THE RUSSIAN GARLAND

 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. 

 [Illustration]

 A. M. PHILPOT, LIMITED, 69 GREAT RUSSELL STREET, LONDON, W. C. 1. 

 [Illustration: THE HORSE GREW RESTIVE, REARED HIGHER THAN THE WAVING FOREST. _Page 18. _]

CONTENTS

 PAGE Foreword vii

 Story of Lyubim Tsarevich and the Winged Wolf 1

 Story of the most wonderful and noble Self-Playing Harp 16

 The Seven Brothers Simeon 29

 Story of Ivan, the Peasant's Son 39

 Story of the Golden Mountain 50

 Iliya of Murom and the Robber Nightingale 61

 The Renowned Hero, Bova Korolevich and the Princess Drushnevna 68

 The Mild Man and his Cantankerous Wife 117

 Story of the Duck with Golden Eggs 125

 Story of Bulat the Brave Companion 131

 Story of Prince Malandrach and the Princess Salikalla 142

 Story of a Shoemaker and his Servant Prituitshkin 153

 Emelyan, the Fool 166

 The Judgment of Shemyaka 183

 Story of Prince Peter with the Golden Keys, and the Princess Magilene 187

 Sila Tsarevich and Ivashka with the White Smock 194

 Story of the Knight Yaroslav Lasarevich and the Princess Anastasia 202

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

 PAGE The Horse grew restive, reared higher than the waving forest _Frontispiece_

 Instantly upstarted Lyubim Tsarevich, put on his armour and leapt upon his steed 4

 At length they fell in with a cripple on the road 64

 "Alas! my gracious mother, why have you put me in prison?" 74

 The Judge thought that the bundle was full of roubles 184

 And so saying, he stretched out his hand to take the sword 226

FOREWORD

The special interest of this volume of Russian Folk Tales is that itis a translation from a collection of peasant Chap-books of all sortsmade in Moscow about 1830, long before the Censorship had in greatmeasure stopped the growth of popular literature. It is not necessaryto dilate upon the peculiarities of Chap-books and their methods: inthe conditions of their existence many of the finest qualities of theprimitive stories are eliminated, but on the other hand certainessentials are enforced. The story must be direct, the interestsustained, and the language however fine, simple and easilyunderstood. 

It is to be hoped that some of these merits have been preserved inthis translation: for this book is intended to appeal to a class ofsevere and incorruptible critics--the children of to-day. To oldercritics the matter is also interesting. Who on earth would ever expectto find in a Russian Chap-book printed in Slavonic type on a coarsebroadside sheet the Provençal legend of "Pierre et Maguelonne" or theOld English tale of "Bevis of Hampton. " And the mystery deepens whenone is told that Bevis of Hampton is ages old in Russia, however thenames have been re-furbished by the printer to--not the English, but--the Italian form. Some of the tales are evidently of Germanorigin--adopted and made Russian, like that of the "Seven Simeons" or"Emelyan, the Fool"; others are as evidently Eastern. A few date fromthe Russian Epics, like that of "Iliya of Murom" and "Ivan thePeasant's Son"; others are of later date, like that of "The Judgmentof Shemyaka, " who was a historic character who lived about 1446. 

It is hardly necessary to dilate on the peculiar expressions here tobe 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 brandydistilled, " seeing he is served at once, how the hero passes through"thrice nine lands to the thirtieth country, " how brothers are alwaysin threes, and how the youngest always succeeds where his elders fail. Students of folklore will know all about them, and the rest of us musttake them on trust. Do you _know_ why you must never go under aladder?

 R. S. 

STORY OF LYUBIM TSAREVICH AND THE WINGED WOLF

In a certain country there once lived a Tsar named Elidarovich, withhis wife, Militissa Ibrahimovna, who had three sons. The eldest sonwas named Aksof Tsarevich, the second Hut Tsarevich, and the youngest, Lyubim Tsarevich; and they grew, not from day to day, but from hour tohour. And when the eldest son was twenty years of age, he begged leaveof his parents to travel in other countries, and seek a beautifulprincess for his wife. So his parents at last consented, gave himtheir blessing, and dismissed him to the four quarters of the earth. 

Not long after this, Hut Tsarevich in like manner begged permission ofhis parents to travel; and Tsar Elidar and the Tsarina gave theirconsent with the greatest pleasure. And so Hut Tsarevich went out intothe world too, and they wandered about a long while, until at lengthnothing more was heard or seen of them, and they were given up fordead. 

As the Tsar and the Tsarina were troubled and wept for their lostsons, came the youngest son, Lyubim Tsarevich, and likewise entreatedthem to let him go forth to seek his brothers. But his parents said tohim: "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 arealready in years, and to whom should we leave our crown?" But LyubimTsarevich would not be denied; he remained firm to his purpose, andsaid: "It is needful for me to travel and see the world; for if ever Iam called to rule over the country, I must learn to do so withjustice. "

When the Tsar Elidar and Tsarina Militissa heard these words fromtheir son, they were overjoyed, and gave him their consent to travel;but only for a short time, and making him promise to have nocompanions, nor expose himself to any great dangers. Upon takingleave, Lyubim bethought him how to provide himself with a knightlysteed and a suit of armour; and as he went musing thus to the city, anold woman met him, who said: "Why are you so sad, my dear LyubimTsarevich?" But he did not give her an answer, and passed by the oldwoman without saying a word. But then he bethought him that old folkare wiser than young ones, turned round, and going up to the oldwoman, accosted her. And Lyubim Tsarevich said to her: "At the firstmeeting, mother, I disdained to tell you why I was sad, but it cameinto my mind that old folk must know more than young ones. " "There itis, Lyubim Tsarevich, " said the old woman, "you can't easily get awayfrom old folk. Say, why are you sad? Tell the old wife. " And LyubimTsarevich said to her: "I have no good horse and no armour, yet I musttravel far and wide in search of my brothers. " Then the old womansaid: "What think you? There is a horse and a suit of armour in yourfather's forbidden meadow, [A] behind twelve gates, and this horse isfastened by twelve chains. On that meadow is also a broadsword and afine suit of armour. "

 [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. 

When Lyubim Tsarevich had heard this, and thanked the old woman, hewent straightway, overjoyed, to the forbidden meadow. On reaching theplace where the horse was, he stopped, and bethought him, "How shall Ibreak through the twelve gates?" At last he made the attempt, andpresently broke down one gate; then the steed perceived by his scentthe presence of the brave youth, and with a great effort burst hischains; and then Lyubim Tsarevich broke through three more gates, andthe steed trampled down the rest. Then Lyubim Tsarevich surveyed thesteed and the armour; and put on the armour, but left the steed in themeadow; after which he went to his home, found his parents, and withgreat joy told them all that had befallen him, and how an old womanhad helped him, and begged their blessing on his travels. So hisparents gave him their blessing, and, mounting his good steed, he setforth on his journey. And he went his way, and travelled until he cameat length to a place where three roads met; in the centre stood acolumn, with three inscriptions, which ran as follows: "He who turnsto the right will have plenty to eat, but his steed will starve; hewho goes straight forward will hunger himself, but his steed will havefood enough; and whoever takes the left road will be slain by theWinged Wolf. "

When Lyubim Tsarevich read this, he pondered over it, and resolved togo 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 travellingthat way. So he journeyed on until he came to the open plains, wherehe pitched his tent to rest, when on a sudden he perceived in the westthe Winged Wolf come flying toward him. Instantly upstarted LyubimTsarevich, put on his armour, and leaped upon his steed. And Lyubimrode at the Wolf, which beat him so hard with his wings that he nearlyfell from his horse; nevertheless, Lyubim kept his seat, flew into aviolent rage, and with his battle-sword struck the Winged Wolf a blowthat felled him to the ground, and injured his right wing so that hecould no longer fly. 

 [Illustration: INSTANTLY UPSTARTED LYUBIM TSAREVICH, PUT ON HIS ARMOUR, AND LEAPT UPON HIS STEED. ]

When the Wolf came to himself he said to Lyubim Tsarevich, in a humanvoice: "Do not kill me! I will be useful to you and serve you as yourtrusty servant. " Then Lyubim Tsarevich replied: "Know you where mybrothers are?" And the Wolf answered: "They have long ago been slain;but we will bring them to life again when we have won the beautifulPrincess. " "How shall we do that?" said Lyubim Tsarevich. "Hark ye, "replied the Wolf; "leave your steed here, and----. "

"How! What shall I do without my horse?" cried Lyubim. 

"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 haveto do; in the city where the Princess lives, there are strings fromthe walls to all the bells in the city; and we must leap over allthese without touching the smallest, otherwise we shall be taken. "Lyubim Tsarevich saw at once that the Wolf spoke wisely, so heconsented, and exclaimed, "On then!"

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 itpossible to leap over this high white stone wall?" said he to theWolf. 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 yourbrothers, and also some of the water of death. "

Thereupon they leaped safely over the city wall, without touching astone. Lyubim Tsarevich stopped at the palace and went to the court ofthe beautiful Princess. And as he entered the first apartment he founda number of chamber women all fast asleep, but the Princess was notthere; he found her not. Then went Lyubim Tsarevich into the secondroom, where he found a number of beautiful ladies-in-waiting, all fastasleep, but the Princess was still not there. Then Lyubim went intothe third apartment, and there he saw the Princess herself, sleeping;and his heart was on fire with her beauty, and he fell so deeply inlove that he could not tear himself away from her presence. But atlast, fearing he might be seized if he remained too long, he went intothe garden to fetch some of the waters of life and of death. Then hebathed in the water of life, and taking with him bladders-full of bothwaters, he returned to his Wolf. And as he was sitting on hisWolf-steed, the Wolf said to him: "You have become very heavy. Wecannot leap back over the wall, but shall strike against it and wakeeveryone up. Nevertheless you shall kill them; and when they are allslain, be sure to seize on a white horse. I will then help you tofight; and as soon as we reach our tent, take your own steed, and Iwill 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. "

Thereupon they attempted to leap over the high city wall; but theytouched the strings, and instantly the bells rang an alarm through allthe city, and the drums beat. Then every one jumped up and ran out ofthe court with their weapons, whilst some opened the gate that nomisfortune might befall the Princess. Presently the Princess herselfawoke; and, perceiving that a youth had been in the apartment, shegave an alarm, which soon brought all the courtiers around her. Therewas speedily gathered a crowd of famous and valiant knights, and shesaid to them: "Now ye brave warriors, go forth and fetch hither thisyouth and bring me his head; so shall his boldness be punished!"

And the valiant knights promised her: "We will not rest until we haveslain him, and brought his head to you, even if he were in the midstof an army. " So the Princess dismissed them, and went up into herbalcony, and gazed after her army and after the stranger who had daredto intrude into the privacy of her court, and caress her in her sleep. 

When the alarm was given, Lyubim Tsarevich had already ridden a greatdistance on his Wolf-steed, and was half-way to his tent before hecould be overtaken. As soon as he saw them approach, he wheeled aboutand grew furious at beholding such an array of Knights in the field. Then they fell upon him; but Lyubim Tsarevich laid about him valiantlywith his sword, and slew many, whilst his horse trod down still moreunder his hoofs, and it ended in their slaying nearly all the littleknightlets. And Lyubim Tsarevich saw one single knight mounted upon awhite steed, with a head like a beer-barrel, who rode at him; butLyubim Tsarevich slew him also, leaped on the white horse, and leftthe Wolf to rest. When they had rested they betook themselves to theirtent. 

When the beautiful Princess saw Lyubim Tsarevich overcome singly sucha large host, she collected a still larger army and sent them forthagainst him, whilst she went back again to her balcony. 

But Lyubim Tsarevich came to his tent, and there the Wolf transformedhimself into a valiant knight, such as no one could imagine except ina fairy-tale. And presently the army of the beautiful Tsarevna wasseen approaching--a countless host; whereupon Lyubim Tsarevich mountedhis white steed, accompanied by his companion the Wolf, and awaitedtheir 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 uponthe warriors of the Tsarevna with a fierce onset, mowing them downlike grass, until only two persons remained on the field, the Wolf andLyubim Tsarevich. And after this dreadful fight was ended the braveWolf said to Lyubim: "See, yonder comes the beautiful Tsarevnaherself, and she will ask you to take her to wife; there is nothingmore to fear from her; I have expiated my crimes through my bravery;dismiss me now, and let me return to my own kingdom. " So LyubimTsarevich thanked him for his service and counsel and bade himfarewell. 

The Wolf thereupon vanished; and when Lyubim Tsarevich saw thebeautiful Princess coming toward him, he rejoiced, and, going to meether, 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, mydearest fair Tsarevna, I should not have remained here; but you haveseen that my love was stronger than your armies. " Then the fairTsarevna replied: "Ah! thou valiant knight. Thou hast overcome all mypowers, and my strong and famous knights, on whom my hopes relied; andmy city is now desolate. I will leave it and go with you; henceforthyou shall be my protector. "

"Joyfully do I take you for my wife, " replied Lyubim Tsarevich, "and Iwill guard and protect you and your kingdom faithfully. " Conversingthus they entered the tent, and sat down to rest and feast. 

Early the next morning they mounted their horses and set out on theirjourney to the kingdom of Elidar; and on the way Lyubim Tsarevichsaid: "Ah! thou fair Princess, I had two elder brothers, who left ourhome before I did, in hopes of winning your hand; in these wilds theyhave been murdered, and where their remains lie I do not know; but Ihave brought with me the waters of life and death, and will seek andrestore them to life; they cannot be far distant from our road; do youtherefore ride on to the pillar with the inscriptions, and wait forme. I shall soon rejoin you. "

So saying, Lyubim Tsarevich parted from his fair Princess, and wentforth to seek his brothers' remains. He found them at last among sometrees; and after sprinkling them with the water of death, they grewtogether; then he sprinkled them with the water of life, and his twobrothers became alive, and stood up on their feet. Then Aksof and HutTsarevich exclaimed: "Ah! brother! how long have we been sleepinghere?" And Lyubim Tsarevich said: "Ay, indeed, and you might havestill slept on for ever, had it not been for me. " Then he related tothem all his adventures--how he had conquered the Wolf, and won thebeautiful Princess, and had brought them the waters of life and death. Thereupon they repaired to the tent, where the fair Tsarevna waswaiting for them; and they all rejoiced and feasted together. 

When they had retired to rest, Aksof Tsarevich said to his brother HutTsarevich: "How shall we go to our father Elidar and our motherMilitissa, and what shall we say to them? Our youngest brother canboast 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 killhim at once?" So they agreed, and took the battle-sword and cut LyubimTsarevich to pieces, and cast his remains to the winds. Then theythreatened the Princess with the same fate if she betrayed the secretto anyone; and, drawing lots, the waters of life and death fell toHut, and the beautiful Princess to Aksof Tsarevich. 

So they journeyed on to their father's kingdom; and when they reachedthe forbidden meadows, and had pitched their tents, the Tsar Elidarsent messengers to demand who had encamped there. Then Hut replied:"Aksof and Hut Tsarevich are come, with a beautiful Princess; and tellour father, the Tsar, that we have brought with us the waters of lifeand death. "

The messenger immediately returned to the Court and told this to theTsar, who inquired whether all his three sons were come; but themessenger replied: "Only the two eldest, your Majesty; the youngest isnot with them. " The Tsar, nevertheless, rejoiced greatly, and hastenedto tell the Tsarina, his wife, of the return of their two eldest sons. 

Then Tsar Elidar and Tsarina Militissa arose and went to meet theirsons in the way, and unarmed them, and embraced them tenderly. Andwhen they returned to the palace a great banquet was made, and theyfeasted seven days and seven nights. At the end of this time theybegan to think of the wedding, and to make preparations, and invitethe guests, boyars, and brave warriors and knights. 

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 waterof death; thereupon the bones grew together, and no sooner had hesprinkled 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 haveslept!" Then the Wolf answered: "Ay, you would have slept on for everhad I not come to awaken you"; and he related to Lyubim all that hisbrothers had done; and, changing himself into a horse, he said:"Hasten after them--you will be sure to overtake them; to-morrow yourbrother Aksof Tsarevich is to marry the Princess. "

So Lyubim instantly set out, and the Wolf-steed galloped over hill anddale, until they arrived at the city of the Tsar, where Lyubimdismounted. Then he walked through the market, and bought a gusli; andstationed himself in a spot which the Princess would pass. And, as shewas being conducted to the church, Lyubim Tsarevich began to sing theevents of his youth, accompanying himself on the gusli; and when thebeautiful Princess drew nigh, he sang of his brothers, and how cruellythey had slain him and deceived their father. Then the Princessstopped her carriage, and ordered her attendants to call to her thestranger with the gusli, and to ask his name and who he was. Butwithout answering a word, Lyubim went straight to the Princess; andwhen she saw him, she was overjoyed, and, seating him in her carriage, they drove off to his parents. 

When the Tsar Elidar and his wife Militissa, beheld their son Lyubim, they were unspeakably glad; and the beautiful Princess said: "LyubimTsarevich it was, and not Aksof, who gained my hand, and it was he, too, who obtained the waters of life and death. " Then Lyubim relatedall his adventures; and the Tsar and Tsarina, after summoning theirsons, Aksof and Hut, asked them why they had acted so unnaturally; butthey denied the charge. Thereat the Tsar waxed wroth, and commandedthat they should be shot at the gate of the city. Lyubim Tsarevichmarried the beautiful Princess, and they lived in perfect harmony formany years; and so this story has an end. 

STORY OF THE MOST WONDERFUL AND NOBLE SELF-PLAYING HARP

In a certain country there lived a king named Filon, whose wifeChaltura had an only son, named Astrach, who from his earliest yearshad a strong desire to render himself famous by knightly deeds. Whenhe arrived at mature age, Astrach began to think of marrying, and heasked his father in what kingdom lived the most beautiful of allTsar's or King's daughters. The King replied: "If it is your wish tomarry, my dearest son, my noble child, I will show you the portraitsof the daughters of the Tsars and Kings of all lands. " So saying, heled Prince Astrach to a gallery, and showed him the pictures. Afterexamining them all closely, Astrach fell passionately in love with theTsarevna Osida, daughter of Afor, the Tsar of Egypt. Then he besoughthis father's blessing, and asked leave to repair to the Court of theEgyptian Sultan, to sue for the hand of Osida. King Filon rejoiced atthe thought of his son's marrying, gave him his blessing, anddismissed him. 

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 hisfather and mother, and started for his journey to Egypt alone onfoot; and he wandered long, here and there, far and near, until atlength he saw on the plain a palace of white marble, roofed with gold, which emitted beams of light, shining like the sun. Prince Astrachwent up to the palace; and, on reaching it, he walked round thebuilding, looking in at every window, to see if any persons werethere; 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 seeno living soul; then he entered the marble palace, and went from roomto room, but all was silent and deserted. At length he came to anapartment, in which a table was spread for one person; and being veryhungry, Prince Astrach sat down, and ate and drank his fill; afterwhich he laid himself down on a bed and fell fast asleep. 

As soon as he awoke, he wandered again through the palace until hecame to a room, from the window of which he saw the most beautifulgarden he had ever beheld, and it came into his mind to go for a walkin it. Then he went out of the palace and strolled about for a longtime; 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 behindthe door the neighing of a horse; and, wishing to remove the lock, hetook up a huge stone in his arms and fell to hammering the door. Atthe first blow it burst open, and there behind it was a second irondoor, with a lock like the first. This, too, he broke open, and foundbehind it ten other doors, through all of which he forced his way inlike manner; and behind the last he beheld a noble charger, with acomplete suit of armour. Then he went up and stroked the horse, whichstood still as if rooted to the spot. 

Prince Astrach forthwith proceeded to saddle his horse with aTcherkess saddle, put a silken bridle into his mouth, and leading himout, mounted, and rode into the open fields. But as soon as he appliedthe spur, the horse grew restive, reared higher than the wavingforests, plunged lower than the flying clouds; mountains and rivers heleft behind; small streams he covered with his tail and broad rivershe crossed at a bound, until at length Prince Astrach so tired out thebrave steed that he was covered with foam. 

Then the horse spoke with a man's voice the following words: "OPrince, thou my noble rider, it is now three-and-thirty years since Iserved the dead Yaroslav Yaroslavovich--that stout and powerfulknight--and I have borne him in many a single combat and battle; yetnever have I been so worn out as to-day; now I am ready to serve youfaithfully till death. " Then Prince Astrach returned into thecourtyard, put his brave steed into the stable, and gave him whitecorn and spring water; after which he went into the marble palace, ateand drank his fill, and then laid him down to sleep. 

The following morning he rose early, saddled his good horse, and rodeforth towards Egypt, to Tsar Afor, to sue for the hand of hisdaughter, the beautiful Tsarevna Osida. When he arrived at the courthe announced himself as the son of King Filon, whereupon Tsar Aforreceived him with all honour, and enquired what purpose had broughthim thither, to which Prince Astrach replied: "Great Tsar of all thelands of Egypt, I am not come to your Court to feast and banquet, butto ask for your lovely daughter to wife. "

"Brave Knight, Prince Astrach, " answered the Tsar, "I will gladlybestow my daughter on you; but one service you must render me. Theunbelieving Tartar Tsar is drawing near, and threatens to lay waste mykingdom, to carry off my daughter, and slay me and my wife. " PrinceAstrach replied: "My gracious lord, Tsar Afor, readily will I go forthto battle for the Faith with this unbelieving Tsar; and to protectyour city from untimely destruction. " Whereat Tsar Afor was glad atheart, and ordered a great banquet to be prepared for the bold andfair Prince Astrach; so there was great feasting, and the betrothaltook place with all solemnity. 

The next day the Busurman army of three hundred thousand men arrivedbefore the city, whereat Tsar Afor was greatly alarmed, and tookcounsel with Astrach. Then the Prince saddled his steed, went into theroyal palace, and offered up his prayers, bowing himself to all fourquarters of the globe. After this he took leave of Tsar Afor and hiswife, and his betrothed Tsarevna, the beautiful Osida, and rodestraight to the enemy's camp; and when he spurred his charger, thesteed bounded from the earth higher than the waving forests, and lowerthan the drifting clouds; mountains and valleys he left beneath hisfeet, small streams he covered with his tail, wide rivers he sprangacross, and at length arrived at the enemy's camp. Then Prince Astrachfell upon the Busurmen with fearful slaughter, and in a short time cutthem to pieces; and wherever he waved his arm, a way was opened, andwhere he turned his horse there was a clear space for him; so herouted and destroyed the whole army, took the Busurman Tsar himselfprisoner, and brought him to Tsar Afor, who threw him into prison. 

Then there was great feasting and rejoicing, and the revels lastedfor a whole fortnight. At the end of this time, Prince Astrachreminded Tsar Afor of his marriage contract with the Tsarevna Osida;and Tsar Afor ordered a great banquet to be made, and bade hisdaughter prepare for the wedding. When the Tsarevna heard this, shecalled Prince Astrach and said: "My beloved friend and bridegroom, youare in too great a haste to marry; only think how dull a wedding feastwould be without any music, for my father has no players. Therefore, dear friend, ride off, I entreat you, through thrice nine lands, tothe thirtieth kingdom, in the domain of the deathless Kashtshei, andwin from him the Self-playing Harp; it plays all tunes so wonderfullythat every one is bound to listen to it, and it is beyond price: thiswill enliven our wedding. "

Then Astrach, the King's son, went to the royal stable and saddled hissteed; and, after taking leave of Tsar Afor and his betrothedPrincess, mounted his good horse and rode off to the kingdom of thedeathless Kashtshei, in search of the Self-playing Harp. As he rodealong he saw an old hut, standing in a garden facing a wood; and hecalled out with his knightly voice: "Hut, hut, turn about, with yourback to the wood, and your front to me!" And instantly the hut turneditself round. Then Prince Astrach dismounted and entered the hut, andthere was an old witch sitting on the floor spinning flax. And thewitch screamed with a frightful voice: "Fu! fu! fu! never before hasthe sound of a Russian spirit been heard here; and now a Russianspirit comes to sight!" Then she asked Prince Astrach: "Wherefore, good youngling, Prince Astrach, art thou come hither--of thine ownfree will or not? Hither no bird flies, no wild beast wanders, noknight ever passes my hut. And how has God brought you here?"

But Prince Astrach replied: "You silly old wife, first give me foodand drink, and then put your questions. " Thereupon the old witchinstantly set food before Prince Astrach, whipped him into thebath-room, combed his locks, made ready his bed, and then fell againto questioning him. "Tell me, good youth, whither art thoutravelling--to what far country? and dost thou go of thine own freewill or no?"

And Prince Astrach answered: "Willingly as I go, yet I go twice asunwillingly through thrice nine lands into the thirtieth kingdom, thedomain of the deathless Kashtshei, to fetch the Self-playing Harp. "

"Ho! ho! ho!" cried the old witch. "You'll find it a hard task togain the Harp; but say your prayers and lie down to rest; the morningis the time for such exploits, but the night for sleep. " So Astrach, the King's son, laid himself down to sleep. 

The next morning the witch awoke early, got up, and aroused PrinceAstrach. "Bestir yourself, Prince Astrach, it is time for you to setout 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 takeleave of the witch. Then she said: "How! will you go away withoutasking 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 whenyou come to the realm of the deathless Kashtshei, manage to arriveexactly at noon. Near his golden palace is a green garden, and in thisgarden you will see a fair Princess walking about. Leap over the walland approach the maiden; she will rejoice to see you, for it is nowsix years since she was carried off from her father's court by thedeathless Kashtshei. Enquire of this maiden how you can obtain theSelf-playing Harp, and she will direct you. "

Thereupon Prince Astrach mounted his good steed and rode far andfast, and came into the kingdom of the deathless Kashtshei. Then herepaired to the golden palace, and heard the sound of the Self-playingHarp: he stood still to listen, and was absorbed by its wonderfulmusic. At last he came to himself, leaped over the wall into the greengarden, and beheld there the Princess, who was at first sightterrified; but Prince Astrach went up to her, quieted her fears, andasked her how he could obtain the Self-playing Harp. Then the TsarevnaDarisa answered: "If you will take me with you from this place I willtell you how to obtain the Harp. " So Prince Astrach gave her hispromise. Then she told him to wait in the garden, and meanwhile sheherself went to the deathless Kashtshei and began to coax him withfalse and flattering words. "My most beloved friend and intimate, tellme, I pray you, will you never die?"

"Assuredly never, " replied Kashtshei. 

"Then, " said the Princess, "where is your death? Is it here?"

"Certainly, " he replied; "it is in the broom under the threshold. "

Thereupon Tsarevna Darisa instantly seized the broom and threw it intothe fire; but, although the besom burned, the deathless Kashtsheistill remained alive. Then the Tsarevna said to him: "My beloved, youdo not love me sincerely, for you have not told me truly where is yourdeath; nevertheless, I am not angry, but love you with my wholeheart. "

And with these fawning words, she entreated Kashtshei to tell her intruth where was his death. Then he said with a laugh: "Have you anyreason for wishing to know? Well, then, out of love I will tell youwhere it lies; in a certain field there stand three green oaks, andunder the roots of the largest oak is a worm, and if ever this worm isfound and crushed, that instant I shall die. "

When the Tsarevna Darisa heard these words, she went straight toPrince Astrach, and told him how he must go to that field, and seekfor the three oaks, dig up the worm under the biggest oak and crushit. So the Prince went forth, and rode on from morning to night, untilat length he came to the three green oaks. Then he dug up the wormfrom the roots of the largest, and having killed it, he returned tothe Tsarevna Darisa, and said to her: "Does the deathless Kashtsheistill live? I have found the worm and destroyed it. " And she replied, "Kashtshei is still alive. "

Then said Prince Astrach, "Go again and ask him right lovingly whereis his death. " So the Princess went, and said to him with tears: "Youdo not love me, and don't tell me the truth, but treat me as astupid"; and at last King Kashtshei yielded to her entreaties, andtold her the whole truth, saying: "My death is far from hence, andhard 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 isan iron chest, and in this chest is a small basket, and in this basketa hare, and in this hare a duck, and in this duck an egg; and he whofinds this egg, and breaks it, at that same instant causes my death. "

As soon as the Tsarevna heard these words she hastened back to PrinceAstrach and told him all. And thereupon he straightway mounted hisgood steed, and rode to the seashore. There he saw a fisherman in aboat, and asked him to carry him to the island of Bujan; and, taking aseat 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 thebasket the hare, and tore in pieces the hare, when out flew a greyduck; and as she flew over the sea, she let fall the egg into thewater. Thereat Prince Astrach was very sorrowful, and ordered thefisherman to cast his nets into the sea, and instantly the man did so, and caught a huge pike. So Prince Astrach drew the pike out of thenet, and found in it the egg which the duck had dropped: and, seatinghimself in the boat, he bade the fisherman make for the shore. Then, after rewarding the man for his trouble, the Prince mounted his steedand returned to the Tsarevna Darisa. 

As soon as he arrived and told her that he had found the egg, thePrincess said: "Now fear nothing; come with me straight to Kashtshei. "And when they appeared before him, Kashtshei jumped up, and would havekilled Prince Astrach; but the Prince instantly took the egg in hishand and fell to crushing it gradually. Then Kashtshei began to cryand roar aloud, and said to the Tsarevna Darisa: "Was it not out oflove that I told you where my death was? And is this the return youmake?" So saying he seized his sword from the wall to slay theTsarevna; but at the same moment Astrach, the King's son, crushed theegg, and Kashtshei fell dead upon the ground like a sheaf of corn. 

Then the Tsarevna Darisa led Astrach into the palace, where was theSelf-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 Astrachtook up the Harp, and it played so gloriously that he was struck dumbwith amazement at its sounds, as well as its workmanship of thepurest Eastern crystal and gold strings. After gazing at it for a longtime, Prince Astrach left the palace, and mounting his gallant steedwith Darisa, set out upon his return. First he carried the Tsarevnaback to her parents, and afterwards went on his way to Egypt, to TsarAfor, and gave the Self-playing Harp to his betrothed, the TsarevnaOsida. Then they placed the Harp on the table, and it fell to playingthe most beautiful and merry tunes. 

The next day Prince Astrach married the fair Tsarevna Osida, and in ashort time left Egypt, and returned to his native country. When hisfather and mother saw their dear son again they rejoiced exceedingly. Not long afterwards King Filon died, and Prince Astrach wore hisfather's crown, and lived with his beloved Queen Osida in all joy andhappiness until they died. 

THE SEVEN BROTHERS SIMEON

There were once upon a time two old serfs, who lived together for manyyears without children; and in their old age they prayed for a childto keep them from want when they were no longer able to labour. Afterseven years the good woman gave birth to seven sons, who were allnamed Simeon; but when these boys were in their tenth year, the oldfolk died, and the sons tilled the ground which their father leftthem. 

It chanced one day that the Tsar Ador drove past, and wondered sore tosee such little fellows all busy at work in their field. So he senthis oldest boyar to ask them whose children they were, and why theywere working so hard, and the eldest Simeon answered, that they wereorphans, and had no one to work for them, and that they were allcalled Simeon. When the boyar told this to Tsar Ador, he ordered theboys to be brought along with him. 

On returning to the palace, the Tsar called together all his boyars, and asked their advice, saying: "My boyars, you see here seven poororphans, who have no kinsfolk; I am resolved to make such men of themthat they shall hereafter have cause to thank me; and therefore I askyour advice--what handicraft or art shall I have them taught?" Thenthe boyars replied: "Your Majesty, seeing that they are old enough tohave understanding, it would be well to ask each brother separatelywhat craft he wishes to learn. "

This answer pleased the Tsar, and he said to the eldest Simeon: "Tellme, friend, what art or trade would you like to learn? I willapprentice you to it. " But Simeon answered: "Please your Majesty, Iwish to learn no art; but if you will command a smithy to be put up inthe middle of your court, I will raise a column which shall reach tothe sky. " By this time the Tsar at once saw that the first Simeonwanted indeed no teaching if he was so good a smith as to do suchwork; but he did not believe that he could make so tall a pillar; sohe ordered a smithy to be built in his courtyard, and the eldestSimeon straightway set to work. 

Then the Tsar asked the second Simeon: "What craft or art would youlearn, my friend?" and the lad replied: "Your Majesty, I will learnneither craft nor art; but when my eldest brother has smithied theiron column, I will mount to the top of it, look around over the wholeworld, and tell you what is passing in every kingdom. " So the Tsarsaw there was clearly no need to teach this brother, as he was cleverenough already. 

Thereupon he questioned the third Simeon: "What craft or what art willyou learn?" He replied: "Your Majesty, I want to learn neither craftnor art; but if my eldest brother will make me an axe I will build aship in the twinkling of an eye. " When the Tsar heard this heexclaimed: "Such master workers are just the men I want! Thou alsohast nothing to learn. "

Then he asked the fourth Simeon: "Thou Simeon, what craft or what artwill thou learn?" and he answered: "Your Majesty, I need to learnnothing; but when my third brother has built a ship, and the ship isattacked by enemies, I will seize it by the prow, and draw it into thekingdom under the earth; and when the foe has departed, I will bringit back again upon the sea. " The Tsar was astonished at such marvels, and replied: "In truth you have nothing to learn. "

Then he asked the fifth Simeon: "What trade or what art would youlearn, Simeon?" And he replied: "I need none, your Majesty; but whenmy eldest brother has made me a gun, I will shoot with it every birdthat flies, however distant, if I can see it. " And the Tsar said:"You'll be a famous hunter truly!"

The Tsar now asked the sixth Simeon: "What art will you learn?" andhe replied in like manner: "Sire, I will follow no art, but when myfifth brother has shot a bird in the air I will catch it before itfalls to the ground, and bring it to your Majesty. " "Bravo!" said theTsar; "you will serve in the field as well as a retriever. "

Thereupon the Tsar enquired of the last Simeon what craft or art hewould learn. "Your Majesty, " he replied, "I will learn neither craftnor trade, for I am already skilled in a precious art. " "What kind ofart do you understand then?" said the Tsar. "I understand how to stealbetter 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 meto punish this thief Simeon? What death shall he die?" But they allreplied: "Wherefore, O Tsar, should he die? Who knows but that he maybe a clever thief, and prove useful in case of need?" "How so?" saidthe Tsar. "Your Majesty, " replied the boyars, "has for ten long yearssued for the hand of the beautiful Tsarina Helena in vain, and hasalready lost many armies and great store of money. Who knows but thatthis thief Simeon may in some way steal the fair Tsarina for yourMajesty. "

"Well spoken, my friends, " replied the Tsar; and, turning to thethief Simeon, he said: "Hark you, friend, can you pass through thricenine lands into the thirtieth kingdom and steal for me the fair QueenHelena? I am in love with her, and if you can bring her to me I willreward you richly. "

"Leave it to us, " answered Simeon; "your Majesty has only to command. "

"I do not order you, I entreat you then, " said the Tsar, "not to tarrylonger at my Court, but take with you all the armies and treasure yourequire. " "I want not your armies nor your treasure, " said Simeon;"only send us brothers forth together; without the rest I can donothing. " The Tsar was unwilling to let them all go; nevertheless hewas obliged to consent. 

Meanwhile the eldest Simeon had finished the iron column in the smithyof the palace-yard. Then the second Simeon climbed up it, and lookedaround on all sides, to see whereabouts the kingdom of fair Helena'sfather lay; and presently he called out to the Tsar Ador: "Please, your Majesty, beyond thrice nine lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, sitsthe fair Tsarina at her window. How beautiful she is! One can see thevery marrow of her bones, her skin is so clear. " On hearing this theTsar was more in love than ever, and cried aloud to the Simeons: "Myfriends, set out instantly on your journey, and come back as soon aspossible; I can no longer live without the fair Tsarina. "

So the eldest Simeon made for the third brother a gun, and took breadfor their travels; and the thief Simeon took a cat with him, and sothey set out. Now thief Simeon had so accustomed this cat to him, thatshe ran after him everywhere like a dog; and whenever he stopped, shesat up on her hind legs, rubbed her coat against him and purred. Sothey all went their way, until they came to the shore of the sea overwhich they must sail. For a long time they wandered about, seekingwood, to build a ship with. At last they found a huge oak. Then thethird Simeon took his axe and laid it at the root of the tree, and inthe 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. 

After some months' voyage they arrived safely at the place to whichthey were bound, and cast anchor. The next day Simeon the thief tookhis cat and went into the city; and walking straight up to the Tsar'spalace, he stood under the window of Queen Helena. Immediately his catsat up on her hind legs, and fell to rubbing him and purring. But youmust know that no cat had ever been seen or heard of in this country, nor was anything known of such an animal. 

The fair Tsarina Helena was sitting at her window, and observing thecat, she sent her attendants to inquire of Simeon what kind of animalit was, and whether he would sell it, and for how much. And when theservants asked him, Simeon replied: "Tell her Majesty that thiscreature is called a cat, but I cannot consent to sell her; if, however, her Majesty pleases, I shall have the honour of presentingthe cat to her. "

So the attendants ran back and told what they had heard from Simeon;and when the Tsarina Helena knew it, she was overjoyed, and wentherself to him, and asked why he would not sell it, but would onlygive 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, theTsar Sarg, the Tsarina showed him the cat, and told him that astranger had presented it to her. The Tsar gazed at the wonderfulanimal 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 inmy palace for a time, and meanwhile the cat will become better usedto my daughter in your presence. "

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 Icame to your kingdom, and which I cannot entrust to anyone; but ifyour Majesty pleases, I will come every day to the palace and accustomthe cat to your fair daughter. "

This offer pleased the Tsar: so every day Simeon went to the fairQueen; and once he said to her: "Gracious Lady, Your Majesty, often asI have come to visit you, I have not observed that you ever go out totake a walk. If you will come once on board my ship, I will show you aquantity of fine wares, diamonds and gold brocades, more beautifulthan you have ever seen before. " Thereupon the Tsarina went to herfather and asked his permission to take a walk upon the quay. The Tsarconsented, bidding her take her attendants and lady's-maids with her. 

When they came to the quay, Simeon invited the Tsarina on board hisship, where he and his brothers displayed to her all kinds of wares. Then said Simeon the thief to the fair Helena: "You must order yourattendants to leave the ship, and I will show you some more costlywares which they must not see. " So the Tsarina ordered them to returnto shore; and Simeon the thief instantly desired his brothers to cutthe cable, set all the sails, and put out to sea. 

Meantime he amused the Tsarina by unpacking the wares and making hervarious presents. In this manner hours passed by; and at last she toldhim it was time for her to return home, as her father would beexpecting her back. So saying, she went up from the cabin andperceived that the ship was already far out at sea, and almost out ofsight of land. Thereat she beat her breast, changed herself into aswan, and flew away. But in an instant the fifth Simeon seizing hisgun, fired at her; and the sixth brother caught her before she fellinto the water, and placed her on the deck, when the Tsarina changedback into a woman. 

Meanwhile the attendants and lady's-maids, who were standing on theshore, and had seen the ship sail away with the Tsarina, went and toldthe Tsar of Simeon's treachery. Then the Tsar instantly commanded hiswhole fleet to go in pursuit; and it had already got very near to theSimeons' ship when the fourth brother seized the vessel by the prowand drew it into the subterranean region. When the ship disappeared, all the sailors in the fleet thought it had sunk, together with thebeautiful Tsarina Helena, and went back to the Tsar Sarg and told himthe sad tidings. But the seven brothers Simeon returned safely totheir own country, and conducted the Tsarina Helena to Tsar Ador, whogave the Simeons their freedom as a reward for the services they hadrendered, together with much gold and silver and precious stones. Andthe Tsar lived with the beautiful Queen Helena for many years in peaceand happiness. 

STORY OF IVAN, THE PEASANT'S SON

In a certain village there lived a poor peasant with his wife, who forthree years had no children: at length the good woman had a littleson, whom they named Ivan. The boy grew, but even when he was fiveyears old, could not walk. His father and mother were very sad, andprayed that their son might be strong on his feet; but, however manytheir prayers, he had to sit, and could not use his feet forthree-and-thirty years long. 

One day the peasant went with his wife to church; and whilst they wereaway, a beggar man came to the window of the cottage and begged almsof Ivan the peasant's son. And Ivan said to him: "I would gladly giveyou 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 aninstant Ivan rose up from his stool, and was overjoyed at his newlyacquired power: he called the man into the cottage and gave him foodto eat. Then the beggar asked for a draught of beer, and Ivaninstantly went and fetched it; the beggar, however, did not drink it, but bade Ivan empty the flask himself, which he did to the verybottom. Then the beggar said: "Tell me, Ivanushka, how strong do youfeel?" "Very strong, " replied Ivan. "Then fare you well!" said thebeggar; and disappeared, leaving Ivan standing lost in amazement. 

In a short time his father and mother came home, and when they sawtheir son healed of his weakness, they were astonished, and asked himhow it had happened. Then Ivan told them all, and the old folk thoughtit must have been no beggar but a holy man who had cured him; and theyfeasted for joy and made merry. 

Presently Ivan went out to make a trial of his strength; and goinginto the kitchen garden, he seized a pole and stuck it half its lengthinto the ground, and turned it with such strength that the wholevillage turned round. Then he went back into the cottage to take leaveof his parents and ask their blessing. The old folk fell to weepingbitterly when he spoke of leaving them, and entreated him to stay atleast a little longer; but Ivan heeded not their tears, and said: "Ifyou will not give me your consent, I shall go without it. " So hisparents gave him their blessing; and Ivan prayed, bowing himself toall four sides, and then took leave of his father and mother. Thereupon he went straight out of the yard, and followed his eyes, and wandered for ten days and ten nights until at length he came to alarge kingdom. He had scarcely entered the city when a great noise andoutcry arose; whereat the Tsar was so frightened that he ordered aproclamation to be made, that whoever appeased the tumult should havehis daughter for wife, and half his kingdom with her. 

When Ivanushka heard this he went to the Court and desired the Tsar tobe informed that he was ready to appease the tumult. So the doorkeeperwent straight and told the Tsar, who ordered Ivan the peasant's son tobe called. And the Tsar said to him: "My friend, is what you have saidto the doorkeeper true?"

"Quite true, " replied Ivan; "but I ask for no other reward than thatyour Majesty gives me whatever is the cause of the noise. " At this theTsar laughed, and said: "Take it by all means, if it is of any use toyou. " So Ivan the peasant's son made his bow to the Tsar and took hisleave. 

Then Ivan went to the doorkeeper and demanded of him a hundredworkmen, who were instantly given him; and Ivan ordered them to dig ahole 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 doorwith one hand, and beheld a steed fully caparisoned, and a suit ofknightly armour. When the horse perceived Ivan, he fell on his kneesbefore him, and said with a human voice: "Ah, thou brave youth! Ivanthe peasant's son! the famous knight Lukopero placed me here; and forthree-and-thirty years have I been impatiently awaiting you. Seatyourself on my back, and ride whithersoever you will: I will serve youfaithfully, as I once served the brave Lukopero. "

Ivan saddled his good steed, gave him a bridle of embroidered ribands, put a Tcherkess saddle on his back, and buckled ten rich silken girthsaround 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 thanthe forest; he left hill and dale swiftly under his feet, coveredlarge rivers with his tail, sent forth a thick steam from his ears, and flames from his nostrils. 

At length Ivan the peasant's son came to an unknown country, and rodethrough it for thirty days and thirty nights, until at length hearrived at the Chinese Empire. There he dismounted, and turned hisgood steed out into the open fields, while he went into the city andbought himself a bladder, drew it over his head, and went round theTsar's palace. Then the folks asked him whence he came, and what kindof man he was, and what were his father and mother's names. But Ivanonly replied to their questions, "I don't know. " So they all took himfor a fool, and went and told the Chinese Tsar about him. Then theTsar ordered Ivan to be called, and asked where he came from and whatwas his name; but he only answered as before, "I don't know. " So theTsar ordered him to be driven out of the Court. But it happened thatthere was a gardener in the crowd, who begged the Tsar to give thefool over to him that he might employ him in gardening. The Tsarconsented, and the man took Ivan into the garden, and set him to weedthe beds whilst he went his way. 

Then Ivan lay down under a tree and fell fast asleep. In the night heawoke, and broke down all the trees in the garden. Early the nextmorning the gardener came and looked round, and was terrified at whathe beheld: so he went to Ivan the peasant's son and fell to abusinghim, and asked him who had destroyed all the trees. But Ivan onlyreplied, "I don't know. " The gardener was afraid to tell this to theTsar; but the Tsar's daughter looked out of her window and beheld withamazement the devastation, and asked who had done it all. The gardenerreplied that fool Know-nothing had destroyed the noble trees; butentreated her not to tell her father, promising to put the gardeninto a better condition than it was before. 

Ivan did not sleep the next night, but went and drew water from thewell, and watered the broken trees; and early in the morning theybegan to rise and grow; and when the sun rose they were all coveredwith leaves, and were even finer than ever. When the gardener cameinto the garden he was amazed at the change; but he did not again askKnow-nothing any questions, as he never returned an answer. And whenthe Tsar's daughter awoke, she rose from her bed, and looking out intothe garden, she saw it in a better state than before; then, sendingfor the gardener, she asked him how it had all happened in so short atime. But the man answered that he could not himself understand it, and the Tsar's daughter began to think Know-nothing was in truthwonderfully wise and clever. From that moment she loved him more thanherself, and sent him food from her own table. 

Now the Chinese Tsar had three daughters, who were all very beautiful:the eldest was named Duasa, the second Skao, and the youngest, who hadfallen in love with Ivan the peasant's son, was named Lotao. One daythe Tsar called them to him and said to them: "My dear daughters, fairPrincesses, the time is come that I wish to see you married; and Ihave called you now to bid you choose husbands from the princes of thecountries around. " Then the two eldest instantly named two Tsarevicheswith whom they were in love; but the youngest fell to weeping, andbegged her father to give her for wife to Know-nothing. At thisrequest the Tsar was amazed, and said: "Have you lost your senses, daughter, that you wish to marry the fool Know-nothing, who cannotspeak 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 pleaseyou, " said the Tsar sorrowfully, "take him--you have my consent. "

Soon after, the Tsar sent for the Princes whom his eldest daughtershad chosen for husbands; they obeyed the invitation instantly, andcame with all speed to China, and the weddings were celebrated. ThePrincess Lotao also was married to Ivan the peasant's son, and herelder sisters laughed at her for choosing a fool for a husband. 

Not long afterwards a great army invaded the country, and its leader, the knight Polkan, demanded of the Tsar his daughter, the beautifulLotao, for wife, threatening that, if he did not consent, he wouldburn his country with fire and slay his people with the sword, throwthe Tsar and Tsarina into prison, and take their daughter by force. At these threats the Tsar was aghast with terror, and instantlyordered his armies to be collected; and they went forth, commanded bythe two Princes, against Polkan. Then the two armies met, and foughtlike two terrible thunder-clouds, and Polkan overthrew the army of theChinese Tsar. 

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 mefrom you; the infidel knight Polkan has invaded our country with hisarmy and routed our hosts with his terrible sword. " Then Ivan told thePrincess to leave him in peace; and, jumping out of the window, he raninto the open fields, and cried aloud:

 "Sivka Burka! he! Fox of Spring! Appear! Like a grass blade, here Stand before me!"

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 tochange himself, and came out looking such a brave knight as no pen canwrite down or story tell. Then he rode up to the army of Polkan, andlaid about him with his sword, trod the army down under his horse'shoofs, and drove it quite out of the kingdom. At the sight of this theChinese Tsar came to Ivan, but knew him not, and invited him to hispalace; but Ivan answered: "I am not your subject and I will not serveyou. " And so saying, away he rode, let his horse run loose in the openfields, went back to the palace, crept again through the window, drewthe bladder over his head, and lay down to sleep. 

The Tsar gave a public feast for this great victory, and it lastedseveral days; until the knight Polkan once more invaded the countrywith a fresh army, and again demanded with threats the youngestPrincess 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 asbefore; 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, andlay down to sleep. So the Tsar gave another feast, in honour of thevictory over Polkan; but he marvelled what hero it could be who had sobravely defended his realm. 

After a while, Polkan a third time invaded the empire, and all fellout as before: Ivan jumped out of the window, ran into the fields, mounted his steed, and rode forth against the enemy. Then the horsesaid in a human voice: "Listen, Ivan Peasantson! we have now a hardtask to perform; defend yourself as stoutly as possible, and standfirm against Polkan--otherwise you and the whole Chinese army will bedestroyed. " Then Ivan spurred his steed, rode against Polkan's host, and began to slay them right and left. When Polkan saw that his armywas defeated, he flew into a rage, and fell upon Ivan the peasant'sson like a furious lion, and a fight began between the two horses, atthe sight of which the whole army stood aghast. They fought for a longtime, and Polkan wounded Ivan in the left hand. Thereupon Ivan thepeasant's son, in a fierce rage, aimed his javelin at Polkan, andpierced him through the heart: then he struck off his head, and drovethe whole army out of China. 

Ivan now went to the Chinese Tsar, who bowed to the ground, andinvited him to his palace. The Princess Lotao, seeing blood uponIvan's left hand, bound it up with her handkerchief, and invited himto remain in the palace; but, without heeding her, Ivan mounted hissteed and trotted off. Then he turned his horse into the fields, andwent himself to sleep. 

The Tsar again ordered a great banquet to be prepared; and thePrincess Lotao went to her husband and tried to awaken him, but all invain. On a sudden she beheld with surprise golden hair upon his head, from which the bladder had fallen off; and, stepping up to him, shesaw her handkerchief bound on his left hand; and now she knew that heit had been who had three times defeated and at last slain Polkan. Then she ran instantly to her father, led him into the apartment, andsaid: "See, my father! You told me I had married a fool; look closelyat his hair, and at this wound which he received from Polkan. " Thenthe Tsar saw that it had been he who had thrice delivered his empire, and he rejoiced greatly. 

When Ivan the peasant's son awoke, the Emperor took him by his whitehands, led him into the palace, thanked him for the services he hadrendered; and being himself far advanced in years, he placed the crownupon Ivan's head. Then Ivan mounted the throne, and ruled happily, andlived with his wife for many years in the greatest harmony and love. 

STORY OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN

In a certain country there lived a Tsar with his wife, who had threehandsome sons; the eldest was named Vasili Tsarevich, and the secondFedor Tsarevich, and the youngest son Ivan Tsarevich. One day the Tsarwent out with his Tsarina for a walk in the garden, and on a sudden aviolent 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 hisblessing and permission to go forth and wander in search of theirmother. So he consented, and dismissed them. 

The two sons travelled for a long time, until at length they came to awide desert, where they pitched their tents, and waited until some oneshould pass who might show them the way. For three whole years theywaited, but saw no one. 

Meanwhile the youngest brother, Ivan Tsarevich, grew up, and wentlikewise to his father, begged his blessing, and took leave. And hewandered for a long time, until at length he discerned in thedistance some tents, up to which he rode; and there he discovered hisbrothers. "What brings you to such a desolate place, brothers?" saidhe; "let us join company and travel in search of our mother. " Theothers followed his advice, and they all journeyed on together. 

They rode on and on for many days, until at length they saw afar off apalace, built of crystal, and surrounded by a fence of the samematerial. So they rode up to the palace, and Ivan Tsarevich opened thegate, and entered the courtyard; and at the entrance-door he saw apillar, into which were fastened two rings, one of gold and the otherof silver. Then drawing his bridle through both these rings, he tiedup his steed, and went up the stairs. At the head of the stairs theKing himself came to meet him; and, after a long conversation, hefound out that Ivan Tsarevich was his nephew. So he conducted him intohis hall, and invited in his brothers also. 

After remaining in the palace a long time, the King gave the brothersa magic ball, which they bowled away, and then rode after it, untilthey came to a mountain, so high and steep that they could not ascendit. Ivan Tsarevich rode round and round the mountain, until at last hefound a cleft. He stepped into it and beheld an iron door, with acopper ring; and on opening this he perceived some iron hooks, whichhe fastened to his hands and feet, and by their aid he climbed up themountain. 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. 

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 acopper ball. Then he approached the tent; but at its entrance therelay two huge lions, which allowed no one to enter. Ivan Tsarevichseeing two copper basins standing close by, poured some water intothem, and quenched the thirst of the lions, who then let him freelyenter the tent. And when he got in, Ivan beheld a beautiful Queenlying 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 thisservice, and gave him a copper egg, in which was contained a copperkingdom, whereupon the Tsarevich took his leave and went his wayfurther. 

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; uponthe tent was represented a silver kingdom, and on the top was a silverball. At the entrance lay two immense tigers, to which he in likemanner gave to drink, and they permitted him to pass. On entering thetent he beheld, seated on a sofa, a Queen richly attired, who farsurpassed the first one in beauty. At her feet lay a six-headeddragon, as large again as the other. Then Ivan Tsarevich struck offall the heads at a blow, and, as a reward for his valor, the Queenpresented him with a silver egg, in which was enclosed a silverkingdom. Thereupon he took leave of the Queen and journeyed on. 

After a time Ivan came to a third tent, made of silk, upon which wasembroidered a golden kingdom, and on its top was placed a ball of puregold. The tent was fastened to a laurel tree with golden cords, fromwhich hung knobs of diamonds. Before the entrance lay two hugecrocodiles, which breathed forth flames of fire. The Tsarevich gavethem some water to drink, and thus gained an entrance into the tent, in which he beheld a Queen, who in beauty far surpassed the formerones. At her feet lay a dragon with twelve heads, all of which IvanTsarevich struck off at two blows. The Queen, in return for thisservice, gave him a golden egg, which contained a golden kingdom; andwith the egg she gave him also her heart. As they were conversingtogether, Ivan asked the Queen whether she knew where his mother was;then she showed Ivan her dwelling, and wished him success in hisenterprise. 

After travelling a great distance, Ivan Tsarevich came to a castle; heentered, and went through many apartments, but without finding anyone. At length he came to a spacious hall, where he beheld his mothersitting, arrayed in royal robes. Ivan embraced her tenderly, tellingher how he had travelled far and wide with his brothers in search ofher. Then the Tsarina told Ivan Tsarevich that a spirit would soonappear, and bade him hide himself in the folds of her cloak. "When thespirit comes and tries to embrace me, " she added, "try all you can toseize his magic wand with both hands: he will then rise up with youfrom the earth; fear not, but remain quiet, for he will presently falldown again, and be dashed to pieces. These you must collect and burn, and strew the ashes in the field. "

Scarcely had the Tsarina spoken, and wrapped Ivan in her cloak, whenthe Spirit appeared and offered to embrace her. Then Ivan Tsarevichstarted up, as his mother had directed, and seized the magic wand. Ina furious rage the Spirit flew with him high up into the air, but soonfell to the ground and was dashed in pieces. Then the Tsarevichgathered up the remains and burned them, and kept the magic wand;after which he took with him his mother and the three Queens he hadrescued, came to an oak tree, and let them all slide down the mountainin a linen cloth. When his brothers saw him left alone on themountain, they pulled the cloth from his hands, conducted their motherand the Queens back to their own kingdom, and made them promisesolemnly to tell their father that it was the elder brothers who hadfound and rescued them. 

Ivan Tsarevich was thus left alone on the mountain, and knew not howto get down. Lost in thought he wandered about; and, throwing bychance the magic wand from one hand to the other, on a sudden a manstood before him, who said: "What is your pleasure, Ivan Tsarevich?"Thereat Ivan wondered greatly, and asked the man who he was, and howhe had come to that uninhabited mountain. "I am a Spirit, " replied thefigure, "and was subject to him whom you have destroyed; but as younow possess his magic wand, and have changed it from one hand to theother--which you must always do when you have need of me--I am hereready to obey you. " "Good!" said Ivan Tsarevich; "then do me now thefirst service, and carry me back to my own kingdom. "

No sooner had Ivan uttered these words than he found himself at oncetransported to his native city. He wished first to know what waspassing in the castle; but instead of going in directly, he went andtook work in a shoemaker's shop, thinking that he should not be easilyrecognised in such a place. The next morning the shoemaker went intothe city to buy leather, and returned home so tipsy that he was unableto work, and left it all to his new assistant. But Ivan, being quiteignorant of shoemaking, called the Spirit to his aid, ordered him totake the leather and make it into shoes, and then lay down to sleep. 

Early the next morning, when the shoemaker awoke, he went to see whatwork Ivan had done; but, perceiving him still fast asleep, he flewinto a rage, and exclaimed: "Up, you lazy loon! have I engaged youonly to sleep?" Ivan, stretching himself slowly, replied: "Havepatience, master; first go to the workshop, and see what you shallfind. " So the shoemaker went to the shop; and what was hisastonishment at beholding a quantity of shoes all made and ready! Andwhen he took up a shoe, and examined the work closely, his amazementonly increased, and he could scarcely believe his eyes, for the shoeshad not a single stitch, but were just as if cast in a mould. 

The shoemaker now took his goods, and went into the city to sellthem; and no sooner were these wonderful shoes seen than they were allbought in the twinkling of an eye. In a short time the man became sorenowned that his fame reached the palace; then the Princesses desiredhim 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 poorshoemaker in vain assured them that this was impossible; they onlythreatened that, unless he obeyed their will his head should be struckoff, as they saw clearly that there was some magic in the affair. 

The shoemaker left the castle in despair, and went into the city tobuy leather. Late in the evening he returned home, threw the leatheron the floor, and said to Ivan: "Hark ye, fellow, what a piece of workyou have made with your devilish tricks!" Then he told Ivan what thePrincesses had ordered him to do, and how they had threatened himunless he fulfilled their commands. "Do not trouble yourself, " saidIvan Tsarevich, "go to bed and sleep--an hour in the morning is worthtwo at night. " The shoemaker thanked him for his advice, threw himselfon the bench, and soon began to snore aloud. Then Ivan Tsarevichsummoned the Spirit, ordered him to have the work done and inreadiness by the morning, and then lay down to sleep. 

Early the next morning, when the shoemaker awoke, he called to mindthat he was to lose his head that day; so he went in despair to Ivanto bid him farewell, and asked him to come and have a drink so that hecould bear up. But Ivan said: "Fear nothing, man; go into the workshopand take the work which was ordered. " The shoemaker went distrustfullyinto the shop; but when he beheld all the shoes ready made, he caperedabout, not knowing what to do for joy, and embraced his companion. Then he took all the shoes, and hastened to the castle. 

When the Princesses saw all this they were more than ever convincedthat Ivan Tsarevich must be in the city; and they said to theshoemaker; "You have well and truly fulfilled our orders; but there isanother service which you must render us; to-night a golden castlemust be built opposite to ours, with a porcelain bridge from one tothe other, covered with velvet. " The shoemaker stood aghast on hearingthis demand, and replied: "I am indeed only a poor shoemaker, and howcan I possibly do such a thing?" "Well, " replied the Princesses, "unless you fulfil our wish your head shall assuredly be struck off. "

The poor fellow left the castle overwhelmed with grief, and weptbitterly. On his return home, he told Ivan Tsarevich what a feat hehad been ordered to accomplish. "Go quietly to bed, " replied Ivan;"the morning sun shall see it done. " So the shoemaker lay down on thebench and fell fast asleep. Then Ivan called up the Spirit, anddesired him to fulfil the command of the King's daughters, after whichhe went to bed. 

Early the next morning Ivan Tsarevich awoke his master, and giving hima 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 thePrincesses went out early on to the balcony they were amazed atbeholding the Castle and the bridge; but the Princesses were out oftheir wits with joy, for they were now quite sure that Ivan Tsarevichwas in the city; and presently after, indeed, they saw him at a windowin the golden castle. Then they begged the Tsar and Tsarina to go withthem into the castle; and as soon as they set foot on the staircase, Ivan Tsarevich came out to meet them. Thereupon his mother and thethree Princesses ran and embraced him, exclaiming: "This is ourdeliverer!" His brothers looked down ashamed, and the Tsar stood dumbwith amazement; but his wife soon explained it all to him. Thereat theTsar fell into a passion with his eldest sons, and was going to putthem all to death; but Ivan fell at his feet and said: "Dear father, if you desire to reward me for what I have done, only grant mybrothers their lives, and I am content. " Then his father raised himup, embraced him, and said: "They are truly unworthy of such abrother!" So they all returned to the castle. 

The next day three weddings were celebrated. The eldest son, VasiliTsarevich, took the Princess of the copper kingdom; Fedor Tsarevich, the second son, chose the Princess of the silver kingdom, and IvanTsarevich settled with his Princess in the golden kingdom. He took thepoor shoemaker into his household, and they all lived happily for manyyears. 

ILIYA OF MUROM AND THE ROBBER NIGHTINGALE

In the famous city of Murom there once lived a countryman named IvanTimofeyevich. 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 heacquired such strength that he could not only run about, but made forhimself a suit of armour and a steel spear, saddled his steed, andwent to his parents and begged their blessing. "Dear father andmother, " said he "grant me permission to go to the famous city ofKiev. " So his parents gave him their blessing and dismissed him, saying: "Go straight to Kiev, straight to the city Chernigov, but dono wrong upon your way, nor shed Christian blood in vain. "

Then Iliya of Murom took leave of his parents, and journeyed on, farinto 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, andconspired together to kill Iliya and seize the horse. So they fellupon Iliya of Murom, five-and-twenty men. But Iliya of Murom reined inhis steed, drew an arrow from his quiver, laid it on his bow, andshot the shaft deep into the ground till it scattered the earth farand wide over three acres. When the robbers saw this, they were struckdumb 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 youdesire. " Iliya laughed and said: "What should I do with yourtreasures? But if you have any regard for your lives, beware in futurehow you run such risks. " And so saying he journeyed on to the famouscity of Kiev. 

On his way, Iliya came to the city of Chernigov, which was besieged bya countless Pagan army, threatening to destroy its houses andchurches, 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 hisreligion. So with a brave heart and a stout spear he attacked theunbelieving host, scattered them to the winds, took their leaderprisoner, and carried him in triumph to Chernigov. Then the citizenscame out to meet him, headed by the governor and nobles, and offeredhim thanks for their deliverance; whereupon they conducted Iliya tothe palace and gave him a grand banquet. 

After this, Iliya of Murom followed the straight road to Kiev, whichthe Robber Nightingale had held for thirty years, and on which hesuffered no traveller to pass, on foot or horse; putting them all todeath, not with the sword, but with his robber's whistle. When Iliyacame into the open fields, he rode into the Brianski forest, passingover swamps, on bridges of elder, to the river Smarodienka. Then theRobber Nightingale, seeing him approach at a distance, sounded hisrobber whistle. The hero's heart quailed not, but when he was withinten versts the Nightingale whistled so loud that Iliya's steed felldown upon his knees. Then Iliya of Murom went straight up to the nest, which was built upon twelve oaks, and the Robber Nightingale lookedforth upon the Russian hero, whistled with all his might, and tried toslay him. But Iliya took his strong bow, and laying an arrow upon it, shot straight into the nest and hit the Robber Nightingale in hisright eye; whereupon he fell down from the tree like a sheaf of oats. 

Then Iliya of Murom bound the Robber Nightingale fast to his stirrupand rode off to the famous city of Kiev. On the road he passed thepalace of the Nightingale, where he saw the daughters of the Robberlooking out of the window. "See!" cried the youngest, "here comesriding our father, bringing a peasant bound to his stirrup. " But theeldest 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 theirhusbands, beseeching them to ride out and meet the stranger, anddeliver their father. Now their husbands were famous horsemen, andthey rode out with their stout lances to meet the Russian rider, andslay him. But the Robber Nightingale, seeing them approach, cried out:"My sons, bring not disgrace upon yourselves, by provoking so brave arider to slay you; invite him rather to come to our palace and drink aglass of vodka. "

 [Illustration: AT LENGTH THEY FELL IN WITH A CRIPPLE ON THE ROAD. ]

Then Iliya of Murom, at their invitation, turned to go into thepalace, little anticipating the danger that awaited him, for theeldest daughter had drawn up by a chain a huge rafter to let fall andslay Iliya as he rode through the gate. But Iliya perceived herdesign, and slew her with his lance. Thereupon he rode on toward Kiev, and going straight to the palace, prayed to God and saluted thenobles. 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 thePrince asked him which way he had come; and Iliya answered: "I rodefrom Murom to Chernigov, where I slew a countless army of pagans, anddelivered the city. Thence I came straight hither, and on my road havecaptured the mighty Robber Nightingale, and brought him prisoner boundto my stirrup. " But the Prince was wroth, for he thought Iliya wasdeceiving him. Then two of the knights, Alescha Popovich and DobrinjaNikitich, rode forth to ascertain the truth of the matter; and whenthe Prince was convinced, he ordered a glass of vodka to be given tothe brave youth, and begged to hear the famous whistle of the RobberNightingale. So Iliya of Murom took the Prince and Princess under hisarm, wrapped in his sable pelisse, and ordered the Robber Nightingaleto sound his whistle softly. But the Robber whistled so loud that hestunned all the knights and they fell flat upon the ground, whereatIliya of Murom was so enraged that he slew him on the spot. 

Then Iliya formed a close friendship with Dobrinja Nikitich; andsaddling their steeds they rode off, and journeyed on for three monthswithout meeting any enemy. At length they fell in with a cripple onthe road; his beggar's cloak weighed fifty poods, his bonnet ninepoods, and his crutch was six feet long. Then Iliya of Murom rode athim to try his courage; but the cripple said: "Ah, Iliya of Murom, doyou 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? Knowyou not that a great calamity has befallen the famous city of Kiev? Anunbelieving knight, with a head as big as a beer-barrel, eyebrows aspan apart, and shoulders six feet broad, has entered it? He devours awhole ox at a time, and drinks off a barrel of beer at a draught. ThePrince is lamenting your absence. "

Then Iliya of Murom drew the cripple's cloak around him, rode off tothe city of Kiev, and going straight up to the Prince's palace, criedaloud, "Ho there, Prince of Kiev! give alms to a poor cripple. " Andwhen the Prince heard this he said: "Come into my palace, and I willgive you meat and drink, and money for your journey. " Then Iliya wentinto the palace, and seated himself near the stove; and close by satthe idolator, who called for food and drink. Thereupon the attendantsbrought him a whole roasted ox, which he ate up, bones and all; andseven-and-twenty men brought him a barrel of beer, which he emptied ata draught. Then said Iliya of Murom: "My father had once a greedyhorse, which ate so much that he burst. " At this the idolator knightfell into a violent rage and exclaimed: "How dare you provoke me withsuch 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 youlike an orange. You had indeed a valiant hero in your country, Iliyaof Murom, with whom I would fain wage a battle; but you indeed----!"

"Here stands Iliya of Murom!" exclaimed the cripple; and so saying, hetook off his hat, and struck him a blow on the head, which, althoughnot hard, drove it through the wall of the palace. Then Iliya took upthe body, and flung it into the courtyard. And the Prince rewardedIliya richly, and retained him at his court as his boldest and bravestknight. 

THE RENOWNED HERO, BOVA KOROLEVICH, AND THE PRINCESS DRUSHNEVNA

In 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 thebeauty of the Princess Militrisa Kirbitovna, that he longed to seeher. So he set out, and travelled to the city of Dimichtian, where hesaw her many times, and fell deeply in love with her. 

When King Guidon returned home, he sent his servant Litcharda asambassador to King Kirbit Versoulovich, the father of the PrincessMilitrisa Kirbitovna, with a letter written by his own hand, to askfor his daughter in marriage. When Litcharda arrived at the city ofDimichtian, he delivered to King Kirbit the letter from his master;and after Kirbit had read it through, he went at once to the PrincessMilitrisa, and said to her: "My dear daughter, the fame of your beautyhas reached the brave and powerful King Guidon. He has been in thecity to see you, and has fallen deeply in love with you. He has sent amessenger to demand your hand, and I have already given my consent. "

As King Kirbit spoke these words, Militrisa fell to weeping; and herfather seeing this said: "Grieve not, dear daughter, Guidon ispowerful, renowned, and rich; he will be a good husband to you, andyou will share the government with him. To refuse his request isimpossible, for he would return with a large army, storm our city, andcarry you off by force. "

When the Princess Militrisa heard this, she began to sob, fell on herknees, and said: "My lord and father, you have sovereign power overme, but let me confess the truth: I have seen Guidon, but his verylook terrified me; I fear therefore to marry him. I entreat you, dearfather, to alter your resolution, and to give me to Tsar Dadon, who isour neighbour, a faithful friend, and protector of our kingdom. " ButKirbit did not listen to her entreaties, and sent her to King Guidonto be his wife, in the city of Anton. Guidon rejoiced exceedingly ather arrival, ordered a great feast to be prepared for their weddingthe following day, and set at liberty all the prisoners in his kingdomon this joyous event. 

For three years Guidon lived with Militrisa, and they had one onlyson, named Bova Korolevich, who was of a powerful figure and handsomebearing, and he grew, not from day to day, but from hour to hour. Oneday Queen Militrisa Kirbitovna called her faithful servant Litcharda, and said: "Do me a true service; I will repay you with gold andprecious stones: take this letter to Tsar Dadon, without the knowledgeof King Guidon: fail not to do my bidding, or you shall die amiserable death. "

Litcharda took the private letter of the Queen, mounted his horse, rode to Tsar Dadon, and delivered the letter to him. When Dadon readit through he laughed, and said to Litcharda: "Your Queen either jokesor wishes to affront me: she invites me to lead my army before thecity of Anton, and promises to deliver up her husband to me; thiscannot truly be meant, because she has a young son. " But Litchardareplied: "Mighty Tsar Dadon, let not this letter arouse yoursuspicion; put me in prison with food and drink, collect your army, and march to the city of Anton, and if the contents of the letterprove untrue, let me suffer death. "

When Tsar Dadon heard these words from Litcharda, he rejoiced, andordering the trumpets to sound, he collected an army of thirtythousand men, marched upon the city of Anton, and encamped on theroyal meadows. No sooner was Militrisa Kirbitovna informed that TsarDadon was encamped before the city with his army, than, dressingherself in her best attire, she went to King Guidon, and, pretendingto 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. 

As soon as he had left the city, Militrisa ordered the drawbridges tobe raised and the gates to be shut. And hardly had King Guidonapproached Tsar Dadon's rearguard, when the latter instantly pursuedhim. Guidon turned his horse towards the city, but flight was in vain;when he came to the gates, and found them closed, and the drawbridgesup, he was sad at heart, and exclaimed: "Most miserable of men! Now Isee the cunning of my wicked wife, and the death she has prepared forme. But Bova, my dear boy, why did you not tell me of your mother'streachery?" As he spoke these words Dadon rode at him, pierced himthrough the heart with his lance, and Guidon fell dead from his horse. 

When Militrisa Kirbitovna saw this from the city walls, she orderedthe gates to be opened and the bridges let down, and went out to meetTsar Dadon, kissed him on the lips, took him by the white hands, andconducted him into the castle. Here they sat together at a table wherea banquet was spread, and they began to feast. But the little boy, Bova Korolevich, young as he was, when he saw his mother's wickedconduct, went out of the castle to the stable, and sitting down undera manger was sad at heart. His attendant, Simbalda, saw him sittingthere, and wept at the sight, and said: "My dear young master, BovaKorolevich, your cruel mother has let Tsar Dadon kill my good lordyour father, and now she feasts and sports with the murderer in thepalace. You are young, my child, and cannot avenge your father'sdeath; indeed, who knows but that she may kill you likewise? To saveour lives, therefore, we will fly to the city of Sumin, over which myfather rules. " And so saying, Simbalda saddled for himself a goodsteed, and for Bova a palfrey, took with him thirty stout youngfellows, and hurried out of the city. 

As soon as Dadon's followers saw this, they went and told their masterthat Bova and Simbalda had escaped towards Sumin. When Tsar Dadonheard this he forthwith commanded his army to be collected, and sentin pursuit of Bova Korolevich and his protector Simbalda, whom theyovertook at a short distance from Sumin. Simbalda at once saw theirdanger, and, setting spurs to his horse, galloped off to the city andshut the gates. But Bova Korolevich, who was very young, could nothold his seat upon the horse, and fell to the ground. Then thepursuers seized Bova, and carried him to Tsar Dadon, who sent him tohis mother, Militrisa; and, collecting all his army, he rode up to thecity of Sumin, in order to take it by force, and put to death itsinhabitants and Simbalda; and pitched his tent on the forbiddenmeadows around the city. 

One night Dadon dreamed that Bova Korolevich pierced him through witha lance: and when he awoke he called to him his chief boyar, and senthim to Queen Militrisa, bidding her to put Bova to death. But whenMilitrisa Kirbitovna heard this message she replied: "I cannot myselfkill him, for he is my own son; but I will command him to be throwninto a dark dungeon, and kept without food or drink, and so he willdie of hunger. "

Meanwhile Tsar Dadon lay encamped before the city of Sumin for half ayear, but could neither take it by force nor starvation; so at lengthhe broke up his camp and returned to Anton. After his departure, Simbalda assembled an army of fifteen thousand men, marched upon thecity of Anton, surrounded it on all sides, and demanded that Bovashould be given up to him. But Dadon collected an army twice asstrong as Simbalda's, and drove him back into the city of Sumin. 

One day, as Queen Militrisa was walking in her garden, she by chancepassed the prison where Bova Korolevich was confined. Then he criedaloud: "Alas! my gracious mother, fair Queen Militrisa, why are you soenraged against me? Why have you put me in prison and given me no foodon purpose to let me die of hunger? Have I grieved you by any illconduct or cruel words, that you treat me in this way, or have wickedpeople spoken evil of me to you?" Militrisa answered: "I know ofnothing wrong in you, and have only put you in prison on account ofyour irreverence to Tsar Dadon, who defends our kingdom against ourenemies, while you are young; but I will soon set you at liberty, andwill send you now some sweetmeats and meat; you can eat as much as youlike. "

 [Illustration: "ALAS! MY GRACIOUS MOTHER, WHY HAVE YOU PUT ME IN PRISON?"]

So saying, Queen Militrisa went into the palace and set to work tomake two cakes, of wheaten dough and serpent's fat, which she bakedand sent to Bova Korolevich by a servant maid named Chernavka. Butwhen the maid came to Bova she said: "Master, do not eat the cakeswhich your mother has sent, but give them to the dogs, for they arepoisoned, here is a piece of my own bread. " So Bova took the cakesand 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 blackbread and ate it, and begged her not to close the prison door: so sheleft it open, and when she came again to Militrisa she told her shehad given the cakes to Bova. 

As soon as the servant was gone, Bova escaped from his prison and wentto the harbour to forget his sorrow. There some drunken people seizedand carried him on board a ship, and the merchants on it asked him ofwhat condition he was. Bova Korolevich told them that he was of thepoor class, and that his mother got her living by washing linen forstrangers. When the sailors heard this they wondered that he shouldlook so handsome, and bethought them how they might keep him withthem. They began to wrangle as to who should be his master, but assoon as Bova perceived their intention, he told them not to quarrelfor his sake, for that he would serve them all in turn. 

Then the shipmen left the city of Anton and sailed out to sea, to theArmenian kingdom of King Sensibri Andronovich. There they cast anchor, and went into the city to follow their business; whilst Bova went onshore, and wandered about, playing on the lute. Meantime the portofficers came on board the ship, whom King Sensibri sent to enquirewhence the ship had come, who the merchants were, and what was theirbusiness. But when they heard Bova Korolevich playing, and saw thebeauty of his features, they forgot what they had come for, andreturning to King Sensibri, said only that they had seen a youth ofunspeakable beauty on board the ship, who played on the lute sowonderfully that they were never tired of listening to him; adding, that they had quite forgotten to enquire what wares the shipcontained. When the King heard this he went himself to the ship, andwhen he had seen Bova, he offered to purchase him, but the merchantswould not sell him for any price, telling the King that he belonged tothem all equally, and relating how they had picked him up on theseashore. At this King Sensibri flew into a rage, and instantlyordered them to be driven out of his kingdom, forbidding them ever toreturn. On hearing this order, the merchants agreed to sell BovaKorolevich for three hundred bars of gold. 

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 yourname?" And Bova replied: "Gracious King, Sensibri Andronovich, I am ofthe poor class, and lost my father at an early age: my mother washeslinen for strangers; and thus supports herself and me. My name isAnhusei, and I will serve thee henceforth faithfully. "

When the King heard this he said: "As you are of the lowest class andcannot remember your father, go into my stables, and you shall be thehead over all my grooms. " So Bova made his bow and went into thestable. 

Bova often drove out with his comrades to the forbidden meadows of theKing, to get grass for the horses; but he never took a sickle withhim, but pulled all the grass with his hands, and gathered himself asmuch as ten men together could mow. When the other grooms saw thisthey were amazed at his strength. His fame at length reached theKing's daughter, the fair Drushnevna, who went to see him: and as soonas she beheld Bova, she was enraptured with his uncommon beauty. Andone day she said to the King: "My gracious father, you are indeedpowerful and renowned, not only in your own kingdom, but in allcountries far and near, and no King, Tsar, or Knight can compare withyou; but, O King! you have no trusty and clever steward in yourhousehold. Now, I have heard that there is a young lad in our royalstables whom you have purchased from some shipmen; his name isAnhusei. This lad will prove trusty and useful in your service; orderhim to be taken from the stable and employed in your household. "

King Sensibri replied: "My dear daughter, I have never refused togrant any one of your wishes, and in this matter too you are free todo as you will. " When the Princess Drushnevna heard these words, shethanked her father, made her obeisance, and went out. Then she orderedBova to be called and desired him to leave his old task and to enteron his new employment in the household. 

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; youmust stand near me at the table to do my bidding. " Thereupon Bova madehis bow and was going away, but the Princess Drushnevna called himback, and said: "Tell me the truth, young fellow, what class do youbelong to--of boyar or kingly race? Or are you the son of some braveknight, or of a merchant from a foreign land? And what is your truename? I believe not that you are born of common folk as you told myfather. " Then Bova replied: "Gracious Lady, I have told your royalfather truly my name and condition, and can only repeat it to you. "And so saying he left the room. 

On the morrow the King held a great feast, and Bova had to hold aroasted swan to the Princess Drushnevna, which she began to carve;and, on purpose, she let fall a fork on the floor. Bova instantlypicked 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 sleptthree days and three nights; no shaking could arouse him. The fourthday, when he awoke, he rode out into the open country, walked into theforbidden meadows, gathered some beautiful flowers, and, making awreath, placed it on his head, and so went into the city. When thePrincess saw him thus decked out, she called him before her, and badehim take the wreath from his head and place it on hers. Bova did notobey; but he took the wreath from his head, pulled it to pieces, andflung it on the ground; then he left the room, and shut the door afterhim with such force that he pulled out the silver handle, and a stonefell from the wall and wounded him on the head. The fair Drushnevnahearing this, cured his wound with her medicines; and when it washealed Bova lay down again to sleep, and slept five days and fivenights. 

Now at this time King Marcobrun came from the kingdom beyond the Don, with many hundred thousand warriors; and surrounding the Armenian citywith his army, he sent an ambassador to Sensibri to demand thePrincess his daughter Drushnevna for wife; promising, in return, toreward and defend him; but threatening, in case of his refusal, todestroy the city with fire and sword, to throw him into prison, andcarry off his daughter by force. Then King Sensibri answered: "Tellyour Master, the renowned King Marcobrun that, until this day, I havenever had any disagreement with him, but have lived in friendship andgood-will; and that I have no desire now to quarrel with him; butbetter it had been to have sent you with a simple request instead ofthreats. I pardon him, however, on account of his youth, and invitehim to my royal castle to eat bread and salt, and to celebrate themarriage with my daughter. "

King Sensibri dismissed the messenger, and commanding the city gatesto be opened, went himself to meet King Marcobrun, took him by hiswhite hands, led him into the marble palace, seated him at an oakentable spread with checkered tablecloths and sweetmeats, and they fellto eating and drinking and disport. 

Just then Bova Korolevich awoke from his five days' sleep, and heardthe confused sounds of men, and the neighing of horses, outside thecity. Whereupon he went into the white marble palace to PrincessDrushnevna, and said: "Gracious Lady, I hear the sounds of men andhorses outside the city, and people say that Marcobrun's nobles areamusing themselves with holding a tournament. I have a wish to join init; command, I pray, a good steed to be given me, and allow me to goforth and see the sports. "

The Princess answered: "My little fellow Anhusei, how can you ridewith Marcobrun's nobles? You are still very young, and cannot sit faston a horse. However, if you have so great a longing to go, choose agood horse and ride off to see the sport; but take no weapon, and donot mingle in their games. "

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 asMarcobrun's nobles saw Bova Korolevich riding upon a broom, they beganto 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, hedefended himself with his broom, laying about him right and left, andknocking them down by twos and threes. When Marcobrun's nobles sawthis sport they rushed upon Bova, ten or more at once; but he tookthem as they came, and overthrew them all. Thereat the other knightswere enraged, and attacked Bova, two hundred in a body, and tried toride him down. Still Bova flinched not, but slew them all, one afteranother, to the number of two hundred thousand men. When the King'sdaughter saw this from her window, she went to her father and said:"My gracious father, command your servant Anhusei to return. He hasridden forth to see the sports of Marcobrun's nobles; but they areengaged against him, and are attacking him with great fury. It were ashame to let him be slain: he is still but a young child, and haslittle strength. " So King Sensibri Andronovich instantly sent to Bova, and ordered him to return to the city. 

Bova obeyed the command, rode back to the city, lay down to sleep, andslept for nine days and nine nights. Meanwhile the powerful Tsar andknight Lukoper came to the Armenian kingdom: his head was as large asa beer-barrel, his eyebrows were a span apart, his shoulders anarrow's length broad, and he was as tall as a journey. Never beforehad such a powerful knight been heard of; and he came at the head ofa host twice as strong as the army of Marcobrun. Then he surroundedthe city of King Sensibri, and sent an ambassador to him, demandingthe hand of the Princess Drushnevna; threatening, if he refused, tolay waste his city with fire and sword, to imprison all theinhabitants, to overthrow Marcobrun's army, slay both Kings, and carryoff the Princess Drushnevna. But if Sensibri assented to his demand, Lukoper promised him his aid and protection. 

When King Sensibri heard this message he dared not refuse, anddismissed the ambassador without an answer. Then he called Marcobrun, and took counsel with him, and they agreed to attack Lukoper with alltheir forces. They forthwith ordered their horses to be saddled; eachseized 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 beheldthem, he rode with the blunt end of his lance against Marcobrun andSensibri, overthrew them one after another, took them prisoners, andsent them to his father, Saltan Saltanovich, who was encamped with hisarmy on the seashore. Then Lukoper fell upon the armies of Sensibriand Marcobrun, and slew them without mercy, while his gallant steedtrampled down still more than he killed; and in a short time theroyal forbidden meadows were covered with the dead. 

Just at this time Bova Korolevich awoke from his sleep, and heard thenoise of Lukoper's army, and the neighing of the horses. Then he wentto the Princess Drushnevna and said: "Gracious Lady, I hear the noiseof Lukoper's warriors, who are disporting in a tourney after thevictory over your father and Marcobrun, whom he has sent prisoners tohis father the Tsar Saltan Saltanovich, on the seashore. I amtherefore come, as your faithful servant, to crave permission to takefrom the royal stable a good horse, with trappings, a sword, and asteel lance. Let me go forth against Lukoper's army, measure mystrength with him, and try the valour of his boasting warriors. " ThePrincess answered: "I will consent to your wish, young fellow; but youmust first tell me truly of what rank of life you are, and what isyour real name? You have not told my father the truth: your handsomefigure and valorous deeds show clearly that you are no poor man'sson. "

"Lady, " replied Bova Korolevich, "I would not disclose to you my truerank and name, but that I am now going forth to a battle of life anddeath, and know not whether I shall return from it alive, or lose myhead in rescuing my King from prison; therefore I will confess thetruth. My father was the renowned King Guidon, a mighty hero in thefield, and a merciful prince to his subjects. My mother is QueenMilitrisa, daughter of the Tsar Kirbit Versoulovich: my name is Bova. I left my country in early youth, when King Dadon laid waste ourkingdom, treacherously murdered my father, and seized upon hisdominions. He sought to kill me too; but I fled, sailed with somemerchants to your kingdom, and was bought by your father. "

When the Princess heard this story she loved Bova Korolevich stillmore, and she said to him: "Brave Knight, you would engage in a fightof 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. Stayrather in my city, take me for your wife, and protect my country andpeople against our foes. "

Bova, however, was unmoved by her words; and again entreated her tolet him have a steed and armour. When the Princess Drushnevna saw howearnestly he begged, she took from the wall a battle sword, buckled iton him with her own hands, put on his armour, and led him to the stonestable to fetch a steed, which stood there behind twelve iron doorsand twelve huge locks. Then she commanded the grooms to strike off thelocks; but as soon as the horse perceived a rider worthy of him, hebegan 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 thefair Drushnevna and all the bystanders were ready to fall downsenseless. 

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 seeingthis, placed a Tcherkess saddle upon him, with girths of Persian silkand golden buckles. And when he vaulted into the saddle and took leaveof the Princess Drushnevna, she embraced and kissed him. The royalChamberlain, named Orlop, who saw this, began to reproach her, whichangered Bova so much that he hurled him to the ground half-dead withthe butt-end of his lance, and rode out of the city. Then Bova struckthe flanks of his steed, which started, rose from the ground, andleaped over the city wall. 

When Bova beheld the camp of the Tsar Lukoper, in which the tentsstood as thick as trees in a forest, he drew his battle sword andmace, and rode straight against the mighty Tsar. The crash of twomountains falling upon one another is not so great as was the onsetbetween these two powerful knights. Lukoper struck at Bova's heartwith his lance, but Bova parried the thrust with his shield, and thelance was shivered in pieces. Then Bova struck Lukoper on the headwith his sword, and cleft his body in twain to the very saddle; afterwhich he fell upon Lukoper's army, and many as he slew with hisbattle-axe, as many again were trodden down under his horse's hoofs. Bova fought five days without resting, and overthrew well nigh thewhole army; a small number only escaped, who fled to the Tsar Saltan, and said to him: "Our Lord Tsar Saltan Saltanovich, after we had takenprisoners Tsars Sensibri and Marcobrun, and had overthrown all theirenemies, a young fellow of handsome look rushed out of Sensibri'scity, who slew your brave son Lukoper in single combat, and routed ourwhole army. He is even now in pursuit of us, slaying all whom he canovertake, and will presently attack you. "

On hearing this, Tsar Saltan was seized with terror, and hastened withhis troops on board his ships, leaving all his tents and treasuresbehind, cut the cable, and instantly set sail from the Armeniankingdom. But hardly had he left the shore when Bova rode into thecamp, and found not a single living soul except the Kings Marcobrunand Sensibri, who lay bound hand and foot beside Saltan's tent. BovaKorolevich freed them from their bonds, and rode with them back to theArmenian kingdom. 

On the way Sensibri Andronovich said to Bova: "My trusty servantAnhusei, I see your fidelity and valour; I owe my liberty to you, andI know not how to reward you: ask of me whatsoever you desire--mytreasures are at your command. " Then Bova answered: "My gracious lordKing, I am rewarded by your royal favour, and ask no more; but I willserve you faithfully to the best of my power. " And as they conversedthus they came to the Armenian city, where they feasted and mademerry. Then Bova lay down to sleep, and slept nine days and ninenights. 

At length Kings Sensibri and Marcobrun, tired of feasting, rode outinto the fields to hunt for three days. And meanwhile it happened thatthe Chamberlain, jealous of the favour that the King showed to Bova, called to him thirty young fellows and said: "My friends, you see thatthis rascal Anhusei has deceived our King and the Princess Drushnevna, and, turning their favour from us, drives us from their presence. Comewith me into the stable where he sleeps; let us put him to death, andI 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 notstrong enough to slay Anhusei in his sleep; should he awake he wouldkill us all. A better plan would be for one of us to lie in the King'sbed, whilst he is out at the chase, to summon Anhusei, and give him aletter to the Tsar Saltan Saltanovich desiring him to put Anhusei todeath. "

When the Chamberlain Orlop heard this he leaped for joy, embraced thefellow who had given this wicked advice, and rewarded him more thanthe rest. And when the letter was prepared, Orlop went and lay down inthe 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 ownhand. 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 theletter, went out and saddled a good horse, and rode off to the kingdomof the Tsar Saltan. 

Bova rode for two months, until he came to a desert, where there wasneither river, brook, nor fountain, and grew sore athirst. At lengthhe met a pilgrim, who had a leather bottle full of water, and hebegged him for a draught to quench his thirst. The old man secretlyput a sleeping powder into the water and gave it to Bova; but hardlyhad he drunk it than it took effect, and he fell from his horse andslept like one dead. Then the old man took the battle sword, mountedthe horse and rode off, leaving Bova alone and unarmed in the midst ofthe desert. 

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 tohimself: "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 deathin return for my fidelity. " Then he went his way on foot, and his headhung lower than his shoulders. 

When Bova Korolevich appeared before the Tsar Saltan he bowed to theground, handed him the letter and said: "Long life to you, graciouslord and Tsar Saltan Saltanovich! I am sent by King Sensibri to yourMajesty to bring news of his health, to enquire after yours, and todeliver to your Majesty this letter. " Then Saltan took the letter, broke the seal, and after reading it exclaimed aloud: "Where are myvaliant knights, my faithful servants and warriors? Seize thismessenger from King Sensibri, and lead him to the gallows, for he hasslain my dear son and destroyed our mighty army. "

Thereupon sixty of Saltan's knights rode forth, surrounded Bova, andled him into the open fields to hang him. On the way Bova bethoughthim how he could have deserved such a shameful death, and to lose hislife in the flower of his days. "Better had it been, " said he, "if mymother had killed me in the city of Anton, or if I had been slain byMarcobrun's nobles or by Lukoper in the field. " And with that he roseup, overthrew all the sixty knights, and fled out of the kingdom. 

When the Tsar Saltan heard this, he instantly commanded the trumpetsto sound, and collected his knights to the number of a hundredthousand, pursued Bova Korolevich, and surrounded him on all sides. Bova had neither a good steed, a sharp sword, nor a steel lance--hehad nothing with which to defend himself. Then he seized one ofSaltan's warriors, and began to fight with him; but he saw that hecould not slay them all, and gave himself up prisoner. So they seizedhim, bound his hands, and led him before Saltan Saltanovich. As soonas the Tsar saw Bova he ordered the hangman to be fetched, to hanghim. 

Just then the Tsar's daughter, the fair Princess Miliheria, fell onher knees before her father and said: "My gracious lord and father, donot let Bova be hung, but allow me to speak; his death will not bringeither my brother or your army to life again. Rather grant him hislife, turn him to our faith, and make him the successor to yourthrone. Then will he be a defence in war to your old age. "

The Tsar answered: "My dear daughter, Miliheria, you comfort me withyour tender words and wise advice; I give Bova into your hands, and ifhe embraces our faith he shall be my successor and your husband, and Iwill resign to him all my cities and villages, my treasures of goldand jewels. "

The Tsar's daughter made her obeisance to her father, left the hall, and ordered Bova to be brought before her. Then she endeavoured withgentle speech to persuade him to adopt her faith; but Bova answeredthat neither for the whole kingdom, nor all the treasures of gold andjewels, would he consent to change his faith. 

Then Miliheria commanded Bova to be led to prison, and the entrance tobe stopped up with sand, and that he should have no food nor drink forfive days. At the end of this time she put on a gold-embroidereddress, adorned with jewels, and went to the prison. Then she orderedthe sand to be removed, and the door to be opened, and, going in, shesaid to Bova: "Now, young fellow, have you considered the matter? Willyou change your faith, and live, and rule over my father's kingdom, or have you not yet overcome your obstinacy and will rather end yourlife on gallows?"

"Never, as long as I live, will I deny my faith, " answered Bova, "norabandon it for yours. Tempt me not in vain with cunning words andpromises; I will rather suffer death than be a despicable man. "

The Princess Miliheria was very angry at Bova's answer; she wentinstantly to her father and said: "My lord and father, I confess toyou my wrong in having interceded for the life of this unbelievingprisoner, in the hope of converting him to our faith, and making him agood subject of your Majesty. But now I see his obstinacy and hardheart, 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. 

Saltan Saltanovich, on hearing this, called to him thirty boldknights, and sent them to Bova's prison; but when they came thitherthey 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 offthe roof and dragging Bova out. Then Bova Korolevich was sad at heart, and said, weeping: "Alas, I am the most unfortunate of men! I haveneither sword nor battle-axe, while my foes are numberless, and I ammoreover weakened by five days' hunger and confinement. " Then he satdown in a corner of the prison and felt close to him on the ground asword of steel. He seized it, overjoyed, turned it round and round, and scarcely trusted his unlooked-for prize. Then he went to the spotwhere Saltan's knights were letting themselves down into the prison;and cutting off their heads, one after the other as they came down, helaid them in a heap. 

Meanwhile Saltan was awaiting the return of the knights whom he hadsent after Bova; at last he was angered at their long delay, and sentas many more to their help; but Bova slew these likewise, and piled uptheir bodies in a heap; and climbing up this he escaped from prisonand hastened to the harbour, where he saw a ship lying at anchor. Thenhe cried with a loud voice: "Ho, masters! take an honest young fellowon board your ship! Save me from a cruel death, and I will reward yourichly. "

When the merchants heard this they sent a boat to the shore and tookBova Korolevich on board the ship. Presently his pursuers camegalloping up in pursuit of Bova, and with them the Tsar SaltanSaltanovich himself. Then Saltan cried aloud to the sailors: "Ho! youforeign merchants, surrender instantly yon malefactor, who hasescaped from my prison and taken refuge in your ship! Deliver him upor I will never again allow you to trade in my kingdom, but commandyou to be seized and put to a miserable death. "

The merchants were terrified by these threats, and were about to sendBova back to shore; but he drew a sword from under his cloak, laidabout him, and slew them right and left. At the sight of this the restfell on their knees before him, and promised to sail with him whereverhe wished. Then Bova ordered them to set sail and steer for the opensea. And after a voyage of three months they came to the kingdom overthe Don; and not knowing it he enquired of a fisherman what country itwas he saw in the distance. "Yonder lies the Sadonic kingdom, " repliedthe fisherman, "and the king of it is named Marcobrun. " Then Bovaasked: "Can it be the same Marcobrun who went to seek the hand of thedaughter of King Sensibri?" "The same, " replied the fisherman, "and hehas not long returned home with his betrothed, the PrincessDrushnevna; their wedding is speedily to be celebrated. "

When Bova Korolevich heard this, he staggered, and for a time couldnot utter a word. At length he came to himself, and said to thefisherman: "Land me on the other side, my good fellow, and I willreward you handsomely. " Then he divided among the ship's crew theproperty of the merchants he had slain, took leave of them, and wentto the Sadonic kingdom. On landing, Bova directed his steps towardsMarcobrun's chief city. For two days he went on and on without meetinganyone. On the third day he met the pilgrim who had given him thesleeping powder and robbed him of his sword, his battle-axe, andsteed. Then Bova seized and flung him on the ground, saying: "Villain!you robbed me with a pitcher of water, carried off my brave steed, andleft me helpless in a desert, to be torn to pieces by wild beasts. Nowtake your reward and die. "

Then the pilgrim entreated Bova for mercy: "Brave knight, have pityand grant my life! I will give back your horse, your sword, andbattle-axe, and, for my crime, three powders besides. Wash yourselfwith one of these and you will become old, so that no one willrecognize you; if you wash with the second, you will grow young asbefore; and if you put the third powder into any person's drink hewill sleep as soundly as if he were dead for nine days. "

When Bova Korolevich heard this, he took the powders, the battlesword, and the battle-axe; but gave back the horse and his clothes tothe pilgrim. Thereupon he washed himself with the first powder, andwent to the royal court and began to beg alms in the kitchen, in thename of Bova Korolevich. One of the cooks, hearing this, seized abrand from the hearth, beat Bova on the head, exclaiming: "Be off, youworthless fellow! don't come begging here in Bova's name: it isforbidden in this country to utter his name under pain of death. "

Bova did not feel the blow, but seized a brand, belaboured the cook, and said: "What mean you, scoundrel, to beat your betters? You mightfirst have tried words before coming to blows. " But the poor cook hadalready given up the ghost, and this exhortation was thrown away uponhim. When his comrades saw this they ran out and told the Seneschal, who went into the kitchen and asked Bova how the matter stood. ThenBova said to the Seneschal: "Noble sir, I know not the customs of thiscountry, and have heard nothing of your prohibition. I begged alms ofyour cook, in the name of Bova Korolevich, knowing that he waseverywhere honoured for his valour; but the man beat me with a cudgel, without saying a word; I returned the blows and have killed himunintentionally. "

When the Seneschal heard this, his anger was turned into favour, andhe said to Bova: "Hark ye, old man; from this hour on never more begalms in Bova's name, for we are commanded to slay anyone who speaks aword in his praise in this country; you are, however, pardoned foryour ignorance. Go straight to the back court, where you will see thefair Princess Drushnevna, who gives alms to beggars like you. In threedays her wedding with King Marcobrun is to be celebrated. "

Bova bowed to the Seneschal, and went to the back court, where hebeheld Drushnevna; but there was such a crowd of beggars that he couldnot make his way up to her, and many of them beat and pushed about theold man. This annoyed Bova, and he began to push in turn, and soonmade his way to the fair Drushnevna, and said: "Gracious Princess, betrothed to the renowned King Marcobrun, give me alms, in the name ofBova Korolevich!"

When the Princess heard these words her countenance changed: she letfall from her hand the dish with the money, and could scarcely stand. Then she ordered one of her maids to distribute the alms amongst thebeggars, called Bova to her, and asked him why he had begged alms inthat name. And Bova answered: "My gracious Lady, I know BovaKorolevich well, for I was with him in the same prison, in thekingdom of the Tsar Saltan; we ate black bread and drank dirty watertogether, and I shared with him hunger and cold; he confessed to methat you, fair Princess, loved him dearly, and had pledged him yourword to marry no one but him. Therefore I have had the boldness to begalms in his name. "

"Ah, my good man, " said Drushnevna, "where did you leave BovaKorolevich? If I but knew where he was I would instantly go and seekhim, were it through thrice nine lands to the thirtieth country. "

"He was released from prison with me, " replied Bova; "and I came tothis kingdom in his company; he stayed behind, and whither he is goneI know not; but I wandered to this city. " As he spoke, King Marcobrunentered, and saw tears in Drushnevna's eyes; he asked her why shewept, and whether anyone had offended her. "No, King Marcobrun, I wepton hearing from this man that my father is lying on his death-bed. "Then Marcobrun ordered Bova to go away, and tried to comfort thePrincess. "My dear Drushnevna, grieve not for your father's illness;he will recover; your grief cannot help him, and will only injure yourhealth: your dark eyes will be dimmed with tears, and sorrow willdestroy your beauty. "

As the King was speaking, Bova went into the stable, where his trustysteed stood fastened with twelve chains. And when the horse heard hisbrave rider approach, he began to burst through the iron doors andbreak his chains; and having done so, and escaped into the openfields, he galloped up to Bova, seated himself on his hind legs, andtried to embrace him. Bova seized him by the mane and stroked hisneck. 

When the grooms saw this they went and told it all to Marcobrun. Andthe King hastened into the courtyard, and saw Bova and the horse;then, calling to him, he ordered him to serve in the stables of hiscourt and to tend his war-horse. When the Princess Drushnevna heardthis, she summoned Bova and asked him how he could undertake to tamethis steed, which no one ever ventured to approach on account of hisrage. And Bova answered: "Gracious Princess, this horse is restive andfierce to King Marcobrun's grooms, who have never ridden on him; buthe knows his former master in the kingdom of Sensibri Andronovich, andhim he obeys. The horse recognized me at once, and you have thricespoken with me, and have not discovered that I am Bova Korolevich!"

So saying, he was going away, but the Princess held him back, andsaid: "Trouble me not with your prate, old man, nor mock my grief; Iknow Bova Korolevich; he is young and handsome, but you are old andgrey-headed. "

"If you believe me not, " replied Bova, "order some water to bebrought, and you shall see whether I speak the truth. " So they broughta basin of water, and Bova washed himself before the eyes ofDrushnevna with the white powder, and instantly he was young andhandsome as before. And when the Princess saw this she jumped from herseat for joy, threw her arms round Bova's neck, and said: "My dearfriend, Bova Korolevich, for your sake I have refused these threeyears to obey my father and listen to the suit of King Marcobrun; butnot hearing any tidings of you for so long a time I thought you weredead, and was compelled, against my will, to come with Marcobrun tohis kingdom. Here I have deferred the wedding from day to day, in thehope of hearing some tidings of you; but now that I see you face toface I can boldly dismiss Marcobrun and wander with you to the end ofthe world. "

"My dear Drushnevna, " replied Bova Korolevich, "you may rely on myvalour; but we cannot now leave this place openly on account of thegreat number of Marcobrun's warriors, and the multitudes of people, whom not ten of the bravest knights could slay, especially in theheart of their city. But take this powder and mix it in Marcobrun'sdrink: he will then sleep soundly for nine days, and in this time wecan fly from his dominions. "

Hardly had he spoken, given her the powder, and gone away, when KingMarcobrun came in. Then Drushnevna spoke with him softly and kindly, brought him a glass of sweet mead on a silver tray, and shook thesleeping powder into it: Marcobrun, charmed by her coaxing manner, instantly took the mead, drank it off, and presently fell asleep. 

The Princess Drushnevna went out and ordered her faithful servants tobring her a good nag, and the kingly steed for Bova Korolevich. Thenshe gave him a suit of armour, and in the darkness of the night theyfled 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 clearbrook, pitched a tent, and, tired with their journey, fell fastasleep. 

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, andthus gave Bova to understand that an enemy was advancing against him. Then he saddled his steed, donned his armour, girded on his battlesword, and went into the tent and took leave of Drushnevna saying: "Mydear Princess, I am going out to fight with a great army, but grievenot for me. Before the sun goes down I shall have gained the victoryand returned to you. " So saying, he rode forth against the enemy, anddefeated them, so that only three men were left alive. And when heheard that the army was sent by Marcobrun in pursuit of him, he saidto these three knights: "Tell King Marcobrun to beware of pursuing melest he lose his whole army, for he knows well who I am. " Thereuponthese three rode back to their King, and told him that Bova had slainthe army of three hundred thousand men, and that they three alonesurvived. Then Marcobrun ordered the trumpets to sound, and assembledan army of four million men, and said to his boyars: "My faithfulservants, pursue Bova, and bring him and Drushnevna alive to me. " Andall the kingdom answered with one voice: "Our Lord and King, you havea knight Polkan who has been confined in prison for many years;perhaps he can overtake Bova, for he clears seven versts at a singleleap. From his head to his waist he is a man--the rest of his body isin the form of a horse. "

On hearing this from the knights, Marcobrun sent immediately forPolkan, and said to him: "Sir Polkan, pursue Bova Korolevich and bringhim and Drushnevna to me; I will reward you richly. " So Polkanpromised to fulfil his command, and hastened after Bova and thePrincess. 

One day Bova was walking in the fields near his tent when on a suddenhe heard Polkan come running; he stepped into the tent and said toDrushnevna: "My dear Princess I can hear a powerful knight come ridingthis way in the direction from Marcobrun's kingdom; but I do not knowwhether he will prove a friend or foe. " Then Drushnevna answered: "Nodoubt it is some one whom Marcobrun has sent in pursuit of us, and hemust be the stout knight Polkan, who can leave behind him seven verstsat a bound: he will soon overtake us. "

Bova took his battle sword, mounted his steed, and rode forth. Polkanmet him, and cried aloud with a terrible voice: "Ha, rascal! you shallnot escape out of my hands!" And so saying, he tore up by the roots anoak 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 hisbattle sword, and aimed at Polkan to slay him; but he missed his blow, and the sword was struck half-way up to the hilt in the earth, andBova fell from his saddle. Then Polkan caught his horse; but the horsebegan to fight with his feet, and bite with his teeth, until Polkanfled. The horse followed him, until Polkan's strength quite failed himand he dropped half-dead near the tent of Bova Korolevich. Then Bovawent up to Polkan and asked him whether he had rather live or die; andPolkan replied: "Brother Bova, let us make peace with one another andbe brothers, and there will not be our match in the wide world. " SoBova made a treaty with Polkan, and Bova was to be the elder andPolkan the younger brother. 

Then Bova mounted his good steed and Drushnevna her palfrey, andPolkan followed them. Thus they rode for a long time, and at lengththey 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 beclosed and made fast. Then Polkan ran and leaped over the walls andopened the gates, whereupon Bova and Drushnevna rode into the city. The Tsar Uril came to meet them with the Tsarina, and conducted themwith great honour into the palace, and they all fell to feasting andmaking merry. 

Meanwhile King Marcobrun advanced against the city of Kostel withthree times a hundred thousand men, beleaguered the city, and sent anambassador to the Tsar Uril, commanding him fiercely to deliver up tohim Bova, Drushnevna, and Polkan. Then Tsar Uril assembled his army, took with him his two sons, and went out to fight with Marcobrun; theyfought bravely, but Marcobrun overthrew their whole army, and took theTsar and his sons prisoners. Then Uril promised King Marcobrun todeliver up Bova, Drushnevna, and Polkan, and left his sons ashostages. So Marcobrun dismissed the Tsar Uril, and gave him a millionand a half men from his army, to fetch Bova and Polkan. 

The Tsar Uril went into his chamber and lay down to sleep; but Polkanstepped to the door of his room and listened to what the Tsar shouldsay of him to his wife. Then the Tsar told the Tsarina how he had lefthis sons as hostages with Marcobrun and promised to deliver up Bova, Drushnevna, and Polkan. And the Tsarina replied: "My dear husband, itis impossible to give them up. " At these words the Tsar struck her inthe face, saying: "Women have long hair, but short wits. " When Polkanheard this he was enraged, opened the door, entered the room, seizingthe Tsar by his head, flung him to the ground and killed him. 

Polkan now looked down into the courtyard and perceived that it wasfilled with Marcobrun's soldiers; so, without more ado, he took Bova'sbattle sword and slew ten thousand men, drove all the rest out of thecity, closed the gates, and barred them fast, after which he returnedinto the castle, awakened Bova Korolevich, and told him all that hadhappened. Bova embraced him and thanked him for his faithful service;thereupon they armed themselves, and rode out of the city againstMarcobrun's army. Bova took the right side and Polkan the left, andthey overthrew the whole army, and set free the children of the TsarUril. King Marcobrun fled into the Sadonic kingdom, and bound himself, his children, and his grandchildren with an oath never to pursue Bova. 

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: "Hereare your children, Lady!" The remains of the army he made swearallegiance to Uril's sons, and left them to govern as before. 

Then Bova rode with the knight Polkan and the fair Drushnevna to thecity of Sumin, to his attendant Simbalda, in order to raise a smallarmy to march against King Dadon and expel him from the city of Anton. They rode a long time, and at length halted in a meadow, and pitchedtheir white tent to rest. Drushnevna had two sons born here, and Bovanamed one Litcharda and the other Simbalda. 

One day, as Bova was walking with Polkan around his tent, they beheldin the distance a thick cloud of dust; then said Bova to Polkan:"Hasten and see whether an army is advancing, or a bold knight comesriding this way, or a merchant's caravan is on the road. " When Polkanheard this request, he rode forth and presently brought back somewarriors bound. And Bova asked: "Tell me, you warriors, freely andwithout resistance, what power comes yonder, and from what country, who is your King, and wherefore are you sent out?" The soldiersanswered: "Brave Knight, we are sent with a great army by King Dadonto the kingdom of Armenia to demand the stepson of our King who ranaway in his youth, to be given up by the Tsar Sensibri Andronovich;his name is Bova. "

"Face about, and tell the commander of your army not to march into theArmenian kingdom, but await me on the spot where you meet him. I amBova Korolevich, and will soon follow you to inspect your army. "

So saying, Bova dismissed the prisoners, and said to Polkan:"Comrade, I will now ride out to fight with Dadon's army which is sentagainst me: I pray you to remain near my white tent to protect my wifeagainst enemies and wild beasts; but tell her not that I am gone outto 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 leaveof Polkan, mounted his steed, and rode with all haste against Dadon'sarmy; and he speedily laid about him right and left, and slew themuntil the few who survived fell on their knees and begged for mercy. 

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 himto pieces. Polkan attacked them bravely, and slew one with a singlestroke; but the other lion he could not overcome so easily, and aftera long fight Polkan and the lion at last both fell dead. Shortly afterDrushnevna went out of the tent, and when she saw the dead bodies ofPolkan and the lions she thought that Bova must also have been killedby 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 asfast as she could. 

When Drushnevna arrived at the city of the Tsar Saltan, shedismounted and turned her palfrey loose in the fields, saying: "Goyour way, rove where you will, my trusty nag, until you find a goodmaster!" Then she went to a brook, washed herself with the blackpowder, and became on a sudden dark-coloured and haggard; and thus shewent her way to the city. 

After Bova Korolevich had destroyed King Dadon's army, he returned tothe place where he had left his wife and Polkan, to take them with himto the city of Sumin. When he came to his tent, what was his horror atbeholding the dead bodies of Polkan and the lions; and, not findingeither Drushnevna or her children in the tent, he imagined that thelions had killed both Polkan and his wife. Then sorrow struck Bova tothe heart, and after weeping long and bitterly upon that fatal spot, he rode off alone to his faithful attendant Simbalda. 

When Bova arrived at the city of Sumin he was received with greathonour by Simbalda; and he speedily ordered an army to be assembled, took with him Tervis, the son of Simbalda, and marched against thecity of Anton. 

At this time King Dadon was living in his city, without care ortrouble, and awaiting from hour to hour the surrender of Bova by KingSensibri, little dreaming that the army he had sent to fetch him hadbeen destroyed. On a sudden messengers came running to him to announcethat Bova Korolevich was besieging the city of Anton on all sides. When King Dadon heard this, he instantly commanded his whole army tobe assembled; and he collected above thrice one hundred thousand men, and marched out to battle. But Bova did not wish to shed bloodneedlessly, and ordered all his warriors not to stir from the spot. Then he looked steadfastly at Dadon, rode at him full gallop, andstruck him a sword-blow on the head which, though a light one, clefthis skull, and Dadon fell dead from his horse. Bova ordered the bodyto be taken up and borne into the city of Anton that Queen Militrisashould herself behold his end. Meanwhile he went to his father's graveand wept over it, and then returned to the city of Sumin. 

When Dadon's body was brought before Militrisa, she fell to weepingbitterly; and, as she washed the blood off with her tears, sheperceived that he was still living. Instantly she sent her faithfulservants into all the kingdoms round about to fetch a doctor for KingDadon, promising to reward him richly. 

Bova, on learning that Dadon was still alive, and had sent to seek adoctor, resolved to go himself to the city of Anton, disguised as aphysician, and to kill King Dadon. Thereupon he washed himself withthe black powder, and was instantly changed into an old man, dressedhimself like a doctor, and took with him Tervis and a sharp sword. Onreaching the city, Bova sent word to King Dadon that some physicianshad come from a foreign country to cure his wounds. When the Kingheard this he instantly commanded the strangers to be brought beforehim, and promised that if they healed his wounds they should be richlyrewarded. Then Bova Korolevich bowed himself, and said that he wouldspeedily cure the King; but that all the bystanders must go away, andleave the King alone with him. Dadon instantly assented; and as soonas they were alone, Bova seized him by his beard, drew the sword fromunder his cloak, and exclaimed: "Villain, take the reward for lettingyourself be seduced by the beauty of Queen Militrisa treacherously tomurder my father. "

So saying, Bova struck off King Dadon's head, laid it upon a silverdish, 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 amcome to inform you that your beloved husband Dadon is quite recoveredfrom his wounds, and has sent us to announce the glad tidings to youwith this present. " Thereupon he gave into her hands the dish, withKing Dadon's head upon it. When Militrisa raised the cloth and beheldthe head, she was so horror-struck that for some time she could notutter a word; at length she fell to tearing her hair and clothes, andtook an oath to kill Bova Korolevich for slaying Dadon and havingcalled himself her son. 

Then Bova took some water, washed himself with the white powder, andin an instant was young and handsome as ever. Militrisa at once knewhim, fell at his feet, and began to beg for pardon. But Bova orderedTervis to take her and nail her up in a cask, and roll her into thesea. Then he called together the princes and boyars and announced tothem that he was Bova Korolevich, the rightful heir to the throne ofhis father Guidon, returned from foreign lands, and required of themthe oath of allegiance. Immediately all the princes, boyars and othersswore fidelity to Bova, and wished him a happy accession to thethrone; after which the King ordered feasts and rejoicings to be madefor a whole month. 

After the feasts Bova sent an ambassador with presents to Saltan, todemand his daughter, Miliheria in marriage, as he believed Drushnevnato have been torn to pieces by the lions. Then Saltan sent for hisdaughter and said: "My dear child, I have just received a letter fromthe knight whom you shut up in prison and endeavoured to convert toour faith. He is a King's son, and rules over his own kingdom: he hassent me presents, and sues for your hand. Tell me now whether you willgive your consent. "

On hearing this the Princess Miliheria was glad at heart, and saidthat she was ready in all things to obey her father's will. The sameday Saltan received presents from the ambassador, and forthwithordered everything to be prepared for the journey. 

Whilst all this was passing, the Queen Drushnevna was living in thesame city, and washed linen for her livelihood. And thus shemaintained her two sons, who grew not from day to day, but from hourto hour, and surpassed all other children in beauty. She had nothought that Bova Korolevich was still alive; but when by chance sheheard that an ambassador had been sent by him to the Tsar Saltan todemand the hand of his daughter, and that Saltan had consented to thematch, she took with her her two sons, and went into the city of Antonwhere he ruled, travelling slowly and with great fatigue. At lengthshe arrived, the very same day that Bova was to be married toMiliheria. Then she washed herself with the white powder, and was asbeautiful as ever; and she sent her sons to the castle to presentthemselves to Bova Korolevich, and inform him of their condition andadventures. 

Litcharda and Simbalda (so the boys were named) stationed themselvesin the passage through which Bova had to pass with his princes andboyars on his way to dinner. And as he was entering his apartment, hiseye fell upon the lads, and he asked who they were, and for whom theywere 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 wideworld, Bova Korolevich, and the fair Queen Drushnevna; our belovedfather left us when very young in the open country under a tent, withour mother and the knight Polkan, who was killed by lions. But we fledfrom the spot, with our mother, and have ever since been wanderingabout in various countries in search of our father. "

Then Bova Korolevich embraced them tenderly, exclaiming: "My sons, mysons! I am your father, and little had I hoped to have ever seen youagain alive. But where is my beloved wife, your mother?"

Then Litcharda told him where they had left Drushnevna; and Bovainstantly sent some of his boyars to conduct her to the castle. 

When Bova beheld her again he was overjoyed; and, for such unexpectedhappiness, he ordered the feasting to be doubled, and the taxes to beremitted to his subjects for the two whole months. His faithfulservant Simbalda he rewarded with many towns; and to his son Tervis hegave 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 ithad been impossible for him to marry her after the return of his wifeDrushnevna. 

Then Bova sent Simbalda's brother Ohen with an army into the Armeniankingdom to win it from Orlop, whom he ordered to be put to death. Bovagave the Armenian kingdom to Ohen and his successors; but he himselfremained in the city of Anton, and ruled happily. 

THE MILD MAN AND HIS CANTANKEROUS WIFE

There lived once upon a time, in great poverty, a countryman and hiswife: he was mild as a calf, and she as cunning as a serpent. Sheabused and drubbed her husband for every trifle. One day she beggedsome corn of a neighbour to make a loaf of bread, and she sent herhusband with it to the mill to have it ground. The miller ground thecorn, but charged them nothing on account of their poverty; and thecountryman set out on his return home with his pan full of flour. Buton a sudden there arose such a strong wind that in the twinkle of aneye all the flour was blown out of the pan, which he carried on hishead. So he went home and told his wife; and when she heard it shefell to scolding and beating him without mercy; and she threatened himon and on, until at length she grew tired; then she ordered him to goto the wind which had blown away the flour and get paid for it, eitherin money or in as much flour as there had been in the pan. 

The poor countryman, whose bones ached with the blows he had receivedfrom 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 alarge and dark forest, in which he wandered here and there. At last anold woman met him and said: "My good man, where are you going, and howare you going to find your way? What has brought you into thiscountry, where rarely a bird flies, and rarely does a beast run?"

"Good Mother, " replied the man, "force has driven me hither. I went tothe mill with some corn, and when it was ground I shook the flour intoa pan and went my way home; but suddenly a wind arose and carried offthe flour out of the pan; and when I came without it to the house andtold my wife, she beat me, and has sent me to seek the Wind, and askhim either to give me back the meal or to pay me for it in money. Sonow I go here and there to look for the Wind, and know not where tofind it. "

"Follow me, " said the old woman: "I am the mother of the Winds, andhave four sons; the first son is the East Wind, the second is theSouth 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?"

"The South Wind, Mother dear, " answered the countryman. 

Then the old woman led the man deeper into the forest, and came to alittle hut, and said: "Here I live, master woodman; creep on to thestove, and wrap yourself up; my children will soon be here. "

"But why should I wrap myself up?" said the peasant. 

"Because my son the North Wind is very cold, and you would be frozen, "said the old woman. 

Not long after, the old woman's sons began to assemble; and when atlength the South Wind came, the old woman called the countryman fromthe stove and said to her sons: "South Wind, my dear son, a complaintis brought against you; why do you injure poor folks? You have blownaway this man's flour from out of his dish; pay him now for it withmoney, or how you will. "

"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 for your flour. " So the countrymanmade his bow to the South Wind, thanked him for the basket, and wenthis way home. 

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 wishfor--only ask it. " So the good woman took the basket, and said:"Basket, give me good flour for bread!" And instantly the basket gaveher as much as ever she could desire. Then she asked again for thisthing and that, and the basket gave her everything in the twinkling ofan eye. 

A few days after, it happened that a nobleman passed by thecountryman's cottage; and when the good woman saw him, she said to herhusband; "Go and invite this lord to be our guest; if you don't bringhim here, I will beat you half dead. "

The countryman dreaded a beating from his wife. So he went and invitedthe nobleman to dinner. Meanwhile the good woman took all kinds offood and drink out of the basket, spread the table, and then sat downpatiently at the window, laying her hands in her lap, awaiting thearrival of her husband and their guest. The nobleman was astonished atreceiving such an invitation and laughed, and would not go home withthe man; but instead, he ordered his servants who attended him to gowith the countryman, to dinner, and bring him back word how he treatedthem. So the servants went with the countryman, and when they enteredhis cottage, they were greatly amazed: for, to judge by his hut, hemust be very poor, but from the dishes upon the table he was evidentlya person of some consequence. Then they sat down to dinner, and mademerry; but they remarked that, whenever the good woman wantedanything, 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 comradeshome to make as quickly as possible just such another basket and bringit to them, without letting the countryman or his wife observe it. 

Thereupon the man ran as fast as he could, and got a basket just likethe other; and when he brought it to the cottage, the guests secretlytook the countryman's basket and put theirs in its place. Then theytook leave of the man and his wife, and returned to their master andtold him how daintily the countryman had treated them. 

The countryman's wife threw away all the food that was left, intendingto cook fresh on the morrow. The next morning she went to her basketand began to ask it for what she wanted; and when she found that thebasket gave her nothing, she called her husband and said: "OldGreybeard, what basket is this you have brought me? Likely enough ithas served us once and for all; and what good is it now if it gives usnothing more? Go back to the Wind and beg him to give us back ourflour, or I'll beat you to death. "

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 toldhim to wait for her son, who would soon come home. 

Not long after came the South Wind, and the countryman began tocomplain 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 shallnot beat you any more. Take this cask, and when you get home and yourwife 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 givenher a good beating, then say: 'Five! back to the cask!'" Then thepeasant made a low bow to the Wind, and went his way. 

When he came home he said: "There, I have brought you here a caskinstead of the basket. "

At this the good woman flew into a rage and said: "A cask, indeed!What shall I do with it? Why have you brought back no flour?" And, sosaying, she seized the poker, and was going to beat her husband. Butthe poor man stepped quietly behind the cask and cried: "Five! out ofthe cask! Thrash my wife instantly!" In a moment five stout youngfellows jumped out of the cask and fell to cudgelling the woman. Andwhen her husband saw that she was beaten enough, and she begged formercy, he cried: "Five! back to the cask!" Then instantly they stoppedbeating her, and crept back into the cask. 

The countryman thought over his loss and decided to go forthwith tothe nobleman and challenge him to fight. The nobleman laughed outrightat the folly of the man; nevertheless he would not refuse, as hewished to have some sport; so he told the man to go into the field. Sohe tucked his cask under his arm, betook himself to the field, andwaited for the nobleman, who came riding to meet him with a number ofattendants; and, when he drew near, he ordered his servants, for ajoke, to thrash the peasant soundly. The man saw that they weremocking 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 youall, I promise!" Nevertheless they did not stop beating, so he criedout: "Out, Five to each! thrash them soundly!" Immediately five stoutfellows sprang out of the cask upon every man of them and began tobeat them unmercifully. Then the nobleman thought that they would killhim, and roared out with might and main: "Stop, stop, my good friendand hear me!" So the countryman, upon this, cried: "Hold! you fellows!back to the cask!" Then they all stopped beating, and crept back intothe cask again. And straightways the nobleman ordered his servants tofetch the basket and give it to the countryman, who took it and hiedback home, and lived ever after with his wife in peace and harmony. 

STORY OF THE DUCK WITH GOLDEN EGGS

Once upon a time there lived an old man named Abrosim, with his oldwife Fetinia: they were in great poverty and want, and had a son namedIvanushka, who was fifteen years of age. One day the old man Abrosimbrought home a crust of bread for his wife and son to eat; but hardlyhad he begun to cut the bread than Krutchina (Sorrow) sprang frombehind the stove, snatched the crust out of his hands and ran back. Atthis the old man bowed low to Krutchina, and begged her to give himback the bread as he and his wife had nothing to eat. Old Krutchinaanswered: "I will not give you back the bread; but I will give youinstead a duck, which lays a golden egg every day. "

"Well and good, " said Abrosim; "at all events I shall go to bedwithout a supper to-night; only do not deceive me, and tell me where Ishall find the duck. "

"Early in the morning, as soon as you are up, " replied Krutchina, "gointo the town and there you will see a duck in a pond; catch it andbring it home with you. " When Abrosim heard this, he laid himselfdown to sleep. 

Next morning the old man rose early, went to the town, and wasoverjoyed when he really saw a duck in the pond: so he began to callit, 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 peepedgently under the sieve and saw to their joy that the duck had laid agolden egg. Then they let her run about a little on the floor; and theold man took the egg to town to sell it; and he sold the egg for ahundred roubles, took the money, went to market, bought all kinds ofvegetables, and returned home. 

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, andthe old man in a short time grew very rich. Then he built himself agrand house, and a great number of shops, and bought wares of allsorts, and set up in trade. 

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 makeher give him money. And one day, when Abrosim was gone out to buysome new wares, the shopman called to gossip with Fetinia, when bychance he espied the duck; and, taking her up, he saw written underher wing in golden letters: "Whoso eats this duck will become a Tsar. "The man said nothing of this to Fetinia, but begged and entreated herfor love's sake to roast the duck. Fetinia told him she could not killthe duck, for all their good luck depended upon her. Still the shopmanentreated the old woman only the more urgently to kill and cook theduck; until at length, overcome by his soft words and entreaties, Fetinia consented, killed the duck and popped her into the stove. Thenthe shopman took his leave, promising soon to come back and Fetiniaalso went into the town. 

Just at this time Ivanushka returned home, and being very hungry, helooked about everywhere for something to eat; when by good luck heespied in the stove the roast duck; so he took her out, ate her to thevery bones, and then returned to his work. Presently after, theshopman came in, and calling Fetinia, begged her to take out the roastduck. Fetinia ran to the oven, and when she saw that the duck was nolonger there she was in a great fright, and told the shopman that theduck had vanished. Thereat the man was angry with her, and said:"I'll answer for it you have eaten the duck yourself!" And so sayinghe left the house in a pet. 

At night Abrosim and his son Ivanushka came home, and, looking in vainfor the duck, he asked his wife what had become of her. Fetiniareplied that she knew nothing of the duck; but Ivanushka said: "Myfather and benefactor, when I came home to dinner, my mother was notthere; so, looking into the oven, and seeing a roast duck, I took itout and ate it up; but, indeed, I know not whether it was our duck ora strange one. "

Then Abrosim flew into a rage with his wife, and beat her till she washalf-dead, and hunted his son out of the house. 

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 andten nights, until at length he came to a great city; and as he wasentering the gates, he saw a crowd of people assembled, holding amoot; for their Tsar was dead, and they did not know whom to choose torule over them. Then they agreed that whoever first passed through thecity gates should be elected Tsar. 

Now just at this time it happened that Little Ivan came through thecity gates, whereupon all the people cried with one voice: "Here comesour Tsar!" and the Elders of the people took Ivanushka by the arms, and brought him into the royal apartments, clad him in the Tsar'srobes, seated him on the Tsar's throne, made their obeisance to him astheir sovereign Tsar, and waited to receive his commands. Ivanushkafancied it was all a dream; but when he collected himself, he saw thathe was in reality a Tsar. Then he rejoiced with his whole heart, andbegan to rule over the people, and appointed various officers. Amongstothers he chose one named Luga, and calling him, spoke as follows: "Myfaithful servant and brave knight Luga, render me one service; travelto my native country, go straight to the King, greet him for me, andbeg of him to deliver up to me the merchant Abrosim and his wife; ifhe gives them up, bring them hither; but if he refuses, threaten himthat I will lay waste his kingdom with fire and sword, and make himprisoner. "

When the servant Luga arrived at Ivanushka's native country he went tothe Tsar, and asked him to give up Abrosim and Fetinia. The Tsar knewthat Abrosim was a rich merchant living in his city, and was notwilling to let him go; nevertheless, when he reflected thatIvanushka's kingdom was a large and powerful one, fearing to offendhim, he handed over Abrosim and Fetinia. And Luga received them fromthe Tsar, and returned with them to his own kingdom. When he broughtthem before Ivanushka, the Tsar said: "True it is, my father, youdrove me from your home; I therefore now receive you into mine: livewith me happily, you and my mother, to the end of your days. "

Abrosim and Fetinia were overjoyed that their son had become a greatTsar, and they lived with him many years, and then died. Ivanushka satupon the throne for thirty years, in health and happiness, and hissubjects loved him truly to the last hour of his life. 

STORY OF BULAT THE BRAVE COMPANION

There 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 teachhim the different knightly exercises; and when Ivan was grown up, hebegged leave of his father to travel in other countries, in order tosee the world. Tsar Chodor consented, and bade him show his skill andvalour in foreign lands, and bring renown on his father. 

Then Ivan Tsarevich went into the royal stables to choose a goodsteed; and he thought that if he could find one on whose back he couldlay his hand, without the horse's going on his knees, it would be justthe one to suit him. So he looked in all the stalls, but found nohorse to his mind, and he went his way with a heavy heart. Then hetook his crossbow and arrows and roved about in the open fields todrive away his sadness. As he was walking thus along, he saw high inthe 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 afavourite arrow, and with tears in his eyes he sought for it thewhole field over. At last he came to a little hill, and heard a man'svoice calling to him: "Come hither, Ivan Tsarevich!" Ivan wondered tohimself not a little at hearing a voice and seeing no one. But thevoice called again; and Ivan went toward the spot whence it came, andremarked in the hill a little window, with an iron lattice; and at thewindow 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, IvanTsarevich?"

"How can I help grieving?" replied Ivan; "I have lost my favouritearrow, and can find it nowhere, and my sorrow is the greater because Ican not discover a steed to please me. "

"That is no great matter to grieve for, " said the man; "I will get youa good horse, and give you back your arrow since it flew down to mehere; but what will you give me for it?"

"Anything you ask, " replied Ivan, "if you will give me what youpromise. "

"Nay, " said the man, "I want nothing more than that you will free mefrom this place. "

"And how and by whom were you caged up thus?"

"Your father imprisoned me here, " replied the man. "I was a famousrobber, and was called Bulat the Brave Companion. He was enragedagainst me, and ordered me to be taken and imprisoned; and here I havebeen confined for three-and-thirty years. "

"Hark ye, Bulat, brave Companion, " said Ivan, "I cannot set you freewithout my father's consent; were he to hear of it he would be wroth. "

"Fear not, " replied Bulat; "your father will hear nothing; for as soonas you set me at liberty I shall go into other lands and not livehere. "

"Well then, " said Ivan Tsarevich, "I consent, only on condition thatyou give me back my arrow and tell me where I can find a trustysteed. "

"Go into the open fields, " said Bulat the Brave Companion, "and thereyou will see three green oaks; and, on the ground under these oaks, aniron door, with a copper ring. Under the door is a stable, in whichstands a good steed, shut in by twelve iron doors with twelve steellocks. Heave up this door, strike off the twelve steel locks, and openthe twelve doors; there you will find a horse; mount him and come tome; I will give you back your arrow, and then you will let me out ofthis prison. "

When Ivan Tsarevich heard this he went into the open fields, saw thethree green oaks, and found the iron door with the copper ring. So hehove up the door, knocked off the twelve locks, and opened the twelvedoors, and entered a stable, where he beheld a knightly steed and asuit of armour. Then Ivan Tsarevich laid his hand upon the horse, andthe 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 neighedloudly, and let Ivan saddle and bridle him. Ivan Tsarevich took thesteed, the battle-axe, and sword, led the horse out of the stable, leaped into the Tcherkess saddle, and took the silken bridle in hiswhite hand. Then Ivan wished to try his steed, and struck him on theflank: the horse chafed his bit, and rose from the ground, and away hewent over the tall forests and under the flying clouds, left hill anddale beneath his feet, covered small streams with his tail, boundedover wide rivers and marshes; and so at last Ivan came to Bulat theBrave Companion, and said with a loud voice: "Now give me back myarrow, Bulat my brave fellow, and I will let you out of your cage. " SoBulat instantly gave him back his arrow, and Ivan set him free. 

"I thank you, Ivan Tsarevich, " said Bulat, "for giving me freedom. Iwill, in return, render you good service; whenever you are in anydifficulty, and want me, only say: 'Where is my Bulat, the BraveCompanion?' and I will instantly come to you and serve you faithfullyin your need. "

So saying, Bulat cried with a loud voice:

 "Sivka Burka! he! Fox of Spring! Appear! Like a grass blade, here Stand before me!"

Instantly a steed stood before Bulat the Brave, who crept into hisear, ate and drank his fill, and then crept out at the other ear; andhe became such a handsome youth as no one can imagine, no pen candescribe, nor story tell. Then Bulat mounted his horse and gallopedoff, exclaiming: "Farewell, then, for the present, Ivan Tsarevich!"

Ivan now mounted his good steed and rode to his father, and with tearsin his eyes, took leave of him; then, taking with him his squire, herode forth into foreign lands. And after they had ridden for some timethey came to a wood; the day was bright and hot, and Ivan Tsarevichgrew thirsty. So they wandered all about the wood, seeking water, butcould find none. At length they found a deep well, in which there wassome water; and Ivan said to his squire: "Go down the well and fetchme up some water; I will hold you by a rope to prevent you beingdrowned. "

"Nay, Ivan Tsarevich, " said the squire, "I am heavier than you, andyou cannot hold me up; you had better descend, for I can support you. "

So Ivan followed his squire's advice, and let himself down into thewell. And when Ivan had drunk enough, he told the squire to draw himup; but the squire answered: "Nay, I will not draw you out until yougive me your word in writing that you are my servant and I am yourmaster, and that my name is Ivan Tsarevich; if you refuse this I willdrown you in the well. "

"My dear squire, " cried Ivan, "do not drown me, but draw me up, and Iwill 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. 

Thereupon the squire drew him out, and Ivan Tsarevich took a piece ofpaper, wrote the writing, and gave it to the squire. Then he took offhis own cloak, and exchanged it for the squire's, and they went ontheir way. After some days they came to the kingdom of the TsarPanthui. And when the Tsar heard of the arrival of Ivan Tsarevich hewent out to meet him; and, greeting the false Tsarevich, he took himby the white hands, conducted him into his marble halls, seated him athis oaken table, and they feasted and made merry. Then Tsar Panthuiasked the false Tsarevich what had brought him to his kingdom, and heanswered: "My gracious lord, I am come to sue for the hand of yourdaughter, the fair Princess Tseria. "

"Gladly will I give you my daughter to wife, " replied Panthui. 

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 hasgreatly annoyed me on my journey. " So the Tsar immediately commandedIvan to be set to do the most menial work, whilst his squire feastedand made merry with the Tsar. 

A few days after this an army was seen marching against the kingdom ofPanthui, threatening to lay it waste and take the Tsar prisoner. Thereupon Panthui called the false Ivan and said: "My dear futureson-in-law, a hostile army has come to attack my dominions: drive theenemy back and I will give you my daughter, but only on thiscondition. " And the squire answered; "Well and good, I will do as youdesire; but only by night--in the day I have no luck in fight. "

As soon as night drew on and everyone in the castle had gone to rest, the false Ivan went out into the open court, called to him the trueTsarevich, and said: "Ivan Tsarevich, be not angry with me for takingyour place; forget it all, do me one service, and drive the enemy fromthis kingdom. " And Ivan answered: "Go and lie down to sleep--all shallbe accomplished. " Then the squire went and lay down to sleep, and Ivancried with a loud voice: "Where is my Bulat, the Brave Companion?" Inan instant Bulat stood before him, and asked: "What service do yourequire now? What is your need? Tell me forthwith. " Then IvanTsarevich told him his need, and Bulat desired him to saddle his horseand put on his armour; and then cried with a loud voice:

 "Sivka Burka! he! Fox of Spring! Appear! Like a grass blade, here Stand before me!"

The horse bounded till the ground shook; from his ears rose a columnof steam, and from his nostrils issued flames; but when he came up toBulat he stood still. Then Bulat the Brave Companion mounted thehorse, and Ivan Tsarevich seated himself upon his steed, and so theyrode forth from the courtyard. Meanwhile the Princess Tseria, who wasnot yet asleep, was sitting at the window, and overheard all that IvanTsarevich had spoken with the squire and Bulat the Brave Companion. 

As soon as they reached the hostile army, Bulat said to Ivan: "Fallthou upon the enemy on the right, I will attack them on the left. " Andso they began to mow down this mighty army with the sword, and totrample them down with their horses' hoofs; and in an hour's time theyhad stretched on the earth a hundred thousand men. Then the hostileKing fled with the small remains of his army back into his ownkingdom, and Ivan Tsarevich returned with Bulat the Brave Companion tothe castle of the Tsar Panthui, unsaddled his steed, led him into thestable, and gave him white wheat to eat. After that he took leave ofBulat the Brave Companion, went back into the kitchen, and lay down tosleep. 

Early the next morning the Tsar went out on to his balcony, and lookedforth over the country where the hostile army lay; and when he sawthat it was all cut down and destroyed, he called to him the falseIvan, and thanked him for having saved his kingdom; he rewarded himwith a rich present and promised soon to give him his daughter towife. 

After a fortnight the same Tsar marched again with a fresh army andbesieged the city. And the Tsar Panthui in terror called again uponthe false Ivan and said: "My dear friend, Ivan Tsarevich, save me oncemore from the enemy, and drive them from my kingdom, and I willimmediately give you my daughter to wife. " And so it all fell outagain exactly as before, and the enemy were quite driven away by Ivanand Bulat the Brave. 

The hostile King, however, soon returned to attack Tsar Panthui athird time, and over and over again he was driven back, until at lasthe was himself killed. Then Ivan and Bulat the Brave Companion wentback, unsaddled their steeds, and put them into the stable. ThereuponBulat took leave of Ivan Tsarevich, and said: "You will never see memore. " With this he mounted his horse and rode forth; and Ivan wentinto the kitchen and lay down to sleep. 

Early the next morning the Tsar went again on to his balcony, andlooked forth over the country where the hostile army had been; andwhen he saw that it was all destroyed, he sent for his futureson-in-law and said: "Now I will give you my daughter to wife. " Thenall the preparations were made for the wedding; and a few days after, the squire married the fair Princess Tseria; and when they hadreturned from church, and were sitting at table, Ivan Tsarevich beggedthe head cook to let him go into the banquet-hall and see his masterand his bride seated at the table. So the cook consented, and gave hima change of dress. When Ivan entered the royal hall he stationedhimself behind the other guests and gazed at his squire and the fairTseria. But the Princess espied Ivan, and recognised him instantly;then she jumped up from the table, took him by the hand, led him tothe Tsar, and said: "This is the true bridegroom and the saviour ofyour kingdom, and not yon man who was betrothed to me. "

Then the Tsar Panthui asked his daughter what it all meant, and beggedher to explain the mystery. And when the Princess Tseria had relatedto him all that had passed, Ivan Tsarevich was placed at the tablebeside her, and his squire was shot at the gate for his treacherousconduct. Ivan married the Princess, and returned with her to hisfather's kingdom. Tsar Chodor placed the crown upon his head, and Ivanmounted the throne, and ruled over the kingdom. 

STORY OF PRINCE MALANDRACH AND THE PRINCESS SALIKALLA

In a certain country, in the city of Anderika there lived a Tsar, aclever man, named Abraham Tuksalamovich, with his wife for thirtyyears in peace and happiness, but they had no child. At last TsarAbraham Tuksalamovich prayed, with tears, that Heaven would give thema son; their wish was fulfilled, and they had a brave little boy, whomthey named Malandrach Abrahamovich. The little fellow grew, not bydays but by hours; as buck-wheat dough rises with yeast, so did theTsarevich grow and grow. The Tsar had his son taught all kinds ofarts; and when the boy came to mature years, he went to the Tsar andsaid: "My lord and father, you have instructed me in various arts, butthere is one which I have not yet learnt. "

"My bold and dear son, Malandrach, " said the Tsar, "tell me and let meknow what art you desire to learn; I will provide you carefulteachers. " And thereupon the Tsarevich answered: "My lord and father, yesterday I was reading a Swedish book, in which I found that thereare people able to fly in the air with wings. I have now a greatdesire to learn this art, and I entreat you to procure me masters whomay teach it me. "

The Tsar replied: "My bold child, it is impossible that men should flyin the air; you must have been reading something silly, or afairy-tale; do not believe such stories. Nevertheless, I will sendinto all foreign lands to make search for any such people; and if theycan be found I will order them to be brought hither, and have youinstructed in their art. "

When the Tsar wants them, he does not wait for beer to be brewed norbrandy to be distilled; so the Tsar instantly sent messengers intodistant lands, commanding them to seek everywhere for flying men, and, if they found any, to bring them to his Court. So the messengers wentforth into various countries, and after three years they found amaster of the art in the city of Austripa, and brought him to the TsarAbraham; and when Malandrach saw him he was overjoyed. Then the Tsarasked this person whether he understood the art of flying, and the manreplied: "Gracious sovereign, although it is not for me to praisemyself, yet in truth I am the first master in our country. If yourMajesty desire me to teach Prince Malandrach to fly in the air onlycommand a large and lofty hall to be built, two hundred ells long andas many wide, and one hundred ells in height: this hall must be quiteempty, have a great number of windows, and a little closet adjoiningit. "

When the Tsar heard this, he instantly ordered such a palace to bebuilt at once. And as soon as all was ready, the highflyer made twopairs of wings--one for himself and the other for Malandrach--and hebegan to teach the Tsarevich to fly in this hall, fastening the wingson to himself and Malandrach; and when he left off teaching, he laidthe two pairs of wings in the closet, locked them up, and took the keywith him. But one day it happened, when the Tsarevich had taken hislesson, and the master locked up the wings in the closet, thatMalandrach observed this, and, without saying anything to his teacher, went with him to his father. 

Now, just at this time the Tsar had a great feast prepared, and alarge number of guests were invited. Then Malandrach, without saying aword to anyone, hastened to the large hall, took his wings from thecloset, fastened them on to his shoulders, went into the courtyard, and began to flap his wings. Thereupon he flew up on to the loftybuilding, alighted upon it, and resting there, gazed with delight overhis father's kingdom. After awhile he wished to descend upon theground, but suddenly a shudder came over him, and he dreaded to lethimself down from such a height; and, instead of descending, hemounted higher and higher, until at length the earth appeared onlylike an apple, he had flown so high. 

Just then a strong wind arose, which carried Malandrach Tsarevich intoan unknown country; and his strength failed him, so that he could notmanage his wings, and he began to fall. Then he beheld the wide seabeneath him, and was exceedingly terrified; but, collecting hisremaining strength, he rose aloft again, and looked around on all foursides to see whether any shore was to be seen. At length he descriedin 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 setout rambling about the island in search of food, for he was sorelypinched by hunger; and he found by chance a tree with sweet fruit uponit, of which he ate his fill. Then he lay down to sleep upon thegrass, under a spreading tree, and slept there until daybreak. 

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 wasobliged to stay there ten long days. On the eleventh day, however, hefastened on the wings, blessed himself, mounted high into the air, andlooked around on all sides to seek for his father's kingdom; he couldnot, however, discover it, but toward evening he espied a shore, uponwhich was a thick forest; so he alighted, took off his wings, andfollowing a path, he came at last to the gates of a city. Then heconcealed his wings under a bush, and going into the city, enquiredfor the market. And when they showed him the way, he went to it, andbought a long cloak. Then he returned to the forest, put his wingsunder his arm, and betook himself again to the city, where he met aman whom he asked: "Know you, friend, of any dwelling that is to belet?" The stranger replied: "You are doubtless a foreigner?"

"As you say, " replied the Tsarevich Malandrach; "I am a merchant fromIndia, and have come hither in a ship with my wares. Our vessel waswrecked in a storm, and I was cast upon the shore of this kingdom upona raft, to which I had made myself fast. "

"My friend, " said the stranger, "if you like, come and live with me; Iwill maintain you like my own son. " So Malandrach willingly consented, and went home with the stranger, and lived in his house more than amonth, never going outside the courtyard. His host, observing this, asked him: "Why do you never take a walk in the city and see the noblebuildings and the old ruins?" Then Malandrach begged his host, whosename was Achron, to take a walk with him and show him the royalpalace. So his host accompanied Malandrach about the city untilevening, when they returned home and lay down to sleep. 

The next day Malandrach Tsarevich awoke betimes, rose from bed, dressed and washed himself, said his prayers, and bowed to all foursides. And after breakfast he went alone to take a walk, till atlength he came outside the city, and perceived an immense stonebuilding, surrounded by a wall; he walked round this wall, and couldsee no gate, but only a little door, which was locked fast. PrinceMalandrach marvelled greatly at this enormous building, and returninghome, asked his host what it was. The man replied that it was a royalbuilding, in which lived the daughter of the Tsar, named Salikalla;but the reason of her being shut up there he did not know. 

When Malandrach Tsarevich heard this he took his wings and went backthe next day to the stone building. There he waited until evening, then fastened on his wings, flew over the wall into the garden, andalighted on a tree. As he sat perched upon the tree, he lookedtowards the window at which the Tsarevna Salikalla sat, which was far, far off. 

Soon she lay down to sleep, and Malandrach watched her; and in anhour's time he flew in at the window, which was left open. He wentgently up to the Tsarevna, and saw that she was asleep; then he wishedto awaken her with a kiss, but dared not. He stood gazing at herbeauty and stayed there until near daybreak; then hastened home, fearing to awaken the Princess. So he silently took leave of her, andleft behind a sign by which she might perceive that someone had beenthere. The sign was this: he laid her shoes on the bed, and then flewout of the window, went home, and lay down to sleep. 

In the morning the Tsarevna awoke, and thought when she saw her shoeson the bed, that they had been laid there by her attendant, who sleptin the adjoining room. Then she asked the servant, who replied thatshe had not done it, whereat the Princess wondered greatly. 

In the evening Prince Malandrach went again to the stone palace, fastened on his wings, flew through the window, and gazed once morewith delight on the beauty of the Tsarevna. Before daybreak, when hewas obliged to return home, he again took the shoes, laid them at thehead board of the bed, then flew out of the window, went home, and laydown to sleep. 

When Salikalla awoke the next morning, and perceived the shoes againon the head board of her couch, she asked the servant whether she hadlaid them there. But the servant replied that she had not seen them;whereat the Princess wondered still more than before; and she resolvednot to sleep the next night, but to watch who laid the shoes upon thecouch. 

The Tsarevich Malandrach waited until evening, then took his wingsunder his arm and returned to the palace; and when he thought that thePrincess 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 thanthe Tsarevna suddenly seized him with both hands, and exclaimed: "Whoart thou? How dost thou dare to come hither?" Prince Malandrach knewnot what to answer for astonishment, and fell to entreating pardon ofthe Tsarevna. She would not, however, let him go, until by threats shehad 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 theTsarevna Salikalla was so pleased that she kissed his sugar lips, andbegged him to remain, asking him to forgive her having been so roughand unkind. 

"O my best beloved and most beautiful Tsarevna, " replied Malandrach, "tell me truly, I pray, why art thou shut up alone in this palacewithout any living creature near you?"

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 themhow long I should live; and they told my parents that until myfifteenth year I should live happily, but that then some evil shouldbefall me, upon hearing which my father ordered this house to bebuilt, 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 amonth, and my father once a quarter, and a servant is given to attendupon me. My mother will be here in a week's time; tarry, dear Prince, meanwhile, and cheer my solitude. "

The Tsarevich Malandrach readily consented, and the time passedquickly in various amusements and conversation, and at last they tookan oath to marry each other. For more than a year they lived togetherthus, only separating when the time came round for the visits of theTsarevna's parents. One day the Princess saw her mother comingunexpectedly to the palace to visit her. Then she called to Malandrachand begged him instantly to depart; but just at the moment when he hadfastened on his wings and was flying out of the window the Tsarinaobserved him. Astonished at the sight, she asked her daughter what itmeant, and pressed her so with entreaties and threats to tell her thetruth, that Salikalla at last told her of the visit of Malandrach, andhow he had come flying into her window. 

When the Tsarina heard this she went straightway to the Tsar, and toldhim all that her daughter had related. Then the Tsar instantly sent alarge body of men to seize Malandrach in the house of his host, and tobring him into his presence. And the soldiers went into the housewhere Malandrach lived, took him away and led him before the Tsar. Then the Tsar asked him whose son he was, from what country he hadcome, and what was his name. The Tsarevich replied, and told the plaintruth. Thereupon the Tsar called his daughter Salikalla and said:"Tell me is this the same man who flew in through your window?" Sheanswered that it was, and added that she loved him with her wholeheart. Then the Tsar took his daughter by the hand and gave her to theTsarevich Malandrach, saying to him: "My dearest son-in-law, receivefrom my hand my only daughter for your wife, and live with her inhappiness and love. " And, as when the Tsar wants it, beer is notbrewed nor brandy distilled, the wedding was celebrated forthwith. 

So Malandrach married the beautiful Princess Salikalla; and, afterliving with his father-in-law for half a year, he asked leave to gowith his wife to his own father. Then the Tsar ordered a ship to beequipped and dismissed them with his blessing, and Malandrach sailedwith his wife to his native country. When they arrived at the Court ofhis father, the Tsar Abraham was overjoyed at again seeing his belovedson, and asked him: "Where have you been this long while, and by whataccident did you wander from my kingdom?" And Tsarevich Malandrachtold his father the whole truth. 

Tsar Abraham Tuksalamovich was now very old so he placed the crown onthe head of his beloved son, and soon after died. MalandrachAbrahamovich lived with his beloved wife Salikalla many years inharmony and love. 

STORY OF A SHOEMAKER AND HIS SERVANT PRITUITSHKIN

There lived in a certain kingdom a renowned Prince, MistaforSkurlatovich, who had a servant named Goria, the son of Krutshinin. And Mistafor gave him a skilful master to teach him the art ofshoemaking that he should become the best and most skilful of allworkmen in that craft. Goria went on learning for several years, andbecame so clever that he made shoes even better than his master. ThenMistafor Skurlatovich took him into his house and ordered him to makesome shoes; so he set to work and made twenty dozen pairs, but not asingle pair of them satisfied Mistafor Skurlatovich. So he beat himunmercifully till the shoemaker, Goria Krutshinin, was half dead, andlay sick for ten long weeks. 

As soon as Goria began to recover, Mistafor Skurlatovich ordered himto make some more shoes. And when Goria had finished several pairs hetook 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 hisface was covered with blood. Goria Krutshinin, who had one poorcopper altine in his pocket, went to spend it in a public-house by theroad-side, and, as he sat down, he said to himself: "I wish the devilwould free me from this master of mine!"

Suddenly a stranger stood before him, and said: "Why are you in such apassion, my good lad?"

"How can I help it?" replied Goria, the shoemaker; "my master is ascruel as a mad dog; you see how he has dressed me down, and ten weeksago he beat me even still more than now. "

"Why does he beat you so?" said the stranger. And Goria replied: "Ihave learnt the art of shoemaking better than my teacher, and I makeshoes for my master, but though I work for him all I can, do what Iwill, I never can please him; and instead of thanking me, he beats meas you see. "

Then the stranger said: "I know your master well enough; you must befreed from his cruelty; and, if you like, I will marry Mistafor'sdaughter to you instead of to the Prince to whom she is betrothed. "

"Are you mad?" said Goria; "what nonsense are you talking?" "Trustme, " replied the stranger, "I can bring it all about. " But theshoemaker could not believe him, and said: "You may talk and promisewhat you will, I do not believe a word. " "Whether or no, you shallsee that what I promise I can perform. "

So saying the stranger desired him to shut his eyes, throw himself onthe ground facing the sun, and then retire two steps backwards. WhenGoria had done so, the stranger told him to look at himself. Goria wasamazed at seeing himself attired in a costly dress, and said: "Withoutdoubt you must be the devil in man's form!"

"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 thatpossible?" said Goria: "I am known down yonder by every one--the verydogs know me. " But the stranger replied: "Nay, it is not so. No one, Ipromise, will recognise you: every one will mistake you for PrinceDardavan, to whom Mistafor's daughter Dogada is betrothed. "

"Good, very good, " said Goria, "if what you say prove true. " "It shallall come to pass as I have said, " replied the other. And thereupon thestranger desired Goria to go three steps backward and shut his eyes, and then open them again. On a sudden Goria saw before him a splendidpalace of white marble, and in amazement, he exclaimed: "You are intruth the devil himself, and no man, to do such marvellous things!"

"I tell the truth, you see, and do not deceive you, " replied thestranger; "and now I make you a present of this marble palace, andwill remain with you and serve you faithfully. Call me Prituitshkin!"

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 servantsall made their obeisance to him, as to the Prince, and the musiciansplayed on all sorts of instruments; and when the music ceased, Goriathe shoemaker went into the marble palace, where he saw a tablecovered 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. 

Meanwhile Prince Dardavan, after his betrothal with Dogada, wastravelling on business to another city; and the trusty servantPrituitshkin thought this a favourable opportunity to marry Goria theshoemaker to Dogada. So he went to his master, the shoemaker, andsaid: "Now is the time to settle this affair; we must contrive thatMistafor takes you for Dardavan. " So saying, he went out in front ofthe marble palace, raised a large tent, and ordered all the musiciansto strike up. When Mistafor heard such a variety of beautiful soundshe bethought himself that Prince Dardavan must be arrived, and sent toinquire. As soon as he was informed that the supposed Prince Dardavanhad arrived, he sent a number of his people to invite his dearson-in-law to a feast. Then the messengers went to Goria, bowed humblybefore him, and invited him in the name of their Prince MistaforSkurlatovich to visit him and be his guest. "Go, " answered Goria, "andtell Mistafor Skurlatovich that I will soon come to him. " So theambassadors bowed low to the shoemaker, and returned and related totheir Prince what they had heard from the supposed Tsarevich Dardavan, and all they had seen. 

After the departure of Mistafor's messengers, Prituitshkin went toGoria the shoemaker and said: "Now is the time for you to go toMistafor; listen to what I say: when you come to the courtyard of thepalace, and dismount from your steed, do not fasten him up, nor givehim to anyone to hold, but only cough loudly, and stamp on the groundwith all your might. When you enter the hall, seat yourself on thechair 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 uponit, for Prince Dardavan always lies on his own bed, which weighs ahundred 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 tobed, and the servants bring you a number of lights, bid them take thelights all away, and order me to bring you a stone, which PrinceDardavan always lays on his table at night. I will bring you thisstone, which shows more light than a thousand candles. "

When Goria the shoemaker heard these directions he promised to observethem all. So he went into the courtyard, and Prituitshkin brought himthe horse saddled. Then Goria mounted the steed, and Prituitshkinanother, and away they rode to Mistafor Skurlatovich; and when theyentered the courtyard, Mistafor came out to meet his belovedson-in-law, the supposed Prince Dardavan. Then Goria the shoemakerdismounted from his gallant steed; but he did not fasten him up, nordid he give him to anyone to hold: he only coughed aloud and stampedupon the ground. The horse stood, as if rooted to the spot. Then Goriawent into the hall and bowed to all four sides, kissed his host, andseated himself upon the chair with the number One. Mistafor went tohis daughter Dogada, and bade her come and welcome her betrothedhusband, Prince Dardavan; but Dogada was discreet and cunning, andreplied; "My gracious lord and father, this is indeed not PrinceDardavan, but our shoemaker Goria Krutshinin. " "Don't talk nonsense, "said Mistafor; "I have seen Prince Dardavan face to face, and know himwell; this is the Prince, and no shoemaker indeed. "

"Well and good, " said Dogada; "I will go and welcome him; but onlybear in mind what I say: it is not Prince Dardavan, but our shoemakerGoria, disguised like him. Now mind one thing: when we sit down attable 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 brownbread you will know that he is not Prince Dardavan but the shoemakerGoria, for Dardavan always eats first the white bread. "

"Good, " said Mistafor, "I will observe. "

Then he invited Goria the shoemaker to sit down at table; and, whenthey were all seated, and white and brown bread was brought, Goriafirst 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?"

When the servant Prituitshkin heard this, he went invisibly up toGoria and whispered in his ear: "Tell Mistafor that your father, whenhe sat at table, always gave first to the poor a piece of bread toeat, and instead of salt, used to pour out to them a bag of gold: andso saying, order me to bring you the bag of gold. "

Then the supposed Tsarevich Dardavan repeated those words to Mistafor, cut some more slices of brown bread, and called to his servantPrituitshkin to bring him the bag of gold. In the twinkling of an eyePrituitshkin brought the money, which he had stolen from Mistafor'streasury, and Goria desired him to collect a troop of beggars. So theservant 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 ofthe bag. And when he had given away all the bread and the goldencoins, he himself fell to eating. 

After dinner Mistafor said to his daughter: "What say you now--is notthis Prince Dardavan?" "No, dear father, " replied Dogada, "this is notthe Prince, but our shoemaker Krutshinin. "

"Why, have you lost your wits, child?" said Mistafor; "we have got ridof Goria Krutshinin long ago. " "Well, mark you, " replied Dogada, "Iwill prove that this man is not the Prince. Invite him to spend thenight here, and order a bed to be made ready for him; and if he liesdown upon it he is not Prince Dardavan, but the shoemaker Goria. "

When the evening came, and it grew late, Mistafor ordered the bestbed to be made ready for the shoemaker; then Mistafor asked thepretended Tsarevich whether, as it was growing late, he wished toretire to rest. So Goria went into the bedchamber, and, seeing that itwas not the bed of which Prituitshkin had spoken, he instantly calledhis 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 verywell that I always sleep on my hundred-pood bed: go instantly andbring it to me!" Thereupon Prituitshkin ran as fast as he could andbrought the hundred-pood bed, which he had stolen from PrinceDardavan. 

Then Goria the shoemaker undressed, and lay down upon the bed; andDogada, on purpose to try him, ordered a number of tapers to belighted and taken into his bedchamber. But Goria instantly drove allthe servants away with the lights, and ordered Prituitshkin to givehim the stone, which the latter presently brought, having stolen thisalso from Prince Dardavan. Then Goria placed the stone on the table, and lay down to sleep; and the light shed by the stone was moredazzling than a meteor in the sky. 

At midnight, Dogada sent one of her attendants into the bedroom of theshoemaker, desiring her to steal away the stone from the table. Buthardly had the girl entered the apartment, and was about to run offwith the stone, than the servant Prituitshkin, who was lying by thedoor, jumped up and exclaimed: "Is it not a shame for you, prettygirl, to rob your future lord and master! You must leave me now apledge for your conduct. " So saying, he drew off the maid's slipperand head-dress and dismissed her. Then the girl went to her mistressand told her the whole affair; but Dogada did not despair, and, afteran hour, thinking that Goria and his servant Prituitshkin would now beasleep, she sent another maid to steal the stone. When the girlentered the bedchamber, up jumped Prituitshkin again as before, pulledoff her slipper, head-dress and jacket, and let her go. But afteranother hour had passed, Dogada, again thinking they must have fallenasleep, resolved to go herself and fetch the stone. Scarcely, however, had she entered the bedroom of the shoemaker Goria, and laid her handupon the stone, than up jumped Prituitshkin, and, seizing her, exclaimed: "How! is it not a shame for your Grace to contrive suchwickedness? It is not becoming the daughter of so renowned a father tobe plotting such tricks; therefore, I must beg of you, fair lady, toleave me a pledge. " No sooner said than done: Prituitshkin slippedoff her jacket, slipper, and head-dress, and dismissed Dogada in shameand remorse. 

Early the next day, when the shoemaker Goria arose, his servantPrituitshkin told him all that passed during the night, and advisedhim, when Mistafor should propose to him a riddle, to answer: "Riddleme no riddle, but I will give you a riddle, and then, " continued he, "propose to Mistafor this riddle: 'I went to walk in your greenmeadows and caught three goats, and stripped from each of them threeskins. ' If Mistafor doubts, and says that it is impossible for a goatto have three skins, call me and order me to bring the skins. "

When Goria received these directions from his servant Prituitshkin, hewent to Mistafor, who at once began to propose to him a riddle, butGoria answered; "I will give you a riddle. " And he continued: "I wentto walk in your green meadows and caught three goats, and strippedfrom each of them three skins. " Mistafor doubted greatly and said: "Itis impossible for a goat to have three skins. "

"At all events 'tis quite true, " replied Goria; and so saying, heordered Prituitshkin to bring the three skins which he had taken fromthe three goats. So the servant immediately brought them to him. 

When Mistafor beheld his daughter's dress he was troubled, scoldedher in his heart, and asked the pretended Tsarevich how Dogada's dresshad come into his hands. So the shoemaker told him all that hadhappened. Mistafor, enraged against his daughter, exclaimed: "Look ye, did you not say that this was not Prince Dardavan, but the shoemakerGoria Krutshinin? I have no longer patience--prepare instantly foryour wedding. " And Goria the shoemaker married the Princess Dogadathat very day. 

Sometime after this the servant Prituitshkin came to Goria and said:"Now that I have made your fortune, do something for me in return: Ihave a request to make. In your garden is a pond, in which I formerlylived. A maiden was one day washing linen, and dropped a ring into thepond, and by that means she drove me from it. Order now the water tobe let off and the pond to be cleaned out: desire that whoever findsthe ring shall bring it to you, and when it is found, order the pondto be filled with clear water and a boat to be built; and in this boatsail with your wife and me. I will then throw myself into the water, and when your wife exclaims: 'Ah! the servant Prituitshkin isdrowned!' only reply: 'The devil take him!'"

When Goria the shoemaker heard this, he ordered the pond in thegarden to be emptied and cleaned, and that whatever was found in itshould be brought to him. And when the pond was drained, the ring wasfound 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 bebuilt. As soon as all was ready, he seated himself, with his wife andservant, Prituitshkin, in the boat, and sailed out into the middle ofthe pond. But on a sudden Prituitshkin jumped into the water, andDogada exclaimed: "Ah! see, the servant Prituitshkin is drowned!" Thensaid Goria: "The devil take him! I want him no longer. "

Prince Dardavan, the real affianced husband of Dogada, was sent out tobattle, and there lost his life. Goria the shoemaker ever after wentby his name, and lived many years with Dogada in great happiness, forgetting his former unhappy fate. 

EMELYAN, THE FOOL

In 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 wasEmelyan. And when the peasant had lived a long time, and was grownvery old, he called his three sons to him, and said to them: "My dearchildren, I feel that I have not much longer to live; so I give youthe house and cattle, which you will divide among you, share and sharealike. I have also given you each a hundred roubles. " Soon after, theold man died, and the sons, when they had buried him, lived on happyand contented. 

Some time afterwards Emelyan's brothers took a fancy to go to the cityand trade with the hundred roubles their father had left them. So theysaid to Emelyan: "Hark ye, fool! we are going to the city, and willtake your hundred roubles with us; and, if we prosper in trade, wewill buy you a red coat, red boots, and a red cap. But do you stayhere at home; and when our wives, your sisters-in-law, desire you todo anything, do as they bid you. " The fool, who had a great longingfor a red coat and cap, and red boots, answered that he would dowhatever his sisters-in-law bade him. So his brothers went off to thecity, and the fool stayed at home with his two sisters. 

One day, when the winter was come, and the cold was great, hissisters-in-law told him to go out and fetch water; but the foolremained lying on the stove, and said: "Ay, indeed, and who then areyou?" The sisters began to scold him, and said: "How now, fool! we arewhat you see. You know how cold it is, and that it is a man's businessto go. " But he said: "I am lazy. " "How!" they exclaimed, "you arelazy? Surely you will want to eat, and if we have no water we cannotcook. But never mind, " they added; "we will only tell our husbands notto give him anything when they have bought the fine red coat and allfor him!"

The fool heard what they said; and, as he longed greatly to have thered coat and cap, he saw that he must go; so he got down from thestove and began to put on his shoes and stockings and to dress himselfto go out. When he was dressed, he took the buckets and the axe andwent down to the river hard by. And when he came to the river he beganto cut a large hole in the ice. Then he drew water in the buckets, andsetting them on the ice, he stood by the hole, looking into thewater. And as the fool was looking, he saw a large pike swimmingabout. 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 makinga sudden grasp at the pike he caught him, and pulled him out of thewater. Then, putting him in his bosom, he was hastening home with him, when the pike cried out: "Ho, fool! why have you caught me?" Heanswered: "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 andI will make a rich man of you. " But the fool would not consent, andjogged on his way home. When the pike saw that the fool was not forletting him go, he said to him: "Hark ye, fool! put me back in thewater 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. "

On hearing this the fool rejoiced beyond measure for, as he wasuncommonly lazy, he thought to himself: "If the pike does everything Ihave no mind to do, all will be done without my being troubled towork. " So he said to the pike: "I will throw you back into the waterif you do all you promise. " The pike said: "Let me go first and then Iwill keep my promise. " But the fool answered: "Nay, nay, you mustfirst perform your promise, and then I will let you go. " When the pikesaw that Emelyan would not put him into the water he said: "If youwish me to do all you desire, you must first tell me what your desireis. " "I wish, " said the fool, "that my buckets should go of themselvesfrom the river up the hill to the village without spilling any of thewater. " Then said the pike: "Listen now, and remember the words I sayto you: At the pike's command, and at my desire, go, buckets, ofyourselves 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 thepike: "But will it always be so?" "Everything you desire will bedone, " replied the pike; "but I warn you not to forget the words Ihave taught you. " Then Emelyan put the pike into the water andfollowed his buckets home. 

The neighbours were all amazed and said to one another: "This foolmakes the buckets come up of themselves from the river, and he followsthem home at his leisure. " But Emelyan took no notice of them, andwent his way home. The buckets were by this time in the house, andstanding in their place on the foot-bench; so the fool got up andstretched himself on the stove. 

After some time his sisters-in-law said to him again: "Emelyan, whyare 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 ifyou 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 instantlyand 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 thered cap, coat, and boots, saw that he must go and cut the wood; but asit was bitterly cold, and he did not like to come down from off thestove, he repeated in an undertone, as he lay, the words: "At thepike's command, and at my desire, up, axe, and hew the wood! and doyou, logs, come of yourselves in the stove!" Instantly the axe jumpedup, ran out into the yard, and began to cut up the wood; and the logscame of themselves into the house, and laid themselves in the stove. When the sisters saw this, they wondered exceedingly at the clevernessof the fool; and, as the axe did of its own accord the work wheneverEmelyan was wanted to cut wood, he lived for some time in peace andharmony with them. At length the wood was all finished, and they saidto him: "Emelyan, we have no more wood, so you must go to the forestand cut some. " "Ay, " said the fool, "and you, who are you, then?" Thesisters replied: "The wood is far off, and it is winter, and too coldfor us to go. " But the fool only said: "I am lazy. " "How! you arelazy, " cried they; "you will be frozen then; and moreover, we willtake care, when our husbands come home, that they shall not give youthe red coat, cap, and boots. " As the fool longed for the clothes, hesaw that he must go and cut the wood; so he got off the stove, put onhis shoes and stockings, and dressed himself; and, when he wasdressed, he went into the yard, dragged the sledge out of the shed, took a rope and the axe with him, and called out to hissisters-in-law: "Open the gate. "

When the sisters saw that he was riding off without any horses, theycried: "Why, Emelyan, you have got on the sledge without yoking thehorses!" But he answered that he wanted no horses, and bade them onlyopen the gate. So the sisters threw open the gate, and the foolrepeated the words: "At the pike's command, and at my desire, away, sledge, off to the wood!" Instantly the sledge galloped out of theyard at such a rate that the people of the village, when they saw it, were filled with amazement at Emelyan's riding the sledge withouthorses, and with such speed that a pair of horses could never havedrawn it at such a rate. The fool had to pass through the town on hisway to the wood, and away he dashed at full speed. But the fool didnot know that he should cry out: "Make way!" so that he should not runover 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 bringhim back. At last Emelyan, having got clear of the town, came to thewood and stopped his sledge. Then he got down and said: "At the pike'scommand, and at my desire, up, axe, hew wood; and you, logs! layyourselves on the sledge, and tie yourselves together. " Scarcely hadthe fool uttered these words when the axe began to cut wood, the logsto lay themselves on the sledge, and the rope to tie them down. Whenthe axe had cut wood enough, Emelyan desired it to cut him a goodcudgel; and when the axe had done this, he mounted the sledge andcried: "Up, and away! At the pike's command, and at my desire, gohome, sledge!" Away then went the sledge at the top of its speed, andwhen he came to the town, where he had hurt so many people, he found acrowd waiting to catch him; and, as soon as he got into the gates, they laid hold of him, dragged him off his sledge, and fell to beatinghim. When the fool saw how they were treating him, he said in an undervoice: "At the pike's command, and at my desire, up, cudgel, andthrash them!" Instantly the cudgel began to lay about it on all sides;and, when the people were all driven away, he made his escape, andcame 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. 

After he had left the town, all the people fell to talking, not somuch of the number of persons he had injured, as of their amazement athis riding in a sledge without horses; and the news spread from one toanother, 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: sohe sent an officer with some soldiers to look for him. The officerinstantly started, and took the road that the fool had taken; and whenhe 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 totake a certain fool, and bring him before his Majesty. " The Starostaat once showed him the house where Emelyan lived, and the officer wentinto it and asked where the fool was. He was lying on the stove, andanswered: "What is it you want with me?" "How!" said the officer, "what do I want with you? Get up this instant and dress yourself; Imust take you to the King. " But Emelyan said: "What to do?" Whereatthe officer became so enraged at the rudeness of his replies that hehit him on the cheek. "At the pike's command, and at my desire, " saidthe fool, "up, cudgel, and thrash them!" Instantly up sprang thecudgel and began to lay about it on all sides. So the officer wasobliged to go back to the town as fast as he could; and when he camebefore the King, and told him how the fool had cudgelled him, the Kingmarvelled greatly, and would not believe the story. 

Then the King called to him a wise man and ordered him to bring thefool by craft, if nothing else would do; so the wise man went to thevillage where Emelyan lived, called the Starosta before him and said:"I am ordered by the King to take your fool; and therefore ask for thepersons with whom he lived. " Then the Starosta ran and fetchedEmelyan's sisters-in-law. The King's messenger asked them what it wasthe fool liked, and they answered: "Noble sir, if anyone entreats ourfool earnestly to do anything, he flatly refuses the first and secondtime; the third time he consents, and does what he is required, for hedislikes to be roughly treated. "

The King's messenger thereupon dismissed them and forbade them to tellEmelyan that he had summoned them before him. Then he brought raisins, baked plums, and grapes, and went to the fool. When he came into theroom, he went up to the stove and said: "Emelyan, why are you lyingthere?" and with that he gave him the raisins, the baked plums, andthe grapes, and said: "Emelyan, we will go together to the King: Iwill 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 themessenger 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. " Butthe messenger entreated him once more: "Do come with me, there's agood fellow, and the King will give you a fine red coat and cap, and apair of red boots. " When the fool heard of the red coat he said: "Goon 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 ofthe fool's deceiving him. They assured him there was not, and he wentaway. 

Emelyan, who remained lying on the stove, then said to himself: "HowI dislike this going to the King!" And after a minute's thought, hesaid: "At the pike's command, and at my desire, up, stove, and away tothe town!" And instantly the wall of the room opened, and the stovemoved out; and when it got clear of the yard, it went at such a ratethat there was no overtaking it; soon it came up with the King'smessenger, and went along with him into the palace. When the King sawthe fool coming, he went forth with all his Court to meet him; and hewas amazed beyond measure at seeing Emelyan come riding on the stove. But the fool lay still and said nothing. Then the King asked him whyhe had upset so many people on his way to the wood. "It was their ownfault, " said the fool; "why did they not get out of the way?"

Just at that moment the King's daughter came to the window, andEmelyan happening suddenly to look up, and seeing how handsome shewas, said in a whisper: "At the pike's command, and at my desire, letthis lovely maiden fall in love with me!" And scarcely had he spokenthe 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 home!" Immediately the stove left the palace, wentthrough the town, returned home, and set itself in its old place. AndEmelyan lived there for some time comfortably and happy. 

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 herfather to give her the fool for her husband. The King was in a greatrage, 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 fornot succeeding the first time, should be sent again to take Emelyan. This advice pleased the King, and he summoned the officer to hispresence, 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 asecond time. If you bring him, you shall be rewarded; if you returnwithout him, you shall be punished. "

When the officer heard this, he left the King and lost no time ingoing in quest of the fool; and on coming to the village he called forthe Starosta and said to him: "Here is money for you; buy everythingnecessary for a good dinner to-morrow. Invite Emelyan, and when hecomes, make him drink until he falls asleep. " The Starosta, knowingthat the officer came from the King, was obliged to obey him; so hebought all that was required and invited the fool. And Emelyan said hewould come, whereat the officer was greatly rejoiced. So next day thefool came to dinner, and the Starosta plied him so well with drinkthat he fell fast asleep. When the officer saw this, he ordered thekibitka (or carriage) to be brought; and putting the fool into it, they drove off to the town, and went straight to the palace. As soonas the King heard that they were come, he ordered a large cask to beprovided without delay, and to be bound with strong iron hoops. Whenthe cask was brought to the King, and he saw that everything was readyas 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 caskwas thrown into the sea, and left to the mercy of the waves. Then theKing 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 itwas quite dark, he said to himself: "Where am I?" for he thought hewas alone. But the Princess said: "You are in a cask, Emelyan! and Iam shut up with you in it. " "But who are you?" said the fool. "I amthe King's daughter, " replied she. And she told him why she had beenshut up there with him. Then she besought him to free himself and herout of the cask; but the fool said: "Nay, I am warm enough here. " "Butgrant me at least the favour, " said the Princess; "have pity on mytears, and deliver me out of this cask. " "Why so?" said Emelyan; "I amlazy. " Then the Princess began to entreat him still more urgently, until the fool was at last moved by her tears and entreaties, andsaid: "Well, I will do this for you. " Then he said softly: "At thepike'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. "

Scarcely had the fool uttered these words when the waves began toroll, and the cask was thrown on a dry place, and fell to pieces ofitself. So Emelyan got up and went with the Princess round about thespot where they were cast; and the fool saw that they were on a fineisland, where there was an abundance of trees, with all kinds of fruitupon them. When the Princess saw this, she was greatly rejoiced andsaid: "But, Emelyan, where shall we live? there is not even a nookhere. " "You want too much, " said the fool. "Grant me one favour, "replied the Princess: "let there be at least a little cottage in whichwe may shelter ourselves from the rain"; for the Princess knew thathe could do everything that he wished. But the fool said: "I am lazy. "Nevertheless, she went on entreating him, until at last Emelyan wasobliged to do as she desired. Then he stepped aside and said: "At thepike's command, and at my desire, let me have in the middle of thisisland a finer castle than the King's, and let a crystal bridge leadfrom my castle to the royal palace; and let there be attendants of allconditions in the court!" Hardly were the words spoken, when thereappeared a splendid castle, with a crystal bridge. The fool went withthe Princess into the castle and beheld the apartments allmagnificently furnished, and a number of persons, footmen and allkinds of officers, who waited for the fool's commands. When he sawthat all these men were like men, and that he alone was ugly andstupid, 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, andextremely wise!" And hardly had he spoken, when he became so handsomeand so wise that all were amazed. 

Emelyan now sent one of his servants to the King to invite him and allhis Court. So the servant went along the crystal bridge which the foolhad made, and when he came to the Court, the ministers brought himbefore the King, and Emelyan's messenger said: "Please, your Majesty, I am sent by my master to invite you to dinner. " The King asked himwho his master was, but he answered: "Please, your Majesty, I can tellyou nothing about my master (for the fool had ordered him not to tellwho he was), but if you come to dine with him, he will inform youhimself. " The King, being curious to know who had sent to invite him, told the messenger that he would go without fail. The servant wentaway, and when he got home the King and his Court set out along thecrystal bridge to go and visit the fool; and, when they arrived at thecastle, Emelyan came forth to meet the King, took him by his whitehands, kissed him on his sugared lips, led him into his castle, andseated him at the oaken tables covered with fine diaper tablecloths, and spread with sugar-meats and honey-drinks. The King and hisministers ate and drank and made merry. When they rose from the tableand retired, the fool said to the King: "Does your Majesty know who Iam?" As Emelyan was now dressed in fine clothes, and was veryhandsome, it was not possible to recognize him; so the King repliedthat he did not know him. Then the fool said: "Does not your Majestyrecollect how a fool came riding on a stove to your Court, and howyou fastened him up in a pitched cask with your daughter, and castthem into the sea? Know me now--I am that Emelyan. "

When the King saw him thus in his presence he was greatly terrifiedand knew not what to do. But the fool went to the Princess and led herout to him; and the King, on seeing his daughter, was greatlyrejoiced, and said: "I have been very unjust to you, and so I gladlygive you my daughter, to wife. " The fool humbly thanked the King; andwhen Emelyan had prepared everything for the wedding, it wascelebrated with great magnificence, and the following day the foolgave a feast to the ministers and all the people. When the festivitieswere at an end, the King wanted to give up his kingdom to hisson-in-law, but Emelyan did not wish to have the crown. So the Kingwent back to his kingdom, and the fool remained in the castle andlived happily. 

THE JUDGMENT OF SHEMYAKA

Two brothers once lived upon a little plot of ground--one rich, theother poor. The poor brother went to the rich one to beg of him ahorse that he might fetch wood from the forest. His brother gave himthe 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 poorfellow in his trouble fastened the sledge to the horse's tail and thusdrove to the forest, and got such a load of wood that the horse hadscarcely strength to draw it. When he came home, he opened the gate, but forgot to remove the foot-board, fastened to the side posts tokeep the snow from coming in under the door; and the horse stumbledagainst the board and lost his tail. The poor fellow took the horseback, but when his brother saw the beast without a tail, he would nothave him, and set out to go before the judge, Shemyaka, to make acomplaint. The poor man saw that he would fall into trouble, and thejudge would send for him: he considered for a long while that he hadnothing to give, and he followed his brother on foot. 

On the way, as night came on, they stopped at the house of amerchant. 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 hisnight's rest on the kitchen stove. All night he was tossing androlling about hungry, and at last he fell off the stove on to a cradlelying beside it, and killed the merchant's baby in the fall. So themerchant was very angry, and next morning went with him to get thepoor man punished by the judge Shemyaka. 

It so happened that on the way to town the party had to go over abridge, and the poor man was so frightened at the thought of what thejudge 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 wasdriving his sick father to the bath-house, and the poor man fell uponthe sledge and crushed the old man. So the son went with the richbrother and the merchant to the judge to make his complaint that thepoor man had killed his father. 

 [Illustration: THE JUDGE THOUGHT THAT THE BUNDLE WAS FULL OF ROUBLES. ]

The rich brother came first before the judge Shemyaka and complainedthat his brother had pulled off the tail of his horse. The poor mantook a stone and tied it in a towel; and, standing up behind hisbrother, he held it up to the judge, intending to kill him unlesshe decided in his favour. The judge thought that the towel was filledwith roubles, and so he ordered the rich man to give back the horse tothe poor one until his tail had grown again. 

Then the merchant came up to complain of the death of his baby, andthe poor man again brandished his heavy towel before the judge, andbecause he hoped for another bribe the judge said: "You must send yourwife to the poor man's house till she has another baby, and then youwill be as well off as before. "

Then the son came and accused the poor man of having crushed hisfather to death, and asked the judge for justice. The poor man took upthe stone again, and showed it as before to the judge, who fanciedthat the man would perhaps give him for this charge another hundredroubles. So he ordered the son to stand on the bridge while the poorman passed under it; and that the son should in like manner leap downupon the poor man and crush him. 

So the poor brother came to the rich one to fetch the horse without atail, according to the judge's sentence, and to keep it until the tailgrew again. The rich man was very loth to give up the horse, andinstead, made him a present of five roubles, three bushels of corn, and a milch goat, and thus they settled their quarrel. 

So then the poor man went to the merchant to take his wife away fromhim, and the merchant offered him fifty roubles, a cow with her calf, a mare with her foal, and five measures of grain, which he willinglyaccepted. 

Then the poor man went to the son and said: "Come, the judge has saidthat you must place yourself on the bridge while I stand under it, andyou must throw yourself down on me and kill me. " Then the son thoughtto himself: "Who knows but that, if I throw myself from the bridge, Imay, 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 hundredroubles, a horse, and five measures of corn. 

But the judge Shemyaka sent his servant to the poor man to ask for thethree hundred roubles. The poor man showed him the stone and said: "Ifthe judge had not decided in my favour I should have killed him. " Sothe servant went back to the judge and told him what the poor man hadsaid; whereat the judge, overjoyed, exclaimed: "Heaven be thanked thatI decided in this man's favour!"

STORY OF PRINCE PETER WITH THE GOLDEN KEYS, AND THE PRINCESS MAGILENE

In France there once lived a high-born Prince named Volchvan, with hiswife Petronida; and they had an only son named Peter. Now, PrincePeter had in his youth a great inclination for knightly prowess anddeeds of war; and, when he came of age, he sighed after nothing somuch as chivalrous feats. But it happened that at this time a knightnamed Ruiganduis arrived there from the kingdom of Naples, who, observing Peter's bravery, said: "Prince Peter, there is a King inNaples who has a beautiful daughter named Magilene, and this Kingrewards richly all those knights who do battle in behalf of hisdaughter. "

Then Peter went to his father and mother and begged for their blessingthat he might travel to the kingdom of Naples to learn there knightlyfeats, but especially to see the beauty of the King's daughterMagilene. So they dismissed Prince Peter with great sorrow, exhortinghim to make friendship with good men only; then, giving him threegolden rings with precious stones and a gold chain, they dismissed himin peace. 

When Prince Peter arrived at the kingdom of Naples, he ordered askilful workman to make him a coat-of-mail and a helmet, and to fastento this two golden keys; then he rode to the tournament-lists, wherethe King and his knights were assembled. There he gave his name asPeter with the Golden Keys, and he placed himself behind the knights. First rode forth Sir Andrei Skrintor, and against him appeared the sonof the King of England; and Andrei struck Henry so hard a blow that hewas well-nigh thrown from his horse; whereupon Landiot, the King'sson, rode out and overthrew Andrei Skrintor. When Prince Peter sawthis he rode at Landiot, and cried with a loud voice: "Long life andhappiness to their Majesties and the beautiful Princess Magilene!" andhe rode at Landiot so furiously that he threw both him and his steedto the ground, and thrust the lance through his heart. Peter waspraised by the King for this exploit, and still more by the PrincessMagilene and all present, and he became the foremost of the King'sknights. 

When the Princess Magilene beheld the valour and handsome appearanceof Prince Peter she fell in love with him, and resolved to be hiswife. She told her wish to her waiting-maid, and from that timePrince Peter visited the beautiful King's daughter daily, and gave herthe three golden rings, in token of his love, and rode with her out ofthe city. 

And they rode off upon their goodly steeds, taking with them aquantity of gold and silver, and they journeyed on and on the wholenight. Then Prince Peter came to an impenetrable forest, stretchingamong the mountains as far as the seacoast, where they stopped torest; and the King's daughter threw herself on the grass, fromweariness, and fell asleep. But Prince Peter sat beside her andwatched her while she slept. Then he observed a knot in a goldenclasp, and unfastening it, he found the three rings which he had givenher. He laid them on the grass, and, as chance would have it, a blackraven 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 aboutto seize it, the raven flew into another tree, and so from one tree toanother, and then over the sea, and let fall the rings into the water, and itself lighted upon an island. Away ran Prince Peter after theraven to the seashore, and looked about till he found a small fishingboat to row to the island, but having no oars, he was obliged topaddle along with his hands. On a sudden a violent wind arose, andcarried him out on to the open sea. When Peter saw that he was farfrom land, he well-nigh despaired of being saved, and exclaimed, withsighs and tears: "Alas! woe is me, the most miserable of men! Why didI take the rings out of their place of safety? I have destroyed all myjoy; I have carried off the fair Princess, and left her forsaken in apathless wood. Wild beasts will tear her to pieces, or she will loseher way and die of hunger. Murderer that I am, that have shed innocentblood!" And with that he began to sink in the waves. 

Now it happened that a ship from Turkey came sailing by, and when thesailors saw a man sinking in the sea they picked him up and took himhalf-dead on board their ship. Then they sailed on until they arrivedat 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 Petera great senator, and his uprightness and gracious behaviour won forhim the love of everyone. 

When the Princess Magilene awoke from her sleep in the wood, shelooked around on all sides, but nowhere beheld Prince Peter: she weptwith grief and despair, and fell upon the ground. At length shearose, went into the wood, and cried aloud with all her strength:"Noble Prince Peter, whither are you gone?" And thus she wanderedabout 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 aharbour, where she hired a ship from the country in which Peter'sfather lived. There she dwelt with a noble lady named Susanna; shechose 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 anhospital for the reception of strangers. Thus Magilene becamecelebrated by her piety and goodness. Then came Peter's father andmother to visit her, and brought her three rings, saying their cookhad bought a fish, inside which these rings were found; but, as theyhad given them to their son Peter, they feared that he had beendrowned at sea, and they wept bitterly. 

After Prince Peter had lived for a long time at the Court of theTurkish Sultan, he expressed a wish to travel to his native country. So the Sultan dismissed him with great presents, giving him much goldand silver and costly jewels. Then Peter hired a French ship, boughtfourteen casks, put at the bottom of them some salt, then laid overthis gold and silver, and on this more salt, and told the sailors thatthe casks contained only salt. He sailed with a favourable wind to hisnative country, and anchored at an island, not far from the country ofFrance, for Prince Peter suffered from sea sickness. Then he wanderedabout on the shore, and lost his way in the island; he lay down andfell fast asleep. The sailors sought for him everywhere for a longtime, calling him by name; but not finding him, they went on theirway. At length they came to the convent, and there deposited the casksof salt; and once when there was a want of salt in the convent, Magilene ordered the casks to be opened and found in them innumerabletreasures. 

Prince Peter was found by some other sailors upon the island, andcarried to this convent, where he was placed in Magilene's hospitaland there he remained for more than a month, but did not recognizeMagilene, for her face was concealed by a black veil. And Peter weptevery day. 

One day Magilene came to the hospital, saw Peter weeping, and askedhim the cause of his tears; and he related to her exactly all hisadventures. Then Magilene knew him again, and sent to inform hisfather Volchvan and his mother, Petronida, that their son was safeand well. Soon came the father and mother to the convent, and theKing's daughter received them attired in princely robes. When PrincePeter 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 thehands, 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 forwhom I wandered so far. " Then they were married, and lived happilyever after. 

SILA TSAREVICH AND IVASHKA WITH THE WHITE SMOCK

There was once a Tsar, named Chotei, who had three sons--the first, Aspar Tsarevich; the second, Adam Tsarevich; and the third andyoungest son, Sila Tsarevich. The two eldest brothers entreated theirfather's permission to travel in foreign countries and see the world. Then the youngest brother, Sila Tsarevich, also begged the Tsar'spermission 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. " ButSila Tsarevich had a great longing to see foreign lands, and entreatedhis father so much that at length the Tsar consented, and gave him aship likewise. As soon as the three brothers embarked, each on boardhis ship, they all gave orders to set sail. And when they were out onthe open sea, the eldest brother's ship sailed first, the secondbrother's next, and Sila Tsarevich sailed last. 

On the third day of the voyage they saw a coffin with iron bandsfloating on the waves. The two eldest brothers sailed past withoutheeding it, but as soon as Sila Tsarevich saw the coffin, he orderedthe sailors to pick it up, lay it on board his ship, and carry it toland. The next day a violent storm arose, by which Sila's ship wasdriven out of its course, and cast upon a steep shore in an unknowncountry. Then Sila ordered his sailors to take the coffin and to carryit on shore, whither he himself followed, and buried it in the earth. 

Thereupon Sila Tsarevich ordered the captain to remain upon the spotwhere the ship was stranded, and await his return for three years; butadding that, should he not come back in that time, he should be freeto set sail and return home. So saying, Sila took leave of his captainand his crew, and went forthwith, journeying on and on. He wanderedabout for a long while, without seeing anyone; at length he heard aman running after him, dressed all in white. Then Sila Tsarevichturned round and saw the man following him; whereupon he instantlydrew his sword to be upon his guard. But no sooner did the man come upto him than he fell on his knees and thanked Sila for having savedhim. And Sila asked the man what he had done to deserve his thanks. Then the stranger stood up and answered: "Ah, Sila Tsarevich, how canI thank you enough? There I lay in the coffin, which you picked up atsea and buried; and had it not been for you I might have remainedfloating about for a hundred years. " "But how did you get into thecoffin?" asked Sila. "Listen, and I will tell you the whole story, "replied Ivashka. "I was a great magician; my mother was told that Idid great mischief to mankind by my arts, and therefore ordered me tobe put into this coffin and set adrift on the open sea: for more thana hundred years I have been floating about, and no one has ever pickedme up; but to you I owe my rescue, and I will therefore serve you, andrender you all the help in my power. Let me ask you whether you havenot a wish to marry: I know the beautiful Queen Truda, who is worthyof being your wife. " Sila replied that if this Queen were indeedbeautiful, he was willing to marry her; and Ivashka told him she wasthe most beautiful woman in the world. When Sila heard this, he beggedIvashka to accompany him to her kingdom; so they set out and travelledon and on till they reached that country. Now, Queen Truda's kingdomwas surrounded by a palisade; and upon every stake was stuck a man'shead, except one, which had no head. When Sila saw this, he wasterrified, and asked Ivashka what it meant; and Ivashka told him thatthese were the heads of heroes who had been suitors to Queen Truda. Sila shuddered on hearing this, and wished to return home withoutshowing himself to the father of Truda; but Ivashka told him to fearnothing and go with him boldly; so Sila went on. 

When they entered the kingdom, Ivashka said: "Hearken, Sila Tsarevich, I will be your servant, and when you enter the royal halls, saluteKing Salom humbly: then he will ask you whence you came, and whose sonyou are, what is your name and business. Tell him everything andconceal nothing; but say that you are come to sue for his daughter'shand; he will give her to you with great joy. " So Sila Tsarevich wentinto the palace, and, as soon as Prince Salom saw him, he went himselfto meet him, took him by his white hands, led him into the marblehalls, and asked him: "Fair youth, from what country do you come, whose son are you, what is your name, and what is your business?" "Iam from the kingdom of my father the Tsar Chotei, " replied Sila; "myname is Sila Tsarevich, and I am come to sue for your daughter, thebeautiful Queen Truda. "

King Salom was overjoyed that the son of such a renowned Tsar shouldbe his son-in-law, and immediately ordered his daughter to prepare forthe wedding. And when the day for the marriage came, the Kingcommanded all his princes and boyars to assemble in the palace; andthey all went in procession to the church, and Sila Tsarevich wasmarried to the fair Queen Truda. Then they returned to the palace, seated themselves at table, and feasted and made merry. When the timecame to retire to rest, Ivashka took Sila aside and whispered to him:"Hark, ye, Sila Tsarevich, when you go to rest, beware lest you speaka word to your bride or you will not remain alive, and your head willbe stuck on the last stake. She will in every way try to make youembrace her, but attend to what I say. "

Then Sila Tsarevich enquired why he warned him thus, and Ivashkareplied: "She is in league with an evil Spirit, who comes to her everynight in the shape of a man, but flies through the air in the shape ofa six-headed dragon; now, if she lays her hand upon your breast andpresses it, jump up and beat her with a stick until all her strengthis gone. I will meanwhile remain on watch at the door of yourapartment. "

When Sila Tsarevich heard this, he went with his wife to rest, andQueen Truda tried in every way to get him to kiss her, but Sila layquite still and spoke not a word. Then Truda laid her hand upon hisbreast and pressed him so hard that he could scarcely breathe. But upjumped Sila Tsarevich and seized the stick which Ivashka had laidthere ready for him, and fell to beating her as hard as he could. On asudden there arose a storm, and a six-headed dragon came flying intothe room and was going to devour Sila Tsarevich, but Ivashka seized asharp sword and attacked the dragon, and they fought three hours, andIvashka struck off two of the dragon's heads, whereupon the monsterflew away. Then Ivashka desired Sila Tsarevich to go to sleep and fearnothing. Sila obeyed him, laid himself down, and fell asleep. 

Early in the morning King Salom went to be informed whether his dearson still lived, and when he heard that Sila was alive and well, theKing rejoiced, since he was the first who had been saved from hisdaughter; and he instantly ordered Sila to be called, and the wholeday was spent in merrymaking. 

The following night Ivashka gave Sila Tsarevich the same caution asbefore, not to speak a word to his wife, and he placed himself onwatch at the door. Then it fell out as before, and when Sila Tsarevichbegan to beat the Queen, on a sudden the dragon came flying in, andwas going to devour Sila Tsarevich. But Ivashka rushed from behind thedoor, sword in hand, and fought with the dragon and struck off twomore of his heads. Then the dragon flew away, and Sila Tsarevich laydown to sleep. Early in the morning the King commanded Sila to beinvited, and they spent this day in the same pleasures as before. Thethird night the same happened again, and Ivashka cut off the last twoheads of the dragon, and he burnt all the heads and strewed the ashesin the fields. 

Thus time passed on, and Sila Tsarevich lived with his father-in-law awhole year, without speaking to his wife or gaining her love. ThenIvashka told him one day to go to King Salom and ask permission toreturn to his native country. So Sila went to the King, who dismissedhim, and gave him two squadrons of his army to accompany him as anescort. Then Sila took leave of his father-in-law, and set out withhis wife on their journey to his own country. 

When they had gone half-way, Ivashka told Sila Tsarevich to halt andpitch his tent. So Sila obeyed, and ordered the tent to be put up. Thenext day Ivashka laid pieces of wood in front of Sila's tent and setfire to them. Then he led Queen Truda out of the tent, unsheathed hissword, and cut her in twain. Sila Tsarevich shuddered with terror andbegan to weep; but Ivashka said: "Weep not, she will come to lifeagain. " And presently all sorts of evil things came forth from thebody, and Ivashka threw them all into the fire. Then he said to SilaTsarevich: "See you not the evil spirits which troubled your wife? Sheis now relieved from them. " And, so saying, he laid the parts ofTruda's body together, sprinkled them with the water of life, and theQueen was instantly sound and whole as before. Then said Ivashka:"Now, farewell, Sila Tsarevich, you will find that your wife loves youtruly, but you will never see me more. " And so saying he vanished. 

Sila Tsarevich ordered the tent to be struck, and journeyed on to hisnative country. And when he came to the place where his ship waswaiting for him, he went on board with the fair Queen Truda, dismissedthe escort which accompanied him, and set sail. And on arriving at hisown kingdom, he was welcomed with salvos of cannon, and Tsar Choteicame out of his palace and took him and the beautiful Queen Truda bytheir lily-white hands, led them into the marble halls, placed them attable, and they feasted and made merry. Sila Tsarevich lived with hisfather two years; then he returned to the kingdom of King Salom, received from him the crown, and ruled over the country with his QueenTruda in great love and happiness. 

STORY OF THE KNIGHT YAROSLAV LASAREVICH AND THE PRINCESS ANASTASIA

In a certain country lived a Tsar named Kartaus, who had twelveknights, and the Tsar had a chief over these knights, Prince LasarLasarevich. Prince Lasar and his wife, the Princess Epistimia, livedfor seventy years and had no child; and they began, with tears, tosigh for one to cheer their old age, and to pray for their souls afterdeath. 

At length their wish was granted, and they had a son, whom PrinceLasar 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 Courtand played with the children of princes and boyars. Then the princescounselled together, and went to the Tsar and said: "Our lord andsovereign, grant us your imperial favour: your Majesty has a knight, Prince Lasar, whose son Yaroslav comes to your imperial Court andplays with our children; but his sports are mischievous, for wheneverhe takes anyone by the head, the head falls off, and this causes usgreat trouble and grief. Now, O Tsar, show us your favour, and eithersend Yaroslav out of your kingdom or grant us leave to depart, forlive we cannot with Yaroslav. "

Then the Tsar Kartaus immediately sent for Prince Lasar, told him thecomplaints the princes and nobles had made of Yaroslav, and commandedthat he should leave the kingdom. When Lasar heard this command, herode 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 sosorrowfully, my lord? Have you received an unkind word from the Tsar?"Prince Lasar answered: "My dear child Yaroslav, I have indeed receiveda cruel order from the Tsar. Other children are a joy to their fatherfrom their youth up, a support in his old age, and the guardian of hismemory when dead. Not so, alas! with you, my son. You go to the Tsar'sCourt and play mischievous tricks with the children of the princes andboyars, and they have complained to the Tsar Kartaus, and he hasbanished you from the kingdom. "

At this Yaroslav laughed and said: "My lord and father, grieve not forme that I am banished. I have only one trouble: I am now fifteenyears old, and have never been able to find in your stables a goodhorse that might serve me for ever and aye. " Then they went into themarble halls, and Yaroslav Lasarevich begged permission of his fatherand mother to travel about the world, to see men and to be seen. Sohis parents at length consented, and gave him twenty lads, and fiftyskilful builders, to build a marble palace on the sea coast. Thesebuilders erected the palace in three days, and sent a messenger toPrince Lasar and the Princess Epistimia, to tell them that thesplendid 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. 

So Yaroslav Lasarevich rode until he came to the marble palace on theseashore. His father and mother offered him gold, silver, jewels, horses, and attendants, but Yaroslav would have none of these: he tookwith him only an old horse, a Tcherkess saddle, a snaffle-bit, ablanket, and a leather whip. Thus came Yaroslav to his marble palaceon the seashore, threw the blanket over him, placed the saddle underhis head, and stretched himself out to sleep. Early the next morningYaroslav arose, went out to walk on the seashore, and shot a number ofwild geese, swans, and ducks. Upon these he fed, and lived thus one, two, and three months. Then he went upon a road which was so broadthat a shot could not reach across it, and so deep that it went to theears of a brave steed. Yaroslav looked at the road, and said tohimself: "Who travels this road, a great army or a stout knight?" Ithappened that an old man came riding up to him on his grey horse, andhe dismounted and threw himself down with his face to the ground, saying: "Long life and happiness to you, Yaroslav Lasarevich! How goesit with you, my lord? and how comes it that you are in this desertspot?" "What is your name, old brother?" said Yaroslav. The manreplied: "My name is Ivashka, master, and my horse is calledAlotyagilei. I am a great shot and a mighty wrestler in the host ofknights. " "But how do you know my name?" replied Yaroslav. Ivashkaanswered: "My Lord, I am an old servant of your father, and havetended his horses in the fields for three-and-thirty years, and I cometo your father once every year to receive my wages. Thus it is that Iknow you. " Yaroslav answered: "I am going to the chase, and amwandering 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 thecourtyard, and played with the children of the princes and boyars. Butwhen I seize anyone by the head, his head falls off, and, when I takehim by the hand, his hand falls off. This was not agreeable to theTsar, and he banished me from his kingdom; but this punishment wasnothing in comparison to another greater grief which pains me sorely. I am already fifteen years old, but can find no horse in my father'sstable that might serve me for life. " Then said Ivashka: "My lord, Yaroslav Lasarevich, I have a horse, which is called Podlas: he mustbe caught, and he will serve you for ever and a day. If you do notcatch him now you never will. " "But how can I see the horse, brotherIvashka?" Ivashka answered: "Yaroslav Lasarevich, you can see thissteed early in the morning, when I take the horses to the sea todrink, but if, when you see him, you do not seize him on the spot, younever will. " Thereupon Yaroslav Lasarevich went into his marblepalace, laid the horse-cloth under him, and the Tcherkess saddle andthe bit under his head, and stretched himself out to sleep. The nextmorning he rose early, went into the field, and took the bridle, theTcherkess saddle, and the leather whip with him. He concealed himselfunder an oak tree; and presently saw Ivashka driving the horses to thesea to water, and, as he gazed upon the sea, he observed that where asteed drank, the waves foamed and roared fearfully. Above the oaktree screamed the eagles, and on the mountains roared the lions, andno one could approach the spot. Yaroslav wondered greatly, and whenthe horse came to stand opposite him, he leaped out from the oak andstruck him with the back of his hand. The horse fell on his knees, andhe seized him by his mane and said: "My trusty steed, who shall rideon you if not I your master?" Then he threw the bridle over him, putthe Tcherkess saddle on his back, and rode to the marble palace, andIvashka followed. Then said he to Ivashka: "What name shall I givethis horse?" "How, my lord, shall a servant know better than hismaster to name such a horse?" So Yaroslav named him Uroshtch Veschei;and he said to Ivashka: "Ride to my father, Prince Lasar, and tell himI am well and have found a trusty steed. " Then Yaroslav Lasarevichrode off upon his good horse to Ivan the Russian knight, and behindhim followed Ivashka at full gallop till he was lost to sight. 

Ivashka returned to the kingdom of Kartaus, to Yaroslav's father andmother, and carried the tidings that he was well. The parents rejoicedgreatly to hear of their son, and dismissed Ivashka with richpresents. But Yaroslav Lasarevich rode on and on, for two and forthree months, until at last he came to a field where an immense armylay slain. Then he cried with a loud voice: "Is there here no manstill alive?" Immediately a man stood up and said: "My lord, YaroslavLasarevich, whom dost thou seek?" "I want a living man, " saidYaroslav; and then he enquired to whom the army belonged, and who hadslain it. "The army, " replied the man, "belonged to Feodul the DragonTsar, and it has been slain by Prince Ivan the Russian knight, whosued for the hand of Feodul's daughter, the Princess KandaulaFeodulavna; and, as he would not give her of his free will, Ivansought to take her by force. " Thereupon Yaroslav asked how far distantthis Russian knight was; and the man replied: "Yaroslav Lasarevich, hehas gone too far for you to reach him; ride round the army, and youwill see the footsteps of Prince Ivan. " So Yaroslav rode round thearmy, and saw the tracks of the bounding of the steed; for wherever hehad struck his hoofs, large heaps of earth were thrown up. He followedthe track until he came to another slain army: here he cried with aloud voice: "Is there not one living man here who has survived thebattle?" Then up rose a man and said: "My lord, Yaroslav Lasarevich, one steed is better than another, and one youth surpasses another. "Yaroslav rode on, and he rode for one, two, and three months; when atlength he came to an open country, where he descried a white tent andbeside it a goodly steed, before which corn was poured out upon awhite linen cloth. Yaroslav dismounted and led his horse to feed, andhis horse drove the other way. Then Yaroslav entered the tent, where acomely youth lay fast asleep: he drew his sword, and was on the pointof slaying him when he bethought himself that it would bring no honourto 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 sawthat 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 andsaw a youth lying fast asleep. Prince Ivan looked fiercely at him; butsuddenly reflected that he should have little honour from killing aman asleep. So he cried: "Stand up, man, and save yourself. Why haveyou put your horse to feed on another's corn, and lain down to sleepin another's tent? For this you must answer with your life. " ThenYaroslav awoke, and Prince Ivan asked him his name, whence he came, and who his parents were. "I am from the kingdom of Kartaus, " answeredYaroslav, "the son of Prince Lasar and the Princess Epistimia and myname is Yaroslav. Your steed has not been driven away by me, but by myhorse, and good folk are not used to meet strangers with uncivilspeech, but rather to treat them with hospitality. If you have a glassof water, give it to me, for I am your guest. " "You are young, " saidIvan, "and it befits me not to fetch your water; bring it to merather. " "You pluck the bird before you have caught it, " replied theother, "and blame a youth ere you have tried him. " Then said PrinceIvan: "I am the prince of princes, and the knight of knights, and youare a cossack. " "Ay, indeed!" replied Yaroslav, "you are prince inyour 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 goldenflask, fetched some cold water, and gave it to Yaroslav to drink. Thenthey mounted their horses and rode into the open country. And whenthey began to fight, Yaroslav struck Prince Ivan with the butt of hislance 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 tome my elder brother--spare my life!"

Then Yaroslav dismounted, took Prince Ivan, the Russian knight, byhis hand and embraced him, calling him his younger brother; whereuponthey mounted their steeds, rode off to the tent, and fell to feastingand making merry. And Yaroslav said: "My lord brother, Prince Ivan, asI was wandering in the open country I came upon two slain armies. " Towhich Ivan replied: "Brother Yaroslav, the first army, of the TsarFeodul, I slew when he refused to give me his daughter Kandaula inmarriage; and I am resolved to carry her off by force, for I hearthere is no such beauty in the world. To-morrow I shall fight the lastbattle with him, and thou shall be witness of my valour. " The nextmorning Prince Ivan rose early, saddled his steed, and rode to thekingdom of Feodul, the Dragon Tsar; and Yaroslav went on foot, andconcealed himself under an oak tree to witness the fight. Then PrinceIvan called upon the Tsar with a loud voice, and Feodul ordered thetrumpets to sound, and an army of a hundred thousand men to assemble. The Tsar Feodul rode against Prince Ivan, and before and behind himrode an innumerable host of squires and knights. Ivan grasped hisshield with one hand and his lance with the other. As the falconswoops upon the geese, swans, and ducks, even so did Prince Ivan fallupon that terrible army; and his steed trod to the ground twice asmany as he himself slew. He destroyed the whole host, sparing only thelives of the old men and boys, who could not resist; and he took theTsar Feodul prisoner, and put him to death. Then he hastened to hiskingdom and carried off the Princess Kandaula. He took her by herwhite hands, kissed her on her soft lips, and led her into his tent. Soon after Yaroslav Lasarevich also arrived, and they all fell tofeasting and making merry. 

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 braverknight than my brother Yaroslav Lasarevich? I have gone far and wideand have not found thine equal. " "Nay, " replied the Princess, "thereare yet fairer than I am. In the open fields is a white tent, in whichdwell the daughters of the Tsar Bogrigor. The eldest is named Prodora, the second Tivobriga, and the youngest Legia: they are ten timesfairer than I; compared to them I am as night to day. Whilst with myparents I was still fair, but now I am wasted with sorrow. And on theroad to the kingdom of India there is a knight, in the dominions ofTsar Dalmat, named Ivashka Whitemantle Saracen's-cap. I have heardfrom my father that for three-and-thirty years he has guarded thekingdom of India, and that no traveller or knight rides past, noanimal 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. "

Now Yaroslav overheard these words, and his chivalrous heart could notbrook it. He saddled his steed, embraced Ivan the Russian knight, andthe Princess Kandaula, and rode off towards the kingdom of the TsarDalmat, to engage in fight with Ivashka Whitemantle. He had journeyedfor some time, when he bethought himself that he was bound on anenterprise of life and death, without having taken leave of his fatherand mother. So he turned and rode till he came to the kingdom of theTsar Kartaus, where he encountered Prince Daniil the White, at thehead of three thousand men, who boasted that he would subdue thekingdom of Kartaus, take prisoners the Tsar himself, Prince Lasar, andthe twelve knights, and carry them off to his own country. Yaroslavrode straight to the city, and there beheld Prince Lasar assembling anarmy for battle. Then dismounting from his horse, he threw himselfwith his face to the ground and said: "Long life to my lord andfather! How fares it with thee? Wherefore so sad, my lord?" And PrinceLasar answered: "My dear son, whence art thou come like a sunbeam tocheer me? How can I help grieving? Prince Daniil has invaded ourdominion with an immense army and threatens to seize it and carry offthe Tsar and me and the twelve knights prisoners. " Then spoke YaroslavLasarevich: "My lord and father, give me the shield, and lance, and Iwill 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? Thecries of the Tartars will terrify thee, and they will slay thee!""Teach not the goose to swim, father, " answered Yaroslav, "nor aknight's son to fight with Tartars! Only give me what I demand, andfear nought. "

Like a falcon darting upon geese and swans, Yaroslav fell upon thearmies of Prince Daniil the White; and he hewed down not so many ashis horse trampled under his hoofs, and he took Daniil prisoner. Yaroslav made him pledge his word never again to set foot in thekingdom of the Tsar Kartaus--he nor his children, nor his children'schildren; adding that if he fell again into his hands he should die amiserable death. Then Yaroslav sent him back to his own country, androde into the city. Then Tsar Kartaus came out to meet him, andYaroslav threw himself with his face to the ground and said: "Longyears of happiness to thee, my liege Tsar Kartaus!" "Sir YaroslavLasarevich, " answered Kartaus, "I have wronged thee in banishing theefrom my kingdom. Abide here and choose the best city and the fairestvillages. My treasures are open to thee--take what thou desirest, andthy place is at my side. " Yaroslav answered: "O Tsar, I am wont torove about, to seek adventure and to fight. " So, after he had eatensalt and bread with the Tsar and with his parents, he took leave ofthem all and rode forth. 

And Yaroslav rode one, two, and three months, till at length he cameto a plain, on which was pitched a white tent, wherein sat the threefair daughters of the Tsar Bogrigor, of whose beauty there was not thelike in the wide world; and they were busy at their work. Yaroslavstepped into the tent, and was so amazed at the sight, that he forgotto 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 inthe world a fairer maiden than thou, or a braver knight than I?" AndProdora answered: "Sir Yaroslav Lasarevich, how can you call me fair?In the city of Dobri lives the daughter of the Tsar Vorcholomei, thePrincess Anastasia, compared to her we are like night to day. On theway to the Indian kingdom of the Tsar Dalmat is a knight named IvashkaWhitemantle Saracen's-cap, and I have heard from my father that he isvery powerful, and has guarded the kingdom of India forthree-and-thirty years; no one passes him on foot or horse, no animalruns, no bird flies past. But what a brave knight art thou indeed todrive us maidens from the tent!" At this Yaroslav was angered: hebowed the head of the Princess and struck it off with his sword. Thenhe took the second Princess, Tivobriga, by the hand and said: "Gentleprincess, is there a more beautiful maiden in the world than thou, ora braver knight than I?" And she answered as the eldest had done; sohe struck off her head in like manner. Then he took the third sisterLegia by the hand and asked her the same question as her sisters. AndLegia answered: "Sir Yaroslav, I am neither beautiful nor good. When Iwas with my father and mother I was so, but now I am wasted and nolonger handsome. " Then she likewise told him of the PrincessAnastasia, the daughter of the Tsar Vorcholomei, and of the knightIvashka. "Fairest lady, " replied Yaroslav, "thou has comforted me withthy gentle words. "

Then he went out of the tent, took leave of Legia, mounted his steed, and rode off to the kingdom of India, to see the Tsar Dalmat andIvashka Whitemantle. And he rode on for one, two and three months; andwhen 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 whitemantle around him. Yaroslav rode up to him, struck off his cap withhis whip, and said: "Lie down and sleep, there is no need to stand!""Who art thou?" inquired Ivashka; "what is thy name, and whence comestthou?" Yaroslav answered: "I am come from the kingdom of the TsarKartaus, and my name is Yaroslav: I am preparing to journey to thekingdom of India to pay my respects to the Tsar Dalmat. " But Ivashkaanswered: "Never has man or animal passed this way, and thinkest thouto do so? First let us go into the plain and try the prowess of ourarms!" The two knights made a furious onset; and after a long fightYaroslav thrust his lance at Ivashka's heart, and threw him from thesaddle; and Ivashka fell upon the ground like a sheaf of oats, andYaroslav slew him on the spot. 

Then Yaroslav rode on his way to the kingdom of India, and on arrivingat the city he went straight to the Tsar Dalmat; and, entering thepalace, he made his obeisance and said: "Long years of happiness tothee, O Tsar, to thy family, and all thy princes and boyars! Take meinto thy service!" Then said Dalmat: "Man, whence comest thou, andwhat is thy name, and whose son art thou?" So Yaroslav told him, andthe Tsar said: "Which way hast thou come, by land or by water?"Yaroslav replied: "By land, " and the Tsar said: "I have a knight whodwells upon the open plains, and has guarded my kingdom forthree-and-thirty years; no man or animal has ever passed him, onhorse, foot, or wing; and how hast thou ridden past?" Yaroslavanswered: "I have vanquished this man, O Tsar; but I knew not that hebelonged to thee. "

On hearing this the Tsar was terrified, and thought to himself: "If hehas slain such a knight he can easily conquer my kingdom, and he onlywants to rob me of my throne. " This thought made him sorrowful, and hecommanded all honour to be shown to Yaroslav Lasarevich, and gave himdrink from his own goblet. Then Yaroslav observed that the Tsar fearedhim: he went out of the castle, saddled his steed, and rode away outof the kingdom. Tsar Dalmat was rejoiced to be freed from Yaroslav, and ordered the gates to be closed fast behind him. 

Yaroslav now resolved to go to the city of Dobri to witness thebeauty of the Princess Anastasia, and he rode on for one, two, andthree months. Then he bethought himself: "I have come to a strangecountry, perhaps to marry this Princess, or meet death without havingmy parents' blessing. "

And with that, away he rode to the kingdom of the Tsar Kartaus, whichhe found conquered, and laid waste with fire and sword. There remainedone solitary hut standing, in which dwelt a one-eyed old man. Yaroslavstepped into the hut, bowed to the man, and said: "Old brother, whathas happened to this kingdom?" The man answered: "Brave knight, whenceart thou come, and what is thy name?" But Yaroslav replied: "Knowestthou me not? I was born in this kingdom, the son of Prince Lasar, andmy 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 thousandmen; he fell upon this kingdom, laid it waste with fire and sword, andslew a hundred thousand brave warriors. Five millions of the commonfolk, with all the priests and monks, he burnt in the open fields, slew twelve thousand infants, took prisoners the Tsar Kartaus with histwelve knights, and put to death the Tsarina and thy mother, thePrincess Epistimia. I am the only one left alive, and have lain ninedays here half-dead with fear. "

Yaroslav wept when he heard this, and mounting his steed, commendedhimself to the Saints, and rode to seek the Tsar Daniil the White. Hecame to the city at noon without being seen, except by some littleboys playing in the streets: and he asked them where the Tsar Kartauswas, as he wished to give him alms; so they showed him the prison. Atthe gate a guard was standing, but Yaroslav struck him down, and brokeopen the doors. On entering the prison, he saw Kartaus, his fatherLasar, and the twelve knights, all blinded; at which cruel sight hefell to the ground, and with tears exclaimed: "Long life to thee, OTsar, to thee my father, and to you brave knights!" Then answeredKartaus: "I hear thy voice but cannot see thy face. Whence comestthou, what is thy name, and whose son art thou?" So Yaroslav told himwho he was; but Kartaus replied: "Fellow, away! and mock me not. "

"Father, " replied Yaroslav, "I am indeed Yaroslav, and come to relieveyou. " "Lie not, fellow!" said Kartaus; "if Yaroslav had been alive weshould not sit here in prison and suffer such a cruel fate; but Ishould have been reigning in my kingdom with Prince Lasar and mytwelve knights. But since Yaroslav is dead we are punished for oursins, and sit here in sightless solitude. If, however, you are reallythe true Yaroslav Lasarevich, ride, I pray thee, beyond the StillWaters and the Warm Sea, to the city of Shtchetin, where rules theTsar Fireshield. Slay him, and take some drops of his blood; and whenyou return, anoint our eyes with it and we shall then see and shallbelieve you. "

Yaroslav made his obeisance to the Tsar, mounted his horse, and rodeforth. But the boys in the streets had observed him, and they told itto their fathers, who said to Daniil the White: "O Prince, there hasbeen in our city a brave warrior; his horse was like a lion, and hewas armed from head to foot, and he rode away from the prison whereTsar Kartaus and his companions are confined. " Instantly Prince Daniilsent his servant Mursa to enquire who had been in the prison. And whenhe came there he found the doors standing open, and the guard slain;then, entering the doors, he said: "O Tsar Kartaus, tell me who hasbeen with you here? Prince Daniil sends me to inquire. " And Kartausanswered: "My good fellow how can we tell who was here? A man was inthe prison who called himself Yaroslav, but we recognized not hisvoice. "

Then Mursa returned to Prince Daniil, and told him what Kartaus hadsaid; and forthwith Prince Daniil ordered the trumpets to sound andthe drums to beat; and a host of Tartars assembled around him to thenumber of two hundred and fifty thousand men. And he commanded thirtyhorsemen to pursue and take Yaroslav and to bring him before him. Sothey went in pursuit, and after riding for some time they descriedYaroslav 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 knightsafar, he mounted his steed and rode off, exclaiming: "First catch thewind on the wide plains and then look to catch me!"

So saying he vanished from their sight, and rode beyond the StillWaters and the Warm Seas to the Podolish Horde, to the city ofShtchetin. Then the Tartars took counsel together what they should sayto the Prince, and they resolved to pretend that they had not seenYaroslav. 

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 thehead of a knight as big as a large hillock. Then Yaroslav rode roundthis army, and cried with a loud voice: "Is there not here one livingman?" And the Knight's head said: "Yaroslav Lasarevich, whom seekestthou?" 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 thoudwell, and who are thy father and mother?" And the Head answered: "Iam a knight of the Sadonic kingdom, son of the Tsar Prochos, and myname is Raslanei. " And Yaroslav said: "Whose armies lie here slain?""These hosts belong to the Tsar Fireshield, " replied Raslanei, "and ayear has not passed since I came here and slew them. The cause of thewar was that the Tsar had seized upon towns belonging to my father. But tell me, Yaroslav, how far are you journeying?" Then saidYaroslav: "I am riding to the city of Shtchetin to slay the TsarFireshield. " But the Head answered: "Sooner will you be slainyourself! I was indeed a powerful knight, feared by all Tsars andknights; at my birth I was six feet tall, and as stout as a man couldcompass. When I was ten years old no wild beast, no man on foot, orknight on horse, could stand before me. Now you see how I am grown: mybody is sixty feet long, twelve feet between the shoulders, and afeathered shaft can lie between my eyebrows. My head is as big as abrewer's vat; my arms are twenty feet long, and I could not stand myground against the Tsar. The Tsar is strong, and has a mighty host;sword and scimitar wound him not; fire does not burn, water does notdrown him. Yet I have a sword which can wound him, but unluckily Icould not wield it, and he struck me down. Nevertheless, I will do yougood service, and give you counsel; when you come to the city ofShtchetin and the Tsar Fireshield sees and questions you, answer thatyou desire to serve him. Then he will bid you follow him; do so, andserve him faithfully, and when he goes out to the chase, accompanyhim. Then remind him of me, and he will grow sad, but tell him you canget the sword which lies under my head. He will not believe you, butpledge your word, and as soon as you can, come to me, I will lift myhead and give you the sword. "

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 thyservice. " 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 seek the service of a good lord and master; I was born in thekingdom of the Tsar Kartaus, the son of Prince Lasar, and my name isYaroslav. " Then said the Tsar: "Yaroslav Lasarevich, ride into mycity--I want followers. " So Yaroslav rode into the city. 

One day the Tsar rode out to the chase, and took with him the boyarsand knights, and Yaroslav was among them. When they approached theKnight's Head, Yaroslav stood and marvelled at the sight. Then saidthe 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: "ThisKnight has destroyed my army, and I slew him; his sword lies under hishead, and I cannot get it. No sword can wound me, no fire burn, nowater drown me; this sword alone has the power to slay me. "

Then said Yaroslav: "O Tsar, permit me to bring thee the sword. " Andthe Tsar replied: "Do this service and I will set thee above all myknights; but if thou talkest idly, thou shalt be safe neither inwater, nor under the earth, nor among the rocks. " And so saying, theTsar returned into the city, and Yaroslav rode up to the Knight's Headand said: "Sir Knight's Head, I trust to thy love and friendship tofulfil thy promise and give me up this sword; for I have given my wordto the Tsar to take it to him, and shall die a cruel death if Iperform not my promise. " But the Knight's Head answered not a word. Then Yaroslav dismounted from his good steed, fell on his knees beforehim, and said: "Sir Raslanei, let me die not thus in vain--give me, Ipray, the sword from under thee. "

Thereupon the Knight Raslanei raised himself, and Yaroslav took thesword, bowed to the Knight's Head, and mounting his steed, rode off tothe city of Shtchetin. And on the way he said to himself: "Hitherto Ihave been victorious over Tsars and knights, but now indeed I amforced to bend before a Knight's Head, and entreat him to give me asword!"

Raslanei heard this, and cried with a loud voice: "Ho, Sir Knight!return!" So Yaroslav turned round, and went back to the Head; and theHead reproached him, saying: "Thy sword could not touch my helm. " ThenYaroslav fell on the ground and said: "Sir Knight Raslanei, pardon mefor having offended thee!" And the Knight's Head answered: "YaroslavLasarevich, thy youth and want of understanding have made thee speakthus. Thou hast taken my sword indeed; but even with this thou mayeststill lose thy life; nevertheless, I wish thee well, and will teachthee understanding. When thou comest to the city, and the Tsar seesthee, he will descend from his throne for joy, welcome thee in themidst 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 bewareof striking a second blow, or he will revive and kill thee. "

 [Illustration: AND SO SAYING, HE STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND TO TAKE THE SWORD. ]

Yaroslav bowed himself to the Knight's Head, and rode to the city; andno sooner had he reached the castle, and the Tsar saw him bringing thesword, than he sprang from his throne, flung away his sceptre, received him in his Court, and said: "Yaroslav Lasarevich, in returnfor this service I grant thee one place opposite me, the second by myside, and a third where thou wilt. My treasures are open to thee--taketowns and handsome villages, and if thou wilt have my daughter thePrincess Nasaria for wife, I will give thee one-half of my kingdom. "And so saying, he stretched out his hand to take the sword; butYaroslav struck him a blow which cleft his head, and the Tsar felldead on the spot. Then all the princes and boyars cried aloud:"Yaroslav Lasarevich, strike him a second blow!" But he answered: "Aknight deals one blow, and that is enough. " Forthwith a number ofprinces and boyars and the twelve knights fell upon him, and weregoing 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 hisright, he fell to slaying the princes and knights on all sides. 

Soon the other princes and inhabitants of the city cried aloud: "OYaroslav Lasarevich, cease killing and slaying! It is the will offate--live with us and rule over our land!" But Yaroslav replied:"Choose a Tsar from among yourselves: I am no Tsar for you. " Heceased, however, slaying the people, and taking some of the Tsar'sblood, put it into a phial; then mounting his horse, he rode out ofthe city and away, until he came to Sir Raslanei, and, taking theheadless body, he set the head upon it, and sprinkled it with theblood. Thereupon the Knight stood up, as if awakened from a dream; andYaroslav embraced him, and they called one another brothers: Raslaneiwas the elder, and Yaroslav the younger. Then they parted, and eachrode his way. Raslanei rode to his Sadonic kingdom, to receive hismother's blessing, as he wished to marry the daughter of the Tsar ofShtchetin, and rule over that city. But Yaroslav rode on and on forhalf a year, until he came to the kingdom of Daniil the White. Onentering the city he went straight to the prison, before which astrong guard was posted: so he slew them all, broke open the gates, entered the prison, and said: "Hail, O Tsar Kartaus, and thou myfather, Prince Lasar, and ye twelve knights! How does Heaven protectyou?" But the Tsar Kartaus answered: "Man, whence are thou, and whatis 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 thycommands and slain the mighty Tsar, and have taken some of his blood. "Then said Kartaus: "If thy name is indeed Yaroslav Lasarevich, andthou hast slain the Tsar and taken of his blood, anoint our eyes withit; then we shall see the light of heaven and shall believe thee. "

So Yaroslav took the blood from his phial and anointed their eyes, andthey saw again; thereat they were overjoyed, and with tears exclaimed:"O Yaroslav Lasarevich, it is indeed he!" and they embraced him. Thenthe Tsar Kartaus asked him: "Where hast thou been so long?" "Wait aninstant, " replied Yaroslav; and so saying, he left the prison, mountedhis good steed, and rode out of the city. 

Early the next morning Yaroslav cried out with a loud voice; and whenPrince Daniil the White heard the shout, he ordered the trumpets tosound and the drums to beat. Then the Murses and Tartars flockedaround him, and divers warlike peoples, and Prince Daniil the Whiterode with them all out of the city. 

Yaroslav Lasarevich took his shield and lance, and exclaimed: "As thefalcon pounces upon white swans and grey ducks, so darts the braveYaroslav Lasarevich upon the army of Daniil the White!" And many as heslew with his sword, his steed trod down yet more, and he killed tenthousand Murses, and a hundred thousand of the common Tartars; and hemade Prince Daniil the White prisoner, and led him up to the city. Hebaptized all the little children up to the age of ten years into thetrue religion, and pronounced a curse upon theirs. Then he commandedthe wife of Prince Daniil the White to be put to death, since she hadkilled his mother, the Princess Epistimia; but he spared the life ofPrince Daniil and his nobles as he had not slain the Tsar Kartaus andPrince Lasar; he only put out their eyes, and threw them into prisonunder a strong guard. Then all the citizens came and fell with theirfaces to the earth, and entreated Yaroslav to reign over them; butinstead, he seated the Tsar Kartaus on the throne, and Prince Lasarand the twelve knights were restored to their posts of honour. Sothere were great rejoicings, and they fell to feasting right merrily. 

When the tables were removed, Yaroslav Lasarevich stood up, praying tothe ikons of the Saints, and took leave of his father and the TsarKartaus. All present followed him with their tears, and entreated himnot to leave them, but he mounted his horse, and making his bow, rodeoff towards the city of Dobri, in the kingdom of the Tsar Vorcholomei, to see the beauty of the Princess Anastasia. Now, in this countrythere was a large lake, in which lived a huge three-headed Dragonguarding a precious stone, that every year came to the shore anddevoured a number of men. The Tsar had proclaimed again and again thatif anyone slew this monster he would give them plenty of gold andsilver and towns. When Yaroslav came to the city and heard of thisproclamation, he mounted his steed again and rode off to the lake. Assoon as the monster espied him, he sprang ashore: Yaroslav's horsetrembled with fright, and fell on his knees, and Yaroslav was thrownto the ground. Then the Dragon seized and drew him into the lake. Yaroslav, who had nothing but his battle sword, leaped upon the backof the monster, and with one blow struck off his two heads, and wasabout to cut off the third, when the Dragon turned round, andentreating him, said: "O Yaroslav Lasarevich, spare my life! From thistime I will never more come on shore and devour men, but will remainat 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, withYaroslav sitting upon his back; and Yaroslav received the preciousstone, and desired the Dragon to set him again on shore; but no soonerhad he done so, than Yaroslav struck off the Dragon's third head, andmounting his steed, rode off to the city of Dobri, where the TsarVorcholomei came out to meet him. When the Tsar heard his name, andthe exploit he had performed, he was overjoyed; and all the people ofthe city came and bowed to the ground, and all the little childrenjumped about, and there was great rejoicing in the city of Dobri. TheTsar in his rapture gave a great feast, and invited all his princesand boyars and people of different ranks, with their wives andchildren. Then he took Yaroslav by the hand, and seated him by hisside at table and said: "Sir Yaroslav Lasarevich, thy will shall ruleover me and my whole kingdom; my treasures are open to thee--take goldand silver, and towns and villages; and if thou wilt marry, I willgive thee my daughter, the Princess Anastasia, with one-half of mykingdom as her dowry. " Then Yaroslav, being merry and light-hearted, said: "Show me thy daughter, O Tsar Vorcholomei. " And the Tsarinstantly ordered his daughter to appear before him, dressed insumptuous attire, and she was more beautiful than any fancy couldimagine. Then Vorcholomei took her by the hand and led her toYaroslav. She reached to him a golden goblet of wine, and Yaroslavsaid: "Health to thee, dear Princess, the fairest in the wide world, long years of happiness to thee. " And he kissed her sugared lips. Thenthe Princess said to him: "Health to thee, too, my brave and dearknight!" Then Yaroslav went to the Tsar Vorcholomei, and said: "OTsar, thy fair daughter pleases me, and I will take her to wife. " SoVorcholomei immediately commanded everything to be prepared for thewedding: and they all fell again to feasting and making merry. 

Early the next morning the Tsar commanded another feast to be madeready, and taking Yaroslav by the hand, said: "Brave knight SirYaroslav Lasarevich, I give thee in marriage my dear and beauteousdaughter Anastasia: love her well and truly, and live in harmony withher. And, that I may witness your happy life, I bestow on thee as herdowry my whole kingdom: only guard it against enemies. " Then said theTsar to his daughter: "Dear daughter, live with thy husband in peaceand love, and honour him, for the husband is always the head over thewife. " Thereupon he ordered them to drive off to church and bemarried; and after the wedding they returned to the royal halls. Yaroslav took the bride by the hand and led her to the TsarVorcholomei, his father-in-law. All the princes and boyars, with theirwives, brought to him costly presents; and the Tsar received them andsaid: "Long years of happiness to my lord Prince Yaroslav Lasarevich, my beloved son-in-law, and his wife, my daughter, the fair PrincessAnastasia!" Then all the princes and boyars cried aloud with onevoice: "Hail, Sir Yaroslav Lasarevich, with thy young bride the fairPrincess!" and they bowed them to the ground. Then Yaroslav and thePrincess Anastasia, with all the princes and boyars fell to eating anddrinking and making merry. 

One day, as Yaroslav was conversing with Anastasia, he said: "My dearTsarina, fairest princess in the world, I have gone through manykingdoms to behold thy beauty, and have heard of it far and wide fromevery maiden; and now, dear, tell me truly, is there any fairerprincess than thou, or any braver knight than I?" Then the Princessreplied: "My dear friend, there is no braver or handsomer knight inthe world indeed than thou; but as for me--what is there fair and goodin me? In the country of the Amazons, in the City of the Sun, there isa Tsarina Polikaria, who herself rules over the land; another such abeauty there is not in the wide world. "

When Yaroslav Lasarevich heard this, he could think only of thebeautiful Polikaria; and one morning he arose early, and said to hiswife: "My dear Tsarina, I am going a journey to a certain city in adistant country; keep this precious stone which I took from theDragon. Farewell! if I live, I will return to thee, but if deathovertakes me, have a Mass said for me. " Thereat the Tsarina weptbitterly, and fell to the ground as if dead with grief. Then Yaroslavwent to the Tsar Vorcholomei and said that he wished to pay a visit tohis father, Prince Lasar, and took his leave. 

Yaroslav journeyed for nine months, until at last he came to the Cityof the Sun, and dismounted at the gates of the palace. When theTsarevna Polikaria beheld a handsome knight in the courtyard, she wasfrightened at his appearance in the castle without her permission; andwhen he entered she said to him: "Brave knight, whence comest thou, and what dost thou seek in our kingdom?"

He replied: "I am come from the kingdom of the Tsar Kartaus, the sonof Prince Lasar and the Princess Epistimia, and my name is Yaroslav. Iam come to pay my compliments to thee, and to behold thy unspeakablebeauty. " At hearing this the Tsarevna Polikaria was rejoiced, took himby his white hands, led him into the royal halls, and said: "SirYaroslav Lasarevich, abide here and rule over my kingdom, and thy willshall be my will. " As Yaroslav gazed on her beauty he was troubled atheart, but he could not refuse her request, so he remained there andruled over her kingdom. 

Meanwhile the Tsarina Anastasia had a brave little son; her father wasgreatly rejoiced, and gave him the name of Yaroslav. He had rosycheeks, eyes like saucers, and a stout body: he was the image of hisfather, and the Tsar, in his joy, ordered a great feast to beprepared. 

When young Yaroslav reached his sixth year, he went to the Court ofhis grandfather the Tsar Vorcholomei, and the children laughed at him, crying: "Yaroslav, you have no father!" This angered him, and he beganto beat them; and when he seized one by the head, his head droppedoff, and when he seized a hand, the hand dropped off, and when heseized a foot, the foot dropped off; nevertheless, the princes andboyars dared not complain to the Tsar. Then little Yaroslav went tohis mother and said: "Mother, tell me the truth--have I a father orno?" At this the Tsarina Anastasia sighed deeply, and replied withtears: "Thou hast a father, child--the brave knight YaroslavLasarevich; he is gone a long journey to the City of the Sun, in thecountry of the Amazons. "

On hearing this, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich put on his armour to go insearch of his father; and his mother gave him a golden ring with theprecious stone. Then Yaroslav saddled his horse, took leave of hismother and grandfather, and rode forth to seek his father. 

One morning, at early dawn, he arrived at the city of the Sun. Now, atthat time Yaroslav, his father, was in the camp; and when he heard thevoice of a strange knight, he cried: "Who comes riding this way? Iwill go out and slay him. "

With the swiftness of a falcon's sweep, the two knights, father andson, rushed at each other, and Yaroslavovich struck his father withthe butt-end of his lance, and well-nigh overthrew him. Then saidYaroslav, the father: "Young boy, go to! or I'll punish thee!" So theymade a second onset, and Yaroslav Lasarevich thrust the butt-end ofhis 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 theprecious stone sparkled on his finger. Then Yaroslav Lasarevichexclaimed: "Whence comest thou, boy? Whose son art thou, and what isthy name?" And the son answered: "I come from the city of Dobri, inthe kingdom of the Tsar Vorcholomei; my father is Yaroslav Lasarevich, and my mother is the Tsarina Anastasia. But I know not my father; andfor this reason I am come hither in search of him. My name isYaroslav. "

On hearing this, his father leaped from his horse, raised his son, andpressed him to his heart. Then they mounted their steeds and rode tothe city of Dobri, where they found all the people in lamentation, forthe Tsar Vorcholomei was dead. But the people recognised the knights, and bowed before them and said: "Hail, our Lord Yaroslav Lasarevichwith your noble son! Our Tsar has left the dominion of our kingdom tothee. " Then the Tsarevna Anastasia came forth from her palace, fell tothe earth, and with tears exclaimed: "O my bright Sun, whence comestthou to warm and cheer us?" Then she took him by his white hands andled him into the royal apartments; and all the people, the princesand boyars, made their obeisance to Yaroslav, and brought him richpresents. 

Yaroslav mounted the throne with great pomp, took the sceptre, put onthe purple robes, and set the golden crown upon his head. Then hecalled his son to him and said: "My dear child, take a war-horse, asuit of armour, a battle sword and lance, and ride forth. Sit firmlyon thy horse, and be a brave knight, as I have been. Ride to thekingdom of Daniil the White, to the Tsar Kartaus, and thy grandfatherPrince Lasar; then to my brother-in-arms, Ivan the Russian knight, whonow rules in the kingdom of the Tsar Feodul the Dragon-King, and tothe mighty knight, Raslanei, who rules in the kingdom of the TsarFireshield. Inquire after the health of them all, and return to me. Upon the journey be gentle and courteous, but brave. " So Yaroslavreceived his parent's blessing, and set out on his travels. 

In five years he had journeyed and paid all these visits, and returnedto his father. And on the way a little old man met him and stopped upthe road; but he asked him: "Old man, why dost thou place thyself inmy way, and wilt not let me pass?" And so saying, he was about to rideover him, but the little old man saw his intention and said to him:"Poor knight, wouldst thou kill a little old man? Thou canst getnothing from the old. " This did not please Yaroslav: he drew his swordto slay the man; but just as he was rushing at him the old man blew onhim, 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 tookhim by the arm and said: "Poor knight, wilt thou live or die?"Yaroslav was so terrified that he could not answer a word. Then theold man laid him on the ground and said: "No knight, no hero, aboveall, no man, can stand against me; but art thou not the son of theTsar in the kingdom of Vorcholomei?" He answered that he was. Thensaid the old man: "Ride home, but say nothing of me in that kingdom. "And with that he vanished. 

Yaroslav went to seek his father and mother, and they came to meethim, and the princes and boyars threw themselves with their faces tothe ground before him. Then his father took him by his white hands, kissed him on his sugared lips, led him into the royal halls, seatedhim at the oaken tables spread with fine cloths, and gave a greatfeast. And the elder Yaroslav began to question his son, and said:"Thou hast travelled to thy grandfather Prince Lasar, tell me abouthim and how he is. "

Then Yaroslav delivered the following letter from the Tsar Kartaus tohis father:--"The Tsar Kartaus sends hearty greetings to the greatTsar and powerful knight Yaroslav Lasarevich! Health to thee and thylady wife, Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, and to thy son, YaroslavYaroslavovich, and to thy princes and boyars and all thy subjects! Icontinue to rule happily in my kingdom!" Upon the same paper waswritten by Prince Lasar to his son: "To my dear son YaroslavLasarevich, and my dear daughter-in-law, Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, mygrandson, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich, and thy whole kingdom, peace andblessing! Rule and govern happily, and mayest thou be prosperous formany long years!"

Yaroslav Lasarevich was greatly rejoiced, and said to his son: "Hastthou been to visit my brother-in-law, Prince Ivan the Russian Knight?"And young Yaroslav gave a letter likewise from him to his father, inwhich was written as follows:--"To the mighty Tsar of Tsars, andKnight of Knights, my elder brother Yaroslav Lasarevich, heartygreetings! Hail to thee, and happiness for many years, with thy ladywife, Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, and thy son, the valiant knightYaroslav, 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 aknight come to subdue my kingdom. I attacked him, and was about tocut 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 hardlykeep my seat in my saddle; then said he: 'I am the son of YaroslavLasarevich. ' When I heard these words I pardoned him; but the wound hegave me is not yet healed. "

Then Yaroslav delivered to his father another letter, from the knight, Sir Raslanei, which ran as follows: "I, the great Tsar RaslaneiProchorovich, to my younger brother, the great Tsar and powerfulknight, Yaroslav Lasarevich, send hearty greetings! And, with thisgreeting, health and happiness to thee also, O Tsar, with thy fairlady wife, Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, and thy son the brave knightYaroslav Yaroslavovich! Thy son has cleft my head and has pierced methrough with the butt-end of his lance, and my wounds remain stillunhealed; but I heard that he was thy son, and have pardoned him, andsent him back to thee uninjured. "

Then Yaroslav related to his father everything in order; and soon thefeast was prepared, and they all made merry, and were in great joy atYaroslav's return. Then began Yaroslav Lasarevich to praise thebravery of his son, and to tell how he had overthrown Tsars andpowerful knights; whereat all the princes and boyars marvelled at hisbravery, and declared there were no other such knights in the world asthese, father and son, and that no one could stand against them. 

Yaroslav Lasarevich subdued many cities to his dominion; and manyothers, when they heard of his bravery, surrendered voluntarily to hispower. And he sat upon the throne in good health for twenty years, andhis age was forty-and-nine years and three months when he died. Hiswife, Anastasia Vorcholomeievna, wept and was inconsolable for theloss of her husband, and she also soon died of grief. And her sonYaroslav wept for his father, the mighty knight Yaroslav Lasarevich, and long too wept for his mother. Soon after he mounted the throne ofhis father, and ruled with renown and glory. 

 W. JOLLY AND SONS, LTD. , PRINTERS, ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND. 

Transcriber's Note

Inconsistent capitalisation has been preserved as printed. 

Hyphenation has been made consistent. 

Punctuation errors have been repaired. 

Typographic errors have been amended as follows:

 Page vi--highest amended to waving, for consistency--"The Horse grew restive, reared higher than the waving forest"

 Page vi--in amended to on, for consistency--"At length they fell in with a cripple on the road"

 Page 59--Tsarevitch amended to Tsarevich--"Early the next morning Ivan Tsarevich awoke his master, ... "

 Page 68--Litscharda amended to Litcharda--"... He sent his servant Litcharda as ambassador ... " and "When Litcharda arrived at the city of Dimichtian, ... "

 Page 75--Andronovitch amended to Andronovich--"... To the Armenian kingdom of King Sensibri Andronovich. "

 Page 113--Miltrisa amended to Militrisa--"When Militrisa raised the cloth and beheld the head, ... "

 Page 113--Miltrisa amended to Militrisa--"Militrisa at once knew him, fell at his feet, ... "

 Page 158--Prituishkin amended to Prituitshkin--"Then Goria mounted the steed, and Prituitshkin another, ... "

 Page 162--Scarely amended to Scarcely--"Scarcely, however, had she entered the bedroom ... "

 Page 186--jduge amended to judge--"But the judge Shemyaka sent his servant to the poor man ... "

 Page 188--beaautiful amended to beautiful--"Long life and happiness to their Majesties and the beautiful Princess Magilene!"

 Page 212--Bugrigor amended to Bogrigor--"... In which dwells the daughters of the Tsar Bogrigor. "

 Page 223--or amended to on--"... Or knight on horse, could stand before me. "

 Page 238--cheeer amended to cheer--"... Whence comest thou to warm and cheer us?"

 Page 241--Yaroslavoich amended to Yaroslavovich--"... And to thy son, Yaroslav Yaroslavovich, ... "

Illustrations have been moved where necessary so that they are not inthe middle of a paragraph. The frontispiece illustration has beenmoved to follow the title page.