach the Tsarevich to fly in +this hall, fastening the wings on to himself and +Malandrach; and when he left off teaching, he +laid the two pairs of wings in the closet, locked +them up, and took the key with him. But one day +it happened, when the Tsarevich had taken his +lesson, and the master locked up the wings in the +closet, that Malandrach observed this, and, without +saying anything to his teacher, went with him to +his father.</p> + +<p>Now, just at this time the Tsar had a great feast +prepared, and a large number of guests were invited. +Then Malandrach, without saying a word +to anyone, hastened to the large hall, took his +wings from the closet, fastened them on to his +shoulders, went into the courtyard, and began to +flap his wings. Thereupon he flew up on to the +lofty building, alighted upon it, and resting there, +gazed with delight over his father’s kingdom. After +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +awhile he wished to descend upon the ground, but +suddenly a shudder came over him, and he dreaded +to let himself down from such a height; and, +instead of descending, he mounted higher and +higher, until at length the earth appeared only +like an apple, he had flown so high.</p> + +<p>Just then a strong wind arose, which carried +Malandrach Tsarevich into an unknown country; +and his strength failed him, so that he could not +manage his wings, and he began to fall. Then he +beheld the wide sea beneath him, and was exceedingly +terrified; but, collecting his remaining +strength, he rose aloft again, and looked around +on all four sides to see whether any shore was to +be seen. At length he descried in the distance a +small island; so he flew towards it, and alighting, +he took off his wings and took them under his +arms. Thereupon he set out rambling about the +island in search of food, for he was sorely pinched +by hunger; and he found by chance a tree with +sweet fruit upon it, of which he ate his fill. Then +he lay down to sleep upon the grass, under a spreading +tree, and slept there until daybreak.</p> + +<p>In the morning Malandrach arose and was about +to fasten on his wings; but his arms ached so +much that he could not move them; so he was +obliged to stay there ten long days. On the eleventh +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +day, however, he fastened on the wings, blessed +himself, mounted high into the air, and looked +around on all sides to seek for his father’s kingdom; +he could not, however, discover it, but +toward evening he espied a shore, upon which was +a thick forest; so he alighted, took off his wings, +and following a path, he came at last to the gates +of a city. Then he concealed his wings under a +bush, and going into the city, enquired for the +market. And when they showed him the way, he +went to it, and bought a long cloak. Then he returned +to the forest, put his wings under his arm, +and betook himself again to the city, where he met +a man whom he asked: “Know you, friend, of any +dwelling that is to be let?” The stranger replied: +“You are doubtless a foreigner?”</p> + +<p>“As you say,” replied the Tsarevich Malandrach; +“I am a merchant from India, and have +come hither in a ship with my wares. Our vessel +was wrecked in a storm, and I was cast upon the +shore of this kingdom upon a raft, to which I had +made myself fast.”</p> + +<p>“My friend,” said the stranger, “if you like, +come and live with me; I will maintain you like +my own son.” So Malandrach willingly consented, +and went home with the stranger, and lived in his +house more than a month, never going outside the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +courtyard. His host, observing this, asked him: +“Why do you never take a walk in the city and see +the noble buildings and the old ruins?” Then +Malandrach begged his host, whose name was +Achron, to take a walk with him and show him the +royal palace. So his host accompanied Malandrach +about the city until evening, when they returned +home and lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>The next day Malandrach Tsarevich awoke +betimes, rose from bed, dressed and washed himself, +said his prayers, and bowed to all four sides. +And after breakfast he went alone to take a walk, +till at length he came outside the city, and perceived +an immense stone building, surrounded +by a wall; he walked round this wall, and could +see no gate, but only a little door, which was +locked fast. Prince Malandrach marvelled greatly +at this enormous building, and returning home, +asked his host what it was. The man replied that +it was a royal building, in which lived the daughter +of the Tsar, named Salikalla; but the reason of her +being shut up there he did not know.</p> + +<p>When Malandrach Tsarevich heard this he took +his wings and went back the next day to the stone +building. There he waited until evening, then +fastened on his wings, flew over the wall into the +garden, and alighted on a tree. As he sat +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +perched upon the tree, he looked towards the +window at which the Tsarevna Salikalla sat, which +was far, far off.</p> + +<p>Soon she lay down to sleep, and Malandrach +watched her; and in an hour’s time he flew in at +the window, which was left open. He went gently +up to the Tsarevna, and saw that she was asleep; +then he wished to awaken her with a kiss, but +dared not. He stood gazing at her beauty and +stayed there until near daybreak; then hastened +home, fearing to awaken the Princess. So he silently +took leave of her, and left behind a sign by which +she might perceive that someone had been there. +The sign was this: he laid her shoes on the bed, +and then flew out of the window, went home, and +lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>In the morning the Tsarevna awoke, and thought +when she saw her shoes on the bed, that they had +been laid there by her attendant, who slept in the +adjoining room. Then she asked the servant, who +replied that she had not done it, whereat the +Princess wondered greatly.</p> + +<p>In the evening Prince Malandrach went again +to the stone palace, fastened on his wings, flew +through the window, and gazed once more with +delight on the beauty of the Tsarevna. Before +daybreak, when he was obliged to return home, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +he again took the shoes, laid them at the head +board of the bed, then flew out of the window, +went home, and lay down to sleep.</p> + +<p>When Salikalla awoke the next morning, and +perceived the shoes again on the head board of her +couch, she asked the servant whether she had laid +them there. But the servant replied that she had +not seen them; whereat the Princess wondered +still more than before; and she resolved not to +sleep the next night, but to watch who laid the +shoes upon the couch.</p> + +<p>The Tsarevich Malandrach waited until evening, +then took his wings under his arm and returned +to the palace; and when he thought that the Princess +was asleep, he bound on his wings and flew +in at the window. But hardly had he approached +the couch and attempted to kiss her than the +Tsarevna suddenly seized him with both hands, +and exclaimed: “Who art thou? How dost thou +dare to come hither?” Prince Malandrach knew +not what to answer for astonishment, and fell to +entreating pardon of the Tsarevna. She would not, +however, let him go, until by threats she had made +him tell her who he was, and how he had come +into the palace. Then he told her the whole truth, +from beginning to end; and the Tsarevna Salikalla +was so pleased that she kissed his sugar lips, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +begged him to remain, asking him to forgive her +having been so rough and unkind.</p> + +<p>“O my best beloved and most beautiful Tsarevna,” +replied Malandrach, “tell me truly, I pray, +why art thou shut up alone in this palace without +any living creature near you?”</p> + +<p>Then the Princess told him the story of her life. +“When I was born,” she said, “my father summoned +all the wise men to him, and asked them +how long I should live; and they told my parents +that until my fifteenth year I should live happily, +but that then some evil should befall me, upon +hearing which my father ordered this house to be +built, and when I was ten years old he placed me +here for ten years, and this is the sixth year I am +here. My mother visits me once a month, and my +father once a quarter, and a servant is given to +attend upon me. My mother will be here in a +week’s time; tarry, dear Prince, meanwhile, and +cheer my solitude.”</p> + +<p>The Tsarevich Malandrach readily consented, +and the time passed quickly in various amusements +and conversation, and at last they took an oath to +marry each other. For more than a year they lived +together thus, only separating when the time came +round for the visits of the Tsarevna’s parents. +One day the Princess saw her mother coming +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +unexpectedly to the palace to visit her. Then she +called to Malandrach and begged him instantly +to depart; but just at the moment when he had +fastened on his wings and was flying out of the +window the Tsarina observed him. Astonished at +the sight, she asked her daughter what it meant, +and pressed her so with entreaties and threats to +tell her the truth, that Salikalla at last told her of +the visit of Malandrach, and how he had come +flying into her window.</p> + +<p>When the Tsarina heard this she went straightway +to the Tsar, and told him all that her daughter +had related. Then the Tsar instantly sent a large +body of men to seize Malandrach in the house of +his host, and to bring him into his presence. And +the soldiers went into the house where Malandrach +lived, took him away and led him before the Tsar. +Then the Tsar asked him whose son he was, from +what country he had come, and what was his name. +The Tsarevich replied, and told the plain truth. +Thereupon the Tsar called his daughter Salikalla +and said: “Tell me is this the same man who +flew in through your window?” She answered +that it was, and added that she loved him with her +whole heart. Then the Tsar took his daughter by +the hand and gave her to the Tsarevich Malandrach, +saying to him: “My dearest son-in-law, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +receive from my hand my only daughter for your +wife, and live with her in happiness and love.” +And, as when the Tsar wants it, beer is not brewed +nor brandy distilled, the wedding was celebrated +forthwith.</p> + +<p>So Malandrach married the beautiful Princess +Salikalla; and, after living with his father-in-law +for half a year, he asked leave to go with his wife +to his own father. Then the Tsar ordered a ship +to be equipped and dismissed them with his blessing, +and Malandrach sailed with his wife to his +native country. When they arrived at the Court of +his father, the Tsar Abraham was overjoyed at +again seeing his beloved son, and asked him: +“Where have you been this long while, and by +what accident did you wander from my kingdom?” +And Tsarevich Malandrach told his father the +whole truth.</p> + +<p>Tsar Abraham Tuksalamovich was now very old +so he placed the crown on the head of his +beloved son, and soon after died. Malandrach +Abrahamovich lived with his beloved wife Salikalla +many years in harmony and love.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF A SHOEMAKER AND HIS +SERVANT PRITUITSHKIN</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE lived in a certain kingdom a renowned +Prince, Mistafor Skurlatovich, who +had a servant named Goria, the son of Krutshinin. +And Mistafor gave him a skilful master to +teach him the art of shoemaking that he should +become the best and most skilful of all workmen in +that craft. Goria went on learning for several years, +and became so clever that he made shoes even +better than his master. Then Mistafor Skurlatovich +took him into his house and ordered him to +make some shoes; so he set to work and made +twenty dozen pairs, but not a single pair of them +satisfied Mistafor Skurlatovich. So he beat him +unmercifully till the shoemaker, Goria Krutshinin, +was half dead, and lay sick for ten long weeks.</p> + +<p>As soon as Goria began to recover, Mistafor +Skurlatovich ordered him to make some more +shoes. And when Goria had finished several pairs +he took them to his master to try on; but not a +single pair pleased him. Then Skurlatovich flung +the shoes at his head, and beat him until his face +was covered with blood. Goria Krutshinin, who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +had one poor copper altine in his pocket, went to +spend it in a public-house by the road-side, and, as +he sat down, he said to himself: “I wish the +devil would free me from this master of mine!”</p> + +<p>Suddenly a stranger stood before him, and said: +“Why are you in such a passion, my good lad?”</p> + +<p>“How can I help it?” replied Goria, the shoemaker; +“my master is as cruel as a mad dog; +you see how he has dressed me down, and ten weeks +ago he beat me even still more than now.”</p> + +<p>“Why does he beat you so?” said the stranger. +And Goria replied: “I have learnt the art of +shoemaking better than my teacher, and I make +shoes for my master, but though I work for him +all I can, do what I will, I never can please him; +and instead of thanking me, he beats me as you +see.”</p> + +<p>Then the stranger said: “I know your master +well enough; you must be freed from his cruelty; +and, if you like, I will marry Mistafor’s daughter +to you instead of to the Prince to whom she is +betrothed.”</p> + +<p>“Are you mad?” said Goria; “what nonsense +are you talking?” “Trust me,” replied the +stranger, “I can bring it all about.” But the shoemaker +could not believe him, and said: “You +may talk and promise what you will, I do not +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +believe a word.” “Whether or no, you shall see +that what I promise I can perform.”</p> + +<p>So saying the stranger desired him to shut his +eyes, throw himself on the ground facing the sun, +and then retire two steps backwards. When Goria +had done so, the stranger told him to look at himself. +Goria was amazed at seeing himself attired +in a costly dress, and said: “Without doubt you +must be the devil in man’s form!”</p> + +<p>“Certainly I am a devilkin; you called me, and +on your summons I came. I will serve you, and +marry you to Mistafor’s daughter.” “How is that +possible?” said Goria: “I am known down yonder +by every one—the very dogs know me.” But the +stranger replied: “Nay, it is not so. No one, I +promise, will recognise you: every one will mistake +you for Prince Dardavan, to whom Mistafor’s +daughter Dogada is betrothed.”</p> + +<p>“Good, very good,” said Goria, “if what you +say prove true.” “It shall all come to pass as I +have said,” replied the other. And thereupon the +stranger desired Goria to go three steps backward +and shut his eyes, and then open them again. On +a sudden Goria saw before him a splendid palace +of white marble, and in amazement, he exclaimed: +“You are in truth the devil himself, and no man, +to do such marvellous things!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +“I tell the truth, you see, and do not deceive +you,” replied the stranger; “and now I make +you a present of this marble palace, and will remain +with you and serve you faithfully. Call me Prituitshkin!”</p> + +<p>Thereupon the servant conducted his new +master Goria, the shoemaker, into the courtyard, +where he beheld a great throng of servants, horses, +and carriages, in the most splendid array; and the +servants all made their obeisance to him, as to the +Prince, and the musicians played on all sorts of +instruments; and when the music ceased, Goria +the shoemaker went into the marble palace, where +he saw a table covered with all kinds of dishes; +so he seated himself at the table, ate and drank his +fill, and lived in this palace like a great man.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Prince Dardavan, after his betrothal +with Dogada, was travelling on business to another +city; and the trusty servant Prituitshkin thought +this a favourable opportunity to marry Goria the +shoemaker to Dogada. So he went to his master, +the shoemaker, and said: “Now is the time to +settle this affair; we must contrive that Mistafor +takes you for Dardavan.” So saying, he went out +in front of the marble palace, raised a large tent, +and ordered all the musicians to strike up. When +Mistafor heard such a variety of beautiful sounds +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +he bethought himself that Prince Dardavan must +be arrived, and sent to inquire. As soon as he was +informed that the supposed Prince Dardavan had +arrived, he sent a number of his people to invite +his dear son-in-law to a feast. Then the messengers +went to Goria, bowed humbly before him, and +invited him in the name of their Prince Mistafor +Skurlatovich to visit him and be his guest. “Go,” +answered Goria, “and tell Mistafor Skurlatovich +that I will soon come to him.” So the ambassadors +bowed low to the shoemaker, and returned and +related to their Prince what they had heard from +the supposed Tsarevich Dardavan, and all they +had seen.</p> + +<p>After the departure of Mistafor’s messengers, +Prituitshkin went to Goria the shoemaker and +said: “Now is the time for you to go to Mistafor; +listen to what I say: when you come to the courtyard +of the palace, and dismount from your steed, +do not fasten him up, nor give him to anyone to +hold, but only cough loudly, and stamp on the +ground with all your might. When you enter the +hall, seat yourself on the chair numbered One. +In the evening, when it is time to retire to rest, +remain behind, and as soon as your bed is ready, +do not lie down upon it, for Prince Dardavan +always lies on his own bed, which weighs a hundred +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +poods. I will provide you with such a bed; and if +I delay, strike me in the presence of Mistafor and +his daughter. When you go to bed, and the servants +bring you a number of lights, bid them take the +lights all away, and order me to bring you a stone, +which Prince Dardavan always lays on his table at +night. I will bring you this stone, which shows +more light than a thousand candles.”</p> + +<p>When Goria the shoemaker heard these directions +he promised to observe them all. So he went +into the courtyard, and Prituitshkin brought him +the horse saddled. Then Goria mounted the steed, +and Prituitshkin another, and away they rode to +Mistafor Skurlatovich; and when they entered +the courtyard, Mistafor came out to meet his +beloved son-in-law, the supposed Prince Dardavan. +Then Goria the shoemaker dismounted from his +gallant steed; but he did not fasten him up, nor +did he give him to anyone to hold: he only +coughed aloud and stamped upon the ground. The +horse stood, as if rooted to the spot. Then Goria +went into the hall and bowed to all four sides, +kissed his host, and seated himself upon the chair +with the number One. Mistafor went to his daughter +Dogada, and bade her come and welcome her +betrothed husband, Prince Dardavan; but Dogada +was discreet and cunning, and replied; “My +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +gracious lord and father, this is indeed not Prince +Dardavan, but our shoemaker Goria Krutshinin.” +“Don’t talk nonsense,” said Mistafor; “I have +seen Prince Dardavan face to face, and know him +well; this is the Prince, and no shoemaker indeed.”</p> + +<p>“Well and good,” said Dogada; “I will go and +welcome him; but only bear in mind what I say: +it is not Prince Dardavan, but our shoemaker Goria, +disguised like him. Now mind one thing: when +we sit down at table to eat, order white bread and +brown bread to be brought to him: and if you +observe that this guest cuts first a piece of the +brown bread you will know that he is not Prince +Dardavan but the shoemaker Goria, for Dardavan +always eats first the white bread.”</p> + +<p>“Good,” said Mistafor, “I will observe.”</p> + +<p>Then he invited Goria the shoemaker to sit down +at table; and, when they were all seated, and white +and brown bread was brought, Goria first took of +the brown bread, and Mistafor and Dogada remarked +this. Then said Mistafor: “My dear and +honoured son-in-law, Prince Dardavan, how is it +that you cut so much brown bread and no white?”</p> + +<p>When the servant Prituitshkin heard this, he went +invisibly up to Goria and whispered in his ear: +“Tell Mistafor that your father, when he sat at +table, always gave first to the poor a piece of bread +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +to eat, and instead of salt, used to pour out to them +a bag of gold: and so saying, order me to bring +you the bag of gold.”</p> + +<p>Then the supposed Tsarevich Dardavan repeated +those words to Mistafor, cut some more +slices of brown bread, and called to his servant +Prituitshkin to bring him the bag of gold. In the +twinkling of an eye Prituitshkin brought the money, +which he had stolen from Mistafor’s treasury, and +Goria desired him to collect a troop of beggars. +So the servant ran out and returned in a trice with +a crowd of hungry men, and Goria distributed the +bread, giving to each a piece of gold out of the +bag. And when he had given away all the bread +and the golden coins, he himself fell to eating.</p> + +<p>After dinner Mistafor said to his daughter: +“What say you now—is not this Prince Dardavan?” +“No, dear father,” replied Dogada, “this is not +the Prince, but our shoemaker Krutshinin.”</p> + +<p>“Why, have you lost your wits, child?” said +Mistafor; “we have got rid of Goria Krutshinin +long ago.” “Well, mark you,” replied Dogada, +“I will prove that this man is not the Prince. Invite +him to spend the night here, and order a bed to be +made ready for him; and if he lies down upon it +he is not Prince Dardavan, but the shoemaker +Goria.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +When the evening came, and it grew late, Mistafor +ordered the best bed to be made ready for +the shoemaker; then Mistafor asked the pretended +Tsarevich whether, as it was growing late, he wished +to retire to rest. So Goria went into the bedchamber, +and, seeing that it was not the bed of which Prituitshkin +had spoken, he instantly called his servant, +as if in a passion, and giving him a box on the ears, +said: “You rascal, why have you not made ready +my bed? You know very well that I always sleep +on my hundred-pood bed: go instantly and bring +it to me!” Thereupon Prituitshkin ran as fast as +he could and brought the hundred-pood bed, +which he had stolen from Prince Dardavan.</p> + +<p>Then Goria the shoemaker undressed, and lay +down upon the bed; and Dogada, on purpose to +try him, ordered a number of tapers to be lighted +and taken into his bedchamber. But Goria instantly +drove all the servants away with the lights, +and ordered Prituitshkin to give him the stone, +which the latter presently brought, having stolen +this also from Prince Dardavan. Then Goria +placed the stone on the table, and lay down to +sleep; and the light shed by the stone was more +dazzling than a meteor in the sky.</p> + +<p>At midnight, Dogada sent one of her attendants +into the bedroom of the shoemaker, desiring her +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +to steal away the stone from the table. But hardly +had the girl entered the apartment, and was about +to run off with the stone, than the servant Prituitshkin, +who was lying by the door, jumped up +and exclaimed: “Is it not a shame for you, pretty +girl, to rob your future lord and master! You +must leave me now a pledge for your conduct.” +So saying, he drew off the maid’s slipper and +head-dress and dismissed her. Then the girl went +to her mistress and told her the whole affair; but +Dogada did not despair, and, after an hour, thinking +that Goria and his servant Prituitshkin would +now be asleep, she sent another maid to steal the +stone. When the girl entered the bedchamber, up +jumped Prituitshkin again as before, pulled off +her slipper, head-dress and jacket, and let her go. +But after another hour had passed, Dogada, again +thinking they must have fallen asleep, resolved to +go herself and fetch the stone. Scarcely, however, +had she entered the bedroom of the shoemaker +Goria, and laid her hand upon the stone, than up +jumped Prituitshkin, and, seizing her, exclaimed: +“How! is it not a shame for your Grace to contrive +such wickedness? It is not becoming the +daughter of so renowned a father to be plotting +such tricks; therefore, I must beg of you, fair +lady, to leave me a pledge.” No sooner said than +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +done: Prituitshkin slipped off her jacket, slipper, +and head-dress, and dismissed Dogada in shame +and remorse.</p> + +<p>Early the next day, when the shoemaker Goria +arose, his servant Prituitshkin told him all that +passed during the night, and advised him, when +Mistafor should propose to him a riddle, to answer: +“Riddle me no riddle, but I will give you a riddle, +and then,” continued he, “propose to Mistafor +this riddle: ‘I went to walk in your green meadows +and caught three goats, and stripped from each +of them three skins.’ If Mistafor doubts, and says +that it is impossible for a goat to have three skins, +call me and order me to bring the skins.”</p> + +<p>When Goria received these directions from his +servant Prituitshkin, he went to Mistafor, who at +once began to propose to him a riddle, but Goria +answered; “I will give you a riddle.” And he +continued: “I went to walk in your green meadows +and caught three goats, and stripped from each of +them three skins.” Mistafor doubted greatly and said: +“It is impossible for a goat to have three skins.”</p> + +<p>“At all events ’tis quite true,” replied Goria; +and so saying, he ordered Prituitshkin to bring +the three skins which he had taken from the three +goats. So the servant immediately brought them +to him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +When Mistafor beheld his daughter’s dress he +was troubled, scolded her in his heart, and asked +the pretended Tsarevich how Dogada’s dress had +come into his hands. So the shoemaker told him +all that had happened. Mistafor, enraged against +his daughter, exclaimed: “Look ye, did you not +say that this was not Prince Dardavan, but the +shoemaker Goria Krutshinin? I have no longer +patience—prepare instantly for your wedding.” +And Goria the shoemaker married the Princess +Dogada that very day.</p> + +<p>Sometime after this the servant Prituitshkin came +to Goria and said: “Now that I have made your +fortune, do something for me in return: I have a +request to make. In your garden is a pond, in which +I formerly lived. A maiden was one day washing +linen, and dropped a ring into the pond, and by +that means she drove me from it. Order now the +water to be let off and the pond to be cleaned out: +desire that whoever finds the ring shall bring it to +you, and when it is found, order the pond to be +filled with clear water and a boat to be built; and +in this boat sail with your wife and me. I will then +throw myself into the water, and when your wife +exclaims: ‘Ah! the servant Prituitshkin is +drowned!’ only reply: ‘The devil take him!’”</p> + +<p>When Goria the shoemaker heard this, he ordered +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +the pond in the garden to be emptied and cleaned, +and that whatever was found in it should be brought +to him. And when the pond was drained, the ring +was found at the bottom by a boy, who brought it +to Goria the shoemaker. Then Goria ordered the +water to be let into the pond, and a boat to be +built. As soon as all was ready, he seated himself, +with his wife and servant, Prituitshkin, in the boat, +and sailed out into the middle of the pond. But on +a sudden Prituitshkin jumped into the water, and +Dogada exclaimed: “Ah! see, the servant Prituitshkin +is drowned!” Then said Goria: “The +devil take him! I want him no longer.”</p> + +<p>Prince Dardavan, the real affianced husband of +Dogada, was sent out to battle, and there lost his +life. Goria the shoemaker ever after went by his +name, and lived many years with Dogada in great +happiness, forgetting his former unhappy fate.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + +<h2>EMELYAN, THE FOOL</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a certain village lived at one time a peasant, +who had three sons, two of whom were clever, +but the third was a fool, and his name was +Emelyan. And when the peasant had lived a long +time, and was grown very old, he called his three +sons to him, and said to them: “My dear children, +I feel that I have not much longer to live; so I +give you the house and cattle, which you will +divide among you, share and share alike. I have +also given you each a hundred roubles.” Soon +after, the old man died, and the sons, when they +had buried him, lived on happy and contented.</p> + +<p>Some time afterwards Emelyan’s brothers took +a fancy to go to the city and trade with the hundred +roubles their father had left them. So they said to +Emelyan: “Hark ye, fool! we are going to the +city, and will take your hundred roubles with us; +and, if we prosper in trade, we will buy you a red +coat, red boots, and a red cap. But do you stay +here at home; and when our wives, your sisters-in-law, +desire you to do anything, do as they bid +you.” The fool, who had a great longing for a red +coat and cap, and red boots, answered that he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +would do whatever his sisters-in-law bade him. +So his brothers went off to the city, and the fool +stayed at home with his two sisters.</p> + +<p>One day, when the winter was come, and the +cold was great, his sisters-in-law told him to go +out and fetch water; but the fool remained lying +on the stove, and said: “Ay, indeed, and who +then are you?” The sisters began to scold him, and +said: “How now, fool! we are what you see. +You know how cold it is, and that it is a man’s +business to go.” But he said: “I am lazy.” +“How!” they exclaimed, “you are lazy? Surely +you will want to eat, and if we have no water we +cannot cook. But never mind,” they added; “we +will only tell our husbands not to give him anything +when they have bought the fine red coat and +all for him!”</p> + +<p>The fool heard what they said; and, as he +longed greatly to have the red coat and cap, he +saw that he must go; so he got down from the +stove and began to put on his shoes and stockings +and to dress himself to go out. When he was +dressed, he took the buckets and the axe and went +down to the river hard by. And when he came to +the river he began to cut a large hole in the ice. +Then he drew water in the buckets, and setting +them on the ice, he stood by the hole, looking into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +the water. And as the fool was looking, he saw a +large pike swimming about. However stupid +Emelyan was, he felt a wish to catch this pike; so +he stole cautiously and softly to the edge of the +hole, and making a sudden grasp at the pike he +caught him, and pulled him out of the water. Then, +putting him in his bosom, he was hastening home +with him, when the pike cried out: “Ho, fool! +why have you caught me?” He answered: “To +take you home and get my sisters-in-law to cook +you.” “Nay, fool! do not take me home, but +throw me back into the water and I will make a +rich man of you.” But the fool would not consent, +and jogged on his way home. When the pike saw +that the fool was not for letting him go, he said +to him: “Hark ye, fool! put me back in the water +and I will do for you everything you do not like +to do yourself; you will only have to wish and it +shall be done.”</p> + +<p>On hearing this the fool rejoiced beyond measure +for, as he was uncommonly lazy, he thought to +himself: “If the pike does everything I have no +mind to do, all will be done without my being +troubled to work.” So he said to the pike: “I will +throw you back into the water if you do all you +promise.” The pike said: “Let me go first and +then I will keep my promise.” But the fool +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +answered: “Nay, nay, you must first perform your +promise, and then I will let you go.” When the +pike saw that Emelyan would not put him into +the water he said: “If you wish me to do all you +desire, you must first tell me what your desire is.” +“I wish,” said the fool, “that my buckets should +go of themselves from the river up the hill to the +village without spilling any of the water.” Then +said the pike: “Listen now, and remember the +words I say to you: At the pike’s command, and +at my desire, go, buckets, of yourselves up the +hill!” Then the fool repeated after him these +words, and instantly, with the speed of thought, +the buckets ran up the hill. When Emelyan saw +this he was amazed beyond measure, and he said +to the pike: “But will it always be so?” “Everything +you desire will be done,” replied the pike; +“but I warn you not to forget the words I have +taught you.” Then Emelyan put the pike into the +water and followed his buckets home.</p> + +<p>The neighbours were all amazed and said to +one another: “This fool makes the buckets come +up of themselves from the river, and he follows +them home at his leisure.” But Emelyan took no +notice of them, and went his way home. The +buckets were by this time in the house, and +standing in their place on the foot-bench; so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +the fool got up and stretched himself on the +stove.</p> + +<p>After some time his sisters-in-law said to him +again: “Emelyan, why are you lazying there? +Get up and go cut wood.” But the fool replied: +“Yes! and you—who are you?” “Don’t you see +it is now winter, and if you don’t cut wood you +will be frozen?” “I am lazy,” said the fool. +“What! you are lazy?” cried the sisters. “If +you do not go instantly and cut wood, we will tell +our husbands not to give you the red coat, or the +red cap, or the fine red boots!” The fool, who +longed for the red cap, coat, and boots, saw that +he must go and cut the wood; but as it was bitterly +cold, and he did not like to come down from off +the stove, he repeated in an undertone, as he lay, +the words: “At the pike’s command, and at my +desire, up, axe, and hew the wood! and do you, +logs, come of yourselves in the stove!” Instantly +the axe jumped up, ran out into the yard, and began +to cut up the wood; and the logs came of themselves +into the house, and laid themselves in the stove. +When the sisters saw this, they wondered exceedingly +at the cleverness of the fool; and, as the axe +did of its own accord the work whenever Emelyan +was wanted to cut wood, he lived for some time in +peace and harmony with them. At length the wood +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +was all finished, and they said to him: “Emelyan, +we have no more wood, so you must go to the +forest and cut some.” “Ay,” said the fool, “and +you, who are you, then?” The sisters replied: +“The wood is far off, and it is winter, and too +cold for us to go.” But the fool only said: “I am +lazy.” “How! you are lazy,” cried they; “you +will be frozen then; and moreover, we will take +care, when our husbands come home, that they +shall not give you the red coat, cap, and boots.” +As the fool longed for the clothes, he saw that he +must go and cut the wood; so he got off the stove, +put on his shoes and stockings, and dressed himself; +and, when he was dressed, he went into the +yard, dragged the sledge out of the shed, took a +rope and the axe with him, and called out to his +sisters-in-law: “Open the gate.”</p> + +<p>When the sisters saw that he was riding off +without any horses, they cried: “Why, Emelyan, +you have got on the sledge without yoking the +horses!” But he answered that he wanted no +horses, and bade them only open the gate. So the +sisters threw open the gate, and the fool repeated +the words: “At the pike’s command, and at my +desire, away, sledge, off to the wood!” Instantly +the sledge galloped out of the yard at such a rate +that the people of the village, when they saw it, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +were filled with amazement at Emelyan’s riding +the sledge without horses, and with such speed +that a pair of horses could never have drawn it at +such a rate. The fool had to pass through the town +on his way to the wood, and away he dashed at +full speed. But the fool did not know that he should +cry out: “Make way!” so that he should not run +over anyone; but away he went, and rode over +quite a lot of people; and, though they ran after +him, no one was able to overtake and bring him +back. At last Emelyan, having got clear of the town, +came to the wood and stopped his sledge. Then he +got down and said: “At the pike’s command, and +at my desire, up, axe, hew wood; and you, logs! +lay yourselves on the sledge, and tie yourselves together.” +Scarcely had the fool uttered these words +when the axe began to cut wood, the logs to lay +themselves on the sledge, and the rope to +tie them down. When the axe had cut wood +enough, Emelyan desired it to cut him a good +cudgel; and when the axe had done this, he +mounted the sledge and cried: “Up, and away! +At the pike’s command, and at my desire, go home, +sledge!” Away then went the sledge at the top +of its speed, and when he came to the town, where +he had hurt so many people, he found a crowd +waiting to catch him; and, as soon as he got into +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +the gates, they laid hold of him, dragged him off +his sledge, and fell to beating him. When the fool +saw how they were treating him, he said in an +under voice: “At the pike’s command, and at my +desire, up, cudgel, and thrash them!” Instantly +the cudgel began to lay about it on all sides; and, +when the people were all driven away, he made +his escape, and came to his own village. The cudgel, +having thrashed all soundly, rolled home after +him; and Emelyan, as usual, when he got home, +climbed up and lay upon the stove.</p> + +<p>After he had left the town, all the people fell to +talking, not so much of the number of persons he +had injured, as of their amazement at his riding +in a sledge without horses; and the news spread +from one to another, till it reached the Court and +came to the ears of the King. And when the King +heard it, he felt an extreme desire to see him: so +he sent an officer with some soldiers to look for +him. The officer instantly started, and took the +road that the fool had taken; and when he came +to the village where Emelyan lived, he summoned +the Starosta, or head-man of the village, and said +to him: “I am sent by the King to take a certain +fool, and bring him before his Majesty.” The +Starosta at once showed him the house where +Emelyan lived, and the officer went into it and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +asked where the fool was. He was lying on the +stove, and answered: “What is it you want with +me?” “How!” said the officer, “what do I +want with you? Get up this instant and dress +yourself; I must take you to the King.” But +Emelyan said: “What to do?” Whereat the +officer became so enraged at the rudeness of his +replies that he hit him on the cheek. “At the pike’s +command, and at my desire,” said the fool, “up, +cudgel, and thrash them!” Instantly up sprang +the cudgel and began to lay about it on all sides. +So the officer was obliged to go back to the town +as fast as he could; and when he came before the +King, and told him how the fool had cudgelled +him, the King marvelled greatly, and would not +believe the story.</p> + +<p>Then the King called to him a wise man and +ordered him to bring the fool by craft, if nothing +else would do; so the wise man went to the village +where Emelyan lived, called the Starosta before +him and said: “I am ordered by the King to take +your fool; and therefore ask for the persons with +whom he lived.” Then the Starosta ran and fetched +Emelyan’s sisters-in-law. The King’s messenger +asked them what it was the fool liked, and they +answered: “Noble sir, if anyone entreats our fool +earnestly to do anything, he flatly refuses the first +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +and second time; the third time he consents, and +does what he is required, for he dislikes to be +roughly treated.”</p> + +<p>The King’s messenger thereupon dismissed +them and forbade them to tell Emelyan that he +had summoned them before him. Then he brought +raisins, baked plums, and grapes, and went to the +fool. When he came into the room, he went up to +the stove and said: “Emelyan, why are you +lying there?” and with that he gave him the +raisins, the baked plums, and the grapes, and +said: “Emelyan, we will go together to the King: +I will take you with me.” But the fool replied: “I +am very warm here”; for there was nothing he +liked so much as being warm. Then the messenger +began to entreat him: “Be so good, Emelyan, +do let us go! You will like the Court vastly.” +“No,” said the fool “I am lazy.” But the messenger +entreated him once more: “Do come with +me, there’s a good fellow, and the King will give +you a fine red coat and cap, and a pair of red boots.” +When the fool heard of the red coat he said: “Go +on before, I will follow you.” The messenger +pressed him no further, but went out and asked +the sisters-in-law if there was any danger of the +fool’s deceiving him. They assured him there was +not, and he went away.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Emelyan, who remained lying on the stove, then +said to himself: “How I dislike this going to the +King!” And after a minute’s thought, he said: +“At the pike’s command, and at my desire, up, +stove, and away to the town!” And instantly the +wall of the room opened, and the stove moved +out; and when it got clear of the yard, it went at +such a rate that there was no overtaking it; soon +it came up with the King’s messenger, and went +along with him into the palace. When the King +saw the fool coming, he went forth with all his Court +to meet him; and he was amazed beyond measure +at seeing Emelyan come riding on the stove. But +the fool lay still and said nothing. Then the King +asked him why he had upset so many people on +his way to the wood. “It was their own fault,” +said the fool; “why did they not get out of the +way?”</p> + +<p>Just at that moment the King’s daughter came +to the window, and Emelyan happening suddenly +to look up, and seeing how handsome she was, +said in a whisper: “At the pike’s command, and +at my desire, let this lovely maiden fall in love +with me!” And scarcely had he spoken the words +when the King’s daughter fell desperately in love +with him. Then said the fool: “At the pike’s +command, and at my desire, up, stove, and away +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +home!” Immediately the stove left the palace, +went through the town, returned home, and set +itself in its old place. And Emelyan lived there for +some time comfortably and happy.</p> + +<p>But it was very different in the town; for, at +the word of Emelyan, the King’s daughter had +fallen in love, and she began to implore her father +to give her the fool for her husband. The King +was in a great rage, both with her and the fool, +but he knew not how to catch him; then his +minister proposed that the same officer, as a punishment +for not succeeding the first time, should +be sent again to take Emelyan. This advice pleased +the King, and he summoned the officer to his +presence, and said: “Hark ye, friend! I sent you +before for the fool, and you came back without +him; to punish you I now send you for him a +second time. If you bring him, you shall be +rewarded; if you return without him, you shall +be punished.”</p> + +<p>When the officer heard this, he left the King and +lost no time in going in quest of the fool; and on +coming to the village he called for the Starosta and +said to him: “Here is money for you; buy everything +necessary for a good dinner to-morrow. +Invite Emelyan, and when he comes, make him +drink until he falls asleep.” The Starosta, knowing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +that the officer came from the King, was obliged +to obey him; so he bought all that was required +and invited the fool. And Emelyan said he would +come, whereat the officer was greatly rejoiced. So +next day the fool came to dinner, and the Starosta +plied him so well with drink that he fell fast asleep. +When the officer saw this, he ordered the kibitka +(or carriage) to be brought; and putting the fool +into it, they drove off to the town, and went straight +to the palace. As soon as the King heard that they +were come, he ordered a large cask to be provided +without delay, and to be bound with strong iron +hoops. When the cask was brought to the King, +and he saw that everything was ready as he desired, +he commanded his daughter and the fool to be +put in it, and the cask to be well pitched; and, +when this was all done, the cask was thrown into +the sea, and left to the mercy of the waves. Then +the King returned to his palace, and the cask +floated along upon the sea. All this time the fool +was fast asleep; when he awoke, and saw that it +was quite dark, he said to himself: “Where am +I?” for he thought he was alone. But the Princess +said: “You are in a cask, Emelyan! and I am +shut up with you in it.” “But who are you?” said +the fool. “I am the King’s daughter,” replied she. +And she told him why she had been shut up there +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +with him. Then she besought him to free himself +and her out of the cask; but the fool said: “Nay, +I am warm enough here.” “But grant me at least +the favour,” said the Princess; “have pity on +my tears, and deliver me out of this cask.” “Why +so?” said Emelyan; “I am lazy.” Then the +Princess began to entreat him still more urgently, +until the fool was at last moved by her tears and +entreaties, and said: “Well, I will do this for you.” +Then he said softly: “At the pike’s command, +and at my desire, cast us, O sea! upon the shore, +where we may dwell on dry land; but let it be +near our own country; and, cask! fall to pieces +on the shore.”</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the fool uttered these words when +the waves began to roll, and the cask was thrown +on a dry place, and fell to pieces of itself. So +Emelyan got up and went with the Princess round +about the spot where they were cast; and the fool +saw that they were on a fine island, where there +was an abundance of trees, with all kinds of fruit +upon them. When the Princess saw this, she was +greatly rejoiced and said: “But, Emelyan, where +shall we live? there is not even a nook here.” +“You want too much,” said the fool. “Grant me +one favour,” replied the Princess: “let there be at +least a little cottage in which we may shelter +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +ourselves from the rain”; for the Princess knew +that he could do everything that he wished. But the +fool said: “I am lazy.” Nevertheless, she went +on entreating him, until at last Emelyan was obliged +to do as she desired. Then he stepped aside and +said: “At the pike’s command, and at my desire, +let me have in the middle of this island a finer +castle than the King’s, and let a crystal bridge +lead from my castle to the royal palace; and let +there be attendants of all conditions in the court!” +Hardly were the words spoken, when there +appeared a splendid castle, with a crystal bridge. +The fool went with the Princess into the castle +and beheld the apartments all magnificently furnished, +and a number of persons, footmen and all +kinds of officers, who waited for the fool’s commands. +When he saw that all these men were like +men, and that he alone was ugly and stupid, he +wished to be better, so he said: “At the pike’s +command, and at my desire, away! let me become a +youth without an equal, and extremely wise!” And +hardly had he spoken, when he became so handsome +and so wise that all were amazed.</p> + +<p>Emelyan now sent one of his servants to the +King to invite him and all his Court. So the servant +went along the crystal bridge which the fool had +made, and when he came to the Court, the ministers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +brought him before the King, and Emelyan’s +messenger said: “Please, your Majesty, I am +sent by my master to invite you to dinner.” The +King asked him who his master was, but he +answered: “Please, your Majesty, I can tell you +nothing about my master (for the fool had ordered +him not to tell who he was), but if you come to +dine with him, he will inform you himself.” The +King, being curious to know who had sent to +invite him, told the messenger that he would go +without fail. The servant went away, and when +he got home the King and his Court set out along +the crystal bridge to go and visit the fool; and, +when they arrived at the castle, Emelyan came +forth to meet the King, took him by his white +hands, kissed him on his sugared lips, led him +into his castle, and seated him at the oaken tables +covered with fine diaper tablecloths, and spread +with sugar-meats and honey-drinks. The King +and his ministers ate and drank and made merry. +When they rose from the table and retired, the +fool said to the King: “Does your Majesty know +who I am?” As Emelyan was now dressed in fine +clothes, and was very handsome, it was not possible +to recognize him; so the King replied that he did +not know him. Then the fool said: “Does not +your Majesty recollect how a fool came riding on +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +a stove to your Court, and how you fastened him +up in a pitched cask with your daughter, and cast +them into the sea? Know me now—I am that +Emelyan.”</p> + +<p>When the King saw him thus in his presence he +was greatly terrified and knew not what to do. +But the fool went to the Princess and led her out +to him; and the King, on seeing his daughter, +was greatly rejoiced, and said: “I have been very +unjust to you, and so I gladly give you my daughter, +to wife.” The fool humbly thanked the King; +and when Emelyan had prepared everything for +the wedding, it was celebrated with great magnificence, +and the following day the fool gave a feast +to the ministers and all the people. When the +festivities were at an end, the King wanted to give +up his kingdom to his son-in-law, but Emelyan +did not wish to have the crown. So the King went +back to his kingdom, and the fool remained in the +castle and lived happily.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE JUDGMENT OF SHEMYAKA</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>WO brothers once lived upon a little plot +of ground—one rich, the other poor. The +poor brother went to the rich one to beg of +him a horse that he might fetch wood from the +forest. His brother gave him the horse; but the +poor one begged of him likewise a horse-collar, +whereat the other was angry and would not give +it him. So the poor fellow in his trouble fastened +the sledge to the horse’s tail and thus drove to the +forest, and got such a load of wood that the horse +had scarcely strength to draw it. When he came +home, he opened the gate, but forgot to remove +the foot-board, fastened to the side posts to keep +the snow from coming in under the door; and the +horse stumbled against the board and lost his tail. +The poor fellow took the horse back, but when his +brother saw the beast without a tail, he would not +have him, and set out to go before the judge, +Shemyaka, to make a complaint. The poor man +saw that he would fall into trouble, and the judge +would send for him: he considered for a long +while that he had nothing to give, and he followed +his brother on foot.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +On the way, as night came on, they stopped at +the house of a merchant. The rich brother was +taken in to supper and well treated, but the poor +man was not given anything to eat, and had to +take his night’s rest on the kitchen stove. All night +he was tossing and rolling about hungry, and at +last he fell off the stove on to a cradle lying beside +it, and killed the merchant’s baby in the fall. So +the merchant was very angry, and next morning +went with him to get the poor man punished by +the judge Shemyaka.</p> + +<p>It so happened that on the way to town the +party had to go over a bridge, and the poor man +was so frightened at the thought of what the judge +Shemyaka might do to him that he threw himself +over the bridge, to put an end to his life; but just +at that instant a young man was driving his sick +father to the bath-house, and the poor man fell +upon the sledge and crushed the old man. So the +son went with the rich brother and the merchant +to the judge to make his complaint that the poor +man had killed his father.</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 403px;"> +<a name="judge" id="judge"></a> +<img src="images/trg06.jpg" width="403" height="600" +alt="The judge rules about the case of the two brothers and the horse" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">The Judge thought that the bundle was full of roubles.</p> + +<p>The rich brother came first before the judge +Shemyaka and complained that his brother had +pulled off the tail of his horse. The poor man took +a stone and tied it in a towel; and, standing up +behind his brother, he held it up to the judge, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +intending to kill him unless he decided in his +favour. The judge thought that the towel was +filled with roubles, and so he ordered the rich +man to give back the horse to the poor one until +his tail had grown again.</p> + +<p>Then the merchant came up to complain of the +death of his baby, and the poor man again brandished +his heavy towel before the judge, and because +he hoped for another bribe the judge said: “You +must send your wife to the poor man’s house till +she has another baby, and then you will be as well +off as before.”</p> + +<p>Then the son came and accused the poor man +of having crushed his father to death, and asked +the judge for justice. The poor man took up the +stone again, and showed it as before to the judge, +who fancied that the man would perhaps give him +for this charge another hundred roubles. So he +ordered the son to stand on the bridge while the +poor man passed under it; and that the son should +in like manner leap down upon the poor man and +crush him.</p> + +<p>So the poor brother came to the rich one to +fetch the horse without a tail, according to the +judge’s sentence, and to keep it until the tail grew +again. The rich man was very loth to give up the +horse, and instead, made him a present of five +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +roubles, three bushels of corn, and a milch goat, +and thus they settled their quarrel.</p> + +<p>So then the poor man went to the merchant to +take his wife away from him, and the merchant +offered him fifty roubles, a cow with her calf, a +mare with her foal, and five measures of grain, +which he willingly accepted.</p> + +<p>Then the poor man went to the son and said: +“Come, the judge has said that you must place +yourself on the bridge while I stand under it, and +you must throw yourself down on me and kill +me.” Then the son thought to himself: “Who +knows but that, if I throw myself from the bridge, +I may, perhaps, instead of falling on this man, +dash myself to pieces.” So he tried to make peace +with the poor man, and gave him two hundred +roubles, a horse, and five measures of corn.</p> + +<p>But the judge Shemyaka sent his servant to the +poor man to ask for the three hundred roubles. +The poor man showed him the stone and said: +“If the judge had not decided in my favour I +should have killed him.” So the servant went back +to the judge and told him what the poor man had +said; whereat the judge, overjoyed, exclaimed: +“Heaven be thanked that I decided in this man’s +favour!”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF PRINCE PETER WITH THE +GOLDEN KEYS, AND THE PRINCESS +MAGILENE</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N France there once lived a high-born Prince +named Volchvan, with his wife Petronida; and +they had an only son named Peter. Now, Prince +Peter had in his youth a great inclination for +knightly prowess and deeds of war; and, when +he came of age, he sighed after nothing so much +as chivalrous feats. But it happened that at this +time a knight named Ruiganduis arrived there +from the kingdom of Naples, who, observing +Peter’s bravery, said: “Prince Peter, there is a +King in Naples who has a beautiful daughter +named Magilene, and this King rewards richly all +those knights who do battle in behalf of his +daughter.”</p> + +<p>Then Peter went to his father and mother and +begged for their blessing that he might travel to +the kingdom of Naples to learn there knightly +feats, but especially to see the beauty of the King’s +daughter Magilene. So they dismissed Prince Peter +with great sorrow, exhorting him to make friendship +with good men only; then, giving him three +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +golden rings with precious stones and a gold chain, +they dismissed him in peace.</p> + +<p>When Prince Peter arrived at the kingdom of +Naples, he ordered a skilful workman to make him +a coat-of-mail and a helmet, and to fasten to this +two golden keys; then he rode to the tournament-lists, +where the King and his knights were assembled. +There he gave his name as Peter with the +Golden Keys, and he placed himself behind the +knights. First rode forth Sir Andrei Skrintor, and +against him appeared the son of the King of +England; and Andrei struck Henry so hard a blow +that he was well-nigh thrown from his horse; whereupon +Landiot, the King’s son, rode out and overthrew +Andrei Skrintor. When Prince Peter saw this +he rode at Landiot, and cried with a loud voice: +“Long life and happiness to their Majesties and +the beautiful Princess Magilene!” and he rode at +Landiot so furiously that he threw both him and +his steed to the ground, and thrust the lance +through his heart. Peter was praised by the King for +this exploit, and still more by the Princess Magilene +and all present, and he became the foremost of the +King’s knights.</p> + +<p>When the Princess Magilene beheld the valour +and handsome appearance of Prince Peter she fell +in love with him, and resolved to be his wife. She +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +told her wish to her waiting-maid, and from that +time Prince Peter visited the beautiful King’s +daughter daily, and gave her the three golden rings, +in token of his love, and rode with her out of the +city.</p> + +<p>And they rode off upon their goodly steeds, +taking with them a quantity of gold and silver, +and they journeyed on and on the whole night. +Then Prince Peter came to an impenetrable forest, +stretching among the mountains as far as the seacoast, +where they stopped to rest; and the King’s +daughter threw herself on the grass, from weariness, +and fell asleep. But Prince Peter sat beside +her and watched her while she slept. Then he +observed a knot in a golden clasp, and unfastening +it, he found the three rings which he had given +her. He laid them on the grass, and, as chance +would have it, a black raven flew past, picked up +the rings and flew with them on to a tree. Peter +climbed up the tree to catch the bird; but, as he +was just about to seize it, the raven flew into another +tree, and so from one tree to another, and then over +the sea, and let fall the rings into the water, and +itself lighted upon an island. Away ran Prince +Peter after the raven to the seashore, and looked +about till he found a small fishing boat to row to +the island, but having no oars, he was obliged to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +paddle along with his hands. On a sudden a violent +wind arose, and carried him out on to the open +sea. When Peter saw that he was far from land, he +well-nigh despaired of being saved, and exclaimed, +with sighs and tears: “Alas! woe is me, the most +miserable of men! Why did I take the rings out of +their place of safety? I have destroyed all my joy; +I have carried off the fair Princess, and left her +forsaken in a pathless wood. Wild beasts will tear +her to pieces, or she will lose her way and die of +hunger. Murderer that I am, that have shed +innocent blood!” And with that he began to sink +in the waves.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that a ship from Turkey came +sailing by, and when the sailors saw a man sinking +in the sea they picked him up and took him half-dead +on board their ship. Then they sailed on until +they arrived at the city of Alexandria, where they +sold Peter to the Turkish Pasha. But the Pasha +sent Prince Peter as a present to the Sultan of +Turkey, who, when he saw his discreet behaviour, +and handsome mien, made Peter a great senator, +and his uprightness and gracious behaviour won +for him the love of everyone.</p> + +<p>When the Princess Magilene awoke from her +sleep in the wood, she looked around on all sides, +but nowhere beheld Prince Peter: she wept with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +grief and despair, and fell upon the ground. At +length she arose, went into the wood, and cried +aloud with all her strength: “Noble Prince +Peter, whither are you gone?” And thus she +wandered about for a long time, and met a nun, +and begged for her dark dress, giving her in exchange +her light-coloured one. At length she came +to a harbour, where she hired a ship from the +country in which Peter’s father lived. There she +dwelt with a noble lady named Susanna; she chose +a spot among the mountains for a harbour, and built +a convent, to which she gave the name of Saint +Peter and Paul, and established an hospital for the +reception of strangers. Thus Magilene became +celebrated by her piety and goodness. Then came +Peter’s father and mother to visit her, and brought +her three rings, saying their cook had bought a +fish, inside which these rings were found; but, +as they had given them to their son Peter, they +feared that he had been drowned at sea, and they +wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>After Prince Peter had lived for a long time at +the Court of the Turkish Sultan, he expressed a +wish to travel to his native country. So the Sultan +dismissed him with great presents, giving him +much gold and silver and costly jewels. Then +Peter hired a French ship, bought fourteen casks, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +put at the bottom of them some salt, then laid over +this gold and silver, and on this more salt, and +told the sailors that the casks contained only salt. +He sailed with a favourable wind to his native +country, and anchored at an island, not far from the +country of France, for Prince Peter suffered from +sea sickness. Then he wandered about on the +shore, and lost his way in the island; he lay down +and fell fast asleep. The sailors sought for him +everywhere for a long time, calling him by name; +but not finding him, they went on their way. At +length they came to the convent, and there deposited +the casks of salt; and once when there +was a want of salt in the convent, Magilene ordered +the casks to be opened and found in them innumerable +treasures.</p> + +<p>Prince Peter was found by some other sailors +upon the island, and carried to this convent, where +he was placed in Magilene’s hospital and there he +remained for more than a month, but did not +recognize Magilene, for her face was concealed by +a black veil. And Peter wept every day.</p> + +<p>One day Magilene came to the hospital, saw +Peter weeping, and asked him the cause of his +tears; and he related to her exactly all his adventures. +Then Magilene knew him again, and sent +to inform his father Volchvan and his mother, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +Petronida, that their son was safe and well. Soon +came the father and mother to the convent, and +the King’s daughter received them attired in +princely robes. When Prince Peter saw his parents +he fell at their feet, embraced them, and wept, +and they wept with him. But Prince Peter stood +up, took them by the hands, kissed them, and said: +“My lord and father, and you my mother, this +maiden is the daughter of the great King of Naples, +to sue for whom I wandered so far.” Then they +were married, and lived happily ever after.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<h2>SILA TSAREVICH AND IVASHKA WITH +THE WHITE SMOCK</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once a Tsar, named Chotei, +who had three sons—the first, Aspar Tsarevich; +the second, Adam Tsarevich; and +the third and youngest son, Sila Tsarevich. The +two eldest brothers entreated their father’s permission +to travel in foreign countries and see the +world. Then the youngest brother, Sila Tsarevich, +also begged the Tsar’s permission to travel with +his brothers. But Chotei said: “My dear son, +you are still young, and not used to the difficulties +of travelling; remain at home, and think no more +of this fancy you have taken.” But Sila Tsarevich +had a great longing to see foreign lands, and +entreated his father so much that at length the +Tsar consented, and gave him a ship likewise. As +soon as the three brothers embarked, each on +board his ship, they all gave orders to set sail. And +when they were out on the open sea, the eldest +brother’s ship sailed first, the second brother’s +next, and Sila Tsarevich sailed last.</p> + +<p>On the third day of the voyage they saw a coffin +with iron bands floating on the waves. The two +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +eldest brothers sailed past without heeding it, +but as soon as Sila Tsarevich saw the coffin, he +ordered the sailors to pick it up, lay it on board +his ship, and carry it to land. The next day a violent +storm arose, by which Sila’s ship was driven out of +its course, and cast upon a steep shore in an unknown +country. Then Sila ordered his sailors to +take the coffin and to carry it on shore, whither he +himself followed, and buried it in the earth.</p> + +<p>Thereupon Sila Tsarevich ordered the captain +to remain upon the spot where the ship was stranded, +and await his return for three years; but adding +that, should he not come back in that time, he +should be free to set sail and return home. So saying, +Sila took leave of his captain and his crew, and +went forthwith, journeying on and on. He wandered +about for a long while, without seeing anyone; at +length he heard a man running after him, dressed +all in white. Then Sila Tsarevich turned round and +saw the man following him; whereupon he instantly +drew his sword to be upon his guard. But no +sooner did the man come up to him than he fell +on his knees and thanked Sila for having saved +him. And Sila asked the man what he had done to +deserve his thanks. Then the stranger stood up and +answered: “Ah, Sila Tsarevich, how can I thank +you enough? There I lay in the coffin, which you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +picked up at sea and buried; and had it not been +for you I might have remained floating about for +a hundred years.” “But how did you get into the +coffin?” asked Sila. “Listen, and I will tell you +the whole story,” replied Ivashka. “I was a great +magician; my mother was told that I did great +mischief to mankind by my arts, and therefore +ordered me to be put into this coffin and set adrift +on the open sea: for more than a hundred years +I have been floating about, and no one has ever +picked me up; but to you I owe my rescue, +and I will therefore serve you, and render +you all the help in my power. Let me ask you +whether you have not a wish to marry: I know the +beautiful Queen Truda, who is worthy of being +your wife.” Sila replied that if this Queen were +indeed beautiful, he was willing to marry her; and +Ivashka told him she was the most beautiful +woman in the world. When Sila heard this, he begged +Ivashka to accompany him to her kingdom; so +they set out and travelled on and on till they +reached that country. Now, Queen Truda’s +kingdom was surrounded by a palisade; and upon +every stake was stuck a man’s head, except one, +which had no head. When Sila saw this, he was +terrified, and asked Ivashka what it meant; and +Ivashka told him that these were the heads of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +heroes who had been suitors to Queen Truda. +Sila shuddered on hearing this, and wished to +return home without showing himself to the father +of Truda; but Ivashka told him to fear nothing +and go with him boldly; so Sila went on.</p> + +<p>When they entered the kingdom, Ivashka said: +“Hearken, Sila Tsarevich, I will be your servant, +and when you enter the royal halls, salute King +Salom humbly: then he will ask you whence you +came, and whose son you are, what is your name +and business. Tell him everything and conceal +nothing; but say that you are come to sue for his +daughter’s hand; he will give her to you with +great joy.” So Sila Tsarevich went into the palace, +and, as soon as Prince Salom saw him, he went +himself to meet him, took him by his white hands, +led him into the marble halls, and asked him: +“Fair youth, from what country do you come, +whose son are you, what is your name, and what is +your business?” “I am from the kingdom of +my father the Tsar Chotei,” replied Sila; “my +name is Sila Tsarevich, and I am come to sue for +your daughter, the beautiful Queen Truda.”</p> + +<p>King Salom was overjoyed that the son of such +a renowned Tsar should be his son-in-law, and +immediately ordered his daughter to prepare for +the wedding. And when the day for the marriage +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +came, the King commanded all his princes and +boyars to assemble in the palace; and they all +went in procession to the church, and Sila Tsarevich +was married to the fair Queen Truda. Then +they returned to the palace, seated themselves at +table, and feasted and made merry. When the time +came to retire to rest, Ivashka took Sila aside and +whispered to him: “Hark, ye, Sila Tsarevich, +when you go to rest, beware lest you speak a word +to your bride or you will not remain alive, and +your head will be stuck on the last stake. She +will in every way try to make you embrace her, but +attend to what I say.”</p> + +<p>Then Sila Tsarevich enquired why he warned +him thus, and Ivashka replied: “She is in league +with an evil Spirit, who comes to her every night in +the shape of a man, but flies through the air in +the shape of a six-headed dragon; now, if she +lays her hand upon your breast and presses it, jump +up and beat her with a stick until all her strength +is gone. I will meanwhile remain on watch at the +door of your apartment.”</p> + +<p>When Sila Tsarevich heard this, he went with +his wife to rest, and Queen Truda tried in every +way to get him to kiss her, but Sila lay quite still +and spoke not a word. Then Truda laid her hand +upon his breast and pressed him so hard that he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +could scarcely breathe. But up jumped Sila Tsarevich +and seized the stick which Ivashka had laid +there ready for him, and fell to beating her as hard +as he could. On a sudden there arose a storm, and +a six-headed dragon came flying into the room +and was going to devour Sila Tsarevich, but +Ivashka seized a sharp sword and attacked the +dragon, and they fought three hours, and Ivashka +struck off two of the dragon’s heads, whereupon +the monster flew away. Then Ivashka desired Sila +Tsarevich to go to sleep and fear nothing. Sila +obeyed him, laid himself down, and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning King Salom went to be +informed whether his dear son still lived, and when +he heard that Sila was alive and well, the King +rejoiced, since he was the first who had been saved +from his daughter; and he instantly ordered Sila +to be called, and the whole day was spent in merrymaking.</p> + +<p>The following night Ivashka gave Sila Tsarevich +the same caution as before, not to speak a word to +his wife, and he placed himself on watch at the +door. Then it fell out as before, and when Sila +Tsarevich began to beat the Queen, on a sudden +the dragon came flying in, and was going to devour +Sila Tsarevich. But Ivashka rushed from behind +the door, sword in hand, and fought with the dragon +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +and struck off two more of his heads. Then the +dragon flew away, and Sila Tsarevich lay down +to sleep. Early in the morning the King commanded +Sila to be invited, and they spent this day in the +same pleasures as before. The third night the same +happened again, and Ivashka cut off the last two +heads of the dragon, and he burnt all the heads and +strewed the ashes in the fields.</p> + +<p>Thus time passed on, and Sila Tsarevich lived +with his father-in-law a whole year, without speaking +to his wife or gaining her love. Then Ivashka +told him one day to go to King Salom and ask +permission to return to his native country. So Sila +went to the King, who dismissed him, and gave +him two squadrons of his army to accompany him +as an escort. Then Sila took leave of his father-in-law, +and set out with his wife on their journey to +his own country.</p> + +<p>When they had gone half-way, Ivashka told Sila +Tsarevich to halt and pitch his tent. So Sila obeyed, +and ordered the tent to be put up. The next day +Ivashka laid pieces of wood in front of Sila’s tent +and set fire to them. Then he led Queen Truda +out of the tent, unsheathed his sword, and cut her +in twain. Sila Tsarevich shuddered with terror and +began to weep; but Ivashka said: “Weep not, +she will come to life again.” And presently all sorts +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +of evil things came forth from the body, and Ivashka +threw them all into the fire. Then he said to Sila +Tsarevich: “See you not the evil spirits which +troubled your wife? She is now relieved from +them.” And, so saying, he laid the parts of Truda’s +body together, sprinkled them with the water of +life, and the Queen was instantly sound and whole +as before. Then said Ivashka: “Now, farewell, +Sila Tsarevich, you will find that your wife loves +you truly, but you will never see me more.” And +so saying he vanished.</p> + +<p>Sila Tsarevich ordered the tent to be struck, +and journeyed on to his native country. And when +he came to the place where his ship was waiting +for him, he went on board with the fair Queen +Truda, dismissed the escort which accompanied +him, and set sail. And on arriving at his own kingdom, +he was welcomed with salvos of cannon, and +Tsar Chotei came out of his palace and took him +and the beautiful Queen Truda by their lily-white +hands, led them into the marble halls, placed them +at table, and they feasted and made merry. Sila +Tsarevich lived with his father two years; then +he returned to the kingdom of King Salom, received +from him the crown, and ruled over the +country with his Queen Truda in great love and +happiness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<h2>STORY OF THE KNIGHT YAROSLAV +LASAREVICH AND THE PRINCESS +ANASTASIA</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N a certain country lived a Tsar named Kartaus, +who had twelve knights, and the Tsar +had a chief over these knights, Prince Lasar +Lasarevich. Prince Lasar and his wife, the Princess +Epistimia, lived for seventy years and had no child; +and they began, with tears, to sigh for one to cheer +their old age, and to pray for their souls after death.</p> + +<p>At length their wish was granted, and they had a +son, whom Prince Lasar named Yaroslav. The +little fellow had a rosy face, blonde hair, and bright +eyes. His parents were overjoyed and made a great +feast. When Yaroslav was fifteen years old he went +often to the Tsar’s Court and played with the +children of princes and boyars. Then the princes +counselled together, and went to the Tsar and +said: “Our lord and sovereign, grant us your +imperial favour: your Majesty has a knight, +Prince Lasar, whose son Yaroslav comes to your +imperial Court and plays with our children; but +his sports are mischievous, for whenever he takes +anyone by the head, the head falls off, and this +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +causes us great trouble and grief. Now, O Tsar, +show us your favour, and either send Yaroslav +out of your kingdom or grant us leave to depart, +for live we cannot with Yaroslav.”</p> + +<p>Then the Tsar Kartaus immediately sent for +Prince Lasar, told him the complaints the princes +and nobles had made of Yaroslav, and commanded +that he should leave the kingdom. When Lasar +heard this command, he rode away sorrowfully, +with his head hanging lower than his shoulders. +Now Yaroslav came to meet his father, bowed to +the ground, and said: “Long years of happiness +to my lord and father! Why ride you so sorrowfully, +my lord? Have you received an unkind word +from the Tsar?” Prince Lasar answered: “My +dear child Yaroslav, I have indeed received a cruel +order from the Tsar. Other children are a joy to +their father from their youth up, a support in his +old age, and the guardian of his memory when +dead. Not so, alas! with you, my son. You go to +the Tsar’s Court and play mischievous tricks with +the children of the princes and boyars, and they +have complained to the Tsar Kartaus, and he has +banished you from the kingdom.”</p> + +<p>At this Yaroslav laughed and said: “My lord +and father, grieve not for me that I am banished. +I have only one trouble: I am now fifteen years +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +old, and have never been able to find in your stables +a good horse that might serve me for ever and aye.” +Then they went into the marble halls, and Yaroslav +Lasarevich begged permission of his father and +mother to travel about the world, to see men and +to be seen. So his parents at length consented, and +gave him twenty lads, and fifty skilful builders, +to build a marble palace on the sea coast. These +builders erected the palace in three days, and sent +a messenger to Prince Lasar and the Princess +Epistimia, to tell them that the splendid palace +was ready. Then Yaroslav took leave of his parents, +and Prince Lasar and his wife wept bitterly at +parting with their son, and gave him their blessing.</p> + +<p>So Yaroslav Lasarevich rode until he came to +the marble palace on the seashore. His father and +mother offered him gold, silver, jewels, horses, +and attendants, but Yaroslav would have none of +these: he took with him only an old horse, a +Tcherkess saddle, a snaffle-bit, a blanket, and a +leather whip. Thus came Yaroslav to his marble +palace on the seashore, threw the blanket over +him, placed the saddle under his head, and stretched +himself out to sleep. Early the next morning +Yaroslav arose, went out to walk on the seashore, +and shot a number of wild geese, swans, and ducks. +Upon these he fed, and lived thus one, two, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +three months. Then he went upon a road which +was so broad that a shot could not reach across it, +and so deep that it went to the ears of a brave steed. +Yaroslav looked at the road, and said to himself: +“Who travels this road, a great army or a stout +knight?” It happened that an old man came riding +up to him on his grey horse, and he dismounted and +threw himself down with his face to the ground, +saying: “Long life and happiness to you, Yaroslav +Lasarevich! How goes it with you, my lord? +and how comes it that you are in this desert spot?” +“What is your name, old brother?” said Yaroslav. +The man replied: “My name is Ivashka, master, +and my horse is called Alotyagilei. I am a great +shot and a mighty wrestler in the host of knights.” +“But how do you know my name?” replied +Yaroslav. Ivashka answered: “My Lord, I am +an old servant of your father, and have tended his +horses in the fields for three-and-thirty years, +and I come to your father once every year to +receive my wages. Thus it is that I know you.” +Yaroslav answered: “I am going to the chase, +and am wandering about in the open fields. He +who has not tasted the bitter, does not relish the +sweet. While still a young boy I ran about in the +courtyard, and played with the children of the +princes and boyars. But when I seize anyone by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +the head, his head falls off, and, when I take him +by the hand, his hand falls off. This was not agreeable +to the Tsar, and he banished me from his +kingdom; but this punishment was nothing in +comparison to another greater grief which pains +me sorely. I am already fifteen years old, but can +find no horse in my father’s stable that might serve +me for life.” Then said Ivashka: “My lord, +Yaroslav Lasarevich, I have a horse, which is +called Podlas: he must be caught, and he will +serve you for ever and a day. If you do not catch +him now you never will.” “But how can I see the +horse, brother Ivashka?” Ivashka answered: +“Yaroslav Lasarevich, you can see this steed early +in the morning, when I take the horses to the sea +to drink, but if, when you see him, you do not +seize him on the spot, you never will.” Thereupon +Yaroslav Lasarevich went into his marble palace, +laid the horse-cloth under him, and the Tcherkess +saddle and the bit under his head, and stretched +himself out to sleep. The next morning he rose +early, went into the field, and took the bridle, the +Tcherkess saddle, and the leather whip with him. +He concealed himself under an oak tree; and +presently saw Ivashka driving the horses to the +sea to water, and, as he gazed upon the sea, he +observed that where a steed drank, the waves +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +foamed and roared fearfully. Above the oak tree +screamed the eagles, and on the mountains roared +the lions, and no one could approach the spot. +Yaroslav wondered greatly, and when the horse +came to stand opposite him, he leaped out from +the oak and struck him with the back of his hand. +The horse fell on his knees, and he seized him by +his mane and said: “My trusty steed, who shall +ride on you if not I your master?” Then he threw +the bridle over him, put the Tcherkess saddle +on his back, and rode to the marble palace, and +Ivashka followed. Then said he to Ivashka: “What +name shall I give this horse?” “How, my lord, +shall a servant know better than his master to name +such a horse?” So Yaroslav named him Uroshtch +Veschei; and he said to Ivashka: “Ride to my +father, Prince Lasar, and tell him I am well and +have found a trusty steed.” Then Yaroslav Lasarevich +rode off upon his good horse to Ivan +the Russian knight, and behind him followed +Ivashka at full gallop till he was lost to sight.</p> + +<p>Ivashka returned to the kingdom of Kartaus, to +Yaroslav’s father and mother, and carried the +tidings that he was well. The parents rejoiced +greatly to hear of their son, and dismissed Ivashka +with rich presents. But Yaroslav Lasarevich rode +on and on, for two and for three months, until at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +last he came to a field where an immense army +lay slain. Then he cried with a loud voice: “Is +there here no man still alive?” Immediately a +man stood up and said: “My lord, Yaroslav +Lasarevich, whom dost thou seek?” “I want a +living man,” said Yaroslav; and then he enquired +to whom the army belonged, and who had slain +it. “The army,” replied the man, “belonged to +Feodul the Dragon Tsar, and it has been slain by +Prince Ivan the Russian knight, who sued for the +hand of Feodul’s daughter, the Princess Kandaula +Feodulavna; and, as he would not give her of +his free will, Ivan sought to take her by force.” +Thereupon Yaroslav asked how far distant this +Russian knight was; and the man replied: +“Yaroslav Lasarevich, he has gone too far for +you to reach him; ride round the army, and you +will see the footsteps of Prince Ivan.” So Yaroslav +rode round the army, and saw the tracks of the +bounding of the steed; for wherever he had struck +his hoofs, large heaps of earth were thrown up. +He followed the track until he came to another +slain army: here he cried with a loud voice: “Is +there not one living man here who has survived +the battle?” Then up rose a man and said: “My +lord, Yaroslav Lasarevich, one steed is better than +another, and one youth surpasses another.” Yaroslav +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +rode on, and he rode for one, two, and three +months; when at length he came to an open +country, where he descried a white tent and beside +it a goodly steed, before which corn was poured +out upon a white linen cloth. Yaroslav dismounted +and led his horse to feed, and his horse drove the +other way. Then Yaroslav entered the tent, where +a comely youth lay fast asleep: he drew his sword, +and was on the point of slaying him when he +bethought himself that it would bring no honour +to slay a sleeping man; so he lay down in the tent, +on the other side, near Prince Ivan. When Ivan +awoke he went out of the tent, and saw that his +steed was driven away, and was grazing in the +open fields, whilst a strange horse ate the corn. +Then he returned to the tent and saw a youth lying +fast asleep. Prince Ivan looked fiercely at him; +but suddenly reflected that he should have little +honour from killing a man asleep. So he cried: +“Stand up, man, and save yourself. Why have +you put your horse to feed on another’s corn, and +lain down to sleep in another’s tent? For this you +must answer with your life.” Then Yaroslav +awoke, and Prince Ivan asked him his name, whence +he came, and who his parents were. “I am from +the kingdom of Kartaus,” answered Yaroslav, +“the son of Prince Lasar and the Princess Epistimia +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +and my name is Yaroslav. Your steed has not been +driven away by me, but by my horse, and good +folk are not used to meet strangers with uncivil +speech, but rather to treat them with hospitality. +If you have a glass of water, give it to me, for I am +your guest.” “You are young,” said Ivan, “and +it befits me not to fetch your water; bring it to +me rather.” “You pluck the bird before you have +caught it,” replied the other, “and blame a youth ere +you have tried him.” Then said Prince Ivan: “I +am the prince of princes, and the knight of knights, +and you are a cossack.” “Ay, indeed!” replied +Yaroslav, “you are prince in your tent; but let +us meet in the open field and we are equals.” +Prince Ivan saw that he had no coward to deal +with: he took a golden flask, fetched some cold +water, and gave it to Yaroslav to drink. Then +they mounted their horses and rode into the open +country. And when they began to fight, Yaroslav +struck Prince Ivan with the butt of his lance and +hurled him to the ground: then he whirled round +his horse, put the point of his lance to Ivan’s +breast, and said: “Prince Ivan, wilt thou live or +die?” And Ivan answered: “Yaroslav Lasarevich, +be to me my elder brother—spare my +life!”</p> + +<p>Then Yaroslav dismounted, took Prince Ivan, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +the Russian knight, by his hand and embraced +him, calling him his younger brother; whereupon +they mounted their steeds, rode off to the +tent, and fell to feasting and making merry. And +Yaroslav said: “My lord brother, Prince Ivan, +as I was wandering in the open country I came +upon two slain armies.” To which Ivan replied: +“Brother Yaroslav, the first army, of the Tsar +Feodul, I slew when he refused to give me his +daughter Kandaula in marriage; and I am resolved +to carry her off by force, for I hear there is no such +beauty in the world. To-morrow I shall fight the +last battle with him, and thou shall be witness of +my valour.” The next morning Prince Ivan rose +early, saddled his steed, and rode to the kingdom +of Feodul, the Dragon Tsar; and Yaroslav went +on foot, and concealed himself under an oak tree +to witness the fight. Then Prince Ivan called upon +the Tsar with a loud voice, and Feodul ordered +the trumpets to sound, and an army of a hundred +thousand men to assemble. The Tsar Feodul rode +against Prince Ivan, and before and behind him +rode an innumerable host of squires and knights. +Ivan grasped his shield with one hand and his +lance with the other. As the falcon swoops upon +the geese, swans, and ducks, even so did Prince +Ivan fall upon that terrible army; and his steed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +trod to the ground twice as many as he himself +slew. He destroyed the whole host, sparing only +the lives of the old men and boys, who could not +resist; and he took the Tsar Feodul prisoner, and +put him to death. Then he hastened to his kingdom +and carried off the Princess Kandaula. He took +her by her white hands, kissed her on her soft lips, +and led her into his tent. Soon after Yaroslav +Lasarevich also arrived, and they all fell to feasting +and making merry.</p> + +<p>When Yaroslav went out of the tent Ivan said: +“My beloved Princess, tell me, is there in the +world a fairer one than thou art, or a braver knight +than my brother Yaroslav Lasarevich? I have +gone far and wide and have not found thine equal.” +“Nay,” replied the Princess, “there are yet fairer +than I am. In the open fields is a white tent, in +which dwell the daughters of the Tsar Bogrigor. +The eldest is named Prodora, the second Tivobriga, +and the youngest Legia: they are ten times +fairer than I; compared to them I am as night +to day. Whilst with my parents I was still fair, but +now I am wasted with sorrow. And on the road +to the kingdom of India there is a knight, in the +dominions of Tsar Dalmat, named Ivashka Whitemantle +Saracen’s-cap. I have heard from my +father that for three-and-thirty years he has +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +guarded the kingdom of India, and that no traveller +or knight rides past, no animal runs by, and no +bird flies past; I know no one braver than he, for +I have never before heard of the valour of Yaroslav +Lasarevich.”</p> + +<p>Now Yaroslav overheard these words, and his +chivalrous heart could not brook it. He saddled +his steed, embraced Ivan the Russian knight, and +the Princess Kandaula, and rode off towards the +kingdom of the Tsar Dalmat, to engage in fight +with Ivashka Whitemantle. He had journeyed for +some time, when he bethought himself that he was +bound on an enterprise of life and death, without +having taken leave of his father and mother. So he +turned and rode till he came to the kingdom of the +Tsar Kartaus, where he encountered Prince Daniil +the White, at the head of three thousand men, who +boasted that he would subdue the kingdom of +Kartaus, take prisoners the Tsar himself, Prince +Lasar, and the twelve knights, and carry them off +to his own country. Yaroslav rode straight to the +city, and there beheld Prince Lasar assembling +an army for battle. Then dismounting from his +horse, he threw himself with his face to the ground +and said: “Long life to my lord and father! +How fares it with thee? Wherefore so sad, my +lord?” And Prince Lasar answered: “My +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +dear son, whence art thou come like a sunbeam to +cheer me? How can I help grieving? Prince +Daniil has invaded our dominion with an immense +army and threatens to seize it and carry off +the Tsar and me and the twelve knights prisoners.” +Then spoke Yaroslav Lasarevich: “My lord and +father, give me the shield, and lance, and I will +go out to fight the enemy.” But Prince Lasar +answered: “My son, how canst thou combat +such a host, who hast never been in battle? The +cries of the Tartars will terrify thee, and they will +slay thee!” “Teach not the goose to swim, +father,” answered Yaroslav, “nor a knight’s son +to fight with Tartars! Only give me what I demand, +and fear nought.”</p> + +<p>Like a falcon darting upon geese and swans, +Yaroslav fell upon the armies of Prince Daniil the +White; and he hewed down not so many as his +horse trampled under his hoofs, and he took Daniil +prisoner. Yaroslav made him pledge his word never +again to set foot in the kingdom of the Tsar +Kartaus—he nor his children, nor his children’s +children; adding that if he fell again into his +hands he should die a miserable death. Then +Yaroslav sent him back to his own country, and +rode into the city. Then Tsar Kartaus came out +to meet him, and Yaroslav threw himself with his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +face to the ground and said: “Long years of +happiness to thee, my liege Tsar Kartaus!” “Sir +Yaroslav Lasarevich,” answered Kartaus, “I have +wronged thee in banishing thee from my kingdom. +Abide here and choose the best city and the fairest +villages. My treasures are open to thee—take what +thou desirest, and thy place is at my side.” Yaroslav +answered: “O Tsar, I am wont to rove about, to +seek adventure and to fight.” So, after he had eaten +salt and bread with the Tsar and with his parents, +he took leave of them all and rode forth.</p> + +<p>And Yaroslav rode one, two, and three months, +till at length he came to a plain, on which was +pitched a white tent, wherein sat the three fair +daughters of the Tsar Bogrigor, of whose beauty +there was not the like in the wide world; and they +were busy at their work. Yaroslav stepped into the +tent, and was so amazed at the sight, that he forgot +to pray to the ikons of the Saints. Then he took +the eldest daughter, Prodora, by the hand, and +desiring the others to leave the tent, said: “My +gentle and beautiful Princess Prodora Bogrigorovna, +is there in the world a fairer maiden than +thou, or a braver knight than I?” And Prodora +answered: “Sir Yaroslav Lasarevich, how can +you call me fair? In the city of Dobri lives the +daughter of the Tsar Vorcholomei, the Princess +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +Anastasia, compared to her we are like night to +day. On the way to the Indian kingdom of the Tsar +Dalmat is a knight named Ivashka Whitemantle +Saracen’s-cap, and I have heard from my father +that he is very powerful, and has guarded the +kingdom of India for three-and-thirty years; no +one passes him on foot or horse, no animal runs, +no bird flies past. But what a brave knight art thou +indeed to drive us maidens from the tent!” At +this Yaroslav was angered: he bowed the head of +the Princess and struck it off with his sword. Then +he took the second Princess, Tivobriga, by the hand +and said: “Gentle princess, is there a more +beautiful maiden in the world than thou, or a +braver knight than I?” And she answered as the +eldest had done; so he struck off her head in like +manner. Then he took the third sister Legia by +the hand and asked her the same question as her +sisters. And Legia answered: “Sir Yaroslav, I +am neither beautiful nor good. When I was with +my father and mother I was so, but now I am +wasted and no longer handsome.” Then she likewise +told him of the Princess Anastasia, the daughter +of the Tsar Vorcholomei, and of the knight +Ivashka. “Fairest lady,” replied Yaroslav, “thou +has comforted me with thy gentle words.”</p> + +<p>Then he went out of the tent, took leave of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +Legia, mounted his steed, and rode off to the kingdom +of India, to see the Tsar Dalmat and Ivashka +Whitemantle. And he rode on for one, two and +three months; and when he came near the city, +there upon the plain stood Ivashka, leaning upon +a lance, with a Saracen’s cap on his head and a +white mantle around him. Yaroslav rode up to +him, struck off his cap with his whip, and said: +“Lie down and sleep, there is no need to stand!” +“Who art thou?” inquired Ivashka; “what is +thy name, and whence comest thou?” Yaroslav +answered: “I am come from the kingdom of the +Tsar Kartaus, and my name is Yaroslav: I am +preparing to journey to the kingdom of India to +pay my respects to the Tsar Dalmat.” But Ivashka +answered: “Never has man or animal passed +this way, and thinkest thou to do so? First let us +go into the plain and try the prowess of our arms!” +The two knights made a furious onset; and after +a long fight Yaroslav thrust his lance at Ivashka’s +heart, and threw him from the saddle; and Ivashka +fell upon the ground like a sheaf of oats, and Yaroslav +slew him on the spot.</p> + +<p>Then Yaroslav rode on his way to the kingdom +of India, and on arriving at the city he went straight +to the Tsar Dalmat; and, entering the palace, he +made his obeisance and said: “Long years of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +happiness to thee, O Tsar, to thy family, and all +thy princes and boyars! Take me into thy service!” +Then said Dalmat: “Man, whence comest thou, +and what is thy name, and whose son art thou?” +So Yaroslav told him, and the Tsar said: “Which +way hast thou come, by land or by water?” +Yaroslav replied: “By land,” and the Tsar said: +“I have a knight who dwells upon the open plains, +and has guarded my kingdom for three-and-thirty +years; no man or animal has ever passed him, on +horse, foot, or wing; and how hast thou ridden +past?” Yaroslav answered: “I have vanquished +this man, O Tsar; but I knew not that he belonged +to thee.”</p> + +<p>On hearing this the Tsar was terrified, and +thought to himself: “If he has slain such a knight +he can easily conquer my kingdom, and he only +wants to rob me of my throne.” This thought +made him sorrowful, and he commanded all honour +to be shown to Yaroslav Lasarevich, and gave him +drink from his own goblet. Then Yaroslav observed +that the Tsar feared him: he went out of the castle, +saddled his steed, and rode away out of the kingdom. +Tsar Dalmat was rejoiced to be freed from +Yaroslav, and ordered the gates to be closed fast +behind him.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav now resolved to go to the city of Dobri +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +to witness the beauty of the Princess Anastasia, +and he rode on for one, two, and three months. +Then he bethought himself: “I have come to a +strange country, perhaps to marry this Princess, +or meet death without having my parents’ blessing.”</p> + +<p>And with that, away he rode to the kingdom of +the Tsar Kartaus, which he found conquered, and +laid waste with fire and sword. There remained +one solitary hut standing, in which dwelt a one-eyed +old man. Yaroslav stepped into the hut, +bowed to the man, and said: “Old brother, what +has happened to this kingdom?” The man +answered: “Brave knight, whence art thou come, +and what is thy name?” But Yaroslav replied: +“Knowest thou me not? I was born in this kingdom, +the son of Prince Lasar, and my name is +Yaroslav.” On hearing this the old man fell to the +earth, and said with tears: “Since thou hast +been gone, long time has passed. Daniil the White +returned, and with him five times a hundred +thousand men; he fell upon this kingdom, laid it +waste with fire and sword, and slew a hundred +thousand brave warriors. Five millions of the +common folk, with all the priests and monks, he +burnt in the open fields, slew twelve thousand +infants, took prisoners the Tsar Kartaus with his +twelve knights, and put to death the Tsarina and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +thy mother, the Princess Epistimia. I am the only +one left alive, and have lain nine days here half-dead +with fear.”</p> + +<p>Yaroslav wept when he heard this, and mounting +his steed, commended himself to the Saints, and +rode to seek the Tsar Daniil the White. He came +to the city at noon without being seen, except by +some little boys playing in the streets: and he +asked them where the Tsar Kartaus was, as he +wished to give him alms; so they showed him the +prison. At the gate a guard was standing, but +Yaroslav struck him down, and broke open the +doors. On entering the prison, he saw Kartaus, his +father Lasar, and the twelve knights, all blinded; +at which cruel sight he fell to the ground, and with +tears exclaimed: “Long life to thee, O Tsar, to +thee my father, and to you brave knights!” Then +answered Kartaus: “I hear thy voice but cannot +see thy face. Whence comest thou, what is thy +name, and whose son art thou?” So Yaroslav +told him who he was; but Kartaus replied: +“Fellow, away! and mock me not.”</p> + +<p>“Father,” replied Yaroslav, “I am indeed +Yaroslav, and come to relieve you.” “Lie not, +fellow!” said Kartaus; “if Yaroslav had been +alive we should not sit here in prison and suffer +such a cruel fate; but I should have been reigning +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +in my kingdom with Prince Lasar and my twelve +knights. But since Yaroslav is dead we are punished +for our sins, and sit here in sightless solitude. If, +however, you are really the true Yaroslav Lasarevich, +ride, I pray thee, beyond the Still Waters +and the Warm Sea, to the city of Shtchetin, where +rules the Tsar Fireshield. Slay him, and take some +drops of his blood; and when you return, anoint +our eyes with it and we shall then see and shall believe +you.”</p> + +<p>Yaroslav made his obeisance to the Tsar, mounted +his horse, and rode forth. But the boys in the streets +had observed him, and they told it to their fathers, +who said to Daniil the White: “O Prince, there +has been in our city a brave warrior; his horse +was like a lion, and he was armed from head to foot, +and he rode away from the prison where Tsar +Kartaus and his companions are confined.” Instantly +Prince Daniil sent his servant Mursa to +enquire who had been in the prison. And when he +came there he found the doors standing open, and +the guard slain; then, entering the doors, he said: +“O Tsar Kartaus, tell me who has been with you +here? Prince Daniil sends me to inquire.” And Kartaus +answered: “My good fellow how can we tell +who was here? A man was in the prison who called +himself Yaroslav, but we recognized not his voice.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +Then Mursa returned to Prince Daniil, and told +him what Kartaus had said; and forthwith Prince +Daniil ordered the trumpets to sound and the +drums to beat; and a host of Tartars assembled +around him to the number of two hundred and +fifty thousand men. And he commanded thirty +horsemen to pursue and take Yaroslav and to +bring him before him. So they went in pursuit, +and after riding for some time they descried Yaroslav +asleep under an oak tree, and his horse standing +beside him. The horse perceived that the +Tartars were in pursuit of his master, and neighed +loudly. Thereat Yaroslav awoke, and seeing the +knights afar, he mounted his steed and rode off, +exclaiming: “First catch the wind on the wide plains +and then look to catch me!”</p> + +<p>So saying he vanished from their sight, and rode +beyond the Still Waters and the Warm Seas to +the Podolish Horde, to the city of Shtchetin. Then +the Tartars took counsel together what they should +say to the Prince, and they resolved to pretend +that they had not seen Yaroslav.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav Lasarevich arrived in half a year at the +city of Shtchetin, before which lay the remains of +an army slain, and in the midst the head of a knight +as big as a large hillock. Then Yaroslav rode round +this army, and cried with a loud voice: “Is there +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +not here one living man?” And the Knight’s head +said: “Yaroslav Lasarevich, whom seekest thou?” +At this Yaroslav marvelled greatly; but the Head +spoke again: “Wonder not, but tell me whither +thou ridest, and what thou seekest.” Then Yaroslav +asked: “But who art thou? In what kingdom +dost thou dwell, and who are thy father and mother?” +And the Head answered: “I am a knight of the +Sadonic kingdom, son of the Tsar Prochos, and +my name is Raslanei.” And Yaroslav said: “Whose +armies lie here slain?” “These hosts belong to +the Tsar Fireshield,” replied Raslanei, “and a +year has not passed since I came here and slew +them. The cause of the war was that the Tsar had +seized upon towns belonging to my father. But tell +me, Yaroslav, how far are you journeying?” +Then said Yaroslav: “I am riding to the city of +Shtchetin to slay the Tsar Fireshield.” But the +Head answered: “Sooner will you be slain yourself! +I was indeed a powerful knight, feared by all +Tsars and knights; at my birth I was six feet tall, +and as stout as a man could compass. When I was +ten years old no wild beast, no man on foot, or +knight on horse, could stand before me. Now you +see how I am grown: my body is sixty feet long, +twelve feet between the shoulders, and a feathered +shaft can lie between my eyebrows. My head is as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +big as a brewer’s vat; my arms are twenty feet +long, and I could not stand my ground against the +Tsar. The Tsar is strong, and has a mighty host; +sword and scimitar wound him not; fire does not +burn, water does not drown him. Yet I have a +sword which can wound him, but unluckily I +could not wield it, and he struck me down. Nevertheless, +I will do you good service, and give you +counsel; when you come to the city of Shtchetin +and the Tsar Fireshield sees and questions you, +answer that you desire to serve him. Then he will +bid you follow him; do so, and serve him faithfully, +and when he goes out to the chase, accompany +him. Then remind him of me, and he will +grow sad, but tell him you can get the sword which +lies under my head. He will not believe you, but +pledge your word, and as soon as you can, come +to me, I will lift my head and give you the sword.”</p> + +<p>Then Yaroslav made his bow, mounted his steed +and rode to Shtchetin; and, as he approached the +city, the Tsar perceived and accosted him. Yaroslav +dismounted, and falling with his face to the +ground, said: “Long years of happiness to thee, +O Tsar! Take me, I pray, into thy service.” +Then the Tsar asked him whence he came, whose +son he was, and what was his name. Yaroslav +replied: “I have roamed far and wide, and now +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +seek the service of a good lord and master; I was +born in the kingdom of the Tsar Kartaus, the son +of Prince Lasar, and my name is Yaroslav.” Then +said the Tsar: “Yaroslav Lasarevich, ride into +my city—I want followers.” So Yaroslav rode into +the city.</p> + +<p>One day the Tsar rode out to the chase, and +took with him the boyars and knights, and Yaroslav +was among them. When they approached the +Knight’s Head, Yaroslav stood and marvelled at +the sight. Then said the Tsar: “Why standest +thou there, Yaroslav?” And Yaroslav answered: +“O Tsar, I see here a great army lie slain, and +this Knight’s Head, under which rests a trusty +sword.” The Tsar sighed and answered: “This +Knight has destroyed my army, and I slew him; +his sword lies under his head, and I cannot get it. No +sword can wound me, no fire burn, no water drown +me; this sword alone has the power to slay me.”</p> + +<p>Then said Yaroslav: “O Tsar, permit me to +bring thee the sword.” And the Tsar replied: “Do +this service and I will set thee above all my knights; +but if thou talkest idly, thou shalt be safe neither +in water, nor under the earth, nor among the rocks.” +And so saying, the Tsar returned into the city, and +Yaroslav rode up to the Knight’s Head and said: +“Sir Knight’s Head, I trust to thy love and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +friendship to fulfil thy promise and give me up this +sword; for I have given my word to the Tsar to +take it to him, and shall die a cruel death if I perform +not my promise.” But the Knight’s Head +answered not a word. Then Yaroslav dismounted +from his good steed, fell on his knees before him, +and said: “Sir Raslanei, let me die not thus in +vain—give me, I pray, the sword from under thee.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon the Knight Raslanei raised himself, +and Yaroslav took the sword, bowed to the Knight’s +Head, and mounting his steed, rode off to the city +of Shtchetin. And on the way he said to himself: +“Hitherto I have been victorious over Tsars and +knights, but now indeed I am forced to bend before +a Knight’s Head, and entreat him to give me a +sword!”</p> + +<p>Raslanei heard this, and cried with a loud voice: +“Ho, Sir Knight! return!” So Yaroslav turned +round, and went back to the Head; and the +Head reproached him, saying: “Thy sword +could not touch my helm.” Then Yaroslav fell on +the ground and said: “Sir Knight Raslanei, +pardon me for having offended thee!” And the +Knight’s Head answered: “Yaroslav Lasarevich, +thy youth and want of understanding have made +thee speak thus. Thou hast taken my sword indeed; +but even with this thou mayest still lose thy life; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +nevertheless, I wish thee well, and will teach thee +understanding. When thou comest to the city, and +the Tsar sees thee, he will descend from his throne +for joy, welcome thee in the midst of his Court, +and give thee gold and silver and precious stones. +Then deal him a single blow upon his head with +the sword; but beware of striking a second blow, +or he will revive and kill thee.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter ipadtop" style="width: 408px;"> +<a name="sword" id="sword"></a> +<img src="images/trg07.jpg" width="408" height="600" +alt="Yaroslav raises his sword to strike" /> +</div> + +<p class="caption">And so saying, he stretched out his hand to take the sword.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav bowed himself to the Knight’s Head, +and rode to the city; and no sooner had he reached +the castle, and the Tsar saw him bringing the +sword, than he sprang from his throne, flung away +his sceptre, received him in his Court, and said: +“Yaroslav Lasarevich, in return for this service I +grant thee one place opposite me, the second by +my side, and a third where thou wilt. My treasures +are open to thee—take towns and handsome villages, +and if thou wilt have my daughter the Princess +Nasaria for wife, I will give thee one-half of my +kingdom.” And so saying, he stretched out his hand +to take the sword; but Yaroslav struck him a blow +which cleft his head, and the Tsar fell dead on the +spot. Then all the princes and boyars cried aloud: +“Yaroslav Lasarevich, strike him a second blow!” +But he answered: “A knight deals one blow, and +that is enough.” Forthwith a number of princes +and boyars and the twelve knights fell upon him, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +and were going to put him to death; but Yaroslav +set his lance under his arm, seized the Tsar with +his left hand, and clutching his sword with his +right, he fell to slaying the princes and knights on +all sides.</p> + +<p>Soon the other princes and inhabitants of the +city cried aloud: “O Yaroslav Lasarevich, cease +killing and slaying! It is the will of fate—live with +us and rule over our land!” But Yaroslav replied: +“Choose a Tsar from among yourselves: I am +no Tsar for you.” He ceased, however, slaying the +people, and taking some of the Tsar’s blood, put +it into a phial; then mounting his horse, he rode +out of the city and away, until he came to Sir +Raslanei, and, taking the headless body, he set +the head upon it, and sprinkled it with the blood. +Thereupon the Knight stood up, as if awakened +from a dream; and Yaroslav embraced him, and +they called one another brothers: Raslanei was +the elder, and Yaroslav the younger. Then they +parted, and each rode his way. Raslanei rode to +his Sadonic kingdom, to receive his mother’s +blessing, as he wished to marry the daughter of the +Tsar of Shtchetin, and rule over that city. But +Yaroslav rode on and on for half a year, until he +came to the kingdom of Daniil the White. On +entering the city he went straight to the prison, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +before which a strong guard was posted: so he +slew them all, broke open the gates, entered the +prison, and said: “Hail, O Tsar Kartaus, and +thou my father, Prince Lasar, and ye twelve knights! +How does Heaven protect you?” But the Tsar +Kartaus answered: “Man, whence are thou, and +what is thy name?” “O Tsar,” replied Yaroslav, +“I was born in thy kingdom, the son of Prince +Lasar, and my name is Yaroslav. I have fulfilled +thy commands and slain the mighty Tsar, and +have taken some of his blood.” Then said Kartaus: +“If thy name is indeed Yaroslav Lasarevich, and +thou hast slain the Tsar and taken of his blood, +anoint our eyes with it; then we shall see the light of +heaven and shall believe thee.”</p> + +<p>So Yaroslav took the blood from his phial and +anointed their eyes, and they saw again; thereat +they were overjoyed, and with tears exclaimed: +“O Yaroslav Lasarevich, it is indeed he!” and they +embraced him. Then the Tsar Kartaus asked him: +“Where hast thou been so long?” “Wait an +instant,” replied Yaroslav; and so saying, he left +the prison, mounted his good steed, and rode out of +the city.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning Yaroslav cried out with +a loud voice; and when Prince Daniil the White +heard the shout, he ordered the trumpets to sound +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +and the drums to beat. Then the Murses and +Tartars flocked around him, and divers warlike +peoples, and Prince Daniil the White rode with them +all out of the city.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav Lasarevich took his shield and lance, +and exclaimed: “As the falcon pounces upon +white swans and grey ducks, so darts the brave +Yaroslav Lasarevich upon the army of Daniil the +White!” And many as he slew with his sword, +his steed trod down yet more, and he killed ten +thousand Murses, and a hundred thousand of the +common Tartars; and he made Prince Daniil the +White prisoner, and led him up to the city. He +baptized all the little children up to the age of ten +years into the true religion, and pronounced a curse +upon theirs. Then he commanded the wife of +Prince Daniil the White to be put to death, since +she had killed his mother, the Princess Epistimia; +but he spared the life of Prince Daniil and his +nobles as he had not slain the Tsar Kartaus and +Prince Lasar; he only put out their eyes, and threw +them into prison under a strong guard. Then all +the citizens came and fell with their faces to the +earth, and entreated Yaroslav to reign over them; +but instead, he seated the Tsar Kartaus on the +throne, and Prince Lasar and the twelve knights +were restored to their posts of honour. So there +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +were great rejoicings, and they fell to feasting +right merrily.</p> + +<p>When the tables were removed, Yaroslav Lasarevich +stood up, praying to the ikons of the Saints, +and took leave of his father and the Tsar Kartaus. +All present followed him with their tears, and +entreated him not to leave them, but he mounted +his horse, and making his bow, rode off towards +the city of Dobri, in the kingdom of the Tsar +Vorcholomei, to see the beauty of the Princess +Anastasia. Now, in this country there was a large +lake, in which lived a huge three-headed Dragon +guarding a precious stone, that every year came to +the shore and devoured a number of men. The +Tsar had proclaimed again and again that if anyone +slew this monster he would give them plenty of +gold and silver and towns. When Yaroslav came +to the city and heard of this proclamation, he +mounted his steed again and rode off to the lake. +As soon as the monster espied him, he sprang +ashore: Yaroslav’s horse trembled with fright, +and fell on his knees, and Yaroslav was thrown to +the ground. Then the Dragon seized and drew +him into the lake. Yaroslav, who had nothing but +his battle sword, leaped upon the back of the +monster, and with one blow struck off his two +heads, and was about to cut off the third, when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +the Dragon turned round, and entreating him, said: +“O Yaroslav Lasarevich, spare my life! From this +time I will never more come on shore and devour +men, but will remain at the bottom of the lake.” +Then said Yaroslav: “Give me the stone, and I +will set you free.” So the monster went down into +the lake, with Yaroslav sitting upon his back; and +Yaroslav received the precious stone, and desired +the Dragon to set him again on shore; but no +sooner had he done so, than Yaroslav struck off +the Dragon’s third head, and mounting his steed, +rode off to the city of Dobri, where the Tsar +Vorcholomei came out to meet him. When the +Tsar heard his name, and the exploit he had performed, +he was overjoyed; and all the people of +the city came and bowed to the ground, and all the +little children jumped about, and there was great +rejoicing in the city of Dobri. The Tsar in his +rapture gave a great feast, and invited all his +princes and boyars and people of different ranks, +with their wives and children. Then he took Yaroslav +by the hand, and seated him by his side at +table and said: “Sir Yaroslav Lasarevich, thy +will shall rule over me and my whole kingdom; +my treasures are open to thee—take gold and +silver, and towns and villages; and if thou wilt +marry, I will give thee my daughter, the Princess +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +Anastasia, with one-half of my kingdom as her +dowry.” Then Yaroslav, being merry and light-hearted, +said: “Show me thy daughter, O Tsar +Vorcholomei.” And the Tsar instantly ordered his +daughter to appear before him, dressed in sumptuous +attire, and she was more beautiful than any +fancy could imagine. Then Vorcholomei took her +by the hand and led her to Yaroslav. She reached +to him a golden goblet of wine, and Yaroslav said: +“Health to thee, dear Princess, the fairest in the +wide world, long years of happiness to thee.” And +he kissed her sugared lips. Then the Princess said +to him: “Health to thee, too, my brave and dear +knight!” Then Yaroslav went to the Tsar +Vorcholomei, and said: “O Tsar, thy fair daughter +pleases me, and I will take her to wife.” So Vorcholomei +immediately commanded everything to +be prepared for the wedding: and they all fell +again to feasting and making merry.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the Tsar commanded +another feast to be made ready, and taking Yaroslav +by the hand, said: “Brave knight Sir Yaroslav +Lasarevich, I give thee in marriage my dear and +beauteous daughter Anastasia: love her well and +truly, and live in harmony with her. And, that I +may witness your happy life, I bestow on thee as +her dowry my whole kingdom: only guard it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +against enemies.” Then said the Tsar to his +daughter: “Dear daughter, live with thy husband +in peace and love, and honour him, for the husband +is always the head over the wife.” Thereupon he +ordered them to drive off to church and be married; +and after the wedding they returned to the royal +halls. Yaroslav took the bride by the hand and led +her to the Tsar Vorcholomei, his father-in-law. +All the princes and boyars, with their wives, +brought to him costly presents; and the Tsar +received them and said: “Long years of happiness +to my lord Prince Yaroslav Lasarevich, my beloved +son-in-law, and his wife, my daughter, the fair +Princess Anastasia!” Then all the princes and +boyars cried aloud with one voice: “Hail, Sir +Yaroslav Lasarevich, with thy young bride the +fair Princess!” and they bowed them to the +ground. Then Yaroslav and the Princess Anastasia, +with all the princes and boyars fell to eating and +drinking and making merry.</p> + +<p>One day, as Yaroslav was conversing with Anastasia, +he said: “My dear Tsarina, fairest princess +in the world, I have gone through many kingdoms +to behold thy beauty, and have heard of it far and +wide from every maiden; and now, dear, tell me +truly, is there any fairer princess than thou, or any +braver knight than I?” Then the Princess replied: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +“My dear friend, there is no braver or handsomer +knight in the world indeed than thou; but as for +me—what is there fair and good in me? In the +country of the Amazons, in the City of the Sun, +there is a Tsarina Polikaria, who herself rules over +the land; another such a beauty there is not in the +wide world.”</p> + +<p>When Yaroslav Lasarevich heard this, he could +think only of the beautiful Polikaria; and one +morning he arose early, and said to his wife: “My +dear Tsarina, I am going a journey to a certain city +in a distant country; keep this precious stone +which I took from the Dragon. Farewell! if I +live, I will return to thee, but if death overtakes me, +have a Mass said for me.” Thereat the Tsarina +wept bitterly, and fell to the ground as if dead with +grief. Then Yaroslav went to the Tsar Vorcholomei +and said that he wished to pay a visit to his father, +Prince Lasar, and took his leave.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav journeyed for nine months, until at +last he came to the City of the Sun, and dismounted +at the gates of the palace. When the Tsarevna +Polikaria beheld a handsome knight in the courtyard, +she was frightened at his appearance in the +castle without her permission; and when he entered +she said to him: “Brave knight, whence comest +thou, and what dost thou seek in our kingdom?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +He replied: “I am come from the kingdom +of the Tsar Kartaus, the son of Prince Lasar and +the Princess Epistimia, and my name is Yaroslav. +I am come to pay my compliments to thee, and to +behold thy unspeakable beauty.” At hearing this +the Tsarevna Polikaria was rejoiced, took him by +his white hands, led him into the royal halls, and +said: “Sir Yaroslav Lasarevich, abide here and +rule over my kingdom, and thy will shall be my +will.” As Yaroslav gazed on her beauty he was +troubled at heart, but he could not refuse her +request, so he remained there and ruled over her +kingdom.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Tsarina Anastasia had a brave +little son; her father was greatly rejoiced, and +gave him the name of Yaroslav. He had rosy cheeks, +eyes like saucers, and a stout body: he was the +image of his father, and the Tsar, in his joy, ordered +a great feast to be prepared.</p> + +<p>When young Yaroslav reached his sixth year, +he went to the Court of his grandfather the Tsar +Vorcholomei, and the children laughed at him, +crying: “Yaroslav, you have no father!” This +angered him, and he began to beat them; and +when he seized one by the head, his head dropped +off, and when he seized a hand, the hand dropped +off, and when he seized a foot, the foot dropped off; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +nevertheless, the princes and boyars dared not +complain to the Tsar. Then little Yaroslav went to +his mother and said: “Mother, tell me the truth—have +I a father or no?” At this the Tsarina +Anastasia sighed deeply, and replied with tears: +“Thou hast a father, child—the brave knight +Yaroslav Lasarevich; he is gone a long journey +to the City of the Sun, in the country of the +Amazons.”</p> + +<p>On hearing this, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich put on +his armour to go in search of his father; and his +mother gave him a golden ring with the precious +stone. Then Yaroslav saddled his horse, took leave +of his mother and grandfather, and rode forth to +seek his father.</p> + +<p>One morning, at early dawn, he arrived at the +city of the Sun. Now, at that time Yaroslav, his +father, was in the camp; and when he heard the +voice of a strange knight, he cried: “Who comes +riding this way? I will go out and slay him.”</p> + +<p>With the swiftness of a falcon’s sweep, the two +knights, father and son, rushed at each other, and +Yaroslavovich struck his father with the butt-end +of his lance, and well-nigh overthrew him. Then +said Yaroslav, the father: “Young boy, go to! +or I’ll punish thee!” So they made a second onset, +and Yaroslav Lasarevich thrust the butt-end of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +his lance at his son and unsaddled him. And Yaroslav, +the father, aimed at him the sharp point of +his lance, and was about to kill him; but young +Yaroslav seized the lance with his right hand, and +the precious stone sparkled on his finger. Then +Yaroslav Lasarevich exclaimed: “Whence comest +thou, boy? Whose son art thou, and what is thy +name?” And the son answered: “I come from +the city of Dobri, in the kingdom of the Tsar +Vorcholomei; my father is Yaroslav Lasarevich, +and my mother is the Tsarina Anastasia. But I +know not my father; and for this reason I am +come hither in search of him. My name is Yaroslav.”</p> + +<p>On hearing this, his father leaped from his horse, +raised his son, and pressed him to his heart. Then +they mounted their steeds and rode to the city of +Dobri, where they found all the people in lamentation, +for the Tsar Vorcholomei was dead. But the +people recognised the knights, and bowed before +them and said: “Hail, our Lord Yaroslav +Lasarevich with your noble son! Our Tsar has +left the dominion of our kingdom to thee.” Then +the Tsarevna Anastasia came forth from her palace, +fell to the earth, and with tears exclaimed: “O +my bright Sun, whence comest thou to warm and +cheer us?” Then she took him by his white hands +and led him into the royal apartments; and all the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +people, the princes and boyars, made their obeisance +to Yaroslav, and brought him rich presents.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav mounted the throne with great pomp, +took the sceptre, put on the purple robes, and set +the golden crown upon his head. Then he called +his son to him and said: “My dear child, take a +war-horse, a suit of armour, a battle sword and lance, +and ride forth. Sit firmly on thy horse, and be a +brave knight, as I have been. Ride to the kingdom +of Daniil the White, to the Tsar Kartaus, and thy +grandfather Prince Lasar; then to my brother-in-arms, +Ivan the Russian knight, who now rules +in the kingdom of the Tsar Feodul the Dragon-King, +and to the mighty knight, Raslanei, who +rules in the kingdom of the Tsar Fireshield. Inquire +after the health of them all, and return to me. +Upon the journey be gentle and courteous, but +brave.” So Yaroslav received his parent’s blessing, +and set out on his travels.</p> + +<p>In five years he had journeyed and paid all these +visits, and returned to his father. And on the way +a little old man met him and stopped up the road; +but he asked him: “Old man, why dost thou +place thyself in my way, and wilt not let me pass?” +And so saying, he was about to ride over him, but +the little old man saw his intention and said to +him: “Poor knight, wouldst thou kill a little old +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +man? Thou canst get nothing from the old.” This +did not please Yaroslav: he drew his sword to +slay the man; but just as he was rushing at him +the old man blew on him, and Yaroslav could not +withstand even this mere breath of wind, and fell +from his horse like a sheaf of corn. Then the old +man took him by the arm and said: “Poor knight, +wilt thou live or die?” Yaroslav was so terrified +that he could not answer a word. Then the old man +laid him on the ground and said: “No knight, no +hero, above all, no man, can stand against me; but +art thou not the son of the Tsar in the kingdom of +Vorcholomei?” He answered that he was. Then +said the old man: “Ride home, but say nothing +of me in that kingdom.” And with that he vanished.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav went to seek his father and mother, and +they came to meet him, and the princes and boyars +threw themselves with their faces to the ground +before him. Then his father took him by his white +hands, kissed him on his sugared lips, led him into +the royal halls, seated him at the oaken tables +spread with fine cloths, and gave a great feast. +And the elder Yaroslav began to question his son, +and said: “Thou hast travelled to thy grandfather +Prince Lasar, tell me about him and how he is.”</p> + +<p>Then Yaroslav delivered the following letter +from the Tsar Kartaus to his father:—“The +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +Tsar Kartaus sends hearty greetings to the great +Tsar and powerful knight Yaroslav Lasarevich! +Health to thee and thy lady wife, Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, +and to thy son, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich, +and to thy princes and boyars and all +thy subjects! I continue to rule happily in my +kingdom!” Upon the same paper was written by +Prince Lasar to his son: “To my dear son +Yaroslav Lasarevich, and my dear daughter-in-law, +Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, my grandson, +Yaroslav Yaroslavovich, and thy whole kingdom, +peace and blessing! Rule and govern happily, and +mayest thou be prosperous for many long years!”</p> + +<p>Yaroslav Lasarevich was greatly rejoiced, and +said to his son: “Hast thou been to visit my +brother-in-law, Prince Ivan the Russian Knight?” +And young Yaroslav gave a letter likewise from +him to his father, in which was written as follows:—“To +the mighty Tsar of Tsars, and Knight of +Knights, my elder brother Yaroslav Lasarevich, +hearty greetings! Hail to thee, and happiness for +many years, with thy lady wife, Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, +and thy son, the valiant knight +Yaroslav, and thy whole empire! Sire, when thy +son entered my kingdom, I was returning from +battle; I knew not thy son, and imagined he was +a knight come to subdue my kingdom. I attacked +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +him, and was about to cut off his head with my +battle sword; but he seized his long lance, and +with the butt-end thrust so boldly at my heart +that I could hardly keep my seat in my saddle; +then said he: ‘I am the son of Yaroslav Lasarevich.’ +When I heard these words I pardoned him; +but the wound he gave me is not yet healed.”</p> + +<p>Then Yaroslav delivered to his father another +letter, from the knight, Sir Raslanei, which ran as +follows: “I, the great Tsar Raslanei Prochorovich, +to my younger brother, the great Tsar and powerful +knight, Yaroslav Lasarevich, send hearty greetings! +And, with this greeting, health and happiness to +thee also, O Tsar, with thy fair lady wife, Anastasia +Vorcholomeievna, and thy son the brave knight +Yaroslav Yaroslavovich! Thy son has cleft my +head and has pierced me through with the butt-end +of his lance, and my wounds remain still unhealed; +but I heard that he was thy son, and have +pardoned him, and sent him back to thee uninjured.”</p> + +<p>Then Yaroslav related to his father everything +in order; and soon the feast was prepared, and +they all made merry, and were in great joy at +Yaroslav’s return. Then began Yaroslav Lasarevich +to praise the bravery of his son, and to tell how he +had overthrown Tsars and powerful knights; +whereat all the princes and boyars marvelled at his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +bravery, and declared there were no other such +knights in the world as these, father and son, and +that no one could stand against them.</p> + +<p>Yaroslav Lasarevich subdued many cities to his +dominion; and many others, when they heard of +his bravery, surrendered voluntarily to his power. +And he sat upon the throne in good health for +twenty years, and his age was forty-and-nine years +and three months when he died. His wife, Anastasia +Vorcholomeievna, wept and was inconsolable for +the loss of her husband, and she also soon died of +grief. And her son Yaroslav wept for his father, the +mighty knight Yaroslav Lasarevich, and long too +wept for his mother. Soon after he mounted the +throne of his father, and ruled with renown and +glory.</p> + +<p class="center padtop padbase smlfont">W. JOLLY AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND.</p> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p> + +<p>Inconsistent capitalisation has been preserved as printed.</p> + +<p>Hyphenation has been made consistent.</p> + +<p>Punctuation errors have been repaired.</p> + +<p>Typographic errors have been amended as follows:</p> + +<div class="amends"> +<p>Page <a href="#Page_vi">vi</a>—highest amended to waving, for consistency—"The +Horse grew restive, reared higher than the waving forest"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_vi">vi</a>—in amended to on, for consistency—"At length +they fell in with a cripple on the road"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_59">59</a>—Tsarevitch amended to Tsarevich—"Early the next morning Ivan Tsarevich awoke +his master, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_68">68</a>—Litscharda amended to Litcharda—"... he sent his servant Litcharda as +ambassador ..." and "When Litcharda arrived at the city of Dimichtian, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_75">75</a>—Andronovitch amended to Andronovich—"... to the Armenian kingdom of King +Sensibri Andronovich."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_113">113</a>—Miltrisa amended to Militrisa—"When Militrisa raised the cloth and beheld the +head, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_113">113</a>—Miltrisa amended to Militrisa—"Militrisa at once knew him, fell at his feet, +..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_158">158</a>—Prituishkin amended to Prituitshkin—"Then Goria mounted the steed, and +Prituitshkin another, ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_162">162</a>—Scarely amended to Scarcely—"Scarcely, however, had she entered the bedroom +..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_186">186</a>—jduge amended to judge—"But the judge Shemyaka sent his servant to the poor +man ..."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_188">188</a>—beaautiful amended to beautiful—"Long life and happiness to their Majesties +and the beautiful Princess Magilene!"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_212">212</a>—Bugrigor amended to Bogrigor—"... in which dwells the daughters of the Tsar +Bogrigor."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_223">223</a>—or amended to on—"... or knight on horse, could stand before me."</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_238">238</a>—cheeer amended to cheer—"... whence comest thou to warm and cheer us?"</p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_241">241</a>—Yaroslavoich amended to Yaroslavovich—"... and to thy son, Yaroslav +Yaroslavovich, ..."</p> +</div> + +<p>Illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are not in the +middle of a paragraph. The frontispiece illustration has been moved to follow +the title page.</p> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30109 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30109-h/images/trg01.jpg b/30109-h/images/trg01.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf9cd34 --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/images/trg01.jpg diff --git a/30109-h/images/trg02.jpg b/30109-h/images/trg02.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42498e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/images/trg02.jpg diff --git a/30109-h/images/trg03.jpg b/30109-h/images/trg03.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1dc2b64 --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/images/trg03.jpg diff --git a/30109-h/images/trg04.jpg b/30109-h/images/trg04.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7571199 --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/images/trg04.jpg diff --git a/30109-h/images/trg05.jpg b/30109-h/images/trg05.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f4eecf --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/images/trg05.jpg diff --git a/30109-h/images/trg06.jpg b/30109-h/images/trg06.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..44340c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/images/trg06.jpg diff --git a/30109-h/images/trg07.jpg b/30109-h/images/trg07.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aee5784 --- /dev/null +++ b/30109-h/images/trg07.jpg |
