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diff --git a/old/62509-0.txt b/old/62509-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0b08a46..0000000 --- a/old/62509-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12803 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Russian Folk-Tales, by -A. N., (Aleksandr Nikolaevich), (1826-1871) Afanasev - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Russian Folk-Tales - -Author: A. N., (Aleksandr Nikolaevich), (1826-1871) Afanasev - -Translator: Leonard A., (Leonard Arthur), (1879-1924) Magnus - -Release Date: June 28, 2020 [EBook #62509] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RUSSIAN FOLK-TALES *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, MFR, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - RUSSIAN FOLK-TALES - - - - - DEDICATED - - TO - - J. C. - - - - - RUSSIAN FOLK-TALES - (TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN) - - WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES - - - BY - - LEONARD A. MAGNUS, LL.B. - - EDITOR AND TRANSLATOR OF “THE ARMAMENT OF IGOR (A.D. 1185)” ETC. - - - LONDON - - KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD. - NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON AND CO. - - - - - _First Published October 1915_ - - _Second Impression September 1916_ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - INTRODUCTION - - -Any editor of Slav folk-tales starts with great advantages. Russia is a -country where artistic development began very late; where popular lore -was conserved with little alteration owing to the immensities of the -country, the primitiveness of the people, and the punctiliousness of the -compilers. - -The principal source for Russian folk-tales is the great collection of -Afanáśev, a coeval of Rybnikov, Kirěyevski, Sakharov, Bezsonov, and -others who all from about 1850 to 1870 laboriously took down from the -lips of the peasants of all parts of Russia what they could of the -endless store of traditional song, ballad, and folk-tale. These great -collectors were actuated only by the desire for accuracy; they appended -laboriously erudite notes; but they were not literary men and did not -sophisticate, or improve on their material. - -But, before venturing on a brief account of the tales, something must be -premised as to the position occupied by folk-tales in the cultural -development of a people. In Pagan times, there always existed a double -religion, the ceremonial worship of the gods of nature and the tribal -deities,—a realm of thought in which all current philosophy and idealism -entered into a set form that symbolized the State,—and also local cults -and superstitions, the adoration of the spirits of streams, wells, -hills, etc. To all Aryan peoples, Nature has always been alive, but -never universalized, or romanticized, as in modern days; wherever you -were, the brook, the wind, the knoll, the stream were all inhabited by -agencies, which could be propitiated, cajoled, threatened, but, under -all conditions, were personal forces, who could not be disregarded. - -When Christianity transformed the face of the world, it necessarily left -much below the surface unaffected. The great national divinities were -proscribed and submerged; some of their features reappearing in the -legendary feats of the saints. The local cults continued, with this -difference, that they were now condemned by the Church and became -clandestine magic; or else they were adopted by the Church, and the -rites and sanctuaries transferred. The memory of them subsisted; the -fear of these local gods degenerated into superstition; the magic of the -folk-tales becomes half-fantastic, half-conventional, belief in which is -surreptitious, usual, and optional. At this stage of disorganization of -local custom, folk-tales arise, and into them, transmitted as they are -orally and under the ban of the Church, contaminations of all sorts -creep, such as mistaken etymologies, faint memories of real history, -reminiscences of lost folk-songs, Christian legend and morals, etc. - -The Russian people have handed down three categories of records. First -of all, the Chronicles, which are very full, very accurate, and, within -the limits of the temporary concepts of possibility and science, -absolutely true. Secondly, the ballads or _bylíny_; epic songs in an -ancient metre, narrating historical episodes as they occur; and also -comprising a cycle of heroic romance, comparable with the _chansons de -geste_ of Charlemagne, the cycles of Finn and Cuchúlain of the Irish, -and possibly with the little minor epics out of which it is supposed -that some supreme Greek genius built up the artistic epics of the Iliad -and the Odyssey. These _bylíny_ may be ranked as fiction: i.e. as facts -of real life (as then understood), applied to non-existent, unvouched, -or legendary individuals. They are not bare records of fact, like the -Chronicles; imagination enters into their scope; non-human, miraculous -incidents are allowable; their content is not a matter for faith or -factual record; they may be called historical fiction, which, broadly -taken, corresponded to actual events, and typified the national -strivings and ideals. The traditional ceremonial songs, magical -incantations and popular melodies are of the same date and in the same -style. - -Thirdly, the folk-tales. In their matter, these differ little, if at -all, from the common Aryan stock. In their treatment, there are -well-marked divergencies. They are, in the first place, characterized by -the so-called realism that tinges all Russian literature; a better word -would be factualism, as realism is associated with the anti-romanticism -that accentuates material facts and seeks to obliterate moral factors. - -This attitude of mind is rather like that of a careful observer, who has -become callous, because he is helpless—an attitude of those who serve -and stand and wait. - -From the earliest Chronicles to the most modern fiction, this factualism -characterizes Russian work. It has reacted on the Folk-tales in several -ways; all the more observable as we have them fresh and ungarnished, as -the tellers told them. - -The stories are not, like the German _Märchen_, neatly rounded off into -consequential and purposive stories. The incidents follow almost -haphazard; and at the end, the persons mentioned at the beginning may be -forgotten; the stories are often almost as casual as real life. - -The stories relate experiences in succession, attempt no judgment, do -not even affirm their own credibility. Things simply happen; our -exertions may sometimes be some good; we can only be quietly resigned. -But, unlike the Arabian Nights, there is no positive fatalism; for that -would imply a judgment; a warping of facts to suit a theory. - -Equally, there is none of the artistic grace of Greek legend, nor the -exuberance of Celtic fantasy; both of these are departures from the -crude, unilluded, unexpectant observation. - -This unconsciously involves a perfect art with regard to detail; so much -is told as a man would remember of an experience; there is no striving -after impressionism, nor meticulous detail. - -The prevailing tone is sadness; but there is no absence of humour; yet -fun merely happens, and is inherent; there is no broad, boisterous fun. - -In them, unlike other Aryan folk-tales, there are no fairies, nor -giants, nor gnomes, nor personifications of nature. As in his Pagan -myths, the Slav never advanced beyond inchoate conceptions of Nature, he -neither philosophized like the Hindu, nor created types of pure grace -like the Greek, nor beautiful fancies, like the Celt. Where the -river-gods [vodyanóy], or the wood-sprites [lěši], have human form, it -is to a certain extent because they have been contaminated with the -Christian Devil. - -To sum up, these undiluted products of the Russian people are a faithful -mirroring of life, as it appeared, casual; for the most part -unfortunate, and inscrutable. - -There are some very frequent supernatural beings. The Witch who lives in -the forest, rides the winds in a mortar, devours human flesh, lives in a -hut on cocks’ legs, is one of the commonest. The great baleful magician -is Koshchéy the Deathless, whose soul, in some stories, is contained in -an egg far away, fearsomely guarded. Historically, his ancestry is the -dread Tatar, in which figure all the previous Turanian tribes that -overran medieval Russia have been confounded. - -Notes will be found dealing with all such specific persons and places. - -The folk-tales are very various; some classes of them can be -distinguished. - -The bestiary, or animal story, is common, and the parts which the beasts -enact are similar to the Teutonic fairy-tales. - -The semi-sacred legends of the days when Christ and his Apostles walked -the earth, superficially may be compared with Grimm’s stories. But the -spirit is very different. To a very slight extent they are based on the -Gospel. But the Russian Christ of the folk-tales is a good, just, honest -peasant, with democratic sympathies, and plenty of humour. His justice -is unwavering, but tempered with sound common sense. He is kind, -charitable and thoroughly human. - -The Saints also walk the earth. Saint George [Egóri] has taken over many -Pagan legends; in one of the semi-sacred _bylíny_ [v. Bezsónov, _Kalěki_ -_Perekhózhie_], he turns round the oaks and the mountains, like Vertodúb -and Vertogór, and in other _bylíny_ of the same class the miraculous -incidents of the birth of Ilyá Múromets are attributed to him. Saint -Nicholas is the worker of miracles; and Saint Elias has had some of the -powers of the thundergod transferred to him. - -Other stories are prose adaptations of the ballads, and must be -considered as such. - -There are two personifications, which call for special attention, those -of Death and of Sorrow. Both are borrowed from ballad cycles. Both -figures appear as ghostly spirits, who persecute man, but yet can be -very efficaciously and roughly handled. - -There are some few satires; but the large majority cannot be readily -classified. They contain the usual incidents of transformations, magic, -witches, the valorous youngest son, the beautiful princess wronged by -the evil stepmother,—in fact, the common Aryan stock, all tinged with -the characteristic Slav temperament. - -Artless as these stories are, there are a few peculiar conventions in -the narration. Such are the little forewords, with their sardonic -musings; the conclusion of almost every happy tale that the narrator was -at the feast, but never might taste the viands; the references to the -distances the hero must go, which the narrator has not the knowledge to -estimate accurately; the reference to the land of these wonderful -happenings, “the thrice-ninth land, the thrice-tenth kingdom”; and many -other traditional stylisms. - -In conclusion, it should be stated that the store of primitive folk-lore -of the Slavs has scarcely been touched. The Slav peoples conserved -primitive Aryan customs almost up to the middle of the nineteenth -century; and then these were industriously and conscientiously compiled. -Taking Russia alone, there are collections of magic formulas, ceremonial -songs of Pagan origin, volumes of traditional ballads; and the ancient -munic has also been recorded. But Bulgaria, Little-Russia, Serbia, -Bohemia, and all the Slav countries have similar compilations; and every -one of these nationalities is as strongly individualized, as are, say, -the Danes, the Dutch, and the Germans. - - -These stories have been translated direct from the Russian of Afanášev; -the selection is intended to represent, as completely as possible, the -varieties of Russian folk-tale. As far as an analytic language, like -modern English, can render so highly inflected a tongue as Russian, the -translator has tried to keep strictly to the style and diction of the -originals, which are the undoctored traditional stories. - - - - - THE PRONUNCIATION OF RUSSIAN WORDS - - -Every Russian word has _one_ strongly accented syllable, which is marked -with an acute accent. The vowels are to be sounded as in Italian. - - Ch to be sounded as in English. - - G always hard, as in ‘_g_ive,’ ‘_g_ot’: never as in ‘gem.’ - - J always as in English. - - Kh like German _ch_, or Scotch _ch_ in ‘lo_ch_.’ - - L when hard (e.g. before a, o, u) something like _ll_ in ‘pu_ll_’; - when soft (e.g. before e, i) like _l_ in French ‘vi_l_.’ - - S always hard, as in ‘_s_o.’ - - V as in English: at the end of words as ‘f.’ - - Y consonantally, as in English ‘_y_et’; as a vowel like ‘i’ in - ‘w_i_ll.’ - - Z always as in English. - - Zh like ‘_s_’ in lei_s_ure, or French ‘j.’ - - - - - CONTENTS - - - Page - Introduction v - The Pronunciation of Russian Words xi - The Dun Cow 1 - A Tale of the Dead 6 - A Tale of the Dead 8 - A Tale of the Dead 9 - The Bear, the Dog and the Cat 13 - Egóri the Brave and the Gipsy 17 - Danílo the Unfortunate 22 - The Sorry Drunkard 30 - The Wolf and the Tailor 33 - The Tale of the Silver Saucer and the Crystal Apple 36 - The Foundling Prince 42 - The Sun and how it was Made by Divine Will 43 - The Language of the Birds 45 - Bába Yagá and Zamorýshek 48 - The Miraculous Hen 52 - Mark the Rich 61 - By Command of the Prince Daniel 64 - The Thoughtless Word 70 - The Tsarítsa Harpist 75 - The Tale of Iván Tsarévich, the Bird of Light, and the Grey Wolf 78 - The Priest with the Envious Eyes 91 - The Soldier and Death 96 - The Midnight Dance 106 - Vasilísa the Fair 109 - The Animals in the Pit 119 - The Poor Widow 121 - Ilyá Múromets and Svyatogór the Knight 125 - The Smith and the Devil 128 - The Princess who would not Smile 133 - The Tsarévich and Dyád’ka 137 - Prince Evstáfi 145 - Vasilísa Popóvna 147 - The Dream 151 - The Soldier and the Tsar in the Forest 154 - The Tale of Alexander of Macedon 160 - The Brother of Christ 162 - Alyósha Popóvich 165 - God’s Blessing Compasses all Things 170 - Shemyák the Judge 173 - A Story of Saint Nicholas 176 - The Potter 185 - The Witch and the Sister of the Sun 188 - Márya Moryévna 192 - The Realm of Stone 204 - The Story of Tsar Angéy and how he Suffered for Pride 208 - The Feast of the Dead 212 - The Quarrelsome Wife 213 - Elijah the Prophet and St. Nicholas 216 - The Princess to be Kissed at a Charge 220 - The Wood Sprite 223 - The Realms of Copper, Silver and Gold 225 - Chufíl-Fílyushka 230 - Donotknow 234 - The Sea Tsar and Vasilísa the Wise 243 - The Animals’ Winter Quarters 256 - The Story of Ilyá Múromets and the Nightingale Robber 260 - Nikíta the Tanner 267 - The Singing-Tree and the Speaking-Bird 269 - At the Behest of the Pike 274 - The Journey to Jerusalem 281 - Vazúza and Vólga 282 - The Enchanted Tsarévich 283 - The Snake Princess 287 - Beer and Bread 292 - Sorrow 299 - Iváshko and the Wise Woman 306 - Never-wash 311 - Christ and the Geese 315 - Christ and Folk-songs 316 - The Devil in the Dough-pan 317 - The Sun, The Moon and Crow Crowson 318 - The Legless Knight and the Blind Knight 321 - A Cure for Story-Telling 333 - - Notes 335 - Glossary 349 - - - - - RUSSIAN FOLK-TALES - - - - - THE DUN COW - - -You know that there are all sorts in this world, good and bad, people -who do not fear God, and feel no shame before their own brother. - - -In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, there once lived a Tsar and -Tsarítsa, who had one only daughter, Márya Tsarévna. But the old -Tsarítsa died and the Tsar took to him a second wife, who was a witch. -And the witch had three daughters, one of whom had one eye, the next two -eyes, and the third had three. The stepmother could not abide Márya -Tsarévna, and sent the girl with a dun cow on to the heath, and gave her -a dry crust as her only food. - -Márya Tsarévna went on to the heath, bowed down to the right foot of the -cow, and all at once was splendidly dressed, and had as much to eat and -drink as she liked. So she guarded the dun cow the whole day, and looked -as gay as any lady in the land. And at night she bowed down again in -front of the right foot, and again became shabby and went home. And the -bit of bread she took with her and offered it to her stepmother. - -“Whatever is she living on?” the witch thought, and she gave her the -same piece of bread next day, and told her eldest daughter to watch what -Márya Tsarévna did. - -When they reached the heath Márya Tsarévna said: “Come, little sister, I -will find a cushion for your head.” So she went to look, but whispered -to herself: - - “Sleep, my sister, sleep, - Sleep, O sister mine; - One eye go to sleep, - Close that eye of thine.” - -The sister went to sleep, and Márya Tsarévna stood up, went to her dear -dun cow, bowed down to the right foot, and ate, and drank, and went -about all day long like a princess. - -In the evening she woke up her sister and said: “Get up, sister; get up, -dearest; and we will go home.” - -“Oh! oh! oh!” her sister whimpered, “I have been asleep all day long and -have not seen anything, and mother will be so angry!” - -When they got home, the stepmother asked: “What was it Márya Tsarévna -ate and drank?” - -“I did not see anything.” - -So the witch scolded her, and next day sent the two-eyed sister with -Márya. “Go,” she said, “and see what she eats and drinks.” - -And the girls came to the heath, and Márya Tsarévna said, “Come, little -sister, I will find a cushion for your head.” So she went to search, and -whispered to herself: - - “Sleep, my sister, sleep, - Sleep, O sister mine; - Two-eyes go to sleep, - Close both eyes of thine.” - -Two-eyes went to sleep, and Márya Tsarévna bowed down as before, to the -right foot of the cow, and looked like a princess all day long. In the -evening she roused Two-eyes; and if the stepmother was angry before, she -was much angrier this time. - -So next day she sent Three-eyes, and Márya Tsarévna sent her to sleep in -the same way; only she forgot the third eye, and that went on looking -and looking at what Márya Tsarévna did. For she ran to her dun cow’s -right foot, bowed down, and ate, and drank, and went about all day long -splendidly attired. - -And when she got home she laid the dry crust on the table. And the -mother asked the daughter what Márya Tsarévna had eaten and drunk. -Three-eyes told her everything; and the witch ordered the dun cow to be -slain. - -“You must be mad, woman,” said the Tsar, “it’s quite a young heifer and -so beautiful!” - -“I tell you,” said the stepmother, “it must be done”; and the old Tsar -consented. - -But Márya Tsarévna asked him: “Father, do at least give me a little tiny -bit out of the cow!” - -The old man gave her the piece, and she planted it; and a bush with -sweet berries grew up, with little birds singing on it, singing songs -fit for kings and peasants. - -Now Iván Tsarévich had heard of Márya Tsarévna, went to her stepmother, -laid a bowl on the table, and said: “Whichever of the maidens brings me -the bowl full of berries, I will marry.” - -So the mother sent One-eye to get the berries. But the birds drove her -away from the bush and almost pecked out her one eye; and so with -Two-eyes and Three-eyes. At last Márya Tsarévna had to go. Márya -Tsarévna took the bowl and gathered the berries, and the little birds -helped her in the task. When she got home she put the bowl on the table -and bowed down to Iván Tsarévich. So Iván Tsarévich took Márya Tsarévna -to be his wife, and they celebrated a merry wedding and lived a happy -life. - -But, after a while, Márya Tsarévna bore a son. She wanted to show him to -her father, and, together with her husband, went to visit him. Then the -stepmother turned her into a goose, and decked her eldest daughter as -though she were the wife of Iván Tsarévich. And Iván Tsarévich returned -home. - -The old man, who tended the children, got up early in the morning, -washed himself clean, took the child on his arm and went out to the -field, to the bush in the field. Grey geese were flying over it. - -“Geese, ye grey ones, where is the baby’s mother?” - -“In the next flock!” - -Then the next flock came by. - -“Geese, ye grey ones, where is the baby’s mother?” - -Then the baby’s mother came to them, threw off her feathers, and gave -her little child the breast, and began weeping: - -“For this one day I may come, and to-morrow, but the next day I must fly -away over the woods and over the hills.” - -The old man went back home, and the boy slept all day long, until next -morning, and did not wake up. The false wife was angry with him for -taking the child into the fields where it must be much too cold. - -But next morning the old man again got up very early, washed himself -clean, and took the child into the field. Iván Tsarévich followed him -secretly and hid in the bush. Then the grey geese began soaring by. - -“Geese, ye grey ones, where is the baby’s mother?” - -“In the next flock!” - -Then the next flock came by. - -“Geese, ye grey ones, where is the baby’s mother?” - -Then the baby’s mother came to them, threw off her feathers, and gave -her little child the breast, and began weeping: “For this one day I may -come, but to-morrow I must fly away over the woods and over the hills.” - -Then she asked: “What do I smell there?” and wanted to put on her -feathers again, but could not find them anywhere. - -Iván Tsarévich had burnt them. He seized hold of Márya Tsarévna, but she -turned first into a frog, then into a lizard, and into all sorts of -insects, and last of all into a spindle. Iván Tsarévich took the spindle -and broke it in halves, threw the dull end behind him and the sharp one -in front; and his beautiful young wife stood in front of him, and they -went home. - -Then the daughter of the witch cried out: “The destroyer and the wicked -woman have come.” - -But Iván Tsarévich assembled all the Princes and the _boyárs_, and he -asked them: “With which wife shall I live?” - -They said: “With the first.” - -But he answered, “My lords, whichever wife leaps quickest to the door -shall remain with me.” - -So the witch’s daughter climbed up at once, but Márya Tsarévna clung on. -Then Iván Tsarévich took his gun and shot the substitute wife, and lived -happy ever after with Márya Tsarévna. - - - - - A TALE OF THE DEAD - - -One day a peasant was going by night with pots on his head. He journeyed -on and on, and his horse became tired and came to a spot in front of -God’s acre. The peasant ungirded the horse, set it to graze, but he -could not get any sleep. He lay down and lay down, suddenly the grave -began opening under him, and he felt it and leaped to his feet. Then the -grave opened and the corpse with the coffin lid got out, with his white -shroud on; got out and ran up to the church door, laid the coffin lid at -the gate and himself went into the village. - -Now this peasant was a bold fellow: so he took the coffin lid and set it -by his _teléga_, and went to see what would come of it. Very soon the -corpse came back, looked about him and could not find the coffin lid -anywhere, and began to hunt for it. And at last he came up to the -peasant, and said, “Give me my coffin lid, or else I will smash you to -atoms.” - -“What are you bragging for?” answered the peasant, “I will break you up -into little bits.” - -“Do, please, give it me, dear good man,” asked the corpse. - -“Well, I will give it you if you will tell me where you have been and -what you have done.” - -“Oh, I have been in the village, and I there slew two young lads!” - -“Well, tell me how to revive them.” - -The corpse had no choice, so he answered, “Cut off the left lappet from -my shroud and take it with you. When you come to the house where the -lads have died, scatter hot sparks into a pot and put the piece of my -shirt there, then close the door and at the breath of it they will -revive at once.” - -So the peasant cut off the left lappet from the shroud and gave him back -the coffin lid. Then the dead man went back into the grave and laid -himself down in it. Then the cocks crowed and he could not lock it down -properly: one corner of the coffin lid would perk upwards. The peasant -noticed all this. Day was breaking, so he yoked his horse and went into -the village. - -In a certain house he could hear the sound of lamentation and cries of -grief: he went in there, and two youths lay dead. “Do not weep: I can -revive them.” - -“Do revive them, kinsman: half of our goods we will give you,” said the -relations. - -So the peasant did as the corpse had told him, and the lads revived. The -parents were delighted, and they seized hold of the peasant, and they -pinioned him with ropes. “Now, doctor, we are going to take you up to -the authorities: if you can revive them it must be you who killed them!” - -“What, good Christians! Have some fear for God!” the peasant shrieked: -and he told what he had seen at night. - -Soon the news spread through the village, and the people assembled and -rushed up to the cemetery, looked at the grave out of which the corpse -had come, tore it up and dug into the dead man’s heart an oaken stake, -so that he should never rise up and kill folks. And they rewarded the -peasant greatly and led him home with honour. - - - - - A TALE OF THE DEAD - - -Once a carpenter was going home late at night from a strange village: he -had been at a jolly feast at a friend’s house. As he came back an old -friend met him who had died some ten years before. - -“How do you do?” - -“How do you do?” said the walker, and he forgot that his friend had long -ago taken the long road. - -“Come along with me: let us have a cup together once more.” - -“Let us go.” - -“I am so glad to have met you again, let us toast the occasion.” - -So they went into an _izbá_,[1] and they had a drink and a talk. “Well, -good-bye; time I went home!” - -“Stay, where are you going? Come and stay the night with me.” - -“No, brother, do not ask me: it is no good. I have business at home -to-morrow and must be there early.” - -“Well, good-bye.” - -“But why should you go on foot? Better come on my horse, and he will -gallop along gaily.” - -“Thank you very much.” - -So he sat on the horse, and the horse galloped away like a whirlwind. - -Suddenly the cock crowed: it was a very terrible sight! Graves all -around, and under the wayfarer a gravestone! - - - - - A TALE OF THE DEAD - - -They had discharged the soldier home, and he was going on his road, it -may be far, it may be a short way, and he at last was nearing his -village. Not far from his village there lived a miller in his mill: in -past times the soldier had been great friends with him. - -Why should he not go and see his friend? So he went. - -And the miller met him, greeted him kindly, brought a glass of wine, and -they began speaking of all they had lived through and seen. This was -towards the evening, and whilst the soldier was the miller’s guest it -had become dark. So the soldier got ready to go into the village. - -But the miller said to him, “Soldier, stay the night with me: it is late -and you might come by some mishap.” - -“What?” - -“A terrible sorcerer has died, and at night he rises out of the grave, -ranges about the village and terrifies the boldest: why, he might give -you trouble.” - -What was the use of it? Why, the soldier was a State servant, and a -soldier cannot be drowned in the sea, nor be burned in the fire! So he -answered, “I will go, for I should like to see my relatives as soon as I -can.” - -So he set out; and the road crossed a grave-yard. As he looked he saw a -glow on one grave. “What is it?” he said; “I must look at this.” So he -went up, and beside a fire there sat the sorcerer, sewing shoes. “Hail, -brother!” said the soldier. - -So the wizard looked, and asked, “What are you doing here?” - -“I only wanted to see what you are up to.” - -So the wizard threw down his work, and he invited the soldier to a -wedding. “Let us go, brother, let us have a walk: there is a wedding now -going on in the village.” - -“Very well,” said the soldier. - -So they went to the wedding, and were royally feasted and given to eat -and drink. - -The wizard drank and drank, walked about and walked about, and grew -angry, drove all the guests and the family out of the _izbá_,[2] -scattered all the wedding guests, took out two bladders and an awl, -pricked the hands of the bride and bridegroom and drew their blood, -filling the bladders with the blood. He did this and said to the -soldier, “Now we will leave the house.” - -On the road the soldier asked him, “Tell me, why did you fill the -bladders with the blood?” - -“So that the bride and bridegroom might die. To-morrow nobody will be -able to wake them up: I only know one means of reviving them.” - -“What is that?” - -“You must pierce the heels of the bride and bridegroom and pour the -blood again into the wounds, their own blood into each. In my right -pocket I have the bridegroom’s blood hidden, and in my left, the -bride’s.” - -So the soldier listened and never said a single word. - -But the wizard went on boasting. “I, you know, carry out whatever I -desire.” - -“Can you be overcome?” - -“Yes, certainly: if any one were to make a pile of aspen wood, one -hundred cartloads in all, and to burn me on the pile, it can be done; -then I should be overcome. Only you must burn me in a cunning way. Out -of my belly snakes, worms and all sorts of reptiles will creep; -jackdaws, magpies and crows will fly: you must catch them and throw them -on the pile. If a single worm escapes, it will be no good, for I shall -creep out into that worm.” - -So the soldier listened and remembered. So they had a long talk, and at -last they came to the grave. - -“Now, my brother,” said the wizard, “I am going to tear you to bits! -Otherwise you will tell the tale!” - -“Now! Let’s argue this out! How are you going to tear me to bits; I am a -servant of God and the Tsar!” - -So the wizard gnashed his teeth, howled, and threw himself on the -soldier. But he drew out his sabre and dealt a backstroke. They tussled -and struggled, and the soldier was almost exhausted. Ho, but this is a -sorry ending! Then the cocks crowed and the wizard fell down breathless. - -The soldier got the bladders out of the wizard’s pockets, and went to -his relations. He went in and he greeted them. And they asked him, “Have -you ever seen such a fearful stir?” - -“No, I never have!” - -“Why, have you not heard? There is a curse on our village: a wizard -haunts it.” - -So they lay down and went to sleep. - -In the morning the soldier rose and began asking: “Is it true that there -was a wedding celebrated here?” - -So his kin answered him, “There was a wedding at the rich peasant’s -house, only the bride and bridegroom died that same night. No, we don’t -know at all of what they died.” - -“Where is the house?” - -So they showed him, and he said never a word, and went there, got there, -and found the whole family in tears. - -“What are you wailing for?” - -So they told him the reason. - -“I can revive the bridal couple: what will you give me?” - -“Oh, you may take half of our possessions.” - -So the soldier did as the wizard had bidden him, and he revived the -bride and bridegroom, and grief was turned to joy and merriment. - -They feasted the soldier and rewarded him. - -So he then turned sharp to the left and marched up to the _stárosta_[3] -and bade him assemble all the peasants and prepare one hundred cartloads -of aspen boughs. Then they brought the boughs into the cemetery, put -them into a pile and raised the wizard out of the grave, put him on the -faggots and burned him. And then all the people stood around, some with -brushes, shovels and pokers. The pile lit up gaily and the wizard began -to burn. His belly burst, and out of it crept snakes, worms and vermin -of all sorts, and there flew jackdaws and magpies. But the peasants beat -them all into the fire as they came out, and did not let a single worm -escape. So the wizard was burned, and the soldier collected his dust and -scattered it to the four winds. Henceforth there was peace in the -village. - -And the peasants thanked the soldier. - -He stayed in his country, stayed there until he was satisfied, and then -with his money returned to the imperial service: he served his term, -went on the retired list, and then lived out his life, living happily, -loving the good things and shunning the ill. - - - - - THE BEAR, THE DOG, AND THE CAT - - -Once there lived a peasant who had a good dog, and as the dog grew old -it left off barking and guarding the yard and the storehouses: its -master would no longer nourish it, so the dog went into the wood and lay -under a tree to die. - -Then a bear came up and asked him, “Hello, Dog, why are you lying here?” - -“I have come to die of hunger. You see how unjust people are. As long as -you have any strength, they feed you and give you drink; but when your -strength dies away and you become old they drive you from the -courtyard.” - -“Well, Dog, would you like something to eat?” - -“I certainly should.” - -“Well, come with me; I will feed you.” - -So they went on. - -On the way a foal met them. - -“Look at me,” said the bear, and he began to claw the ground with his -paws. “Dog, O dog!” - -“What do you want?” - -“Look, are my eyes beautiful?” - -“Yes, Bear, they are beautiful.” - -So the bear began clawing at the ground more savagely still. “Dog, O -dog, is my hair dishevelled?” - -“It is dishevelled, Bear.” - -“Dog, O dog, is my tail raised?” - -“Yes, it is raised.” - -Then the bear laid hold of the foal by the tail, and the foal fell to -the ground. The bear tore her to pieces and said, “Well, Dog, eat as -much as you will, and when everything is in order, come and see me.” - -So the dog lived by himself and had no cares, and when he had eaten all -and was again hungry, he ran up to the bear. - -“Well, my brother, have you done?” - -“Yes, I have done, and again I am hungry.” - -“What! Are you hungry again? Do you know where your old mistress lives?” - -“I do.” - -“Well, then, come; I will steal your mistress’s child out of the cradle, -and do you chase me away and take the child back. Then you may go back; -she will go on feeding you, as she formerly did, with bread.” - -So they agreed, and the bear ran up to the hut himself and stole the -child out of the cradle: the child cried, and the woman burst out, -hunted him, hunted him, but could not catch him; so they came back, and -the mother wept, and the other women were afflicted; from somewhere or -other the dog appeared, and he drove the bear away, took the child and -brought it back. - -“Look,” said the woman, “here is your old dog restoring your child!” So -they ran to meet him, and the mother was very glad and joyous. “Now,” -she said, “I shall never discharge this old dog any more.” So they took -him in, fed him with milk, gave him bread, and asked him only to taste -the things. And they told the peasant, “Now you must keep and feed the -dog, for he saved my child from the bear; and you were saying he had no -strength!” - -This all suited the dog very well, and he ate his fill, and he said, -“May God grant health to the bear who did not let me die of hunger!” and -he became the bear’s best friend. - -Once there was an evening party given at the peasant’s house. At that -time the bear came in as the dog’s guest. “Hail, Dog, with what luck are -you meeting? Is it bread you are eating?” - -“Praise be to God,” answered the dog, “it is no mere living, it is -butter week. And what are you doing? Let us go into the _izbá_.[4] The -masters have gone out for a walk and will not see what you are doing. -You come into the _izbá_ and go and hide under the stove as fast as you -can. I will await you there and will recall you.” - -“Very well.” - -And so they went into the _izbá_. The dog saw that his master’s guests -had drunk too much, and made ready to receive his friend. The bear drank -up one glass, then another, and broke it. The guests began singing -songs, and the bear wanted to chime in. But the dog persuaded him: “Do -not sing, it would only do harm.” But it was no good, for he could not -keep the bear silent, and he began singing his song. Then the guests -heard the noise, laid hold of a stick and began to beat him. He burst -out and ran away, and just got away with his life. - -Now the peasant also had a cat, which had ceased catching mice, and even -playing tricks. Wherever it might crawl it would break something or -spill something. The peasant chased the cat out of the house. But the -dog saw that it was going to a miserable life without any food, and -secretly began bringing it bread and butter and feeding it. Then the -mistress looked on, and as soon as she saw this she began beating the -dog, beat it hard, very hard, and saying all the time, “Give the cat no -beef, nor bread.” - -Then, three days later, the dog went to the courtyard and saw that the -cat was dying of starvation. “What is the matter?” he said. - -“I am dying of starvation: I was able to have enough whilst you were -feeding me.” - -“Come with me.” - -So they went away. The dog went on, until he saw a drove of horses, and -he began to scratch the earth with his paws and asked the cat, “Cat, O -cat, are my eyes beautiful?” - -“No, they are not beautiful.” - -“Say that they are beautiful!” - -So the cat said, “They are beautiful.” - -“Cat, O cat, is my fur dishevelled?” - -“No it is not dishevelled.” - -“Say, you idiot, that it is dishevelled.” - -“Well, it is dishevelled.” - -“Cat, O cat, is my tail raised?” - -“No, it is not raised.” - -“Say, you fool, that it is raised.” Then the dog made a dash at a mare, -but the mare kicked him back, and the dog died. - -So the cat said, “Now I can see that his eyes are very red, and his fur -is dishevelled, and his tail is raised. Good-bye, brother Dog, I will go -home to die.” - - - - - EGÓRI THE BRAVE AND THE GIPSY - - -In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, there was a gipsy who had a -wife and seven children, and he lived so poorly that at last there was -nothing in the house to eat or to drink—not even a crust of bread. He -was too idle to work, and too much of a coward to thieve. So what could -he do? - -Well, the peasant went on the road and stood pondering. At this time -Egóri the Brave was passing by. - -“Hail!” said the peasant. “Whither are you faring?” - -“To God.” - -“Why?” - -“With a message from men wherewith each man should live, and wherewith -each man should busy himself.” - -“Will you, then, send in a report about me to the Lord?” the peasant -said, “what He wishes me to engage in?” - -“Very well—I will hand in a report,” Egóri said, and he went on his -road. - -So there the peasant stood, waiting for him—waiting. And when at last he -saw Egóri on his way back, he asked him at once: “Did you hand in a -report about me?” - -“No,” said Egóri; “I forgot.” - -So the peasant set out on his road a second time, and he again met -Egóri, who was going to God on an errand. So the gipsy asked him once -more: “Do please hand in a request on my behalf.” - -“All right,” said Egóri. And he forgot again. - -And so once more the peasant set out on the road, and once more met -Egóri. And he asked him for the third time: “Do please speak on my -behalf to God!” - -“Yes—all right!” - -“Will you forget again?” - -“No, I shall not forget this time.” - -Only the gipsy did not believe him. “Give me,” he said, “your golden -stirrup. I will keep it until you come back; otherwise, you may once -more forget.” - -Egóri untied his golden stirrup, gave it to the gipsy, and rode on -farther with a single stirrup. Then he reached God, and he began to ask -wherewith each man should live, and wherewith each man should busy -himself. In each case he received the right order, and he was starting -back. But as soon as ever he mounted, he glanced down at the stirrup and -recollected the gipsy. So he ran back to see God and said: “Oh, I -forgot. Whilst I was coming here I met a gipsy on the way, and he asked -me what he should do.” “Oh, tell the gipsy,” the Lord said, “that his -trade is from whomsoever he take and steal, he, then, shall cheat and -perjure himself.” - -So Egóri went and mounted his horse, came up to the gipsy, and told him: -“I shall now tell you the truth. If you had not taken the stirrup, I -should have forgotten all about it.” - -“I thought as much,” said the gipsy. “Now, for all eternity, you cannot -forget me if you only look down at your stirrup, and I shall be always -in your mind. Well, what did the Lord say to you?” - -“Oh, He told me from whomsoever you take or steal you will cheat and -perjure yourself; that will be your trade.” - -“Thank you very much,” said the gipsy, and he bowed down to the ground, -and went home. - -“Where are you going?” said Egóri. “Give me my golden stirrup!” - -“What stirrup?” - -“Didn’t you take one from me?” - -“How in the world could I take one from you? This is the first time I -have seen you, and I have not even had a stirrup. Before God!—I never -have!” And so the gipsy perjured himself. - -What could he do? He could struggle and fight it out, Egóri could, and -so he did; but it was all no good. It is perfectly true, and the gipsy -spoke the truth: “If I had not given him the stirrup!—if I had not only -known him! Now I shall forget him no more.” - -So the gipsy took the golden stirrup and began hawking it. And as he -went on his way, a fine lord came and met him. “Hullo, gipsy!” he said. -“Will you sell the stirrup?” - -“Yes—all right!” - -“What will you take?” - -“Fifteen hundred roubles.” - -“Much too dear, isn’t that?” - -“Well, you see, it is all gold.” - -“Very well!” said his lordship; and he put his hand into his pocket, and -he only had a thousand. “You just take this thousand, gipsy, and then -give me the stirrup: I will send you on the odd five hundred.” - -“Oh, no, my lord! One thousand roubles I will certainly take, but I -shall not give up the stirrup. When you carry out your part of the -bargain, then you shall receive the stirrup.” So the lord gave him the -thousand, and he went home. - -The very instant he got there he took out five hundred roubles, and sent -his man up to the gipsy, telling him to give the money to him and to -take the golden stirrup. - -When his lordship’s groom came to the gipsy’s _izbá_,[5] “Hail, gipsy!” -he said. “How fare you, good man? I have brought you the money from his -lordship.” - -“Well, give it me if you have brought it.” So the gipsy took the five -hundred roubles, and gave the man a glass of wine, and then another, -until the man had his fill. - -And when he had had his fill the groom began to make his way home, and -said to the peasant: “Now give me the golden stirrup.” - -“What?” - -“Yes—the stirrup which you sold my master.” - -“What, _I_ sold it! I never had a golden stirrup!” - -“Well, then, give me the money back.” - -“What money?” - -“But I just gave you five hundred roubles!” - -“I have not even seen a _grívennik_[6]—never in my life! I looked after -you kindly, simply for the sake of our Lord, and not in the least in -order to get any money out of you.” And in this manner the gipsy had -disavowed everything. - -When the master had heard of this, he instantly started out to see the -gipsy. “What on earth do you mean, you vile thief, by taking money and -not giving up the golden stirrup?” - -“What golden stirrup? Now do, my lord, think a little. How is it -possible for a grey, hoary old peasant like me to possess a golden -stirrup?” - -Then the master became angrier and angrier, but he could not find it. -“Well, we will come to court!” he said. - -“Oh, please,” the gipsy answered, “please think! How in the world can I -come in your company? You are a lord, and I am only a blockhead—I am -only a dolt and a mere hind. At least you might dress me in a fine -costume if we are to go together.” So the master dressed him in his own -dress, and they journeyed together to the town for the case to be tried. - -When they came into the town, the master said: “I bought of this peasant -a golden stirrup. He took the money for it and will not deliver the -chattel.” - -And the peasant answered: “My Lords Justices, do you think it out for -yourselves, however could one get a golden stirrup out of a grey-haired -peasant? Why, I have not a single loaf at home. And I really cannot -imagine what this fine gentleman wants of me. Why, he will even be -saying next that I am wearing his clothes.” - -“But the dress _is_ mine!” the master shrieked out. - -“There you are, my Lords Justices!” - -After this the case came to an end, and the master went back home -without getting anything, and the peasant went on living merrily—living -on and gaining nothing but good. - - - - - DANÍLO THE UNFORTUNATE - - -Good Prince Vladímir had many henchmen and serfs in the city of Kíev, -and amongst them there was Danílo the Unfortunate, the noble. And on -Sundays Prince Vladímir used to give all his servants goblets filled -with wine, but Danílo good hard blows; and on great feast days every one -was sated, but Danílo had nothing. - -On the eve of Easter Sunday Prince Vladímir summoned Danílo the -Unfortunate, and he gave him eighty score of sable skins, and he bade -him sew a _shúba_[7] for the feast: the sable skins were not prepared, -and the buttons had not been moulded, and the buttonholes had not been -made. In the buttons he was bidden mould the wild beasts of the wood and -to sew into the buttonholes all the seabirds. - -Danílo the Unfortunate loathed the task, so he hurled it away, and he -went outside. He went out on his road and way, and shed tears. An old -woman came to meet him. “Look, Danílo,” she said, “do not rend yourself -asunder: why are you crying, Danílo the Unfortunate?” - -“Oh, you old fatty!” he exclaimed, “shivers and shakes, quivers and -quakes! Be off! this has nothing to do with you!” Then he went on a -little way and thought, “Why did I bid her remove?” So he approached her -again and said, “_Bábushka_,[8] little dove, forgive me: this is my -trouble. Prince Vladímir has given me eighty score of sable skins, of -which I am to make a _shúba_ in the morning. If only the buttons had -been moulded and the silken buttonholes sewn! But there are to be lions -moulded on to the buttons, and there are to be shepherds embroidered on -to the buttonholes that should have sung and warbled. How am I to set -about it? It would be better for me to drink _vódka_ behind the -counter.” - -Then the old woman, with her patched skirt, said, “Oh, I am now -‘_Bábushka_’ and your ‘little dove’! Do you go to the border of the blue -sea, and stand in front of the grey oak: at the hour of midnight the -blue sea will boil over and Chúdo-Yúda, the Old Man of the Sea, will -come out to you: he has no hands, no feet, and he has a grey beard. Take -hold of him by his beard and beat him until he asks you, ‘Why do you -beat me, Danílo the Unfortunate?’ Then you are to answer, ‘I am beating -you for this reason: let me see the Swan,[9] the fair maiden; let her -body glint through her wings, and through her body let her bones appear, -and from bone to bone let the marrow run like a flowing string of -pearls.’” - -Then Danílo the Unfortunate went to the blue sea, and he stood in front -of the dusky oak: and at midnight the blue sea was disturbed and -Chúdo-Yúda, the Old Man of the Sea, appeared before him. He had no -hands, he had no feet, and his beard was grey. Danílo seized him by his -beard and began to beat him on to the grey earth. Then at last -Chúdo-Yúda asked him: “Why do you beat me, Danílo the Unfortunate?” “For -this reason: let me see the Swan, the fair maiden; let her body glint -through her wings, and through her body let her bones appear, and from -bone to bone let the marrow run like a flowing string of pearls.” - -Very soon the Swan, the fair maiden, swam up to the shore, and she spoke -in this wise: - - “Is it work on your way, - Or for sloth do you stay?” - -“Oh, Swan, fair maiden, I have a double task: Prince Vladímir has bidden -me sew a _shúba_, and the sables are not prepared, the buttons are not -moulded, and the buttonholes are not sewn.” - -“You take me with you, and it will all be done in time.” - -Then he began to think in his thoughts, “How shall I take her with me?” - -“Now, Danílo, what are you thinking?” - -“I must do as you say: I will take you with me.” - -So she flapped her wings, and she moved her little head, and said, “Turn -to me with your white face; we will build for ourselves a princely -house. Shake your locks, that our house may have rooms.” Then twelve -youths appeared, all of them carpenters, sawyers, stone-hewers; and they -set to work, and the house was soon ready. - -Then Danílo took her by her right hand, and he kissed her on her sweet -lips, and he led her into the princely home. They sat down at a table, -ate and drank. They refreshed themselves, and their hands met at one -table. “Now, Danílo, go to rest and to bed; think of nothing else; it -will all be done.” So she laid him to sleep and herself went out to the -crystal flight of steps. And she waved her pinions and she shook her -little head: “My father,” she cried, “send me your craftsmen!” - -And the twelve youths appeared and asked, “Swan-bird, fair maiden, what -do you bid us do?” - -“Sew me this _shúba_ at once: the sables are not prepared, the buttons -are not moulded, the buttonholes are not sewn.” - -So they set to work: one of them made the sables ready and sewed the -_shúba_, one of them worked the forge and moulded the buttons, and one -of them sewed the buttonholes, and in a minute, wondrously, the _shúba_ -was made. - -Then the Swan-bird, the fair maiden, came up and woke Danílo the -Unfortunate: “Arise, my dear friend, the _shúba_ is ready, and the -church-bells are ringing in the city of Kíev: it is time for you to -arise and to prepare for matins.” - -Danílo arose, put on the _shúba_, and went: she looked out of the -window, stayed, gave him a silver staff, and bade him, “When you leave -matins, stand on the right side of the choir as the choir leave, raise -your hands and strike the sable _shúba_, and the birds will sing -joyously and the lions roar fearsomely. Then take the _shúba_ from your -shoulders and array Prince Vladímir at that instant, lest he forget us. -He will then summon you as a guest, and will give you a glass of wine. -Do not drink the glass to the bottom: if you drink it to the bottom no -good will befall you; and do not boast of me: do not boast that we built -a house together in a single night.” - -Danílo took the silver staff and hied away, and she again stayed him on -his course, and she gave him three little eggs, two of silver, one of -gold, and said, “With the silver eggs give the Easter greeting to the -Prince and the Princess, but the golden one keep and live your life -along with it.” - -Danílo the Unfortunate bade farewell to her and went to matins. All the -people wondered. “Look what a fine man Danílo the Unfortunate has -become: he has made the _shúba_ and he has brought it with him for the -feast.” - -After the Mass, he went up to the Prince and Princess, and he gave them -the Easter greeting, but carelessly took out the golden egg. Alyósha -Popóvich saw this, the Mocker of Women. As they went out of the church, -Danílo the Unfortunate struck himself on the breast with the silver -staff, and the birds sang and the lions roared; and all the folk were -amazed and gazed at Danílo. But Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, -dressed himself as a sorry beggar and asked for holy alms. They all gave -to him; only Danílo the Unfortunate alone said and thought, “What shall -I give him? I have nothing to give.” So, as it was Easter Day, he gave -him the golden egg. Alyósha Popóvich took that golden egg and changed -into his former garb. - -Prince Vladímir summoned them all to him, all to his palace to dessert: -so they ate and drank and were refreshed, and they exalted themselves. -Danílo drank until he was drunk; and, when he was drunk, made boast of -his wife. Alyósha Popóvich bragged at the feast that he knew Danílo’s -wife. But Danílo said, “If you know my wife you may cut off my head; -and, if you do not know her, you shall forfeit your own.” - -So Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, went whither his eyes might -go, and he went and wept. - -Then the old woman met him on his way and asked, “Why are you weeping, -Alyósha Popóvich?” - -“Go away, old woman with the swollen belly; I have naught to do with -you.” - -“Yet I shall be of service to you.” - -Then he began to ask her, “O my own grandmother, what did you wish to -tell me?” - -“Ha! am I now your own grandmother?” - -“O, I was boasting I knew Danílo’s wife!” - -“O _bátyushka_,[10] how do you know her: was there any little bird that -told you? Do you go up to a certain house and invite her to feast with -the Prince. She will wash herself, busk herself, and put a little chain -out of the window. You take that chain and show it to Danílo the -Unfortunate.” - -So Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, went to the window jamb, and -called the Swan-bird, the fair maiden, to dine with the Prince. She was -starting to wash herself, busk herself, and make ready for the feast, -and that moment Alyósha Popóvich seized her little chain, ran up into -the palace, and showed it to Danílo the Unfortunate. - -So Prince Vladímir said to Danílo the Unfortunate, “I see now that you -must forfeit your head.” - -“Let me go home and bid farewell to my wife.” So he went home and said, -“O fair Swan-maiden, what have I done? I became drunk and I bragged of -you and have lost my life.” - -“I know it all, Danílo the Unfortunate. Go, summon the Prince and -Princess here as your guests, and all the burghers and generals and -field-marshals and _boyárs_.” - -“But the Prince will not come out in the mud and the mire!” (For the -roads were bad, and the blue sea became stormy; the marshes surged and -opened.) - -“You are to tell him: ‘Have no fear, Prince Vladímir: across the rivers -have been built hazel-tree bridges, the transoms are of oak covered with -cloth of purple and with nails of tin. The shoes of the doughty warrior -will not be soiled, nor will the hoofs of his horse be smeared.’” - -So Danílo the Unfortunate invited them as guests; and the Swan-bird, the -fair maiden, stepped out to her window, flapped her wings, shook her -little head, and there was a bridge laid from her house to the palace of -Prince Vladímir. It was covered with cloth of purple, tacked in with -tacks of tin; and on one side flowers grew, nightingales sang, and on -the other side apple trees and fruits bloomed and ripened. - -The Prince and Princess made ready to be guests, and they set out on -their journey with all their noble host with them, crossed the first -river, which ran with splendid beer. And very many soldiers fell down by -that beer. Then they advanced to the second river, which ran with -wonderful mead, and more than half of the brave host bent down to drink -the mead and rolled on their sides. So they came to the third river, -which ran with glorious wine. Here all the officers bent down and drank -till they were drunk. At the fourth river powerful _vódka_ flowed. And -the Prince looked backwards: all of his generals were lying on their -backs. Only the Prince was left with three companions—with the Princess, -Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, and Danílo the Unfortunate. - -Then the invited guests arrived, and they entered into the lofty palace: -there were tables standing, and the table-cloths were of silk, and the -chairs painted with many colours. They sat down at the tables: there -were all sorts of dishes and of foreign drinks. There were no bottles, -no mere pints—entire rivers flowed! Prince Vladímir and the Princess -drank nothing, tasted nothing, only looked on. When would the Swan, the -fair maiden, come out? And they sat long at the table, waited for her -long, until it was time to go home. Danílo the Unfortunate called her -once, and twice, and a third time, but she would not come and see her -guests. - -Alyósha Popóvich, the Mocker of Women, then said, “If this had been my -wife I should have taught her to obey!” - -Then the Swan-bird, the fair maiden, came out and stood at the window, -and she said these words: “This is how we teach our husbands!” And so -she flapped her wings, moved her little head, and flew about: and there -the guests sat on mounds in the bog. - - One way the waters tossed, - On the other lay woe, - On the third side naught but moss, - On the fourth side—Oh! - -“Get up, Prince, and avaunt! Let Danílo sit at the head of the table.” - -So they went back all the way to their palace, and they were covered -with mud from head to foot. - - * * * * * - -I myself then should have liked to see the Prince and Princess; and they -were just poking their heads out of the door, but, whilst it was -opening, I slipped and fell down flat. - - - - - THE SORRY DRUNKARD - - -Once there lived an old man, and he was such a sorry drunkard as words -cannot describe. He used to go to the drinking-booth, drink green wine, -and crawl away home through the hops. And his road lay across a river. - -When he came to the river, he did not dally to think; but slipped off -his boots, hung them on his head, and wandered at ease till he came into -the middle, stumbled and fell into the water, and was heard of no more. - -But he had a son, Ugly Peter, Petrúsha. When Petrúsha saw that his -father had vanished utterly, he became melancholy, and wept, had a -Requiem Mass sung for his soul, and began to administer the property. - -One day, on a Sunday, he went to church to pray to God. As he was going -on his way, in front of him there was a woman crawling along, going -slowly, slowly, stumbling on the reeds, and scolding hard: “What the -devil knocks you against me!” - -Petrúsha heard her ugly language, and said: “Good-day, Auntie; where are -you going?” - -“I am off to church, Gossip, to pray to God.” - -“But is not it very sinful of you, going to church to pray to God, and -then invoking the Unholy Spirit? You stumbled, and then invoked the -devil!” - -Well, he went on, and he heard Mass, and went on and on; and suddenly, -from somewhere or other, there stood in front of him a fine youth who -bowed down to him and said: “Thank you, Petrúsha, for your good word.” - -“What are you? Why do you thank me?” Petrúsha asked. - -“Oh, I am the Devil, and I am thanking you because when the old woman -was stumbling along and barking at me uselessly, you put in a good word -for me.” And he began to beseech him: “Do come, Petrúsha, and be my -guest, and I will give you a reward—gold and silver—all you wish.” - -“All right!” said Petrúsha; “I will come.” - -And the Devil gave him his directions, and instantly vanished, and -Petrúsha went back home. - -Next day Petrúsha went to pay a visit to the Devil—went on and went on -for three whole days; and he got into a deep wood—into the dreary and -darksome forest where he could not see the sky. And in that forest there -stood a rich palace; and when he came to the palace, a fair maiden saw -him. She had been stolen from a village by the Unholy Spirit. She saw -him and asked: “Why have you come here, doughty youth? Here the devils -live, and they will tear you to tatters.” - -Petrúsha told her how and why he had come to this palace. - -“Well, look you to it,” the fair maiden said; “the devils are going to -give you gold and silver—do not take any of it. Only ask them to give -you the sorry horse on which the unholy spirits load their fuel and -water. This horse is your father. When he got drunk and fell into the -water, the devils instantly got hold of him, turned him into a horse, -and now he serves as the beast of burden to carry their wood and water -for them.” - -Then that same youth came forward who had invited Petrúsha to pay him a -visit, and he began to entertain him with all sorts of sweetmeats and -drinks. Then the time came for Petrúsha’s departure home. - -“As a parting gift,” the Devil said to him, “I will give you money, and -a splendid horse, and you shall ride home royally.” - -“This is of no use to me,” Petrúsha answered. “But if you will give me -anything, give me that sorry jade—that battered jade which carries your -wood and water.” - -“Whatever use is that sorry nag to you? Why, you will hardly get home on -it! Why, it tumbles down if you look at it!” - -“I don’t mind about that; give it to me; it is the only thing I will -take.” - -So the devils gave him the sorry jade. Petrúsha took it and led it out -to the entrance. As soon as he was at the outside, he met the fair -maiden, who asked: “Have you got the horse?” - -“Yes, I have.” - -“Then, fair youth, when you arrive at your village, take the cross off -from your neck and pass it round the horse three times, and then hang -the cross on its head.” - -Petrúsha bowed down to her, and set on his way; and he arrived at his -village, and did all the maiden had commanded: took his copper cross -from his neck, passed it three times round the horse, and hung the cross -on its head. And all at once it was the horse no longer; but, instead, -became his own father. - -The son looked at the father, shed hot tears, and took him into his own -_izbá_.[11] The old man lived for three days without speaking, and could -not unseal his tongue. After that, they lived on in all good luck and -happiness. - -The old man altogether forsook being drunk; and to his last day not a -drop of wine passed his lips. - - - - - THE WOLF AND THE TAILOR - - -This story is a story of the past—of the days when Christ and the Twelve -Apostles still walked on earth.[12] - - * * * * * - -One day they were still on their road, going on a long, long road, and a -wolf met them and said: “Lord, I am feeling hungry.” - -“Go,” Christ said to him, “and eat a mare.” - -So the wolf went to look for a mare. - -And he saw her going up and down, and said: “Mare, the Lord has bidden -me eat you!” - -So she answered: “Well, please do not eat me—it is not the proper thing. -But I have a passport on me; only it is driven in very hard.” - -“Well, show it me.” - -“Just come near my hind feet!” - -So the wolf went up, and she kicked him with her hoofs, and knocked out -his front teeth, so that the wolf was thrown, at a blow, three -_sazhéns_[13] away, and the mare ran off. - -Back the wolf came with a petition, met Christ, and said: “Lord, the -mare almost killed me!” - -“Well, go on and eat the ram.” - -So the wolf ran up to the ram—ran up and said: “Ram, I am going to eat -you—it is the command of the Lord.” - -“Well, come and eat me up if you will. I will stand on the hill, and -will jump up into your mouth all ready.” - -So the wolf stood on the hill, and the ram told him to open his mouth. -So the wolf went and stood on the hill and opened his mouth for the -food, and the ram ran down and hit him hard with the horns on his -forehead—_whack_! The wolf was knocked off his feet, and the ram went -away. And the wolf got up, looked all round, and there was never a sign -of the ram. - -So he went up with another complaint. And he found Christ and said: -“Lord, even the ram has deceived me. Why, it almost knocked me to bits.” - -“All right!” said Christ, “go and eat the tailor.” - -So the wolf ran up, and he met a tailor on the way. “Tailor,” he said, -“I am going to eat you, by command of the Lord.” - -“All right. Let me say good-bye—I should like to greet my kin.” - -“No, I cannot let you say good-bye with your kin.” - -“Well, I cannot help it—it must be so. Come and eat me up. Only at least -let me take your measurements. I only want to see whether I shall slip -in easily.” - -“All right!—measure away,” said the wolf. - -So the tailor went back, took hold of the wolf by his tail, twined his -tail round in his hand, and began to whip the wolf. And the wolf -struggled and tussled, roared and shrieked, and tore until he tore his -tail loose, and he then took to his feet. So he ran away with all of his -might, and he met seven other wolves. They said: “Why are you, grey -wolf, tailless?” - -“Oh, the tailor tore it out.” - -“Where is the tailor?” - -“You see him there, on the road.” - -“All right—we will hunt after him.” And they started after the tailor. - -When the tailor heard the chase coming after him, and saw that it was a -disagreeable business, he scaled up a tree as fast as he could. So the -wolves arrived there and said: “We will stop here, brothers, and wait -until the tailor comes down. Do you, manx-wolf, stop below, and we will -each of us climb on the other’s shoulders.” So the manx-wolf lay at the -bottom, and all the seven wolves went after the others and climbed up. - -When the tailor saw his ill-fate coming so near him, for they were -nearer and nearer, he cried out to the top one: “It is nobody’s fault, -only the manx-wolf’s!” So the manx-wolf was frightened, and jumped out -from below and ran off. All the seven wolves tumbled down and chased -after him, caught him up, and tore him to bits. But the tailor slid down -the tree and went back home. - - - - - THE TALE OF THE SILVER SAUCER AND THE CRYSTAL APPLE - - -Once a peasant lived with his wife, and they had three daughters: two -were finely dressed and clever, but the third was a simple girl; the -sisters and the father and mother as well called her the Little Fool. -They hustled the Little Fool, thrust her about this way and that and -forced her to work. She never said a word and was always ready to weed -the grass, break off lamp-splinters, feed the cows and ducks, and -whatever anybody asked for the Little Fool would bring. They had only to -say, “Fool, go and fetch this!” or “Fool, come and look here!” - -One day the peasant went with his hay to the fair, and he asked his -daughters, “What shall I bring you as your fairing?” - -One daughter asked, “Buy me some red cloth for a sarafan.” The other -asked, “Buy me some scarlet nankin.” But the Fool sat still and said -nothing. - -Well, after all, the Fool was his daughter, and her father felt sorry -for her, so he asked her, “What would you like to have, Fool?” - -So the Fool smiled and said, “Buy me, my own father, a silver saucer and -a crystal apple.” - -“What do you mean?” asked the sisters. - -“I should then roll the apple on the saucer, and should speak words -which an old woman taught me in return for my giving her a loaf of white -bread.” So the peasant promised, and went away. - -Whether he went far or near, whether he took long or short, anyhow he -went to the fair, sold his hay, bought the fairings, gave his one -daughter the scarlet nankin, the other the red cloth for a sarafan and -the Fool a silver saucer and a crystal apple. He came back home and he -showed them. Both sisters were overjoyed, sewed sarafans, and mocked the -Fool, and waited to see what she would do with her silver saucer and -crystal apple. But the Fool did not eat the apple, but sat in a corner -and whispered, “Roll, roll, roll, little apple, on the silver saucer, -and show me all the cities and the fields, all the woods and the seas, -and the heights of the hills and the fairness of heaven.” - -Then the apple rolled about on the saucer; a transparency came over the -silver; and, on the saucer, all the cities, one after the other, became -visible, all the ships on the seas, and the regiments in the fields, and -the heights of the mountains, and the beauties of the sky. Sunset -appeared after sunset and the stars gathered in their nocturnal dances: -it was all so beautiful and so lovely as no tale can tell and no pen can -write. - -Then the sisters looked on and they became envious and wanted to take -the saucer away from their sister, but she would not exchange her saucer -for anything else in the world. So the evil sisters walked about, called -out and began to talk. “Oh, my darling sisters, let us go into the wood -and pick berries and look for wild strawberries!” So the Fool gave her -saucer to her father and herself went into the wood. She wandered about -with her sisters, plucked the strawberries, and saw a spade lying on the -grass; then the other sisters took the spade and began beating the Fool -with it, slew the Fool, buried her under a silver birch, and came back -to their father late at night, saying, “The Little Fool ran away from -us, we could not find her, we went all over the wood searching for her. -We suppose the wolves must have eaten her up.” But the father was sorry. -She was a Fool, but she was his daughter after all, and so the peasant -wept for his daughter, took the silver saucer and the apple, put them -into a coffer and locked them up. And the sisters also wept for her. - -Soon a herd came by and the trumpet sounded at dawn. But the shepherd -was taking his flock, and at dawn he sounded his trumpet and went into -the wood to look for a little lamb. He saw a little hummock beside a -silver birch, and on it all around ruby-red and azure flowers, and -bulrushes standing above the flowers. So the young shepherd broke a -bulrush, made a pipe of it, and a wonderful wonder happened, a -marvellous marvel: the pipe began of itself to sing and to speak. “Play -on, play on, my little pipe. Console my father, console my guiding -light, my father, and tell my mother of me, and my sisters, the little -doves. For they killed me, the poor one, and for a silver saucer have -severed me from light, all for my enchanted apple.” - -People heard and ran together, the entire village thronged round the -shepherd, asked him who had been slain. There was no end to the -question. “Good folks all,” said the shepherd, “I do not know anything -about it. I was looking for a little sheep in the wood, and I saw a -knoll, on the knoll flowers, and a bulrush over the knoll. I broke off a -bulrush, carved myself a pipe out of it, and the pipe began singing and -speaking of itself.” - -Now it so happened that the father of the Little Fool was there, heard -the words of the shepherd, wanted to lay hold of the pipe, when the pipe -began singing, “Play on, play on, little pipe: this is my father; -console him with my mother. My poor little self they slew, they withdrew -from the white world, all for the sake of my silver vessel and crystal -apple.” - -“Lead us, shepherd,” said the father, “where you broke off the bulrush.” -So they followed the shepherd into the wood and to the knoll, and they -were amazed at the beautiful flowers, ruby-red, sky-blue, that grew -there. - -Then they began to dig up the knoll and discovered the dead body. The -father clasped his hands, groaned as he recognised his unfortunate -daughter, saw her lying there slain, not knowing by whom she had been -buried. And all the good folks asked who had been the slayers, who had -been the murderers. Then the pipe began playing and speaking of itself. -“O my light, my father, my sisters called me to the wood: they killed me -here to get my saucer, my silver saucer, and my crystal apple. You -cannot raise me from my heavy sleep till you get water from the Tsar’s -well.” - -The two envious sisters trembled, paled, and their soul was in flames. -They acknowledged their guilt. They were seized, bound, locked up in a -dark vault at the Tsar’s pleasure. But the father set out on his way to -the capital city. The road was long or short. At last he reached the -town and came up to the palace. The Tsar, the little sun, was coming -down the golden staircase. The old man bowed down to the earth and asked -for the Tsar’s mercy. Then the Tsar, the hope, said, “Take the water of -life from the Tsar’s well. When your daughter revives, bring her here -with the saucer, the apple, and the evil-doing sisters.” - -The old man was overjoyed, bowed down to earth and took the phial with -the living water, ran into the wood to the flowery knoll, and took up -the body. As soon as ever he sprinkled it with the water his daughter -sprang up in front of him alive, and hung like a dove upon her father’s -neck. All the people gathered together and wept. The old man went to the -capital city. He was taken into the Tsar’s rooms. The Tsar, the little -sun, appeared, saw the old man with his three daughters, two tied by the -hands, and the third daughter like a spring flower, the light of -Paradise in her eyes, with the dawn on her face, tears flowing in her -eyes, falling like pearls. - -The Tsar looked and was amazed, and was wroth with the wicked sisters. -He asked the fair maiden, “Where are your saucer and the crystal apple?” - -Then she took the little coffer out of her father’s hands, took out the -apple and the saucer, and herself asked the Tsar, “What do you want to -see, O Tsar my Emperor? Would you like to see your powerful cities, your -valorous hosts, your ships on the sea, or the wonderful stars of the -sky?” And she let the crystal apple roll about on the silver saucer, and -on the saucer one after the other all the towns appeared in their shape; -all the regiments with their banners and their arquebuses standing in -warlike array, the leaders in front of the lines and the colonels in -front of the platoons and the sergeants in front of their companies. And -the guns fired and the shots flew, and the smoke wreathed and writhed: -it was all visible to the eye. Then again the apple rolled about on the -saucer, the crystal on the silver, and the sea could be seen billowing -on the shore, and the ships swimming like swans, flags flying, issuing -from the stern, and the noise of guns and cannon-smoke arriving like -wreaths, all visible to the eye. Then again the apple rolled on the -saucer, the crystal on the silver, and the sky was red on the saucer, -and little sun after little sun made its round, and the stars gathered -on their dance. The Tsar was amazed at this wonder. - -But the fair maiden was lost in tears and fell down at the Tsar’s feet -and begged for mercy, saying, “Tsar, your Majesty,” she said, “take my -silver saucer and crystal apple if you will only forgive my sisters, and -do not destroy them for my sake.” - -And the Tsar was melted by her tears and pardoned them at her request. -She for sheer joy shouted out and fell upon her sisters. The Tsar looked -round, was amazed, took the fair maiden by the hand, said to her in a -kindly voice, “I must for your goodness love your beauty: will you be my -wife and the Tsarítsa of my fair realm?” - -“Tsar, your Majesty,” answered the fair maiden, “it is your imperial -will, but it is the father’s will which is law amongst the daughters, -and the blessing of their mother. If my father will, if my mother will -bless me, I will.” - -Then the father bowed down to earth, and he sent for the mother, and the -mother blessed her. - -“Yet I have one word more for you,” said the fair maiden to the Tsar: -“Do not separate my kin from me, let my mother and my father and my -sisters remain with me.” - -Then the sisters bowed down to her feet, and said, “We are not worthy!” - -“It has all been forgotten, my beloved sisters,” she said to them; “ye -are my kin, ye are not strangers. He who bears in mind an ill bygone has -lost his sight.” And as she said this, she smiled and raised her sisters -up. - -And her sisters wept from sheer emotion, as the rivers flow, and would -not rise from the ground. - -Then the Tsar bade them rise and looked on them kindly, bidding them -remain in the city. - -There was a feast in the palace: the front steps glittered and glowed as -though with flame, like the sun enwreathed in his beams. The Tsar and -the Tsarítsa sat on a chariot, and the earth trembled, and the people -ran up crying out, “Long live the Tsar and Tsarítsa!” - - - - - THE FOUNDLING PRINCE - - -Once upon a time there was a Tsar and Tsarítsa who had only one son. The -Tsar one day had to leave home, and in his absence a disaster befell -them; the Tsarévich disappeared. They searched and searched for the -Tsarévich, dragging the ponds. Not a breath nor a sound could be heard -of him. So fifteen years went by, until at last the Tsar received news -that in a certain village a peasant had found a child who was a wonder -for his beauty and his cleverness. - -So the Tsar ordered the peasant to be brought to him as soon as -possible: he was brought, and the Tsar began asking him where he had -found the boy. The peasant explained that he had found him fifteen years -ago in a corn-kiln, with strange and rich clothing on him; and by every -sign he was the Tsar’s own son. - -So the Tsar told the peasant, “Tell your foundling that he is to come to -me neither naked nor dressed, nor on foot nor on horseback, neither by -day nor by night, neither in the courtyard nor in the street.” - -So the peasant went back home, wept and told the boy. How on earth was -it to be done! - -But the boy replied, “That is easy enough: I can guess this riddle.” - -So he took and undressed himself from head to foot, put a net on -himself, came on a goat, came up to the Tsar at twilight, and mounted -the goat at the gate, leaving the fore-feet of the goat on the courtyard -and the hind feet in the street. - -When the Tsar saw this, he became convinced and said, “This must be my -son!” - - - - - THE SUN AND HOW IT WAS MADE BY DIVINE WILL - - -The Sun is thirty times the size it appears: looks very small because it -is very high up from the earth. - -The Sun has an apparel and a crown which would befit a Tsar, and fifteen -thousands of angels of the Lord accompany him and deck him every day. -And when the Sun wanes to the West, then the angels strip off from him -that garb and crown which would befit a Tsar, and lay it on the throne -of the Lord. - -Three angels remain with the Sun and make him ready, and God has -consigned one hundred angels to enrobe the Sun in an apparel and a crown -meet for a Tsar. - -And when the Sun arises from the East crossing to the West, then fiery -phœnixes and the _Ksálavy_ of paradise fly in front of the Sun, but -first wet their wings in the waters of the ocean and asperse with their -wings the Sun that he may not sear them with his golden rays. - -But from the fire of the Sun the feathers even of these birds are -consumed, because they are scorched away. And they again bathe in the -ocean and are renewed. - -For this reason the cock is a prophet, and it has under its wings a -white feather belonging to the other birds. - -And when the Sun wanes to the West, then the cock’s feathers warp. - -But when the Lord’s angels take the dress and the crown from the throne -of the Lord, the cock awakens, lifts up his voice, flutters with his -wings, the first time to announce the resurrection to the world and to -tell the angels of the law; then to say: “O Christ, Giver of Light, look -down on us and bestow on the world Thy light”; and the third time to -sing: “Christ is the Life and accomplishes all things.” And thus the -cock sings to the light, magnifies its Creator, and announces joy to the -just. Amen. - - - - - THE LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS - - -In a certain city there was a merchant and his wife and their son, who -was wise beyond his years; he was called Vasíli. Once all three were -lunching together, and in a cage there was a Nightingale singing over -the table, singing so woefully that the merchant could not bear it, and -he said, “If there ever were a man who could really tell me what that -Nightingale is saying and the doom he is foreboding, I should like to -meet him: I would give him in my life half of my possessions, and after -my death I would bequeath him many goods.” - -Then the little boy, who was only six years old, looked his father and -mother fixedly in the eyes and said, “I know what the Nightingale is -singing, only I am frightened of saying it.” - -“Speak out openly,” said the mother and father. - -And then Vasíli said with tears, “The Nightingale is foretelling that a -time and season is coming when you will be my servants, when father will -draw me water and mother will give me the towel to wipe my face and -hands.” - -These words made the merchant and his wife very angry, so they decided -to get rid of their child; they built a little boat, and in the dark of -night, put the sleeping boy into it and let it sail into the open sea. - -Just then the prophetic Nightingale flew out of its cage into the boat -and sat on the boy’s shoulder. Then the boat came to the seashore, and a -ship came to meet it with all its sails spread. The master of the ship -saw the boy, pitied him, adopted him, asked him questions, promised to -keep and love him as if he were his own son. - -Next day the boy said to his new father, “The Nightingale foretells that -a storm is brewing which will break the masts and shatter the sails. You -must go back to the haven.” - -But the master of the ship would not go. And a storm arose at once, and -the masts were shattered, and the sails torn down. It was no good, what -is ended cannot be mended, so new masts were built and new sails were -rigged. And they sailed on further. - -Again Vásya said, “The Nightingale sings that there are twelve ships -coming to meet us, all pirate ships, and they will take us prisoner.” - -This time the master of the ship believed him, and returned to the -island, and he saw the twelve bold pirates go sailing by. So the master -of the ship waited as long as need be, and then sailed further. - -Some time went by, not too much, not too little, and the ship arrived at -the city of Khvalynsk; and, for very many years, in front of the palace -of the King of Khvalynsk, a Crow, with his wife and child, had been -flying and screeching, giving no rest either by day or night. Whatever -they did, whatever gins they might set, they could not drive them off -from the window. Small shot was not any good. And so that King ordained -that at every cross-road and at all the harbours this notice should be -exhibited: - - “IF ANY MAN CAN DRIVE AWAY THE CROW, WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILD, - FROM THE ROYAL WINDOWS, THE KING WILL GRANT HIM AS A REWARD HALF - OF HIS KINGDOM, AND HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AS WIFE—BUT IF ANY - SHALL UNDERTAKE THE WORK AND SHALL NOT FULFIL IT HE SHALL - FORFEIT HIS HEAD.” - -Very many were the hunters eager to become kinsmen of the King, and all -of their heads had been hewn off and hung on stakes. - -Now Vasíli heard of this, went up and asked the master of the ship, “Let -me go to the King; possibly I can chase away the Crow and his wife.” - -They endeavoured to deter him, but failed. “Very well, go. And if you -come by any harm, put the blame on yourself!” - -So Vasíli came into the palace, told the King, and ordered the windows -to be opened in front of which the Crows were flying. He then listened -to what the birds were saying, and told the King, “Your Majesty, you see -that there are three flying here, the Crow, Madam Crow, and Master Crow: -the Crow is disputing with his wife as to which of them the son belongs, -whether to the father or to the mother; and they are asking for a -decision. Your Majesty, decide to whom it is the son belongs.” - -The King answered, “To the father.” - -As soon as the King had said this, the Crow with Master Crow sailed to -the right, but Madam Crow to the left. - -After this the King took the youth unto himself, and he lived at the -royal court and received the greatest kindness and honour, grew up and -became a youth of youths, married the Princess, and received half of the -kingdom as a dowry. - -One day he thought he would like to journey to foreign parts and see -strange lands, view the folks of the world, and show himself. So he set -out to roam through the world. In one city he stayed for a night, passed -the night there, got up in the morning and said he wished to wash. So -the master brought him water and the mistress brought him the towel. The -King’s son spoke with them, and then saw that they were his father and -mother, wept for joy, and fell at the feet of his parents. Afterwards he -took them with him to his own city of Khvalynsk, and they lived together -long, and lived to enjoy good. - - - - - BÁBA YAGÁ AND ZAMORÝSHEK - - -Once upon a time there lived an old man and his old wife, and they had -no children, and what on earth did they not do to get them! How did not -they beseech God! But for all that the wife bore no children. One day -the old man went into the forest to look for mushrooms, and an old -gaffer met him. - -“I know your thoughts. You are thinking of children,” he said. “Go to -the village and collect one little egg from every house and put a brood -hen over them, and, what will ensue, you will yourself see.” - -Now there were forty-one houses in the village. The old man went and -collected the eggs and put a brood hen over them. Two weeks later he and -his wife went to see, and they found that there were children born of -the eggs, and they looked again and they found that forty of the -children were fine, strong and healthy, and there was one who was a -weakling. - -So the old man gave them names. But he had no name left for the last, so -he called him Zamorýshek.[14] And these children grew up not by days, -but by hours, and they shot up fast and began to work and to help the -mother and father. The forty of them used to go into the fields whilst -Zamorýshek stayed at home. When the harvesting season came on the forty -began making the hayricks, and in a single week all the ricks were put -up. So they came back home to the village, lay down, slept, and ate of -the fare God provided. - -The old man looked at them and said, “Young and green, goes far, sleeps -sound, and leaves the work undone!” - -“You go and see, _bátyushka_,”[15] said Zamorýshek. - -So the old man went into the fields and saw forty ricks standing. “Ah, -these are fine boys of mine! Look at all they have harvested in one -week!” Next day he went out again to gloat on his possessions, and found -one rick was a-missing. He came home and said, “One rick has vanished.” - -“Never mind, _bátyushka_,” said Zamorýshek, “we will catch the thief: -give me a hundred roubles, and I will do the deed.” - -Then Zamorýshek went to the smith and asked for a chain big enough to -cover a man from head to foot. - -And the smith said, “Certainly.” - -“Very well, then: if the chain hold, I will give you one hundred -roubles; if it break, your labour’s lost.” - -The smith forged the chain; Zamorýshek put it round him, stretched it, -and it broke. So the smith made a second iron chain, Zamorýshek put it -round his body, and it again broke. Then the smith made a third chain, -three times as strong, and Zamorýshek could not break it. - -Zamorýshek then went and sat under the hayrick and waited. At midnight a -sudden storm rose and the sea raged, and a strange nag rose out of the -sea, ran up to the rick and began to eat it. Zamorýshek bound the neck -round with chains and mounted her. The mare began to gallop over the -valleys and over the hills, and she reared, but she could not dislodge -the rider; and at last she stopped and said in a human voice: “Now, good -youth, now you can mount me, you may become master of my foals.” Then -she ran under the sea and neighed, and the sea opened and up ran -forty-one foals; and they were such fine foals, every single horse was -better than every other horse. You might go round the entire earth and -never see any horses as good. - -Next morning the old man heard neighing outside his door, and wondered -what the noise was, and there was his son Zamorýshek with the entire -drove. “Good!” he said. “Now, my sons, ye had better go and hunt for -brides.” So off they went. The mother and father blessed them, and the -brothers set forth on their distant way and road. - -They rode far in the white world in order to seek their brides. For they -would not marry separately, and what mother could they find who should -boast of having forty-one daughters? - -And they went across thirteen countries, and they then saw a steep -mountain which they ascended, and there there stood a white stone palace -with high walls round and iron columns and gates where they counted -forty-one columns. So they tied their knightly horses to each of the -stakes, and they entered. - -Then the Bába Yagá met them and said: “O ye unlooked-for, uninvited -guests, how did you dare without leave to tie your horses to my stakes?” - -“Come, old lady, what are you complaining of? First of all give us food -and drink, take us into the bath, and thereafter ask us for our news, -and question us.” - -So the Bába Yagá served them with food and drink, conducted them to the -bath, and then afterwards she asked them: “Have ye come to do deeds, -doughty youths, or to flee from deeds?” - -“We have come to do deeds, grandmother,” they said. - -“What have ye come to seek?” - -“We are seeking brides.” - -Then she replied, “I have daughters.” And she burst into the lofty rooms -and brought out her forty-one daughters. - -They were then betrothed, and began to feast together and celebrate the -marriage. - -When the evening came Zamorýshek went to look at his horse, and the good -horse saw him and spoke with a human voice. “See to this, my master: -when you lie down with your young wives, dress them in your clothes, and -put on your wives’ clothes, otherwise you will all be killed.” - -Then they all went and lay down, and they all went to sleep, only -Zamorýshek took care to keep his eyes open. - -And at midnight Bába Yagá cried out in a loud voice: “Ho, ye my faithful -servants! Will ye cut off the heads of my insolent and uninvited -guests?” And so the servants ran and cut off the daughters’ heads. - -Zamorýshek roused his brothers and told them what had happened. So they -took the heads with them, put them on the forty-one stakes, armed -themselves and galloped off. - -In the morning the Bába Yagá got up, looked through her little window, -and saw the heads on the stakes. She was very angry, and she called for -her fiery shield, and leapt out on the chase, and set to waving her -fiery shield in all directions to the four winds. - -Whither should the youths betake themselves for concealment? In front of -them there was the blue sea and behind them the Bába Yagá. And she -burned everything in front of her with her fiery shield. They might have -had to die, but Zamorýshek was an inventive youth, and had not forgotten -to take Bába Yagá’s handkerchief, and he shook the handkerchief in -front, and so built a bridge across all the width of the blue sea, and -the doughty youths crossed the sea safely. Then Zamorýshek shook the -handkerchief on the left-hand side and the bridge vanished. The Bába -Yagá had to turn back, but the brothers went home safely. - - - - - THE MIRACULOUS HEN - - -Beyond thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-tenth realm—it was not in our -kingdom—once an old man and an old woman lived in great need and -poverty. They had two sons, who were very young and as yet of no use for -field work. So the old man got up himself, and himself did all the work; -he went out and looked after the labourers, and for all that he could -only earn a few pence. - -As he was going home one day he met a sorry drunkard, who had a hen in -his hands. “Will you, old man, buy my hen?” - -“What do you want for it?” - -“Give me fifty kopeks for it.” - -“No, brother; take these few pence—that will be enough for you; you will -get a pint and can drink it out on your way home and go to sleep.” - -So the drunkard took the pence and gave the old man the hen. - -Then the old man returned home. But they were very hungry there; there -was not a crust of bread. “Here,” he said, as he came in, to his wife, -“here is a hen I have bought you.” - -But his wife turned on him fiercely and scolded him. “What an old fool -you are! You must have gone utterly mad: our children are sitting down -at home without any bread, and you buy a hen which you must feed!” - -“Hold your tongue, foolish woman; does a hen eat so much? Why, she will -lay us an egg and will bring us chicks; we can sell the chicks and then -buy bread.” - -So the old man made a little nest and he put the hen under the stove. In -the morning he looked, and the hen had laid a jewel of absolutely -natural colours. So the old man said to his wife, “Now, old lady; -amongst other folks the hens lay eggs, but our hen lays jewels: what -shall we do?” - -“Take it into the city; possibly somebody may buy it.” - -So the old man went into the city, went into all the inns by turns and -showed his precious stone. All the merchants gathered round him and -began valuing the stone. They valued it and valued it, and it was at -last bought for five hundred roubles. - -From that day the old man went on trading in precious stones which his -hen laid him, and he very soon became enriched, had himself inscribed -into the merchants’ guild, put up a shop, hired apprentices, and set up -seafaring ships to carry his wares into foreign lands. One day he was -going into foreign parts, and he bade his wife have a great heed to the -hen: “Treasure her more than your eyes; should she be lost, you shall -forfeit your own head.” - -As soon as he had gone the old woman began to think evil thoughts. For -she was great friends with one of the young apprentices. - -“Where do you get these precious stones from?” the apprentice asked her. - -“Oh, it is our hen that lays them.” - -So the apprentice took the hen, looked, and under the right wing he saw -written in gold: “Whoever eats this hen’s head shall become a king, and -whoever eats her liver shall spit out gold.” - -So he told the wife, “Bake me the hen for supper.” - -“Oh, my dear friend, how can I? My husband will be coming back and will -punish me.” - -But the apprentice would not listen to any argument. “Bake it,” he -said—that was all. - -The next day the old woman got supper ready, made ready to twist the -hen’s neck and to roast it for supper with the head and the liver. The -cook twisted the hen’s neck and put her into the oven, and himself went -out. But in that time the two little children of the house, who were at -school, ran in, looked into the oven, and wanted to nibble. The elder -brother ate the head and the youngest ate the liver. - -When supper-time came, the hen was put on the table, but when the -apprentice saw that both the head and the liver were missing he was very -angry, quarrelled with the old woman and went home. The old woman -followed him and wheedled, but he still insisted: “You bring your -children, take their liver out and brains, and give them me for supper; -otherwise I will have nothing to do with you.” - -So the old woman put her children to bed, called the cook and bade him -take them whilst they were asleep into the wood, there kill them and -extract their liver and their brains and get them ready for supper. The -cook took the children into the slumbrous forest, stopped, and made -ready to whet the knife. - -The boys woke up and asked, “Why are you sharpening the knife?” - -“Because your mother has bidden me take out your liver and brains and -cook them.” - -“Oh, grandfather, little dove, do not slay us; we will give you all the -gold you desire, only pity us and let us free.” So the younger brother -filled his skirt with gold, and the cook was contented with this and he -set them free. - -So the boys went forth into the forest and he turned back. Fortunately -for him a bitch came his way, so he took her two puppies, took their -livers and brains, roasted them and gave them for supper. The apprentice -was very pleased with the dish, swallowed it all, and became neither a -king nor a king’s son, but simply a fool. - -The boys went out of the wood on the broad road, and went whither their -eyes gazed—maybe far, maybe short, they went. Soon the road divided into -two, and a column stood there, and on the column it was written: - - “WHO GOES TO THE RIGHT SHALL RECEIVE A KINGDOM, - WHO GOES TO THE LEFT SHALL RECEIVE MUCH OF EVIL AND OF GRIEF, - BUT HE SHALL MARRY A FAIR PRINCESS.” - -So the brothers considered this inscription, and decided to go in -different directions; the elder went to the right and the younger to the -left. - -The elder went on and on, and soon came to an unknown capital city. He -also saw a mass of people, only they were all mourning and sad. So he -begged shelter of a poor old widow. “Will you protect,” he said, “a -foreigner from the dark night?” - -“I should be very glad to have you,” she said, “but I cannot put you -anywhere, I am so closely packed.” - -“Do let me in, _bábushka_; I am such a simple youth, just as you are; -you can find me some small space, some kind of nook for the night.” - -So the old woman admitted him, and they began to speak. - -“Why, _bábushka_,” the stranger asked, “is there such a throng in the -city, why are rooms so dear, and why are the people all mourning and -melancholy?” - -“Well, our king has just died, and the _boyárs_ have sent the town-crier -out to announce that old and young are to assemble, and each of them is -to have a candle, and with the candles they are to go into the -cathedral, and whosesoever’s candle lights of itself is to be king.” - -So in the morning the boy got up, washed, prayed to God, said the grace -for the bread and salt and the soft bed which his hostess had given him, -and went into the cathedral. When he got there, if you had been there -three years you could not have counted all those people. And he took a -candle in his hand, and it lit up at once. So they all burst upon him -and began to blow out his candle, to damp it, but the flame lit all the -brighter. There was no help for it: they acknowledged him as their king, -and dressed him in golden apparel and led him to the palace. - -But the younger brother, who had turned to the left, heard that there -was a fair princess in a certain kingdom who was indescribably lovely. -But she was very grudging, and she announced in all countries that she -would only marry the man who could feed her army for three whole years; -yet every one had to try his luck. So the boy went there, and he went on -his way, went on the broad road. And he spat into his little bag, and -spat it full of pure gold. Well, it may be long, it may be short, it may -be near, it may be far, but he at last reached the fair princess, and he -said he would accomplish her task. He had no need to ask for gold, he -simply had to spit and there it was. For three years he maintained the -princess’s army, gave it food and drink and dress. - -So the time came for a jolly feast and for the wedding. But the princess -was still full of wiles. She asked herself and she sought to know whence -God had sent him such enormous wealth. So she invited him to be her -guest, received him, honoured him. And the doughty youth fell sick, and -he vomited up the liver of the hen, and the Tsarévna swallowed it. From -that day gold fell from her lips, and she would not have her bridegroom -with her. “What shall I do with this ignoramus?” she asked her _boyárs_, -and she asked her generals. “He has had the idiotic idea of wanting to -marry me.” - -So the _boyárs_ said he must be hung, and the generals said he must be -shot. But the Tsarévna had a better idea—that he ought to be sent to -hell. - -So the doughty youth escaped and once more set forth on his road. And he -had only one thought in his mind, how he should make himself wise and -revenge himself on the Tsarévna for her unkind jest. So he went on and -went on, and he came into the dreamy wood, and he looked and he saw -three men fighting with their fists. - -“What are you fighting about?” - -“We have three finds in the road, and we cannot divide them; every one -wants them for himself.” - -“What are the finds? what are you contending for?” - -“Look, this is a barrel: you only have to knock it, and a soldier leaps -out of its mouth. This is a flying carpet: wherever you think it will -take you. And this is a whip: strike a maiden and say ‘You have been a -maiden, now become a mare,’ and she will become a mare at once.” - -“These are valuable gifts, and they are hard to divide. But this is the -way out: I will send an arrow in this direction, and you all run after -it; he who reaches it first shall have the barrel, and the second shall -have the flying carpet, and the third shall have the whip.” - -“Very well; shoot the dart.” - -So the youth sent out the arrow very far. The three darted after it and -ran, and they never looked up. But the doughty youth took the barrel and -the whip, sat upon the flying carpet, waved it one end, and he rose -higher than the forest that stood there, lower than the clouds above, -and he flew whither he would. - -So he went back to the forbidden lands of the fair princess, began -beating the barrel, and an enormous army came out; infantry, cavalry and -artillery, with cannon and with powder waggons. And the mighty host -rolled on and rolled on. The doughty youth asked for a horse, mounted -it, and went up to his army and commanded it. The drums beat out and the -trumpets sounded, and the army went at a pace. Then the Tsarévna saw -from her rooms and was very much frightened, and sent her _boyárs_ and -generals to ask for peace. The good youth bade these ambassadors be -seized, had them cruelly and savagely punished and sent them back to the -Tsarévna, who was to come herself and ask for a reconciliation. - -Well, there was no help for it: so the Tsarévna herself got out of her -carriage, recognised him and swooned. But he took the whip, struck her -on the back: “You are a maiden, now become a mare!” And the Tsarévna -turned into a mare. He bridled and rode her, and went to the kingdom of -his elder brother. He galloped at a full pace, put both spurs into her -back and used a scourge of three iron rods, and the army followed him, -an unbelievable host. It may be long, it may be short, at last they came -to the boundary, and the doughty youth stopped, collected his army into -the barrel, and went to the capital. He went straight to the royal -palace, and the king himself saw him and looked at the mare and began to -wonder: “What is this great hero approaching? I have never seen such a -fine mare in all my life.” So he sent his generals to trade for that -horse. - -“No, what an envious king you have!” said the youth. “It would evidently -be out of the question in your city to come here with a young wife; if -you are so greedy for a mare, you would certainly take away my wife.” - -Then he went to the palace and said, “Hail, brother!” - -“Oh, I never knew you!” - -So they set to kissing each other. - -“What sort of barrel have you?” - -“That is for drinking. How should I journey forth on the road -otherwise?” - -“And the carpet?” - -“Sit down and you will find out.” - -So they sat on the flying carpet, and the younger brother shook it at -the corner and they flew higher than the forest, lower than the -wandering cloud, straight back to their own country. So they flew back, -took a room with their father, and as to who they were they never told -their father and mother. So they then thought they would give a feast to -all the christened world. They assembled all the people in countless -hosts, and for three whole days they gave food and drink to all without -requital, without any charge. And afterwards every one began saying had -any one a tale of wonder to tell; let him start. But no one would say: -“We, it is said, are strange folk, but——” - -“Well, I will tell you a story,” said the younger brother; “only do not -talk until the end. Whoever interrupts three times is to be ruthlessly -punished.” So they all agreed. - -And he began to tell how the two old folks had lived together, how they -had had a hen which laid jewels, and how the mother had made friends -with the apprentice. “What a lie!” interrupted the mistress. But the son -went on with his tale. And he narrated how they had twisted the hen’s -neck, and the mother again interrupted. At last the story went up to the -point when the old woman wished to take away the children, and again she -would not stand it: “It is untrue!” she said. “Could ever such a thing -happen? Could ever a mother wish to be torn from her children?” - -“Obviously, it is possible. Look at us, mother; we are your children.” - -Then the whole story came out, and the father bade his wife be chopped -up into bits. He tied the apprentice to the tail of horses, and the -horses broke in every direction and scattered his bones over the fields. -“Let the dog die a dog’s death!” said the old man. And he gave all his -property to the poor and went to live in his elder son’s kingdom. - -But the younger son smote his mare with the back of his hand and said, -“You are a mare; now become a maiden!” So the mare turned into the fair -Tsarévna. They made peace, became friends and wedded. It was a -magnificent wedding. - -I was there, I drank mead and it flowed up to my beard, but none came -into my mouth. - - - - - MARK THE RICH - - -In a country, in a kingdom far away, once upon a time there lived a -merchant, Mark the Rich; and, what with all his estates and revenues, -you couldn’t count them. He lived, and was merry, and never suffered the -poor man to come to his door, so ungracious was he. - -One day he had a dream: “Make ready, Mark the Rich, and wait. God -Himself will be thy Guest!” In the morning Mark got up, called his wife, -and bade her make a banquet. He covered all of his courtyard with -scarlet velvet and golden brocade, and at every side-path he posted -journeymen and servants to keep out all the hunger-brothers and scare -them outside. Then Mark the Rich came, and sat awaiting the Lord. The -hours went by, and never a guest. And then the poor heard that there was -a great feast at the house of Mark the Rich. They all gathered round for -the hallowed gifts; but the journeymen and servants drove them all away. -But one poor beggar, bent with age, and all in rags, went up to the door -of Mark the Rich. And as Mark the Rich saw him from the window, he cried -out in a fierce voice: “Hi, you sluggards and louts! Eyes and no eyes? -Look at the beast that is traipsing up and down our courtyard: get rid -of him.” - -And all the servants scampered up, laid hold of the poor old fellow, and -rushed him out the back way. One good old woman saw him, and said: “Come -to me, you poor old beggar; I will feed and rest you.” She took him in, -fed him, gave him to drink, and laid him to sleep; and thus Mark the -Rich had never found the Lord for whom he was waiting. - -At midnight the lady had a dream, and heard some one knock at the window -and ask: “Old and righteous man, are you sleeping here to-night?” “Yes,” -said the old man. “In a village near by a poor peasant has had a son; -how will you reward him?” The poor man said: “He shall be lord of all -the domains of Mark the Rich!” Next day the poor old man left his -hostess and went forth to roam. The old peasant woman went to Mark the -Rich and told him of her dream. - -Mark went to the peasant and asked for the baby. “Give him to me—I will -adopt him; he shall grow up; I will teach him well; and when I die he -shall have all my wealth.” This was what he said, but his thoughts were -quite different. He took the little boy, went home, and threw him into a -snow-drift. “Lie there and freeze; that’s the way to become master of -Mark’s wealth!” But that same night hunters, passing by, hunting for -hares, found the boy, took him home, and brought him up. - -Many years passed by, and much water flowed in the river, and one day -Mark the Rich went out with those huntsmen, saw the young boy, heard his -story, and spoke about him, and knew it was the same he had cast forth. - -So Mark the Rich asked the youth to go home and take a letter to his -wife; but in that letter he bade her poison the boy like a dog. The poor -foundling set out on his road; when on his way, he met a poor man with -nothing on but a shirt; but this beggar was Christ Himself. He stopped -the wayfarer, took the letter, and held it for one minute, and the -letter was changed in all it said. The wife of Mark the Rich was to -receive the bearer with all honour, and marry him to her daughter. It -was said, and it was done. - -Mark the Rich returned home; and was very wroth at seeing his new -son-in-law, and said: “In the evening go to my distillery and look after -the work”; whilst he secretly told the men to hunt him into the burning -cauldron as soon as ever he appeared. So the boy made ready to go to the -distillery; but a sudden sickness befell him, and he had to go back -home. Mark the Rich waited his time, and went to see what had become of -his son-in-law, and tumbled into his own distillers’ clutches, into the -burning cauldron! - - - - - BY COMMAND OF THE PRINCE DANIEL - - -Once upon a time there was an aged queen who had a son and a daughter, -who were fine, sturdy children. But there was also an evil witch who -could not bear them, and she began to lay plots how she might contrive -their overthrow. - -So she went to the old Queen and said: “Dear Gossip, I am giving you a -ring. Put it on your son’s hand, and he will then be rich and generous: -only he must marry the maiden whom this ring fits.” - -The mother believed her and was extremely glad, and at her death bade -her son marry only the woman whom the ring fitted. - -Time went by and the boy grew up: he became a man and looked at all the -maidens. Very many of them he liked, only as soon as he put the ring on -their finger it was either too broad or too narrow. So he travelled from -village to village and from town to town, and searched out all the fair -damsels, but he could not find his chosen one, and returned home in a -reflective mood. - -“What’s the matter, brother?” his sister asked him. So he told her of -his trouble, explained his sorrow. “What a wonderful ring you have!” -said the sister. “Let me try it on.” She tried it on her finger, and the -ring was firmly fixed as if it had been soldered on, as though it had -been made for her. - -“Oh, sister! you are my chosen bride, and you must be my wife.” - -“What a horrible idea, brother! That would be a sin.” - -But the brother would not listen to a word she said. He danced for joy -and told her to make ready for the wedding. She wept bitter tears, went -in front of the house, and sat on the threshold and let her tears flow. - -Two old beggars came up, and she gave them to eat and to drink. They -asked what her trouble was, and she needs must tell the two. “Now, weep -no more, but do what we say. Make up four dolls and put them in the four -corners of the room. After your brother calls you in for the betrothal, -go; and if he calls you into the bridal chamber, ask for time, trust in -God, and follow our advice.” And the beggars departed. - -The brother and sister were betrothed, and he went into the room and -cried out, “Sister mine, come in!” - -“I will come in in a moment, brother; I am only taking off my earrings.” - -And the dolls in the four corners began to sing: - - Coo-Coo—Prince Danílo - Coo-Coo—Govorílo - Coo-Coo—’Tis a brother - Coo-Coo—Weds his sister: - Coo-Coo—Earth must split asunder - Cooo—And the sister lie hid under. - -Then the earth rose up and slowly swallowed the sister. - -And the brother cried out again, “Sister mine, come in to the -feather-bed!” - -“In a minute, brother. I am undoing my girdle.” - -Then the dolls began to sing: - - Coo-Coo—Prince Danílo - Coo-Coo—Govorílo - Coo-Coo—’Tis a brother - Coo-Coo—Weds his sister: - Coo-Coo—Earth must split asunder; - Cooo—And the sister lie hid under. - -Only she had vanished now, all but her head. And the brother cried out -again: “Come into the feather-bed.” - -“In a minute, brother; I am taking off my shoes.” - -And the dolls went on cooing, and she vanished under the earth. - -And the brother kept crying, and crying, and crying. And when she never -returned, he became angry and ran out to fetch her. He could see nothing -but the dolls, which kept singing. So he knocked off their heads and -threw them into the stove. - -The sister went farther under the earth, and she saw a little hut -standing on cocks’ feet and turning round. “Hut!” she cried out, “Stand -as you should with your back to the wood.” - -So the hut stopped and the doors opened, and a fair maiden looked out. -She was knitting a cloth with gold and silver thread. She greeted the -guest friendlily and kindly, but sighed and said, “Oh, my darling, my -sister! Oh, I am so glad to see you. I shall be so glad to look after -you and to care for you as long as my mother is not here. But as soon as -she flies in, woe to you and me, for she is a witch.” - -When she heard this the maiden was frightened, but could not fly -anywhere. So she sat down and began helping the other maiden at her -work. So they chattered along; and soon, at the right time before the -mother came, the fair maiden turned her guest into a needle, stuck her -into the besom and put it on one side. But scarcely had this been done, -when Bába Yagá came in. - -“Now, my fair daughter, my little child, tell me at once, why does the -room smell so of Russian bones?” - -“Mother, there have been strange men journeying past who wanted a drink -of water.” - -“Why did you not keep them?” - -“They were too old, mother; much too tough a snack for your teeth.” - -“Henceforth, entice them all into the house and never let them go. I -must now get about again and look out for other booty.” - -As soon as ever she had gone, the maidens set to work again knitting, -talking and laughing. - -Then the witch came into the room once more. She sniffed about the -house, and said, “Daughter, my sweet daughter, my darling, tell me at -once, why does it so smell of Russian bones?” - -“Old men who were just passing by who wanted to warm their hands. I did -my best to keep them, but they would not stay.” - -So the witch was angry, scolded her daughter, and flew away. In the -meantime her unknown guest was sitting in the besom. - -The maidens once more set to work, sewed, laughed, and thought how they -might escape the evil witch. This time they forgot how the hours were -flying by, and suddenly the witch stood in front of them. - -“Darling, tell me, where have the Russian bones crept away?” - -“Here, my mother; a fair maiden is waiting for you.” - -“Daughter mine, darling, heat the oven quickly; make it very hot.” - -So the maiden looked up and was frightened to death. For Bába Yagá with -the wooden legs stood in front of her, and to the ceiling rose her nose. -So the mother and daughter carried firewood in, logs of oak and maple; -made the oven ready till the flames shot up merrily. - -Then the witch took her broad shovel and said in a friendly voice: “Go -and sit on my shovel, fair child.” - -So the maiden obeyed, and the Bába Yagá was going to shove her into the -oven. But the girl stuck her feet against the wall of the hearth. - -“Will you sit still, girl?” - -But it was not any good. Bába Yagá could not put the maiden into the -oven. So she became angry, thrust her back and said, “You are simply -wasting time! Just look at me and see how it is done.” Down she sat on -the shovel with her legs nicely trussed together. So the maidens -instantly put her into the oven, shut the oven door, and slammed her in; -took their knitting with them, and their comb and brush, and ran away. - -They ran hard away, but when they turned round there was Bába Yagá -running after them. She had set herself free. “Hoo, Hoo, Hoo! there run -the two!” So the maidens, in their need, threw the brush away, and a -thick, dense coppice arose which she could not break through. So she -stretched out her claws, scratched herself a way through, and again ran -after them. Whither should the two poor girls flee? They flung their -comb behind them, and a dark, murky oak forest grew up, so thick, no fly -could ever have flown its way through. Then the witch whetted her teeth -and set to work. And she went on tearing up one tree after another by -the roots, and she made herself a way, and again set out after them, and -almost caught them up. - -Now the girls had no strength left to run, so they threw the cloth -behind them, and a broad sea stretched out, deep, wide and fiery. The -old woman rose up, wanted to fly over it, but fell into the fire and was -burned to death. - -The poor maidens, poor homeless doves! did not know whither to go. They -sat down in order to rest, and a man came and asked them who they were. -He told his master that two little birds had fluttered on to his estate; -two fairest damsels similar in form and shape, eye for eye and line for -line. One was his sister, but which was it? He could not guess. So the -master went to both of them. One was the sister—which? The servant had -not lied; he did not know them, and she was angry with him and did not -say. - -“What shall I do?” asked the master. - -“Master, I will pour blood into an ewe-skin, put that under my armpit -and talk to the maiden. In the meantime I will go by and will stab you -in the side with my knife; then blood will flow; then your sister will -betray herself who she is.” - -“Very well!” - -As soon as it was said it was done. The servant stabbed his master in -the side, and the blood poured forth, and he fell down. - -Then his sister flung herself over him and cried out, “Oh, my brother! -my darling!” - -Then the brother jumped up again healthy and well. He embraced his -sister, gave her a proper husband, and he married her friend, for the -ring fitted her just as well. So they all lived splendidly and happily. - - - - - THE THOUGHTLESS WORD - - -Once upon a time an old man lived in a village with his wife, and they -were very poor: they had only one son. And when he grew up, the mother -said to her husband: “It is full time that we secured a wife for our -son.” - -“Well, go and see if you can bargain for a wife.” - -The old woman went to her neighbour and asked him if her son could marry -his daughter. But the neighbour said, “No!” And she went to the next -peasant, who also declined the honour. And she searched the whole -village, and not a single soul would hear a single word of it. When she -came back she said: “Goodman, I fear our son is born under an unlucky -star!” - -“Why?” - -“I went through the whole village, and there is nobody who will give me -his daughter.” - -“That looks bad!” said the husband. “It will soon be summer, and we -shall not have anybody to help us at the harvest. Woman, go into the -next village, as you may find somebody there.” - -The old woman went to the next village, went from one end to the other, -went through all the courtyards and houses of the peasants, but it was -all in vain. Wherever she showed her nose, she was put off. And she came -back home as she had left. “No one wants to be kin with such poor folk -as us!” - -“In that case it is no good running oneself off one’s legs. Go and sit -behind the oven.” - -But the son was indignant, and asked: “Father, bless me, and I will go -and seek my own fate.” - -“Where then will you go?” - -“Wherever my eyes lead me!” - -So they blessed him and they let him go wherever the four winds blow. - -When the boy was on the road, he wept bitterly and spoke to himself: “Am -I then the feeblest man in the world, and no maiden will really have me? -If the Devil would only send me a bride I think I would rake her!” - -Suddenly, just as though he had grown out of the earth, an old man came -to meet him. “Good day, doughty youth!” - -“Good day, old father!” - -“What were you saying just now?” - -Then the boy was frightened and did not know what to answer. - -“You need not fear me. I will do you no harm, and perhaps I can help you -in your need. Speak out boldly.” - -So the boy told him all the truth. “Oh, I am a sorry fellow, and no -maiden will marry me. That is making me angry; and I said in my -indignation that if the Devil himself came and gave me a girl, I would -make her my bride.” - -So the old man laughed and said: “I can give you a bride, oh, as many -brides as you like”; and they then came to a lake. “Stand with your back -to the water, and step backwards,” the old man told the boy. - -As soon as he had turned round, and had gone four steps, he found -himself under the water, in a white stone palace.[16] All the rooms were -splendidly furnished and finely decorated. - -The old man gave him meat and drink, and afterwards showed him twelve -maidens, each of whom was fairer than the others. “Choose which you will -of them. You shall have any of them.” - -“It is a difficult choice, grandfather! Let me have till to-morrow to -think of it.” - -“Well, you can have until to-morrow,” said the old man, and he took him -into a large room. - -The boy lay down to sleep and began to think which he would take. -Suddenly the door opened and a beautiful maiden came in. “Are you -asleep, doughty youth, or not?” - -“No, fair maiden, I cannot sleep. I am thinking which is the bride I -shall take.” - -“That is the very reason I came to see you, in order to give you -counsel; for, good man, you have become the Devil’s guest. So, listen to -me; if you ever wish to return to the light of day, you must do as I -say. If you do not, you will not leave this place alive.” - -“Give me your counsel, fair maiden. I shall not forget it all my life -long.” - -“To-morrow the Evil Spirit will show you twelve maidens, one like the -other. You must choose me, and look at me very carefully. There will be -a patch over my right eye; that will be the sign.” And the maiden told -him her story. “Do you know the pope in a neighbouring village? I am his -daughter, and was stolen from his house nine years ago. One day my -father was angry with me and made a hasty wish that the Devil might take -me. I went in front of the house and cried, and the Unholy Spirit soon -snatched me on the spot, carried me here; and I have never left the -place since.” - -Next day the old man set the twelve maidens in a row before the boy, and -commanded him to choose one of them. He looked until he had seen the one -with the patch over the right eye, and chose her. The old man was angry, -but he had to give her up. And he therefore mixed the maidens together -and told him to make a second choice. The boy hit on the same one, and -after a third choice he took his fated bride. - -“This has been your piece of luck. Now take her home!” - -All at once the boy and the maiden found themselves on the bank of the -lake, and they walked backwards until they reached the high road. The -Devil wanted to hunt after them; but all at once the lake vanished, and -there was no trace of the water. - -When the boy had taken his bride into the village, he stopped at the -pope’s house. The pope saw her, and sent a servant out and asked what -they desired. - -“We are wandering folk, and ask for shelter.” - -“I have guests staying here, and my hut would be too small anyhow.” - -“But, father!” said the merchants, “wandering folk must be always taken -in: they will not disturb us.” - -“Well, come in.” - -The boy and the maiden came in, made due greetings, and sat behind, on a -corner of the fire bank. - -“Do you know me, father? I am your own daughter!” She told him what had -happened; and they kissed, and embraced, and shed tears of joy. - -“Who is he?” said the pope, pointing to the boy. - -“That is my own chosen bridegroom, who brought me back to light of day, -but for whom I should have remained beneath for ever!” Thereupon the -fair maiden opened her bag, and there were golden and silver vessels in -it which she had stolen from the devils. - -A merchant looked at them and said: “Those are my plate. Once I was -dining with guests, and became rather drunk, quarrelled with my wife, -and I wished them all to the Devil. And since then all my plate has -vanished!” - -And this was the truth, for as soon as ever the man mentioned the Devil, -the Evil Spirit appeared on the threshold, gathered up all the gold and -silver plate, and threw skeleton bones down instead. - -So the boy got a fine bride, married her, and drove to see his parents. -They had long given him up for dead, and it was no wonder; for he had -been away for three years, although it had seemed to him only -twenty-four hours that he had stayed with the Devil. - - - - - THE TSARÍTSA HARPIST - - -In a certain kingdom in a certain land once there lived a Tsar and a -Tsarítsa. He lived with her for some time, then he thought he would go -to that far distant country where the Jews crucified Christ. So he -issued orders to his ministers, bade farewell to his wife, and set out -on his road. - -It may-be far, it may-be short, he at last reached that distant land -where the Jews crucified Christ. And in that country then the Accursèd -King was the ruler. This King saw the Tsar, and he bade him be seized -and lodged in the dungeon. There were many tortures in that dungeon for -him. At night he must sit in chains, and in the morning the Accursèd -King used to put a horse-collar on him and make him drive the plough -until the evening. This was the torment in which the Tsar lived for -three whole years, and he had no idea how he should tear himself away or -send any news of himself to his Tsarítsa. And he sought for some -occasion. And he wrote her this little line: “Sell,” he said, “all my -possessions and come to redeem me from my misfortune.” - -When the Tsarítsa received the letter she read it through and said to -herself, “How can I redeem the Tsar? If I go myself, the Accursèd King -will receive me and will take me to himself as a wife. If I send one of -the ministers, I can place no reliance on _him_.” So what did she -advise? She cut off her red hair, went and disguised herself as a -wandering musician, took her _gusli_, and never told anybody, and so set -out on her road and way. - -She arrived at the Accursèd King’s courtyard and began to play the -_gusli_ so finely as had never been heard or listened to for ages. When -the King heard such wonderful music he summoned the harpist into the -palace. “Hail, _guslyár_! From what land have you come? From what -kingdom?” asked the King. - -“I do not journey far in the wide white world: I rejoice men’s hearts -and I feed myself.” - -“Stay with me one day and another day, and a third, and I will reward -you generously.” - -So the _guslyár_ stayed on, and played for an entire day in front of the -King, and he could never hear enough of her. “What wonderful music! why, -it drove away all weariness and grief as though at a breath.” - -So the _guslyár_ stayed with the King three days, and was going to say -farewell. - -“What reward can I offer you for your labour?” asked the King. - -“Oh, your Majesty, give me one prisoner who has sat long in the prison; -I must have a companion on the road! I wish to go to foreign kingdoms, -and I have no one with whom I can exchange a word.” - -“Certainly! Select whom you will,” said the King, and he led the -_guslyár_ into the prison. - -The _guslyár_ looked at the prisoners, selected the Tsar, and they went -out to roam together. - -As they were journeying on to their own kingdom the Tsar said, “Let me -go, good man, for I am no simple prisoner, I am the Tsar himself. I will -pay you ransom for as much as you will; I will grudge you neither money -nor service.” - -“Go with God,” said the _guslyár_: “I do not need you at all.” - -“Well, come to me as my guest.” - -“When the time shall come, I will be there.” - -So they parted, and each set out on his own way. The Tsarítsa went by a -circuitous route, reached home before her husband, took off her -_guslyár’s_ dress and arrayed herself like an empress. - -In about one hour cries rang out and the attendants came up to the -palace, for the Tsar had arrived. The Tsarítsa ran out to meet him, and -he greeted them all, but he did not look at her. He greeted the -ministers and said, “Look, gentlemen, what a wife mine is! Now she -flings herself on my neck, but when I sat in prison and sent her a -letter to sell all my goods and to redeem me she did nothing. Of what -was she thinking if she so forgot her liege husband?” - -And the ministers answered the Tsar, “Your Majesty, on the very day the -Tsarítsa received your letter she vanished no one knows where, and has -been away all this time, and she has only just appeared in the palace.” - -Then the Tsar was very angry and commanded, “My ministers, do ye judge -my unfaithful wife according to justice and to truth. Where has she been -roaming in the white world? Why did she not try to redeem me? You would -never have seen your Tsar again for ages of eternity, if a young -_guslyár_ had not arrived, for whom I am going to pray God, and I do not -grudge giving him half my kingdom.” - -In the meantime the Tsarítsa got off her throne and arrayed herself as -the harpist, went into the courtyard and began to play the _gusli_. The -Tsar heard, ran to meet her, seized the musician by the hand, led her -into the palace and said to his Court, “This is the _guslyár_ who -rescued me from my confinement.” The _guslyár_ then flung off his outer -garment, and they then all recognised the Tsarítsa. Then the Tsar was -overjoyed and for his joy he celebrated a feast which lasted seven whole -days. - - - - - THE TALE OF IVÁN TSARÉVICH, THE BIRD OF LIGHT, AND THE GREY WOLF - - -There was once, in a certain kingdom, a certain state, where there lived -Tsar Výslav Andrónovich, who had three sons: the first was called Dmítri -Tsarévich, the second Vasíli Tsarévich, and the third Iván Tsarévich. -This Tsar had a garden so rich that in no other kingdom was there any -better, and in that garden many rare trees grew with fruits and without -fruits. And the Tsar had an apple-tree which he especially loved, and on -that apple-tree all the apples that grew were of gold. But it happened -that the Bird of Light began to fly to visit Tsar Výslav. The feathers -of the bird were all gold, but the eyes were like crystal of the East. -It flew into the garden every night and sat on the apple-tree beloved of -Tsar Výslav, and used to pluck down the golden apples and fly away. Tsar -Výslav Andrónovich was deeply afflicted, and he called to him his three -sons and said to them: “My beloved children, which of you will go into -my garden and catch the Bird of Light? He who captures it alive, I will -in my lifetime give him the half of my kingdom, and at my death he shall -have it all.” - -Then his children, the Tsarévichi, said in a single voice: “Gracious -lord, our father, Your Imperial Majesty, we will, with the greatest -pleasure, try to catch the Bird of Light alive.” - -On the first night Dmítri Tsarévich went into the garden and sat under -the apple-tree from which the Bird of Light used to steal the apples; -but he went to sleep, and he never heard when the Bird of Light flew up -and again plucked off many apples. - -In the morning Tsar Výslav Andrónovich called his son Dmítri to him, and -he asked him: “Well, my beloved son, did you see the Bird of Light, or -did you not?” And he answered: “Father, gracious lord, this night it did -not come.” - -So the next night Vasíli Tsarévich went to keep watch in the garden. He -sat under the same apple-tree, and sat there one hour and went to sleep -so soundly that he never heard the coming of the Bird of Light, which -flew on to the tree, perched on it, and plucked many apples. - -In the morning the Tsar called his second son and questioned him, and he -answered: “Gracious lord, my father, this night the Bird of Light did -not come.” - -And on the third night Iván Tsarévich went into the garden to watch, and -sat under the same apple-tree; and he waited one hour, a second hour, -and a third hour; and then the whole garden lit up as though it shone -with many fires, and the Bird of Light flew in and sat on the apple-tree -and began to pluck the apples. Iván Tsarévich stole under it so warily, -and seized it by its tail, only he could not keep hold of it; and had -only one feather out of its tail. - -In the morning, when Tsar Výslav awoke from his sleep, Iván Tsarévich -went to him, and gave him the feather of the Bird of Light. Tsar Výslav -was very glad that his youngest son had succeeded, although he had only -a single feather; and this feather was so marvellous and bright that you -had only to take it into some dark attic and it shone as bright as the -red sun. Tsar Výslav put the feather into his cabinet as an article -which he must keep for ever; and from that time forward the Bird of -Light never flew into the garden. - -Tsar Výslav once again called his children unto him and said, “My -beloved sons, do ye journey forth: I will give you my blessing. You must -seek for the Bird of Light and bring it to me alive; and what I promised -you before, he who captures the Bird of Light shall have.” - -Dmítri and Vasíli were envious of their younger brother Iván that he had -succeeded in pulling the feather out of the Bird of Light’s tail. But -Iván Tsarévich asked leave of his father and his blessing. Tsar Výslav -tried to keep Iván back, but he could not, and he let him go at his -unrelaxing prayer. Iván Tsarévich received his father’s blessing, took -his horse, and went on his journey, journeying forth, not knowing -whither he was going. - -And as he went on the road and way—it may be near, it may be far, it may -be high, it may be low, the tale is soon told, but the deed is not soon -done—at last he reached an open field and green meadows. And in the open -field there stood a stone column, and on the column these words were -written: - - “Whosoever goes on straight from this column, he shall have - hunger and cold. Whosoever goes to the right, he shall have - health and life, but his horse shall be slain. And whosoever - goes to the left, he shall himself be slain, but his horse shall - have life and be healthy.” - -Iván Tsarévich read this inscription, and he went to the right, -bethinking himself, if his horse were to be slain, anyhow he would -remain alive. So he went on one day, and a second and a third day, and -suddenly a fierce grey Wolf met him and said: “All hail to thee, -warrior! Doughty of might, Iván Tsarévich, hast thou read how it is -written on the column that thy horse shall be slain? So why hast thou -ridden this way?” And the Wolf, speaking these words, cleft the horse of -the young Iván Tsarévich in two and went far aside. - -Iván Tsarévich wept bitterly for his horse, and he went on on foot. And -he went one whole day and grew very, very tired; and when he wanted to -sit down and to rest, suddenly the grey Wolf came up to him and said: “I -have pity for you, Iván Tsarévich, that you are tiring yourself going on -foot. Come, sit on me—on the grey Wolf—and say whither I shall take you -and wherefore.” Iván Tsarévich told the grey Wolf where he wanted to go, -and the grey Wolf flew off with him swifter than any horse; and, in a -short time, as it might be in a single night, he conducted Iván -Tsarévich to a stone wall, stopped, and said: “Now, Iván Tsarévich, jump -off me—off the grey Wolf—and go through this stone wall. There is a -garden behind the wall, and in that garden the Bird of Light is sitting -in a golden cage. You must take the Bird of Light, but you must not -touch the golden cage, or they will capture you at once.” - -Iván Tsarévich slipped through the stone wall into the garden, saw the -Bird of Light in the golden cage, and was very pleased. He took the Bird -out of the cage, and was going back, and then he thought and said to -himself: “Why should I take the Bird of Light without the cage? Where -shall I put it?” So he turned back, and as soon as ever he had taken the -golden cage there was a clamour and a clangour in the garden as though -there were ropes attached to the cage. All the watchmen woke up, ran up -into the garden, seized Iván Tsarévich with the Bird of Light, and took -him to their Tsar, who was called Dolmát. - -Tsar Dolmát was very angry with Iván Tsarévich, and shrieked in a -wrathful tone: “Are you not ashamed of yourself, young man, to come -stealing? Who are you—of what land? Who was your father? How do they -call you on earth?” - -Iván Tsarévich answered him: “I am the son of Tsar Výslav Andrónovich, -and they call me Iván Tsarévich. Your Bird of Light flew into the garden -every night and stole the golden apples from the apple-tree my father -loved, and for that reason my father sent me to seek the Bird of Light -and to take it to him.” - -“Oh, thou brave youth, Iván Tsarévich!” Tsar Dolmát cried. “I would -certainly have given you the bird, but what did you do? If you had come -to me, I should have given you the Bird of Light as an honour; but, now, -would it be well, were I to send you into all kingdoms to proclaim how -you came into my realm and dealt dishonourably? Now listen, Iván -Tsarévich. If you will do me this service, if you will go across thrice -nine kingdoms into the thrice-tenth realm, and will there obtain me from -Tsar Afrón the golden-maned horse, I will forgive your sin, and I will -give you the Bird of Light, and will do you great honour.” - -And Iván Tsarévich became very sorrowful, and left Tsar Dolmát, found -the grey Wolf, and told him of everything. - -“Hail to thee, warrior, doughty of might!” the grey Wolf said to him. -“Why did you not listen to my words? Why did you take the golden cage?” - -“I am guilty,” Iván Tsarévich said to the Wolf. - -“Well, so be it,” said the grey Wolf. “Sit on me—on the grey Wolf. I -will take you wherever you wish.” - -Iván Tsarévich sat on the grey Wolf’s back, and the Wolf chased as fast -as a dart and ran may-be far, may-be near, and at last he reached the -kingdom of Tsar Afrón at night-time; and when he had come to the -white-stoned stables of the Tsar, the grey Wolf said to Iván Tsarévich: -“Get down, Iván, go into the white-stoned stables, and take the -golden-maned horse; only there hangs a golden bridle on the wall which -you are not to touch, or it will go ill with you.” - -Iván Tsarévich went into the white-stoned stables, took the horse, and -went back. But he saw the golden bridle on the wall, and when his glance -fell on it he took it from the hook. And as soon as he touched it there -was a clangour and a clamour throughout all the stables as though there -were ropes attached to the bridle. All the watchmen woke up, ran into -the stable, seized Iván Tsarévich with the golden-maned steed and took -him to their Tsar Afrón. - -Tsar Afrón was very angry with Iván Tsarévich, and asked him who he was, -who was his father, and what was his name. When Iván had told him also -of his errand, he said: “I would have certainly given you the -golden-maned horse if you had asked me for it, but since you have dealt -thus dishonourably with me, you must do me this service, and then I will -give you the golden-maned horse with the bridle: you must ride across -thrice-nine lands into the thrice-tenth kingdom and gain me Princess -Eléna the Fair, whom I have for long loved with all my heart and soul, -but cannot gain. In return for this I will forgive you, and give you -what you sought as an honour: but if you do not do me this service I -will proclaim throughout all the realms of the world that you are a -dishonourable thief.” - -Iván Tsarévich went out of the palace and began to weep bitterly: then -he came to the grey Wolf and related how it had gone with him. - -“Hail to thee, brave warrior, doughty of might!” the grey Wolf said. -“Why did you not listen to my words, and take the golden bridle?” - -“I have been guilty before you,” said Iván Tsarévich. - -“Well, so be it,” the grey Wolf went on. “Sit on my back, on the grey -Wolf: I will take you wherever you require.” - -So Iván Tsarévich sat on the grey Wolf’s back, and the grey Wolf scoured -as fast as a dart, and at last he arrived at the kingdom of Princess -Eléna the Fair, to the golden palisade which surrounded the wonderful -garden; and the Wolf said to the Tsarévich: “Iván Tsarévich, slip off my -back, off the grey Wolf, and go behind on that road and wait for me in -the open field under the green oak.” Iván Tsarévich went as he was -bidden, and the grey Wolf sat near the golden palisade, waiting until -Princess Eléna the Fair should come into the garden to walk. - -In the evening, when the little sun was setting fast to the West, -Princess Eléna the Fair went into the garden to take a walk with all of -her maids of honour and servants and attendants and all the -_boyáryni_[17] around. When she came to the place where the grey Wolf -sat behind the railing, suddenly the grey Wolf leapt across the grating -to the garden, seized Princess Eléna the Fair, leapt back and ran away -with all his might and strength. He then went into the open field under -the green oak where Iván Tsarévich was waiting, and said, “Iván -Tsarévich, come sit on my back, on the grey Wolf swiftly.” Iván -Tsarévich sat on him, and the grey Wolf scoured off with them both fast -to the kingdom of Tsar Afrôn. - -All the maids of honour and servants and attendants and _boyáryni_ ran -swiftly into the palace and began to set a hunt on foot, but however -many the hunters that hunted, they could not hunt down the grey Wolf, -and so they all turned back home again frustrated. - -Iván Tsarévich, seated on the grey Wolf’s back with Princess Eléna the -Fair, fell in love with her and she with him: and when the grey Wolf -arrived at the garden of Tsar Afrón, the Tsarévich grew very sad and -began to weep tears. - -The grey Wolf asked him, “Why are you weeping, Tsarévich?” - -And Iván Tsarévich answered him, “O my friend, the grey Wolf, how shall -it be to me, the doughty youth, not to weep, not to be afflicted? I love -Princess Eléna the Fair with all my heart, and now I must give her up to -Tsar Afrón in exchange for the golden-maned horse: and, if I do not give -her up, then Tsar Afrón will dishonour me throughout all the kingdoms.” - -“I have served you well, Iván Tsarévich,” the grey Wolf replied, “and I -will serve you yet this service. Listen, Iván Tsarévich, I will turn -myself into the fair Princess Eléna, and you will take me to Tsar Afrón -and be given the golden-maned horse: he will then take me as his queen, -and when you sit on the golden-maned horse and you ride far away, then I -will ask Tsar Afrón leave to walk in the open field, and when he lets me -go with the maids of honour and servants and serving-maids and -attendants and the _boyáryni_, then think of me, and I shall be with you -once again.” - -His speech finished, the grey Wolf struck the grey earth and he turned -himself into Princess Eléna. - -Iván Tsarévich took the grey Wolf and went into the palace of Tsar Afrón -together with the supposed Eléna the Fair. Then the Tsar was very joyous -in his heart that he had received such a treasure, which he had been -desiring for long, and he gave the golden-maned horse to Iván Tsarévich. -Iván Tsarévich sat on the horse, and he went behind the town and he -placed Eléna the Fair on it, and they went away, taking their road to -the kingdom of Tsar Dolmát. - -The grey Wolf stayed one day with Tsar Afrón, and a second day and a -third in the stead of fair Princess Eléna. And then he asked leave of -Tsar Afrón to go and walk in the open field, that he might drive out the -ravening sorrow from his heart. Then Tsar Afrón said to him: “O my fair -Queen Eléna, I will do anything for you,” and he promptly bade the maids -of honour, the servants, the attendants and the _boyáryni_ to go with -him and the fair Princess into the open field to walk. - -Iván Tsarévich went on his way and rode with Eléna the Fair, and they -had almost forgotten the grey Wolf, when he suddenly recollected: “Oh, -where is my grey Wolf?” - -Then, from some source unknown, he stood in front of Iván Tsarévich and -said, “Sit on me, Iván Tsarévich, on the grey Wolf, and the fair -Princess can go on the golden-maned steed.” - -Iván Tsarévich sat on the grey Wolf, and so they went on to the realm of -Tsar Dolmát, may-be far or near; and when they reached that kingdom then -they stopped three versts out of the town, and Iván began to beseech the -grey Wolf: “Listen to me, my beloved friend, the grey Wolf; you have -served me so many services, serve me a last: can you not turn yourself -into the golden-maned horse?” - -Then the grey Wolf struck the grey earth and became the golden-maned -horse; and Iván Tsarévich left the Fair Eléna in the green meadow, sat -on the grey Wolf and went into the palace to Tsar Dolmát; and as soon as -ever Tsar Dolmát saw Iván Tsarévich, that he was riding the golden-maned -horse, he came out of his palace, met the Tsarévich in the open -courtyard, kissed him on his smooth cheeks, took him by his right hand -and led him into the white-stoned palace. Tsar Dolmát for such a joy -bade a feast be prepared, and they sat at the oaken tables by the -chequered table-cloths, and they ate, drank and made merry for two days. -On the third day Tsar Dolmát delivered to Iván the Bird of Light with -the golden cage. The Tsarévich took the golden Bird, went outside the -town, sat on the golden-maned horse together with the Princess Eléna, -and went back to his own country. - -Tsar Dolmát thought the next day he would take his golden-maned horse -into the open fields, and as soon as ever he had angered the horse, it -reared and was turned into a great grey Wolf who raced off. - -When it came up with Iván Tsarévich it said, “Sit on me, on the grey -Wolf, and Princess Eléna the Fair she can ride on the golden-maned -horse.” - -Iván Tsarévich sat on the grey Wolf and they went a third journey. Soon -the grey Wolf took Iván Tsarévich to the place where he had cleft his -horse in two, and said: “Now, Iván Tsarévich, I have served you well, -faithfully and truly: on this spot I cleft your horse in two, and up to -this spot I have brought you again: slip off me, off the grey Wolf; now -you have your golden-maned horse, I can serve you no more.” - -The grey Wolf spoke these words and went into the forest; and Iván -Tsarévich wept bitterly for the grey Wolf, and went on his road with the -fair Eléna on the golden-maned horse. And before he reached his own -kingdom and when he was only twenty _versts_ off, he stopped, got off -his horse, and together with the fair Eléna went under a tree: he tied -the golden-maned horse to that same tree, and he took the cage with the -Bird of Light with him; and lying on the grass engaged in loving -conversations they went to sleep. - -Now it happened at this time that the brothers of Iván Tsarévich, Dmítri -and Vasíli, were riding out in different states and could not find the -Bird of Light. They were just returning to their kingdom with empty -hands, and they were provoked. And they lit upon their sleeping brother -with the fair Princess Eléna. When they saw the golden-maned horse and -the Bird of Light in the golden cage on the grass they were delighted, -and thought that they would slay their brother Iván Tsarévich. Dmítri -took his sword out of his sheath and cleft Iván Tsarévich, and then he -roused the fair Princess Eléna and began to ask her: “Fair maiden, from -what kingdom art thou, who was thy father, how do they call thee on -earth?” - -And the fair Princess Eléna, seeing Iván Tsarévich dead, was sore -afraid, and with bitter tears spake. “I am Princess Eléna the Fair; and -Iván Tsarévich found me, whom ye have slain, whom ye have given over to -an evil death: if ye were good champions, ye would have gone with him -into the open field and have slain him in fair fight. But ye have slain -him in his sleep, and how shall ye receive praise? Is not a man asleep -as one dead?” - -Then Dmítri Tsarévich put his sword to the breast of fair Princess -Eléna: “Listen, Eléna the Fair, you are now in our hands: we will take -you to our father, Tsar Výslav Andrónovich, and you are to tell him that -we found you and the Bird of Light and the golden-maned steed. If you do -not say this, we will slay you at once.” - -Princess Eléna the Fair was frightened to death, and swore by all the -holy relics that she would do as she was bidden. Then Dmítri Tsarévich -and Vasíli Tsarévich began to cast lots who should have the fair -Princess Eléna and who should have the golden-maned horse, and the lot -fell that the fair Princess Eléna should belong to Vasíli and the horse -to Dmítri. - -Iván Tsarévich lay down dead on that spot for thirty days, and in that -time the grey Wolf ran up to him and he recognised Iván Tsarévich by his -breath, and he wished to help him and revive him, but he did not know -how. Then at that time he saw a crow and two nestlings flying round the -body, who wished to land there and to eat the flesh of Iván Tsarévich. -The grey Wolf sprang from behind the bush, laid hold of one of the -nestlings and was going to tear it in two. Then the crow flung himself -on earth and sat not far from the grey Wolf on the fields. “Don’t touch -my child; it has not done you any harm!” - -“Listen, Vóron Vóronovich: I will not touch your son if you will do me a -service; to fly across thrice-nine lands into the thrice-tenth realm and -bring me the waters of Life and Death.” - -Then the crow said, “Grey Wolf, I will do this service; only do not -touch my son.” And the crow spoke these words and flew away. - -On the third day the crow flew back and brought with him two phials: in -one was the water of Life and in the other the water of Death. And he -gave these to the grey Wolf; and the grey Wolf took the phials, cut the -nestling into two, sprinkled him with the dead water, and the nestling -grew together; then he sprinkled him with the water of Life, and the -nestling shook himself and flew away. - -Then the grey Wolf sprinkled Iván Tsarévich with the water of Death, and -his body clove together; and he sprinkled him then with the water of -Life, and Iván Tsarévich stood up alive and said: “Oh, what a long sleep -I have had!” - -And the grey Wolf said to him, “Yes, Iván Tsarévich, you might have -slept for ever if I had not been here: for your brothers have plundered -you, and they have taken Princess Eléna the Fair and the golden-maned -horse and the Bird of Light with them. Now listen, and return to your -kingdom as fast as you can: your brother Vasíli is to-day going to marry -your bride, Princess Eléna the Fair. You must hasten there as fast as -possible. Sit on me, on the grey Wolf, and I will take you there.” - -Iván Tsarévich sat on the grey Wolf, and the Wolf ran with him into the -kingdom of Tsar Výslav Andrónovich, and, whether it be long or whether -it be far or whether it be near, they reached the town. Iván Tsarévich -slipped off the grey Wolf and went into the town and arrived at the -palace, and waited until his brother had returned with the Princess from -the crowning; and they were sitting down at table. - -When Eléna the Fair saw Iván Tsarévich, she jumped up at once from her -chair and began to kiss his sweet lips and to cry out, “O my beloved -bridegroom, Iván Tsarévich: this is he, and not that other who sits at -table.” - -Then Tsar Výslav Andrónovich stood up from his place and began to ask, -and began to question the Princess Eléna the Fair what this might mean. -Then the fair Princess told him all the real truth, how it had been. - -Tsar Výslav Andrónovich was then very wroth with Dmítri and Vasíli and -sent them into the darkness of the dungeon. Iván Tsarévich married -Princess Eléna the Fair and lived with her friendlywise and lovingly, so -that one might never be seen anywhere without the other. - - - - - THE PRIEST WITH THE ENVIOUS EYES - - -There was once a priest who lived in the parish of St. Nicholas. He -served St. Nicholas for some years, and all his earnings were that he -had neither house nor home, nor a roof over his head. So our good priest -got together all his keys, and seeing the icon of St. Nicholas, struck -it down, and left his parish to go whithersoever his eyes should guide -him. And he went roaming on his way. - -Suddenly an unknown man met him. “How do you do, good man?” he said to -the pope.[18] “Whither are you going? and whence do you come?” “Take me -with you as a companion.” So they went off together. They went on some -_versts_, and became tired. It was time to rest. - -Now the pope had two biscuits, and his new friend had two wafers. The -pope said to him: “We will first of all eat up your wafers, and we will -then go on with the biscuits.” - -“All right!” the unknown man said to him. “Let us first eat up my -wafers, and leave your biscuits for a dessert.” - -So they ate the wafers, ate them all up, and they were fully sated, and -there were still wafers over. - -So the pope became envious. “Why,” he thought, “I will steal them.” The -old man lay down to sleep after dinner, and the pope was all agog to see -how he could steal those wafers. The old man went to sleep; so the pope -abstracted the wafers from his pocket and silently began eating them. - -The old man woke up and felt for his wafers, and could not find them -anywhere. “Where are my wafers? Who has eaten them up? Have you, pope?” - -“No, I did not,” answered the pope. - -“Well, all right; I don’t mind.” - -So they shook themselves up, and they went on their way and journey, -went on and on, and the roads suddenly divided and they came to a -carfax. So they both went on a single road and arrived at a kingdom. -Now, in this kingdom the Tsar’s daughter was near her death, and the -Tsar had promised any one who should cure her half of his reign and rule -and realm; but any one who failed was to have his head cut off and -placed on a pole. - -When they arrived in front of the Tsar’s courtyard, they got themselves -up finely, and they called themselves doctors. The henchmen sallied out -of the Tsar’s courtyard, and asked them: “What sort of people are you? -What is your race? What is your city? What do you require?” - -“We,” they answered, “are doctors, and we can cure the Tsarévna.” - -“Well, if you are doctors, come into the palace.” - -So they went into the palace, looked at the Tsarévna, asked for special -huts from the Tsar, for a can of water, for a curved sabre, and a large -table. The Tsar gave them all they required. - -They then locked themselves up in the huts, tied the princess down on -the big table, cut her up with the curved sabre into little bits, put -them all into the cauldron, washed them, and rinsed them out. Then they -began to put them together—bit by bit, fragment by fragment. And the old -man breathed on them. Piece clove to piece, and made one. Then he took -all the pieces, breathed on them for the last time, and the princess -trembled all over, and woke alive and well. - -The Tsar himself came into their hut. “In the Name of the Father, and of -the Son, and of the Holy Ghost!” - -“Amen!” they answered. - -“Have you cured the Tsarévna?” asked the Tsar. - -“Yes,” the doctors answered—“there she is!” The Tsarévna came out with -the Tsar alive and well. - -The Tsar said to the doctors: “What good thing do you desire—gold or -silver? Ask and you shall have.” So they began to bring gold and silver. -And the old man took as much as he could take with his thumb and two -fingers, but the pope took it by handfuls, and he rammed it all into his -wallet and hid it away, concealed it, lifted it up as much as ever his -power could. - -The old man then said to the pope: “Let us bury all the money in the -earth and again go a-healing.” - -So they went on and went on, and they arrived at another kingdom in -which there also was a princess on the verge of death, and the Tsar -promised any one who should cure her half of his realm and rule and -reign; but any one who failed was to have his head cut off. - -But the Evil One was tempting the envious pope—how he should manage to -tell nothing to the old man, but to cure her by himself, and so get all -the gold and silver for himself. So he dubbed himself a doctor, arrayed -himself finely, and arrived at the Tsar’s courtyard, just as they had -done before. In the same way he asked for the same implements from the -Tsar, shut himself up in the special hut, tied the princess down on the -table, took out the curved sabre; and however much the Tsarévna might -cry out and wriggle, the pope disregarded all her shrieks, and all her -yelpings, poor girl, and cut her to bits like mincemeat. He then cut it -all up fine, threw it into the cauldron, washed it and rinsed it, took -it out, put piece to piece exactly the same as the old man had done. And -he then wanted to put them altogether, breathed on them—and nothing -happened! He pumped his lungs out, but nothing happened. It was all to -no purpose. So he put all the fragments back into the water, rinsed and -scoured them through, fitting the pieces together, and breathed on them. -It was all of no good. - -“Oh, whatever shall I do?” the pope thought. “This is simply horrible!” - -In the morning the Tsar went to him and saw that the doctor had had no -luck. He had mixed up the whole body on the floor. So the Tsar ordered -the doctor to the gallows. - -The pope then began to beg. “Tsar! Tsar! I am a free man. Give me a -short space of time. I will go and look out for another old man who can -really cure the Tsarévna.” So the pope went to look for the old man, -found him, and said: “Old man, I am a depraved sinner. The fiends -tempted me. I wanted to cure the Tsar’s daughter all by myself, and I -was not able, and they are now going to hang me. Do come and help me!” - -So the old man went with the pope, and the noose was put round the -pope’s neck. Then the old man said to the pope: “Pope, who ate up my -wafers?” - -“I really didn’t; I swear I didn’t!” - -So they made him mount one rung higher, and again the old man said to -him: “Pope, who ate my wafers up?” - -“I really didn’t; I swear I didn’t!” - -So he went up the third rung, and again said he didn’t. This time he had -his head in the noose tight, and still he said: “I did nothing of the -sort!” - -So the old man said to the Tsar: “I am a free man. Will you let me cure -the Tsarévna, and if I do not succeed, have a second noose got ready for -my neck: one for me and one for the pope.” - -Then the old man took the morsels of the Tsarévna’s body, bit by bit, -breathed on them, and she arose alive and well. - -Then the Tsar rewarded them both with gold and silver. - -“Now let us go and divide the money,” said the old man. - -So they started. They put all the money into three little piles, and the -pope looked on, and said: “What do you mean? There are only two of us. -Who is to have the third?” - -Said the old man: “That is for the thief who ate up my wafers.” - -“Oh, it was I who ate them up!” the pope cried out. “I really did! I -swear it!” - -“Then you may have all the money, and my own share as well. Henceforth -serve your parish faithfully. Do not be a miser, and do not beat St. -Nicholas on the shoulders with the keys!” the old man said, and -vanished. - - - - - THE SOLDIER AND DEATH - - -Once upon a time there was a soldier who had served God and the Great -Sovereign for twenty-five whole years, and had only in the end earned -three biscuits, and was journeying back home. And, as he went along, he -thought: “Lord! here am I; I have served my Tsar for twenty-five years, -have received my food and dress, and what have I lived for after all? I -am cold and hungry, and have only three biscuits to eat.” So he pondered -and thought, and decided to desert and run away whither his eyes might -lead him. - -As he went along he met a poor beggar who asked alms of him. The soldier -gave him one biscuit, and kept two. And, as he trudged on, he soon came -across another poor beggar, who bowed down low and asked for alms. So -the soldier gave him another biscuit, and had only one left. Again on he -went, and met a third beggar. The old fellow bowed low and asked for -alms. The soldier got his last biscuit out, and thought: “If I give him -the whole, I shall have none left; if I give half, why, this old man -will come across brother-beggars, will see they have a whole biscuit, -and be offended. Better let him have it all, and I shall get on -somehow.” So he gave his last biscuit, and had nothing left. - -Then the old man asked him: “Tell me, good man, what do you wish? Of -what have you need? I will help you.” - -“God bless you!” the soldier answered. “How should I take anything of -you?—you are old and poor.” - -“Don’t think of my poverty,” he replied. “Just say what you would like, -and I will requite you according to your own goodness.” - -“I want nothing; but, if you have any cards, give me some as a -keepsake.” - -For the old man was Christ Himself walking on earth in a beggar’s guise. -The old man put his hand into his breast and drew out a pack of cards, -saying: “Take them. With whomsoever you play, you will win the game; and -here you have a nosebag. Whatever you meet on the way, whether wild -beast or bird that you would like to catch, just say to it: ‘Jump in -here, beast or bird!’ and your wish will be carried out.” - -“Thank you!” said the soldier, took the cards and the nosebag, and fared -forth. - -He went on and on, may-be far, may-be near, may-be short, may-be long, -and arrived at a lake, on which three wild geese were swimming. Then the -soldier suddenly remembered the nosebag and thought: “I’ll just test -this nosebag”; took it out, opened it, and said: “Hi! you wild geese, -fly into my nosebag!” No sooner uttered than the geese flew straight up -from the lake into the bag. The soldier grabbed the bag, tied it up, and -went on his way. - -He travelled on and on and came to a town. He entered an eating-house -and told the inn-keeper: “Take this goose and cook it for my supper, and -I will give you another goose for your pains. Change me this third one -for vódka.” So there the soldier sat like a lord in the inn, at his -ease, drinking wine and feasting on roast goose. - -It occurred to him suddenly he might peer out of the window, and he saw -opposite a big palace, but not one pane of glass was whole. “What is -this?” he asked the inn-keeper. “What is this palace? Why does it stand -empty?” - -“Why, don’t you know?” the master replied. “Our Tsar built himself this -palace, but cannot inhabit it; and, for seven years, it has been -standing empty. Some unholy power drives every one out of the place. -Every night an assemblage of devils meets there, make a row, dance, play -cards, and perpetrate every sort of vileness!” - -So off the soldier went to the Tsar. “Your Imperial Majesty,” quoth he, -“please let me spend one night in your empty palace!” - -“What do you mean, fellow?” said the Tsar. “God bless you; but there -have been some dare-devils like you who passed a night in this palace, -and not one emerged alive!” - -“Well, still, a Russian soldier cannot drown in water, or burn in fire. -I served God and the Great Sovereign five-and-twenty years, and never -died of it; and, for one night’s service for you, I am to die! No!” - -“But I tell you: a man enters the palace at night alive, and only his -bones are found there in the morning!” - -But the soldier stood firm: he must be admitted into the palace. - -“Well,” said the Tsar, “go, and God help you. Stay the night there if -you will; you are free, and I won’t hinder you!” - -So the soldier marched into the palace, and settled himself down in the -biggest saloon, took his knapsack off and his sabre, put the knapsack in -a corner and the sabre on a hand-peg, sat down on a chair, put his hand -into his pocket for his tobacco-pouch, lit his pipe, and smoked at his -ease. Then about midnight, I don’t know where from, hordes of devils, -seen and unseen, scurried up, and made such a turmoil and row, and set -up a dance with wild music. “What, you here, discharged soldier!” all -the devils began yelling. “Welcome! Will you play cards with us?” - -“Certainly; here I have a set ready. Let’s start!” - -He took them out and dealt round. They began, played a game out, and the -soldier won; another, and the same luck; and all the finessing of the -devils availed them nothing; the soldier won all the money, and raked it -all together. - -“Stop, soldier,” the devils said. “We still have sixty ounces of silver -and forty of gold. We’ll stake them on the last game.” And they sent a -little devil-boy to fetch the silver. - -So a new game commenced; and then the little devil had to pry in every -nook and come back and tell the old devil: “It’s no use, grandfather—we -have no more.” - -“Off you go; find some gold!” And the urchin went and hunted up gold -from everywhere, turned an entire mine inside out and still found -nothing: the soldier had played everything away. - -The devils got angry at losing all their money, and began to assault the -soldier, roaring out: “Smash him up, brothers! Eat him up!” - -“We’ll see who’ll have the last word if it comes to eating,” said the -soldier, shook the nosebag open, and asked, “What is this?” - -“A nosebag,” said the devils. - -“Well, in you all go, by God’s own spell!” And he collected them all -together—so many you couldn’t count them all! Then the soldier buckled -the bag tightly, hung it on a peg, and lay down to sleep. - -In the morning the Tsar sent for all his folks. “Come up to me and -inform me how does it stand with the soldier. If the unholy powers have -destroyed him, bring me his little bones.” - -So off they went and entered the palace, and there saw the soldier -trudging up and down gaily in the rooms and smoking his pipe. “Well, how -are you, discharged soldier? We never expected to see you again alive. -How did you pass the night? What kind of bargain did you make with the -devils?” - -“What devils! Just come and look what a lot of gold and silver I won off -them. Look, what piles of it!” And the Tsar’s servants looked and were -amazed. And the soldier told them: “Bring me two smiths as fast as you -can. Tell them to bring an iron anvil and a hammer.” - -Off they went helter-skelter to the smiths, and the matter was soon -arranged. - -The smiths arrived with iron anvil and with heavy hammers. - -“Now,” said the soldier, “take this nosebag and beat it hard after the -ancient manner of smiths.” - -So the smiths took the nosebag, and they began to whisper to each other: -“How fearfully heavy it is! The devil must be in it.” - -The devils shrieked in answer: “Yes, we are there, father—yes, we are -there! Kinsmen, help us!” - -So the smiths instantly laid the nosebag on the iron anvil, and they -began to knock it about with their hammers as though they were hammering -iron. - -Very soon the devils saw that they could not possibly stand such -treatment, and they began to shriek: “Mercy on us!—mercy on us! Let us -out, discharged soldier, into the free world. Unto all eternity we will -not forget you, and into this palace never a devil shall enter again. We -will forbid everybody—all of them—and drive them all a hundred _versts_ -away.” - -So the soldier bade the smiths stop, and as soon as he unbuckled the -nosebag the devils rushed out, and flew off, without looking, into the -depths of hell—into the abysses of hell. But the soldier was no fool; -and as they were flying out he laid hold of one old devil—laid hold of -him tight by his paw. “Come along,” he said; “give me some written -undertaking that you will always serve me faithfully.” - -The unholy spirit wrote him out this undertaking in his own blood, gave -it him, and took to his heels. - -All the devils ran away into the burning pitch, and got away as fast as -they could with all their infernal strength, both the old ones and the -young ones; and henceforth they established guards all round the burning -pit and issued stern ordinances that the gates be constantly guarded, in -order that the soldier and the nosebag might never draw near. - -The soldier came to the Tsar, and he told him some kind of tale how he -had delivered the palace from the infernal visitation. - -“Thank you,” the Tsar answered. “Stay here and live with me. I will -treat you as if you were my brother.” - -So the soldier went and stayed with the Tsar, and had a sufficiency of -all things, simply rolled in riches, and he thought it was time he -should marry. So he married, and one year later God gave him a son. Then -this boy fell into such a fearful illness—so terrible that there was -nobody who could cure it—and it was beyond the skill of the physicians; -there was no understanding of it. The soldier then thought of the old -devil and of the undertaking he had given him, and how it had run in the -undertaking: “I shall serve you eternally as a faithful servant.” And he -thought and said: “What is my old devil doing?” - -Suddenly the same old devil appeared in front of him and asked: “What -does your worship desire?” - -And the soldier answered: “My little boy is very ill. Do you know how to -cure him?” - -So the devil fumbled in his pocket, got out a glass, poured cold water -into it, and put it over the head of the sick child, and told the -soldier: “Come here, look into the water.” And the soldier looked at the -water; and the devil asked him: “Well, what do you see?” - -“I see Death standing at my son’s feet.” - -“Well, he is standing at his feet; then he will survive. If Death stands -at his head, then he cannot live another day.” So the devil took the -glass with the water in it and poured it over the soldier’s son, and in -that same minute the son became well. - -“Give me this glass,” the soldier said, “and I shall never trouble you -for anything more.” And the devil presented him with the glass, and the -soldier returned him the undertaking. - -Then the soldier became an enchanter, and set about curing the _boyárs_ -and the generals. He would go and look at the glass, and instantly he -knew who had to die and who should recover. Now, the Tsar himself became -ill, and the soldier was called in. So he poured cold water into the -glass, put it at the Tsar’s head, and saw that Death was standing at the -Tsar’s head. - -The soldier said: “Your Imperial Majesty, there is nobody in the world -who can cure you. Death is standing at your head, and you have only -three hours left of life.” - -When the Tsar heard this speech, he was furious with the soldier. “What, -what!” he shrieked at him. “You who have cured so many _boyárs_ and -generals, cannot do anything for me! I shall instantly have you put to -death.” - -So the soldier thought and thought what he should do. And he began to -beseech Death. “O Death,” he said, “give the Tsar my life and take me -instead, for it doesn’t matter to me whether I live or die; for it is -better to die by my own death than to suffer such a cruel punishment.” - -And he looked in the glass, and saw that Death was standing at the -Tsar’s feet. Then the soldier took the water and sprinkled the Tsar, and -he recovered completely. “Now, Death,” said the soldier, “give me only -three hours’ interval in order that I may go home and say farewell to my -wife and my son.” - -“Well, you may have three hours. Go,” Death replied. - -So the soldier went away home, lay down on his bed, and became very ill. - -And when Death was standing very near him, she said, “Now, discharged -soldier, say good-bye quickly—you have only three minutes left to live -in the bright world.” - -So the soldier stretched himself out, took his nosebag from under his -head, opened it, and asked: “What is this?” - -Death answered: “A nosebag.” - -“Well, if it is a nosebag, then jump into it!” - -And Death instantly jumped straight into the bag. And the soldier, ill -as he was, jumped up from his bed, buckled the nosebag together firmly, -very tightly, threw it on his shoulder, and went into the Bryánski -Woods, the slumbrous forest. And he went there, and he hung this bag on -the bitter aspen, on the very top twig, and he went back home. - -From that day forward nobody died in that kingdom: they were born, and -they kept on being born, and they never died. And very many years went -by, and the soldier never took his nosebag down. One day he happened to -go into the town. He went, and on his way he met such an old, old lady, -so old that on whichever side the wind blew, she inclined. “Oh, what an -old lady!” the soldier said. “Why, it is almost time she died.” - -“Yes, father,” the old dame replied. “The time has come and gone long -since. At the time when you put Death into the nosebag I had only one -hour left in which to live in the white world. I should be very glad to -have some rest; but unless I die, earth will not take me up; and you, -discharged soldier, are guilty of an unforgivable sin in God’s eyes. For -there is no single soul left on earth who is tortured as I am.” - -Then the soldier stayed and began to think. “Yes, yes; it would be -better to let Death out; perhaps I, too, might die. And beyond this, -too, I have many sins on my conscience. Thus it is better now whilst I -am still strong and I bear pain on this earth; for when I shall become -very old then it will be all the worse for me to suffer anything.” - -So he got up and he went up into the Bryánski Woods, and he went up to -the aspen, and saw there the nosebag was hanging very high, shaking in -the winds to all sides. “Oh, you Death,” he says, “are you still alive?” - -A faint voice came out of the nosebag: “Yes, father, I am alive.” - -So the soldier took the nosebag, opened it, and he let out Death. - -And he himself lay down on his bed, bade farewell to his wife and son, -and he begged Death that he might die. And she[19] ran outside the door -with all the strength in her feet. “Go!” she cried. “It is the devils -who shall slay you—I shall not slay you!” - -So the soldier remained alive and healthy. And he thought: “Shall I go -straight into the burning pitch, for then the devils will throw me into -the seething sulphur until such time as my sins shall have been melted -from off me.” And he bade farewell from all, and he went with the -knapsack in his hand straight into the burning pitch. - -And he went on: may-be near, may-be far, may-be downhill, may-be uphill, -may-be short, may-be long; and he at last arrived in the abyss, and he -looked, and all round the burning cauldron there stood watchmen. As soon -as he stopped at the gate a devil asked who was coming. - -“A guilty soul to be tortured.” - -“Why do you come? What are you carrying with you?” - -“Oh, a nosebag.” - -And the devil shrieked out of his full throat and made a tremendous -stir. All the infernal powers roused themselves and looked out of the -gates and windows with their unbreakable bolts. - -And the soldier went all round the cauldron, and he called out to the -master of the cauldron: “Let me in, please; do let me into the cauldron. -I have come to you to be tortured for my sins.” - -“No, I will not let you in. Go away wherever you will—there is no room -for you here.” - -“Well, if you will not let me in to be tortured, at least give me two -hundred souls. I will take them up to God, and perhaps the Lord will -pardon my faults.” - -And the master of the cauldron answered: “I will add fifty more souls to -the lot; only do go away!” So he instantly ordered two hundred and fifty -souls to be counted out and to be taken to the rear gates in order that -the soldier might not see him. - -So the soldier gathered up the guilty souls, and he went up to the gates -of Paradise. - -The Apostles saw him, and said to the Lord: “Some soldier or other has -come up here with two hundred and fifty souls from hell!” - -“Take them into Paradise, but do not let the soldier in.” - -But the soldier had given up his nosebag to one guilty soul, and had -told it: “Just look here. When you enter the gates of Paradise, say at -once: ‘Soldier, jump into the nosebag!’” - -Then the gates of Paradise opened, and the souls began to go in; and -this guilty soul also went in, and for sheer joy forgot all about the -soldier. - -Thus the soldier was left behind, and could not find any home in either -place, and for long after that he still had to live and go on living in -the white world. And after very many days he died. - - - - - THE MIDNIGHT DANCE - - -Once upon a time there was a king who was a widower. He had twelve -daughters: each was fairer than the others. Every night these princesses -went where nobody knew: it was only for twenty-four hours, and they -always wore out a new pair of shoes. Now the king had no shoes ready for -them, and he wanted to know where they went at night and what they did. -So he made a feast ready, and he summoned all the kings and -_korolévichi_, all the _boyárs_, and the merchants and the simple folk, -to it, and he asked them, “Can any of you guess this riddle? Whoever -guesses it I will give him my beloved daughter as a wife and a half of -my kingdom as a dowry.” - -No one was able to find out where the princesses went at night. Only one -poor nobleman cried out, “Your kingly Majesty, I will find out!” - -“Very well; go and find out.” - -So then the poor nobleman began pondering and saying to himself, “What -have I done? I have undertaken to find out, and I don’t know myself. If -I don’t find out now, possibly the king will put me under arrest.” - -So he went out of the palace beyond the city, and went on and on, and at -last he met an old woman on the road who asked him, “What are you -thinking of, doughty youth?” - -And he answered, “How should I, Bábushka, not become thoughtful? I have -undertaken to discover for the king where his daughters go by night.” - -“Oh, this is a difficult task, but it can be done. Here, I will give you -the cap of invisibility; with that you cannot be seen. Now, remember, -when you go to sleep the princesses will pour a sleeping-draught out for -you: you turn to the wall and pour it into the bed and do not drink it.” - -So the poor nobleman thanked the old woman and returned to the palace. -Night-time approached and they gave him a room next to that in which the -princesses slept. So he lay on the bed and began to keep watch. Then one -of the princesses brought sleeping-drugs in wine and asked him to drink -her health. He could not refuse, and so he took the goblet, turned to -the wall, and poured it into the bed. At midnight the princesses went to -look whether he was asleep or not. Then the poor nobleman pretended to -be as sound asleep as a log, and himself kept a keen look out for every -noise. - -“Now, sisters, our watchman has gone to sleep: it is time we set out on -our promenade: it is time.” - -So they all put on their best clothes, and the elder sister went to her -bedside, moved the bed, and an entrance into the subterranean realm -instantly opened up beneath, leading to the home of the Accursèd Tsar. - -They all went down a flight of stairs, and the poor nobleman quietly got -off his bed, put on the cap of invisibility, and followed them. He, -without noticing, touched the youngest princess’s dress: she was -frightened and said to her sisters, “O my sisters, somebody has stepped -on my dress. This is a foretokening of woe.” - -“Nonsense; it does not mean anything of the sort!” - -So they all went down the flight of steps into a grove, and in that -grove there were golden flowers. Then the poor nobleman broke off and -plucked a single sprig, and the entire grove rustled. - -“Oh, sisters,” said the youngest sister, “some unfortunate thing is -injuring us. Did you hear how the grove rustled?” - -“Do not fear; this is the music in the Accursèd Tsar’s realm.” - -So they went into the Tsar’s palace. He, with his lacqueys, met them; -music sounded; and they began dancing: and they danced until their shoes -were worn thin. Then the Tsar bade wine to be served to his guests. The -poor nobleman took a single goblet from under his nose, poured out the -wine, and put the cup into his pocket. - -At last the rout was over, and the princesses bade farewell to their -cavaliers, promised to come another night, turned back home, undressed -and lay down to sleep. - -Then the king summoned the poor nobleman, and asked him, “Did you keep -watch on my daughters?” - -“Yes, I did, your Majesty.” - -“Where did they go?” - -“Into the subterranean realm, to the Accursèd Tsar, where they danced -all night long.” - -So the king summoned his daughters, and began cross-examining them. -“Where do you go at night?” - -So the princesses tried a feint: “We have not been anywhere.” - -“Were you not with the Accursèd Tsar? There is this poor nobleman who -can turn evidence on you. He is able to convict you.” - -“What do you mean, bátyushka? He can convict us when all night he slept -the sleep of the dead?” - -Then the poor nobleman brought the golden flower out of his pocket, and -the goblet, and said, “There is the testimony.” - -What could they do? The princesses had to acknowledge their guilt, and -the king bade the entrance to the subterranean realm be slated up. And -he married the poor nobleman to the youngest daughter, and they lived -happily ever after. - - - - - VASILÍSA THE FAIR - - -Once upon a time there was a merchant who had been married for twelve -years and had only one daughter, Vasilísa the Fair. When her mother died -the girl was eight years old. On her death-bed the mother called the -maiden to her, took a doll out of her counterpane, said: “Vasilísushka, -hear my last words. I am dying, and I will leave you my mother’s -blessing and this doll. Keep this doll always by you, but show it to -nobody, and no misfortune can befall you. Give it food and ask it for -advice. After it has eaten, it will tell you how to avoid your evil.” -Then the wife kissed her daughter and died. - -After the wife’s death the merchant mourned as it behoved, and then he -thought of a second wife. He was a handsome man and found many brides, -but he liked one widow more than any one. She was no longer young, and -had two daughters of about the same age as Vasilísa. So she was an -experienced housewife and mother. The merchant married her, but he had -made a mistake, for she was no good mother to his own daughter. - -Vasilísa was the fairest damsel in the entire village, and the -stepmother and the sisters envied her therefore. And they used to -torture her by piling all the work they could on her, that she might -grow thin and ugly, and might be tanned by the wind and the sun. And the -child lived a hard life. Vasilísa, however, did all her work without -complaining, and always grew more beautiful and plumper, while the -stepmother and her daughters, out of sheer spite, grew thinner and -uglier. Yet there they sat all day long with their hands folded, just -like fine ladies. How could this be? - -It was the doll that had helped Vasilísa. Without her the maiden could -never have done her task. Vasilísa often ate nothing herself, and kept -the tastiest morsels for the doll; and when at night they had all gone -to bed, she used to lock herself up in her cellaret below, give the doll -food to eat, and say, “Dollet, eat and listen to my misery. I am living -in my father’s house, and my lot is hard. My evil stepmother is -torturing me out of the white world. Teach me what I must do in order to -bear this life.” - -Then the doll gave her good advice, consoled her, and did all her -morning’s work for her. Vasilísa was told to go walking, plucking -flowers; and all her flowerbeds were done in time, all the coal was -brought in, and the water-jugs carried in, and the hearthstone was hot. -Further, the doll taught her herb-lore; so, thanks to her doll, she had -a merry life; and the years went by. - -Vasilísa grew up, and all the lads in the village sought her. But the -stepmother’s daughters nobody would look at; and the stepmother grew -more evil than ever and answered all her suitors: “I will not give my -youngest daughter before I give the elders.” So she sent all the -bargainers away, and to show how pleased she was, rained blows on -Vasilísa. - -One day the merchant had to go away on business for a long time; so the -stepmother in the meantime went over to a new house near a dense, -slumbrous forest. In the forest there was a meadow, and on the meadow -there was a hut, and in the hut Bába Yagá lived, who would not let -anybody in, and ate up men as though they were poultry. Whilst she was -moving, the stepmother sent her hated stepdaughter into the wood, but -she always came back perfectly safe, for the doll showed her the way by -which she could avoid Bába Yagá’s hut. - -So one day the harvest season came and the stepmother gave all three -maidens their task for the evening: one was to make lace and the other -to sew a stocking, and Vasilísa was to spin. Each was to do a certain -amount. The mother put all the fires out in the entire house, and left -only one candle burning where the maidens were at work, and herself went -to sleep. The maidens worked on. The candle burned down, and one of the -stepmother’s daughters took the snuffers in order to cut down the wick. -But the stepmother had told her to put the light out as though by -accident. - -“What is to be done now?” they said. “There is no fire in the house and -our work is not finished. We must get a light from the Bába Yagá.” - -“I can see by the needles,” said the one who was making lace. - -“I also am not going,” said the second, “for my knitting needles give me -light enough. You must go and get some fire. Go to the Bába Yagá!” And -they turned Vasilísa out of the room. - -And Vasilísa went to her room, put meat and drink before her doll, and -said: “Dolly dear, eat it and listen to my complaint. They are sending -me to Bába Yagá for fire, and the Bába Yagá will eat me up.” - -Then the Dollet ate, and her eyes glittered like two lamps, and she -said: “Fear nothing, Vasilísushka. Do what they say, only take me with -you. As long as I am with you Bába Yagá can do you no harm.” Vasilísa -put the doll into her pocket, crossed herself, and went tremblingly into -the darksome forest. - -Suddenly a knight on horseback galloped past her all in white. His cloak -was white, and his horse and the reins: and it became light. She went -further, and suddenly another horseman passed by, who was all in red, -and his horse was red, and his clothes: and the sun rose. Vasilísa went -on through the night and the next day. Next evening she came to the mead -where Bába Yagá’s hut stood. The fence round the hut consisted of human -bones, and on the stakes skeletons glared out of their empty eyes. And, -instead of the doorways and the gate, there were feet, and in the stead -of bolts there were hands, and instead of the lock there was a mouth -with sharp teeth. And Vasilísa was stone-cold with fright. - -Suddenly another horseman pranced by on his way. He was all in black, on -a jet-black horse, with a jet-black cloak. He sprang to the door and -vanished as though the earth had swallowed him up: and it was night. But -the darkness did not last long, for the eyes in all the skeletons on the -fence glistened, and it became as light as day all over the green. - -Vasilísa trembled with fear, but remained standing, for she did not know -how she could escape. Suddenly a terrible noise was heard in the forest, -and the tree-boughs creaked and the dry leaves crackled. And out of the -wood Bába Yagá drove in inside the mortar with the pestle, and with the -broom swept away every trace of her steps. At the door she stopped, -sniffed all the way round, and cried out: - - “Fee, Fo, Fi, Fum, I smell the blood of a Russian mum! - -Who is there?” - -Vasilísa, shuddering with dread, stepped up to her, bowed low to the -ground, and said: “Mother, I am here. My stepmother’s daughters sent me -to you to ask for fire.” - -“Very well,” said Bába Yagá: “I know them. Stay with me, work for me, -and I will give you fire. Otherwise I shall eat you up.” - -Then she went to the door, and she cried out: “Ho! my strong bolts, draw -back, my strong door, spring open!” And the door sprang open, and Bába -Yagá went in whistling and whirring, and Vasilísa followed her. - -Then the door closed, and Bába Yagá stretched herself in the room and -said to Vasilísa: “Give me whatever there is in the oven. I am hungry.” - -So Vasilísa lit a splinter from the skulls on the hedge and fetched Bába -Yagá food out of the oven, and there was food enough there for ten men. -Out of a cellar she fetched _kvas_, mead, and wine. Bába Yagá ate and -drank it all up. But all there was left for Vasilísa was a little of -some kind of soup, and a crust of bread, and a snippet of pork. - -Bába Yagá lay down to sleep and said: “In the morning, to-morrow, when I -go away you must clean the courtyard, brush out the room, get dinner -ready, do the washing, go to the field, get a quarter of oats, sift it -all out, and see that it is all done before I come home. Otherwise I -will eat you up.” - -And, as soon as ever she had given all the orders, she began snoring. - -Vasilísa put the rest of the dinner in front of the doll and said: -“Dollet, eat it up and listen to my woe. Heavy are the tasks which the -Bába Yagá has given me, and she threatens to eat me up if I don’t carry -them all out. Help me!” - -“Have no fear, Vasilísa, thou fair maiden. Eat, pray, and lie down to -sleep, for the morning is wiser than the evening.” - -Very early next day Vasilísa woke up. Bába Yagá was already up and was -looking out of the window. The glimmer in the eyes of the skulls had -dimmed; the white horseman raced by: and it dawned. Bába Yagá went into -the courtyard, and whistled, and the mortar, the pestle, and the besom -appeared at once, and the red horseman came by: and the sun rose. Bába -Yagá sat in the mortar and went by, thrusting the mortar with the -pestle, and with the besom she removed every trace of her steps. - -Vasilísa, left all by herself, looked over the house of the Bába Yagá, -wondered at all the wealth gathered in, and began to consider what she -should start with. But all the work was already done, and the doll had -sifted out the very last of the ears of oats. - -“Oh, my saviour!” said Vasilísa. “You have helped me in my great need.” - -“You now have only to get dinner ready,” the doll answered, and -clambered back into Vasilísa’s pocket. “With God’s help get it ready, -and stay here quietly waiting.” - -In the evening Vasilísa laid the cloth and waited for Bába Yagá. The -gloaming came, and the black horseman reached by: and it at once became -dark, but the eyes in the skulls glowed. The trees shuddered, the leaves -crackled, Bába Yagá drove in, and Vasilísa met her. - -“Is it all done?” Bába Yagá asked. - -“Yes, grandmother: look!” said Vasilísa. - -Bába Yagá looked round everywhere, and was rather angry that she had -nothing to find fault with and said: “Very well.” Then she cried out: -“Ye my faithful servants, friends of my heart! Store up my oats.” Then -three pairs of hands appeared, seized the oats and carried them off. - -Bába Yagá had her supper, and, before she went to sleep, once more -commanded Vasilísa: “To-morrow do the same as you did to-day, but also -take the hay which is lying on my field, clean it from every trace of -soil, every single ear. Somebody has, out of spite, mixed earth with -it.” - -And, as soon as she had said it, she turned round to the wall and was -snoring. - -Vasilísa at once fetched her doll, who ate, and said as she had the day -before: “Pray and lie down to sleep, for the morning is wiser than the -evening. Everything shall be done, Vasilísushka.” - -Next morning Bába Yagá got up and stood at the window, and then went -into the courtyard and whistled; and the mortar, the besom, and the -pestle appeared at once, and the red horseman came by: and the sun rose. -Bába Yagá sat in the mortar and went off, sweeping away her traces as -before. - -Vasilísa got everything ready with the help of her doll. Then the old -woman came back, looked over everything, and said: “Ho, my faithful -servants, friends of my heart! Make me some poppy-oil.” Then three pairs -of hands came, laid hold of the poppies and carried them off. - -Bába Yagá sat down to supper, and Vasilísa sat silently in front of her. -“Why do you not speak; why do you stay there as if you were dumb?” Bába -Yagá asked. - -“I did not venture to say anything; but if I might, I should like to ask -some questions.” - -“Ask, but not every question turns out well: too knowing is too old.” - -“Still, I should like to ask you of some things I saw. On my way to you -I met a white horseman, in a white cloak, on a white horse: who was he?” - -“The bright day.” - -“Then a red horseman, on a red horse, in a red cloak, overtook me: who -was he?” - -“The red sun.” - -“What is the meaning of the black horseman who overtook me as I reached -your door, grandmother?” - -“That was the dark night. Those are my faithful servants.” - -Vasilísa then thought of the three pairs of hands and said nothing. - -“Why don’t you ask any further?” Bába Yagá asked. - -“I know enough, for you say yourself ‘too knowing is too old.’” - -“It is well you asked only about things you saw in the courtyard, and -not about things without it, for I do not like people to tell tales out -of school, and I eat up everybody who is too curious. But now I shall -ask you, how did you manage to do all the work I gave you?” - -“By my mother’s blessing!” - -“Ah, then, get off with you as fast as you can, blessed daughter; no one -blessed may stay with me!” - -So she turned Vasilísa out of the room and kicked her to the door, took -a skull with the burning eyes from the fence, put it on a staff, gave it -her and said, “Now you have fire for your stepmother’s daughters, for -that was why they sent you here.” - -Then Vasilísa ran home as fast as she could by the light of the skull; -and the flash in it went out with the dawn. - -By the evening of the next day she reached the house, and was going to -throw the skull away, when she heard a hollow voice coming out of the -skull and saying: “Do not throw me away. Bring me up to your -stepmother’s house.” And she looked at her stepmother’s house and saw -that there was no light in any window, and decided to enter with the -skull. She was friendlily received, and the sisters told her that ever -since she had gone away they had had no fire; they were able to make -none; and all they borrowed of their neighbours went out as soon as it -came into the room. - -“Possibly _your_ fire may burn!” said the stepmother. - -So they took the skull into the room, and the burning eyes looked into -the stepmother’s and the daughters’ and singed their eyes out. Wherever -they went, they could not escape it, for the eyes followed them -everywhere, and in the morning they were all burned to cinders. Vasilísa -alone was left alive. - -Then Vasilísa buried the skull in the earth, locked the house up, and -went into the town. And she asked a poor old woman to take her home and -to give her food until her father came back; she said to the old woman, -“Mother, sitting here idle makes me feel dull. Go and buy me some of the -very best flax; I should like to spin.” - -So the old woman went and bought good flax. Vasilísa set herself to -work, and the work went merrily along, and the skein was as smooth and -as fine as hair, and when she had a great deal of yarn, no one would -undertake the weaving, so she turned to her doll, who said: “Bring me -some old comb from somewhere, some old spindle, some old shuttle, and -some horse mane; and I will do it for you.” - -Vasilísa went to bed, and the doll in that night made a splendid -spinning stool; and by the end of the winter all the linen had been -woven, and it was so fine that it could be drawn like a thread through -the eye of a needle. And in the spring they bleached the linen, and -Vasilísa said to the old mistress: “Go and sell the cloth, and keep the -money for yourself.” - -The old woman saw the cloth and admired it, and said: “Oh, my child! -nobody except the Tsar could ever wear such fine linen; I will take it -to Court.” - -The old woman went to the Tsar’s palace, and kept walking up and down in -front of it. - -The Tsar saw her and said: “Oh, woman, what do you want?” - -“Almighty Tsar, I am bringing you some wonderful goods, which I will -show to nobody except you.” - -The Tsar ordered the old woman to be given audience, and as soon as ever -he had seen the linen he admired it very much. “What do you want for -it?” he asked her. - -“It is priceless, Bátyushka,” she said; “I will give it you as a -present.” - -And the Tsar thought it over and sent her away with rich rewards. - -Now the Tsar wanted to have shirts made out of this same linen, but he -could not find any seamstress to undertake the work. And he thought for -long, and at last he sent for the old woman again, and said: “If you can -spin this linen and weave it, perhaps you can make a shirt out of it?” - -“I cannot weave and spin the linen,” said the old woman; “only a maiden -can who is staying with me.” - -“Well, she may do the work.” - -So the woman went home and told Vasilísa everything. - -“I knew that I should have to do the work!” said Vasilísa. And she -locked herself up in her little room, set to work, and never put her -hands again on her lap until she had sewn a dozen shirts. - -The old woman brought the Tsar the shirts, and Vasilísa washed and -combed herself, dressed herself, and sat down at the window, and waited. -Then there came a henchman of the Tsar’s, entered the room and said: -“The Tsar would fain see the artist who has sewn him the shirts, and he -wants to reward her with his own hands.” - -Vasilísa the Fair went to the Tsar. When he saw her, he fell deep in -love with her. “No, fairest damsel; I will never part from you. You must -be my wife.” - -So the Tsar took Vasilísa, with her white hands, put her next to him, -and bade the bells ring for the wedding. - -Vasilísa’s father came back home, and was rejoiced at her good luck, and -stayed with his daughter. - -Vasilísa also took the old woman to live with her, and the doll ever -remained in her pocket. - - - - - THE ANIMALS IN THE PIT - - -A Pig was going to church at St. Petersburg, and the Wolf met him. - -“Piggy, Piggy, where are you faring?” - -“To St. Petersburg, to pray to God.” - -“Take me with!” - -“Come along, Gossip.” - -So they went on together, and met the Vixen. - -“Pig, where are you going?” - -“To St. Petersburg, so please you.” - -“Take me with!” - -“Come along, Gossip.” - -So they went on together and met the Hare, who said, “Piggy, Piggy, -where are you going?” - -“On to St. Petersburg, to pray to God.” - -“Very well, take me with.” - -“Very well, Slant-eyes, I will.” - -Then they met the Squirrel, who also went with them. But on their road -they came across a broad, deep pit. The Pig jumped and tumbled in, and -after him the Wolf, the Fox, the Hare and the Squirrel. - -And they sat there for a long time, and became very hungry, for they had -nothing to eat. - -“Let’s all begin singing,” said the Vixen, “and we will eat the animal -who has the thinnest voice.” - -So the Wolf struck in a deep gruff voice, Aw, aw, aw! And the Pig -followed in a tone just a shade softer, Oo, oo, oo! But the Vixen came -in fine and sharp, Eh, eh, eh; whilst the Hare trilled the thinnest Ee, -ee, ee in the world. The Squirrel also sang Ee, ee, ee! So the animals -at once set to tearing up the Squirrel and Hare, and ate them down to -their bones. - -Next day the Vixen said: “We will eat the person with the fattest -voice.” That was the Wolf with his great gruff Aw, aw, aw! So they ate -him up. The Vixen ate up the flesh and kept the heart and the bowels. -And for three days she sat and ate them. - -And the Pig then asked her: “What are you eating?—give me some!” - -“Oh, Pig, I am eating my own flesh. You tear your belly up and munch it -yourself.” - -So the Pig did, and the Vixen feasted on him. - -The Vixen then was left as the last person in the pit. - -Did she climb up, or is she there still? I don’t know, really! - - - - - THE POOR WIDOW - - -A very long time ago Christ and the twelve Apostles walked on earth. -They went about like simple people, and nobody could have known that it -was Christ and the twelve Apostles. - -Once they came to a village and they asked a rich peasant for a bed. The -rich peasant would not let them in, telling them: “Over there there -lives a widow who receives beggars; go to her.” So they asked the widow -for a night’s rest, and the widow was poor, poor of the poorest; she had -nothing at all. She had only a very little crust of bread and a mere -handful of flour, and she also had a cow, but the cow had no milk. - -“Yes, fathers,” the widow said, “my little hut is very small, and there -is nowhere to lie down.” - -“Never mind; we can manage somehow!” - -So the widow received the wanderers, and did not know how to feed them. - -“How shall I feed you?” the widow said. “I only have one little crust of -bread and a mere handful of flour, and my cow is calving and has no -milk. I have to wait for her to calve. You cannot look for bread and -salt here.” - -“Well, woman,” the Saviour said, “have no fear—we shall all be -satisfied. Give us all you have. We will eat the crust. Everything, -woman, comes of God.” - -So they sat down to table and began to feast, and they were all fed on -the one crust of bread. There were even crumbs left behind. - -“Lo and behold! woman, you said that there was nothing to feed us on,” -the Saviour said. “Look, we are all satisfied, and there are some crumbs -over. Everything, woman, comes of God!” And so Christ and the Apostles -stayed with the poor widow. - -In the morning the widow told her sister: “Go and scrape up any flour -you can find in the corn-bin; possibly we may make a tiny pancake so as -to feed our guests.” The girl went and brought up a clay pot full. The -old woman was not astonished when so much came—she simply took it as it -came and started making a pancake. And the girl told her: “There is as -much again in the corn-bin.” So the woman cooked the pancake for the -Saviour and the twelve Apostles, telling them: “Come and eat of the good -fare, kinsmen, which God has sent.” And so they ate and bade farewell to -the aged widow and went on the road. - -And when they were on the way there was a grey wolf sitting on a knoll. -He bowed low to Christ and asked for food. - -“Lord,” he bayed, “I am hungry. Lord, I should like to eat.” - -“Go,” said the Saviour to him, “to the old widow and eat her cow with -the calf.” - -And the Apostles were astonished and said: “Lord, why do you bid him -snatch the poor widow’s cow? She received you so kindly and fed us, and -she was so happy in the expectation of the calf, for then the cow would -have had milk, which is food for every home.” - -“That is how it must be,” the Saviour replied. And they went on. - -The wolf ran and snatched up the poor widow’s cow, and when the old -woman saw this she said contentedly: “The Lord hath given, the Lord hath -taken away. Hallowed be His will!” - -So Christ and the Apostles went on, and they met a keg with money in it -on the way. The Saviour said: “Keg, go and roll to the rich peasant’s -door.” - -And again the Apostles were astonished. - -“Lord, it would have been better had you bidden the keg roll to the poor -widow’s door, for the rich man has so much.” - -“That is how it must be,” the Saviour said. And they went on. - -And the keg with the money in it rolled straight to the rich peasant’s -door, and the peasant took and hid the money and was still discontented. -“Surely the Lord might have sent me more,” he mused. - -Christ and the Apostles went on their way and travelled still further. -At midday the sun was very hot, and the Apostles wanted to drink. - -“Lord,” they said, “we should like to drink.” - -“Go,” replied the Saviour, “and on this road you will find a well. There -take your fill.” - -So the Apostles went on and on and on, and they saw a well. When they -looked into it there was filth and dirt, toads, snakes and frogs, and -everything vile, and the Apostles would not drink of it, and swiftly -returned to the Saviour. - -“Why did you not drink the water?” Christ asked them. - -“As you, Lord, told us, the well was there, but it was so horrible that -we could hardly look into it.” - -Christ answered never a word. - -And they went forward on their road. They went on and on and on, and the -Apostles again said to the Saviour: “We are thirsty.” - -So the Saviour sent them in another direction. “There you will see a -well. Go and drink your fill.” - -The Apostles went to the other well, and there it was, beautiful—oh, so -delightful! Enchanted trees were there and birds of paradise. They did -not ever want to leave it, and they drank of it, and the water was so -pure, so chilled, and so sweet. And they came back. - -“Why have you been so long?” the Saviour asked them. - -“Why, we only took a short drink,” the Apostles answered, “and we were -only away three little minutes.” - -“You were not there three little minutes, but three whole years,” the -Lord answered. “As it was in the first well, so ill shall in the next -world deal by the rich peasant; and as it was in the second well, so -good shall be the poor widow’s fare.” - - - - - ILYÁ MÚROMETS[20] AND SVYATOGÓR THE KNIGHT - -From the famous city of Múrom, out of the village of Karachárovo, the -valiant, doughty youth Ilyá Múromets, the son of Iván, set out far into -the open fields. The valiant champion met on his way the mighty knight -Svyatogór; and the good youth was afraid of him; the old Cossack, Ilyá -Múromets, was afraid of Svyatogór the knight. So he set his horse to -browse and himself mounted a thick grey oak to avoid Svyatogór the -knight. Svyatogór the knight arrived under that same stout oak, put up -his white linen tent, and took his wife out of his pocket. She spread -out the chequered table-cloths and put sugary food and honeyed drink for -him to eat. Svyatogór ate until he was sated, and drank until he was -satisfied, and lay down to repose. - -Then the wife of the knight observed Ilyá up in the grey oak, and spoke -to him in this wise: “Hail, valiant and brave youth; climb down from the -grey oak. If you do not climb down from the grey oak, you will arouse -Svyatogór the knight, and he will give you to a speedy death.” - -So Ilyá Múromets was afraid of Svyatogór, and slid down from the grey -oak. - -And again she spoke in this wise: “Come and do fornication with me, good -youth. If you do not, I will arouse Svyatogór the knight, and he will -give you to a speedy death.” - -So he did as he was bidden and went with her into the pocket of -Svyatogór. Svyatogór arose from a sound sleep, saddled his horse, and -went to the Holy Mountains. Then his horse began to sink fast into the -earth, until the knight dug his spurs into his horse’s fat haunches. - -Then the horse spoke with a human voice: “I have carried you Svyatogór -the knight and your young wife, but I cannot carry two knights and your -young wife as well.” - -So then Svyatogór put his hand into the depths of his pocket, took his -young wife out, and discovered Ilyá Múromets. - -“How did you get into the depths of my pocket?” - -“Your young wife forced me in there; she threatened my life.” And Ilyá -Múromets told Svyatogór the knight how he had fallen into the depths of -the pocket. - -So Svyatogór took his young wife, cut off her unruly head, broke up her -white body into four parts, and scattered them on the bare fields. - -Then Ilyá and Svyatogór made themselves sworn brothers, and they set out -to the Holy Mountains. They came to a deep tomb, and the tomb was decked -with red-gold. Svyatogór the knight lay down in that tomb as if it had -been built for him. - -“Cover me over with boards, my sworn brother,” he said. And, as Ilyá -covered him over with boards, the boards by Divine grace grew as they -were required. “Uncover me, my sworn brother!” - -But Ilyá Múromets had not the strength to uncover him; so he began to -break the boards with his sword, and wherever he brandished his sword, -hoops arose in his way. - -“Take my sword, my sworn brother!” - -And Ilyá took the sword, but had not the strength to lift it up. - -“Come, my sworn brother, I will give you strength.” - -Ilyá then went into the pit and Svyatogór breathed on him with his -knightly breath. Then Ilyá took that sword, and wherever he made a -stroke, iron hoops arose around. - -“Come to me a second time, my sworn brother; I will give you more -strength.” - -Ilyá Múromets said at once: “If I come down to you again, then our -mother the grey earth will not be able to bear it: I have enough -strength.” - -But Svyatogór answered: “If you had come down again I should have -breathed on you with a fatal breath, and you would have lain down to -sleep beside me.” - -So there Svyatogór the knight remains to this day. - - - - - THE SMITH AND THE DEVIL - - -Once upon a time there was a smith who had a son six years old—a sturdy -and sensible lad. One day the old man was going into the church, and -stood in front of a picture of the Last Judgment. And he saw there was a -devil painted there so terrible, so black, with horns and tail! “What a -fine devil!” he thought. “I will go and paint such a devil for myself in -the smithy.” So he sent for a painter and told him to paint on the doors -of the smithy a devil who should be exactly the same as the one he had -seen in the church. This was done. - -From this time forward, the old man, whenever he went into the smithy, -always looked at the devil and said, “Hail, fellow-countryman!” And soon -after he would go up to the forge, light the fire, and set to work. So -he went on living for some ten years on most excellent terms with the -devil. Then he fell ill and died. His son succeeded him and took over -the smithy. But he had no such respect for the devil as his father had -had. Whether he went early to the smithy or not, nothing prospered; and, -instead of greeting the devil kindly, he went and took his very biggest -hammer and knocked the devil three times on his forehead, and then set -to work. When a holy feast-day came by, he went into the church and lit -a taper in front of the saints; but, as he approached the devil he spat -on him. For three whole years this went on; and every day he greeted the -unclean spirit with a hammer and spat on him. - -The devil was very patient, and endured all this maltreatment. At last -it became beyond bearing, and he would stand it no longer. “Time is up!” -he thought. “I must put an end to such contemptuous treatment.” So the -devil turned himself into a fine lad and came into the smithy. - -“How do you do, uncle?” he said. - -“Very well, thank you!” - -“Will you take me into the smithy as an apprentice? I will heat your -coals and will blow the bellows.” - -Well, the smith was very glad. “I certainly will!” he said. “Two heads -are better than one.” - -So the devil turned apprentice, and he lived a month with him, and soon -got to know all of the smith’s work better than the master himself; and, -whatever the master could not do, he instantly carried out. Oh, it was a -fine sight, and the smith so grew to love him, and was so content with -him—I cannot tell you how much! - -One day he did not come into the smithy, and left his underling to do -the work; and it was all done. - -Once when the master was not at home, and only the workman was left in -the smithy, he saw an old rich lady passing by. He bobbed out his head, -and cried: “Hail there! There is new work to be done—old folks to be -turned into young!” - -Out skipped the old lady from her barouche and into the smithy. “What -are you saying you can do? Is that really true? Do you mean it? Are you -mad?” she asked the boy. - -“No reason to start lecturing me,” the Evil Spirit answered. “If I -didn’t know how I should not have summoned you.” - -“What would it cost?” the rich woman asked. - -“It would cost five hundred roubles.” - -“Well, there is the money. Turn me into a young woman!” - -The Evil Spirit took the money, and sent the coachman into the village -to get two buckets of milk. And he seized the lady by the legs with the -pinchers, threw her into the forge, and burned her all up. Nothing but -her bones were left. When the two tubs of milk came, he emptied them -into a pail, collected all the bones, and threw them into the milk. Lo -and behold! in three minutes out the lady came, young—yes, alive and -young, and so beautiful! - -She went and sat down in the barouche and drove home, went up to her -husband, and he fixed his eyes on her, and didn’t know his wife. “What’s -the matter? Have you lost your eyesight?” the lady asked. “Don’t you see -it is I, young and stately; I don’t want to have an old husband. Go at -once to the smith and ask him to forge you young, and you won’t know -yourself!” - -What could the husband do? Husbands must obey, and so off he drove. - -In the meantime, the smith had returned home and went to the smithy. He -went, and there was no sign of his man. He looked for him everywhere, -asked everybody, questioned them, but it was no good, and all trace had -vanished. So he set to work by himself and began hammering. - -Then the husband drove up and said straight out to the smith: “Make a -young man of me, please!” - -“Are you in your senses, master? How can I make a young man of you?” - -“Oh! you know how to!” - -“I really have not any idea!” - -“Liar! fool! swindler! Why, you turned my old woman into a young one. Do -the same by me, otherwise life with her won’t be worth living.” - -“But I have not seen your wife!” - -“Never mind!—your young man saw her, and if he understood how to manage -the work, surely you, as the craftsman, understand! Set to work quickly, -unless you want to taste worse of me and be birched.” - -So the smith had no choice but to transform the master. So he quietly -asked the coachman what his man had done with the lady, and thought: -“Well, I don’t mind! I will do the same; it may come out to the same -tune, or it may not. I must look out for myself.” - -So he stripped the lord to his skin, clutched his legs up with nippers, -threw him into the forge, began to blow up the bellows, and burned him -to ashes. Afterwards he threw the bones—hurled them all into the milk, -and began watching would a young master emerge from the bath. And he -waited one hour, and another hour, and nothing happened, looked at the -little tub—all the little bones were floating about all burned to -pieces. - -And what was the lady doing? She sent messengers to the smithy. “When -was the master to be turned out?” And the poor smith answered that the -master had wished her a long life. And you may imagine what they thought -of this. Soon she learned that all the smith had done had been to burn -her husband to bits and not to make him young, and she was very angry -indeed, sent her body-servants, and ordered them to take the smith to -the gallows. The order was given, and the thing was done. The attendants -ran to the smith, laid hold of him, and took him to the gallows. - -Then the same young man who had acted as a hand to the smith came and -asked: “Where are they taking you, master?” - -“They are going to hang me!” the smith said. And he explained what had -happened. - -“Well, never mind, uncle!” said the Unholy Spirit. “Swear that you will -never strike me with your hammer, and I will secure you such honour as -your father had. The lady’s husband shall arise young and in full -health.” - -The smith swore and made oath that he would never raise the hammer on -the devil and would give him every honour. - -Then the workman ran to the smithy, and soon returned with the husband, -crying out to the servants to stop and not to hang the smith, for there -the master was! He then untied the ropes and set the smith free. - -And the youth thereafter never more spat on the devil and beat him with -a hammer. But his workman vanished and was never seen again. The master -and mistress lived on and experienced good in their life, and they are -still alive, if they are not dead. - - - - - THE PRINCESS WHO WOULD NOT SMILE - - -If you think of it, what a big world God’s world is: in it rich and poor -folk live, and there is room enough for them all; and the Lord overlooks -and judges them all. There are fine folk who have holidays, there are -wailful folk who must moil; every man has his lot. - - * * * * * - -In the Tsar’s palace, in the Prince’s chamber, every day the Princess -Without a Smile grew fairer. What a life she had, what plenty, what -beauty round her! There was enough of everything that exists that the -soul may desire, but she never smiled, never laughed, and it seemed as -though her heart could not rejoice at anything. - -It was a bitter thing for the Tsar her father to gaze at his doleful -daughter. He used to open his imperial palace to whoever would be his -guest. “Come,” he said, “come and try to enliven the Princess Without a -Smile: any one who succeeds shall gain her as his wife.” And as soon as -he had said this all folk thronged up at the gates of the palace, -driving up from all sides, coming on foot, Tsarévichi and princes’ sons, -_boyárs_ and noblemen, military folk and civil. Feasts were celebrated, -rivers of mead flowed, and the Princess would not smile. - -But, at the other end of the town, in his own little hut, there dwelt an -honourable labourer. Every morning he used to sweep out the courtyard: -every evening he used to pasture the cattle, and he was engaged in -ceaseless labour. His master was a rich man, a just man, and he did not -begrudge pay. When the year came to an end he put a purse of money on -the table, “Take,” he said, “as much as you like”; and the master went -outside. - -The workman went up to the table and thought, “How shall I not be guilty -in the eyes of God if I take too much for my labour?” So he took only -one little coin, put it into the hollow of his hand and thought he would -have a little drink. So he went to the well, and the coin slipped -through his fingers and fell to the bottom. So the poor fellow had -nothing left. Now, anybody else in his place would have cried out, would -have become melancholy and angry, might have put his hands up. He did -nothing of the sort. “Everything,” he said, “comes from God. The Lord -knows what He gives to each man, whose money He divides, from whom He -takes the last money. Evidently I have given bad care, I have done -little work; and now am I to become angry?” - -So he set to work once more. And all that his hand touched flew like -fire. Then, when the term was over, when one year more had gone by, the -master again put a purse of money on the table: “Take,” he said, “as -much as your soul desires”; and he himself went outside. - -Then again the labourer thought how he should not offend God, how he -should not take too much for his work. So he took one coin and he went -to have a little drink at the well. In some way or other the money fell -from his hands and the coin tumbled into the well and was lost. - -So he set to work even more obstinately: at night he would not sleep and -by day he would not eat. Other men saw their corn grow dry and yellow, -but his master’s corn prospered amain. Some men’s cattle became -bowlegged, but his master’s gambolled in the street. And the horses of -some masters fell downhill, but his master’s could not be kept to the -bridle. The master knew very well whom he must thank, to whom he must -render gratitude. So, when the third year came to an end, he laid a pile -of money on the table: “Take, my dear man, as much as your soul desires. -It is your work, and it is your money”; and he went out of the room. - -Once more the workman took a single coin, went to the well for a drink -of water and looked, and the lost money floated up to the surface: so he -took them, and he then felt sure that God had rewarded him for his -labour. He was joyous and thought, “It is now the time for me to go and -look at the white world and to learn of people.” So he thought this, and -he went out whither his eyes gazed. - -He went on to the field, and he saw a mouse running: “My friend, my dear -gossip, give me a coin; I will be of service to you.” - -So he gave the mouse a coin. - -Then he went to the forest, and a beetle crept up and said, “My friend, -my dear gossip, give me a coin; I will be of service to you.” - -So he gave him the second coin. - -Then he came up to the stream, and he met a sheat-fish. “My friend, my -dear gossip, give me a coin; I shall be of service to you.” - -And he could not refuse him, so he gave his last coin. - -So then he came into the city. Oh, it was so thronged! All the doors -were opened, and he looked, and the workman turned in all directions, -and he did not know where to go. In front of him stood the Tsar’s palace -decked with gold and silver, and at the window the Tsarévna Without a -Smile sat and gazed on him straight. What should he do? The light in his -eyes turned dark, and a sleep fell on him, and he fell straight into the -mud. Up came the sheat-fish with his big whiskers, and after him the -beetle and the mouse: they all ran up, they all pressed round him and -did all the service they could. The little mouse took his coat: the -beetle cleaned his boots, and the sheat-fish drove away the flies. The -Princess Without a Smile gazed on their services, and she smiled. - -“Who is he who has enlivened my daughter?” cried the King. One man said -“I,” and another man said “I.” - -“No,” said the Princess, “that is the man there”; and she pointed out -the workman. - -Instantly he was taken into the palace, and the workman stood in the -imperial presence, a youth such as never was: then the Tsar kept his -princely word and gave what he had promised. - -I am saying it. Was not this a mere dream? Did not the workman only -dream it? They assure me this is not the fact, and that it all happened -in real truth; so you must believe it. - - - - - THE TSARÉVICH AND DYÁD’KA[21] - - -Once upon a time, in a certain kingdom, in a city of yore, there was a -King who had a dwarf son. The Tsarévich was fair to behold, and fair of -heart. But his father was not good: he was always tortured with greedy -thoughts, how he should derive greater profit from his country and -extract heavier taxes. - -One day he saw an old peasant passing by with sable, marten, beaver, and -fox-skins; and he asked him: “Old man! whence do you come?” - -“Out of the village, Father. I serve the Woodsprite with the iron hands, -the cast-iron head, and the body of bronze.” - -“How do you catch so many animals?” - -“The Woodsprite lays traps, and the animals are stupid and go into -them.” - -“Listen, old man; I will give you gold and wine. Show me where you put -the traps.” - -So the old man was persuaded, and he showed the King, who instantly had -the Woodsprite arrested and confined in a narrow tower. And in all the -Woodsprite’s forests the King himself laid traps. - -The Woodsprite-forester sat in his iron tower inside the royal garden, -and looked out through the window. One day, the Tsarévich, with his -nurses and attendants and very many faithful servant-maids, went into -the garden to play. He passed the door, and the Woodsprite cried out to -him: “Tsarévich, if you will set me free, I will later on help you.” - -“How shall I do this?” - -“Go to your mother and weep bitterly. Tell her: ‘Please, dear Mother, -scratch my head.’ Lay your head on her lap. Wait for the proper instant, -take the key of my tower out of her pocket, and set me free.” - -Iván Tsarévich did what the Woodsprite had told him, took the key; then -he ran into the garden, made an arrow, put the arrow on a catapult, and -shot it far away. And all the nurses and serving-maids ran off to find -the arrow. Whilst they were all running after the arrow Iván Tsarévich -opened the iron tower and freed the Woodsprite. The Woodsprite escaped -and destroyed all the King’s traps. - -Now the King could not catch any more animals, and became angry, and -attacked his wife for giving the key away and setting the Woodsprite -free. He assembled all the _boyárs_, generals, and senators to pronounce -the Queen’s doom, whether she should have her head cut off, or should be -merely banished. So the Tsarévich was greatly grieved; he was sorry for -his mother, and he acknowledged his guilt to his father. - -Then the King was very sorry, and didn’t know what to do to his son. He -asked all the _boyárs_ and generals, and said: “Is he to be hanged or to -be put into a fortress?” - -“No, your Majesty!” the _boyárs_, and generals, and senators answered in -one voice. “The scions of kings are not slain, and are not put in -prison; they are sent out into the white world to meet whatever fate God -may send them.” - -So Iván Tsarévich was sent out into the white world, to wander in the -four directions, to suffer the midday winds and the stress of the winter -and the blasts of the autumn; and was given only a birch-bark wallet and -Dyád’ka, his servant. - -So the King’s son set out with his servant into the open fields. They -went far and wide over hill and dale. Their way may have been long, and -it may have been short; and they at last reached a well. Then the -Tsarévich said to his servant, “Go and fetch me water.” - -“I will not go!” said the servant. - -So they went further on, and they once more came to a well. - -“Go and fetch me water—I feel thirsty,” the Tsarévich asked him a second -time. - -“I will not go.” - -Then they went on until they came to a third well. And the servant again -would not fetch any water. And the Tsarévich had to do it himself. When -the Tsarévich had gone down into the well the servant shut down the lid, -and said: “You be my servant, and I will be the Tsarévich; or I will -never let you come out!” - -The Tsarévich could not help himself, and was forced to give way; and -signed the bond to his servant in his own blood. Then they changed -clothes and rode on, and came to another land, where they went to the -Tsar’s court, the servant-man first, and the King’s son after. - -The servant-man sat as a guest with the Tsar, ate and drank at his -table. One day he said: “Mighty Tsar, send my servant into the kitchen!” - -So they took the Tsarévich as scullion, let him draw water and hew wood. -But very soon the Tsarévich was a far finer cook than all the royal -chefs. Then the Tsar noticed and began to like his young scullion, and -gave him gold. So all the cooks became envious and sought some -opportunity of getting rid of the Tsarévich. One day he made a cake and -put it into the oven, so the cooks put poison in and spread it over the -cake. And the Tsar sat at table, and the cake was taken up. When the -Tsar was going to take it, the cook came running up, and cried out: -“Your Majesty, do not eat it!” And he told all imaginable lies of Iván -Tsarévich. Then the King summoned his favourite hound and gave him a bit -of the cake. The dog ate it and died on the spot. - -So the Tsar summoned the Prince and cried out to him in a thundering -voice: “How dared you bake me a poisoned cake! You shall be instantly -tortured to death!” - -“I know nothing about it; I had no idea of it, your Majesty!” the -Tsarévich answered. “The other cooks were jealous of your rewarding me, -and so they have deliberately contrived the plot.” - -Then the Tsar pardoned him, and he made him a horseherd. - -One day, as the Tsarévich was taking his drove to drink, he met the -Woodsprite with the iron hands, the cast-iron head, and the body of -bronze. “Good-day, Tsarévich; come with me, visit me.” - -“I am frightened that the horses will run away.” - -“Fear nothing. Only come.” - -His hut was quite near. The Woodsprite had three daughters, and he asked -the eldest: “What will you give Iván Tsarévich for saving me out of the -iron tower?” - -“I will give him this table-cloth.” - -With the table-cloth Iván Tsarévich went back to his horses, which were -all gathered together, turned it round and asked for any food that he -liked, and he was served, and meat and drink appeared at once. - -Next day he was again driving his horses to the river, and the -Woodsprite appeared once more. “Come into my hut!” - -So he went with him. And the Woodsprite asked his second daughter, “What -will you give Iván Tsarévich for saving me out of the iron tower?” - -“I will give him this mirror, in which he can see all he will.” - -And on the third day the third daughter gave him a pipe, which he need -only put to his lips, and music, and singers, and musicians would appear -before him. - -And it was a merry life that Iván Tsarévich now led. He had good food -and good meat, knew whatever was going on, saw everything, and he had -music all day long: no man was better. And the horses! They—it was -really wonderful—were always well fed, well set-up, and shapely. - -Now, the fair Tsarévna had been noticing the horseherd for a long time, -for a very long time, for how could so fair a maiden overlook the -beautiful boy? She wanted to know why the horses he kept were always so -much shapelier and statelier than those which the other herds looked -after. “I will one day go into his room,” she said, “and see where the -poor devil lives.” As every one knows, a woman’s wish is soon her deed. -So one day she went into his room, when Iván Tsarévich was giving his -horses drink. And there she saw the mirror, and looking into that she -knew everything. She took the magical cloth, the mirror, and the pipe. - -Just about then there was a great disaster threatening the Tsar. The -seven-headed monster, Ídolishche, was invading his land and demanding -his daughter as his wife. “If you will not give her to me willy, I will -take her nilly!” he said. And he got ready all his immense army, and the -Tsar fared ill. And he issued a decree throughout his land, summoned the -_boyárs_ and knights together, and promised any who would slay the -seven-headed monster half of his wealth and half his realm, and also his -daughter as his wife. - -Then all the princes and knights and the _boyárs_ assembled together to -fight the monster, and amongst them Dyád’ka. The horseherd sat on a pony -and rode behind. - -Then the Woodsprite came and met him, and said: “Where are you going, -Iván Tsarévich?” - -“To the war.” - -“On this sorry nag you will not do much, and still less if you go in -your present guise. Just come and visit me.” - -He took him into his hut and gave him a glass of _vódka_. Then the -King’s son drank it. “Do you feel strong?” asked the Woodsprite. - -“If there were a log there fifty _puds_, I could throw it up and allow -it to fall on my head without feeling the blow.” - -So he was given a second glass of _vódka_. - -“How strong do you feel now?” - -“If there were a log here one hundred _puds_, I could throw it higher -than the clouds on high.” - -Then he was given a third glass of _vódka_. - -“How strong are you now?” - -“If there were a column stretching from heaven to earth, I should turn -the entire universe round.” - -So the Woodsprite took _vódka_ out of another bottle and gave the King’s -son yet more drink, and his strength was increased sevenfold. They went -in front of the house; and he whistled loud, and a black horse rose out -of the earth, and the earth trembled under its hoofs. Out of its -nostrils it breathed flames, columns of smoke rose from its ears, and as -its hoofs struck the ground sparks arose. It ran up to the hut and fell -on its knees. - -“There is a horse!” said the Woodsprite. And he gave Iván Tsarévich a -sword and a silken whip. - -So Iván Tsarévich rode out on his black steed against the enemy. On the -way he met his servant, who had climbed a birch-tree and was trembling -for fear. Iván Tsarévich gave him a couple of blows with his whip, and -started out against the hostile host. He slew many people with the -sword, and yet more did his horse trample down. And he cut off the seven -heads of the monster. - -Now Marfa Tsarévna was seeing all this, because she kept looking in the -glass, and so learned all that was going on. After the battle she rode -out to meet Iván Tsarévich, and asked him: “How can I thank you?” - -“Give me a kiss, fair maiden!” - -The Tsarévna was not ashamed, pressed him to her very heart, and kissed -him so loud that the entire host heard it! - -Then the King’s son struck his horse one blow and vanished. Then he -returned to his room, and sat there as though nothing had happened, -whilst his servant boasted that he had gone to the battle and slain the -foe. So the Tsar awarded him great honours, promised him his daughter, -and set a great feast. But the Tsarévna was not so stupid, and said she -had a severe headache. - -What was the future son-in-law to do? “Father,” he said to the Tsar, -“give me a ship, I will go and get drugs for my bride; and see that your -herdsman comes with me, as I am so well accustomed to him.” - -The Tsar consented; gave him the ship and the herdsman. - -So they sailed away, may be far or near. Then the servant had a sack -sewn, and the Prince put into it, and cast him into the water. But the -Tsarévna saw the evil thing that had been done, through her magic -mirror; and she quickly summoned her carriage and drove to the sea, and -on the shore there the Woodsprite sat weaving a great net. - -“Woodsprite, help me on my way, for Dyád’ka the servant has drowned the -King’s son!” - -“Here, maiden, look, the net is ready. Help me with your white hands.” - -Then the Tsarévna threw the net into the deep; fished the King’s son up, -took him home, and told her father the whole story. - -So they celebrated a merry wedding and held a great feast. In a Tsar’s -palace mead has not to be brewed or any wine to be drawn; there is -always enough ready. - -Then the servant in the meantime was buying all sorts of drugs, and came -back. He came to the palace, was seized, but prayed for mercy. But he -was too late, and he was shot in front of the castle gate. - -The wedding of the King’s son was very jolly, and all the inns and all -the beer-houses were opened for an entire week, for everybody, without -any charge. - - -I was there. I drank honey and mead, which came up to my moustache, but -never entered my mouth. - - - - - PRINCE EVSTÁFI - - -In a certain kingdom once there lived a Tsar who had a young -son—Tsarévich Evstáfi—who did not love visiting or dances, nor -promenades, but only liked going in the streets and walking among the -poor, the simple folk, and the beggars, and bestowing alms on them. And -the Tsar was very angry with him for this, and commanded him to be taken -up to the gallows and to be delivered to a cruel death. - -So the attendants took the Tsarévich, and were on the point of hanging -him, when the Tsarévich fell on his knees before his father and began to -ask for three hours’ interval. And the Tsar agreed, and gave him the -three hours’ respite. - -And the Tsarévich went to the silversmith’s and ordered him to make -three chests—one of gold, one of silver, and for the third he was simply -to divide a stump into two, to mortise out a trough, and to attach a -lock. So the smith made the three cases, and took them up to the -gallows. - -The Tsar with all his _boyárs_ looked on to see what was going to -happen. And the Tsarévich opened the cases and showed them. On the gold -one, very much gold had been poured, on the silver, very much silver had -been poured, and the wooden one was buried in dirt. He showed them, and -once more opened the cases, and then banged them tight. - -And the Tsar was even more angry, and he asked Prince Evstáfi: “What is -this new insolence of yours?” - -“My king and my father,” said the Tsarévich Evstáfi, “you are here with -the _boyárs_ to value these cases, what they are worth.” - -Then the _boyárs_ valued the silver case at a high price, and the golden -one at a higher price still, and did not deign to look at the wooden -one. - -And Evstáfi Tsarévich said: “Now open the cases and see what is in -them.” - -And they opened the golden case and there were snakes and frogs and all -sorts of dirt in it; and looked into the silver one, and they saw the -same; and looked into the wooden one, and there trees with leaves and -fruit were growing, which emitted sweet odours, and in the middle there -was a church and an orchard. - -And the Tsar was humbled; and did not bid Evstáfi be punished. - - - - - VASILÍSA POPÓVNA - - -In a certain kingdom, in a certain country, once there lived Vasíli the -pope and his daughter, Vasilísa Vasílyevna. She used to dress in male -fashion, used to sit astride on horseback; shot with her gun, and did -nothing like other girls; and there were very few who knew that she was -a maiden. It was always thought that she was a man, and they called her -Vasíli Vasílyevich. And the main reason that they so called her was -because Vasilísa Vasílyevna loved _vódka_—a custom ill-befitting a maid. - -Once Tsar Bárkhat[22] (this was the name of the King) was travelling -through this same country hunting deer, and Vasilísa Vasílyevna met him: -she was riding out to hounds in a man’s clothes. When Tsar Bárkhat saw -her, he asked: “Who is this young man?” - -And an attendant answered him: “Tsar, this is no young man, but a -maiden. I am certain of it; she is the daughter of Pope Vasíli, and her -name is Vasilísa Vasílyevna.” - -The Tsar had hardly reached home before he sent a note to Pope Vasíli, -bidding his son Vasíli Vasílyevich come and dine with him at the -imperial table. And he, in the meantime, went to his old evil-tempered -housekeeper and bade her devise some means of eliciting whether Vasíli -Vasílyevich were a maiden. - -The old evil housekeeper said: “Hang an embroidery-frame in your palace, -at the right hand, and a gun on the left; if she is really Vasilísa -Vasílyevna, she will, as soon as ever she enters the palace, first take -hold of the frame; but, if it is Vasíli Vasílyevich he will lay hands on -the gun.” - -Tsar Bárkhat obeyed the counsel of his ancient evil housekeeper and -ordered his attendants to hang an embroidery-frame and a flint-lock up -in the palace. - -As soon as ever her father Vasíli received the Tsar’s message he -communicated it to his daughter, Vasilísa Vasílyevna, who at once went -into the stable and saddled the grey horse with the silver mane, and -rode straight out to the courtyard of Tsar Bárkhat. - -Tsar Bárkhat came to meet her. She humbly prayed God, crossed herself as -is ordained, bowed to all four sides, and greeted Tsar Bárkhat -friendlywise, and with him entered the palace. They sat down to table -together, ate sweetmeats, and drank strong wine. After the dinner -Vasilísa Vasílyevna went for a walk with the Tsar through the palace. As -soon as ever she saw the embroidery-frame she began to scold Tsar -Bárkhat: “Whatever nonsense have you hanging up there, Tsar Bárkhat? I -never saw such girlish trash in my father’s house, and I have never -heard of it, and yet you find it hanging in Tsar Bárkhat’s palace!” And -she promptly bade a courteous farewell to the Tsar and rode home. - -And the Tsar was still in a quandary whether she were a maiden or not. -Two days later Tsar Bárkhat sent another message to Pope Vasíli, begging -him send his son Vasíli Vasílyevich. As soon as Vasilísa Vasílyevna -heard that she went into the stable and saddled the grey horse with the -silver mane, and galloped away to Tsar Bárkhat’s courtyard. Tsar Bárkhat -came to meet her, and she greeted him friendlily, modestly prayed to -God, crossed herself, as is becoming, and bowed to the four quarters of -the wind. At the advice of the old and evil housekeeper he had commanded -a sweet pie to be made for supper and pearls to be mixed in it, for the -old hag said: “If it is only Vasilísa Vasílyevna, she will take up the -pearls; but, if it is Vasíli Vasílyevich, he will throw them under the -table.” - -So they passed the time merrily and they sat down. The Tsar sat at table -and Vasilísa Vasílyevna on his right. They ate sweetmeats and they drank -strong wines. Then there came the pie, and as soon as even Vasilísa -Vasílyevna’s spoon touched it, it tingled on the pearls; and she flung -them and the pie under the table, and began to scold the Tsar. “Who,” -she asked, “put these into the pie? Whatever nonsense have you here, -Tsar Bárkhat? I never saw such girlish trash in my father’s house, and I -have never heard of them, and yet you find them in Tsar Bárkhat’s food!” -And she bade farewell courteously and rode home. - -Still the Tsar was utterly at a loss whether it were a maiden, and he -had made up his mind to find out. So, two days later, the Tsar, at the -advice of the old evil-minded housekeeper, had the bath heated, for the -old woman said: “If it is only Vasilísa Vasílyevna she will not go into -the bath together with the Tsar.” So the bath was heated, and Tsar -Bárkhat sent Pope Vasíli another message that he would like to have his -son Vasíli Vasílyevich as his guest; and when Vasilísa Vasílyevna heard -of it she went into the stable and saddled the grey horse with the -silver mane, and galloped away to Tsar Bárkhat’s courtyard. He received -her at the state entrance. They greeted each other friendlily, and she -trod on velvet pile into the palace. As she came in she prayed devoutly, -crossed herself, as is seemly, and bowed to all four quarters, and sat -together with the Tsar at table. They ate sweetmeats and drank strong -wine. - -After the dinner the Tsar said: “Will you not come with me into the -bath, Vasíli Vasílyevich?” - -“If you wish it, mighty Tsar,” Vasilísa Vasílyevna answered. “It is a -long time since I have had a bath, and I should like a steam bath.” - -But before ever the Tsar had had time to undress in the front room, she -was in the bath and out of it, so quick was she, and the Tsar was as -puzzled as ever. In the meantime Vasilísa Vasílyevna had written a -letter and bade the attendants give it to the Tsar as soon as he came -out of the bath. And this was what she wrote: - -“O you crow, you Tsar Bárkhat! The crow has not caught the falcon in the -garden. I am not Vasíli Vasílyevich, but Vasilísa Vasílyevna!” - -This was the way in which Tsar Bárkhat was hoodwinked; and you see how -clever and beautiful Vasilísa Vasílyevna was. - - - - - THE DREAM - - -One day an old, old man was wandering about the earth, and he asked for -a night’s shelter from the peasant. “Certainly,” said the peasant—“I -shall be only too glad; only, will you go on telling me stories all -night long?” - -“Yes, all right! I will tell you stories; only, let me rest here.” - -“Then, pray, come in!” - -So the old man entered the hut and lay down on the sleeping bench on the -top of the stove. - -And the master said: “Make yourself ready, honoured guest. We shall have -supper. Now, old man, tell me a story.” - -“Wait a bit; I had better tell you one in the morning.” - -“As it please you!” And they lay down to sleep. - -Then the old man went to sleep, and dreamed that there were two candles -blazing in front of the images and two birds fluttering in the -_izbá_.[23] He felt thirsty, and wanted to drink, got off the sleeping -bench, and there were newts running about on the floor. And he went up -to the table, and saw frogs jumping and croaking on it. Then he looked -up at the master’s eldest son, and there was a snake lying in between -him and his wife. And he looked at the second son, and on the second -son’s wife there was a cat which was yawning at the man. Then he looked -at the third son, and between him and his wife there was a young man -lying. This all seemed rather queer to the old man, and rather strange. - -So he went and lay on the corn-kiln, and there he heard shrieks: -“Sister! Sister! come and fetch me!” Then he went and lay under the -fence, and there he heard a cry: “Pull me out and stick me in again!” -Then he went and lay on the cauldron, and he heard a cry: “I am hanging -on the cross-beam! I am falling on the cross-beam!” Then he went back -into the hut. - -The master woke up and said: “Now tell me a story.” - -But the old man replied: “I shall not tell you a story, only the truth. -Do you know what I have just dreamed? I went to sleep and thought I saw -two candles blazing in front of the images and two birds fluttering -inside the hut.” - -“Those are my two angels fluttering about.” - -“And I also saw a snake lying between your son and his wife.” - -“That is because they quarrel.” - -“And I looked also at your second son, and there was a cat sitting on -his wife, and yawning at the man.” - -“That means that they are bad friends, and the wife wants to get rid of -the husband.” - -“Then, when I looked at your next son, I saw a youth lying in between -them.” - -“That is not a youth, but an angel who was lying there; and that is why -they are on such good and loving terms.” - -“Why is it, then, master of the house, when I slipped off the sleeping -shelf that there were newts running on the floor; and, when I wanted to -drink at the table, I saw frogs leaping about and croaking?” - -“Because,” the peasant answered, “my daughters-in-law do not sweep up -the lathes; but put the _kvas_ on the table when they are sitting round -together without saying grace.” - -“Then I went to sleep on the corn-kiln, and I heard a cry: ‘Sister! -Sister! come and fetch me!’” - -“That means that my sons never put the brush back into its place and say -the proper blessing.” - -“Then I went to lie under the fence, and I heard a cry: ‘Pull me out and -stick me in again!’” - -“That means that the stick’s upside-down.” - -“Then I went and lay under the cauldron. And I heard a cry of ‘I am -hanging on the cross-beam! I am falling on the cross-beam!’” - -“That means,” said the master, “that, when I die, my entire house will -fall.” - - - - - THE SOLDIER AND THE TSAR IN THE FOREST - - -In a certain kingdom, in a certain State, lived a peasant who had two -sons. The recruiting-sergeant came round and took the elder brother. So -the elder brother served the Tsar with faith and loyalty, and was so -fortunate in his service that in a few years he attained a general’s -rank. - -Now at this same time there was a new enlistment, and the lot fell on -his younger brother, and they shaved his brow. And it so happened that -he was made to serve in the very same regiment in which his brother was -a general. The soldier recognised the general, but it was no good, -because the general would not acknowledge him at all: “I do not know -you, and you must not claim acquaintance with me!” - -One day the soldier was standing on sentry-go at the ammunition-wagons -just outside the general’s quarters, and the general was giving a great -dinner, and a multitude of officers and gentlemen were going to him. The -soldier saw that it was jollity within, but that he himself had nothing -at all, and he began to weep bitter tears. - -Then the guests began to ask him, “Tell us, soldier, why are you -crying?” - -“Why should I not cry? There is my own brother faring abroad and making -merry, but he forgets me!” - -Then the guests told the general of this; but the general was angry: “Do -not believe him, he is an utter liar.” So he ordered him to be taken -away from sentry-go, and to be given thirty blows with the cat, so that -he should not dare to claim kinship. - -This offended the soldier, so he put on undress uniform and decamped. - -In some time, maybe long, maybe short, he found himself in a wood so -wild, so dreamy, that he could not get out of it anywhere, and he began -killing time and feeding on berries and roots. - -Just about this time the Tsar was setting out, and made a mighty hunt -with a splendid suite. They galloped into the open fields, let loose the -hounds, and sounded trumpets, and began to press in. Suddenly from -somewhere or other a beautiful stag leapt out straight in front of the -Tsar, dived into the river, and swam across to the other side right into -the wood. The Tsar followed after him, swam over the river, leapt and -leapt and looked; but the stag had vanished from view, and he had left -the hunters far behind, and all around him was the thick dark forest. -Where should he go? He did not know: he could not see a single path. So -until the fall of the evening he ambled about and tired himself out. - -On his way the runaway soldier met him. “Hail, good man, where are you -going?” - -“Oh, I was out on a hunt and I lost my way in the wood; will you lead me -to the right path, brother?” - -“Who are you?” - -“A servant of the Tsar.” - -“Well, it is dark now; we had better take shelter somewhere in the -thickets, and to-morrow I will show you the way.” - -So they went to look where they might pass the night, went on and on, -and they saw a little hut. “Oho! God has sent us a bed for the night; -let us go there,” said the soldier. So they went into the little hut. - -There an old woman sat. “Hail, _bábushka_!” - -“Hail, soldier!” - -“Give us something to eat and drink.” - -“I have eaten it all up myself, and there is not anything to be had.” - -“You are lying, old devil!” said the soldier, and began rummaging about -in the stove and on the shelves. And he found plenty in the old woman’s -hut: wine and food, and all ready. So they sat down at the table, -feasted to their fill, and went to lie down in the attic. - -Then the soldier said to the Tsar, “God guards him who guards himself; -let one of us rest and the other stand guard.” So they cast lots, and -the Tsar had to take the first watch. Then the soldier gave him his -sharp cutlass, put him at the door, bade him not go to sleep, and arouse -him if anything should happen. Then he himself lay down to sleep. But he -thought, “Will my comrade be able to stand sentry-go? Possibly he is -unaccustomed to it; I will take watch over him.” Then the Tsar stood -there and stood, and soon began to nod. - -“What are you nodding for?” asked the soldier: “are you going to sleep?” - -“No!” said the Tsar. - -“Well, then, keep a good look-out!” - -So the Tsar stood a quarter of an hour, and again dozed off. - -“Ho, friend, you are not dozing?” - -“No, I don’t think so.” And he again dozed off. - -“Ho, friend, you are not dozing?” - -“I don’t think so: if you go to sleep do not blame me.” - -Then the Tsar stood a quarter of an hour longer, and his legs bowed in, -he fell on the ground and went to sleep. - -The soldier jumped up, took the cutlass and went to recall him and to -have a talk: “Why do you keep guard in this way? I have served for ten -years, and my colonel never forgave me a single sleep: evidently they -have not taught you anything. I forgave you once before; a third guilt -is unpardonable. Well, now go to sleep; I will stand and watch.” - -So the Tsar went and lay down to sleep, and the soldier went -sentry-guard and did not close his eyes. - -Very soon there was a whistling and a knocking, and robbers came into -that hut. The old woman met them and told them, “Guests have come in to -spend the night.” - -“That is very well, _bábushka_; we have been rambling the woods in vain -all night, and our luck has come into the hut; give us supper.” - -“But our guests have eaten and drunk everything up.” - -“What bold fellows they must be: where are they?” - -“They have gone to sleep in the garret.” - -“Very well; I will go and settle them!” - -So a robber took a big knife and crept up into the garret; but as soon -as ever he had poked his head into the door, the soldier swept his -cutlass round, and off came his head. - -Then the soldier took a drink and stood and waited on eventualities. So -the robbers waited and waited and waited. “What a long time he has -been!” So they sent a man to look after him and the soldier killed him -also, and in a short time he had chopped off the heads of all the -robbers. - -At dawn the Tsar awoke, saw the corpses, and asked, “Ho, soldier, into -what danger have we fallen?” - -So the soldier told him all that had happened. Then they came down from -the attic. When the soldier saw the old woman he cried out to her, -“Here, stop, you old devil! I must have some business with you. Why are -you acting as a receiver for robbers? Give us all the money now.” So the -old woman opened a box full of gold, and the soldier filled his knapsack -with gold and all of his pockets. He then said to his companion: “You -also take some.” - -So the Tsar answered, “No, brother, I need not; our Tsar has money -enough without this; and if he has it, we shall also have it.” - -“Well, I suppose you ought to know!” said the soldier, and he took him -out of the wood into the broad road. “Go,” he said, “on this road, and -in an hour you will reach the town.” - -“Farewell,” said the Tsar. “Thank you for the service you have done me; -come and see me, and I will make you a happy man.” - -“Very well; but that’s a fine tale! I am a runaway soldier: if I show my -head in the town I shall be seized on the spot.” - -“Have no fear, soldier: the Tsar is very fond of me; and, if I ask him -for a favour on your behalf and tell him of your bravery, he will -forgive you and have pity on you.” - -“Where can I find you?” - -“Go into the palace.” - -“Very well; I will go there to-morrow.” - -So the Tsar and the soldier said good-bye. And the Tsar went on the -broad road into his capital, and without delay he ordered all the staffs -and the watches and the sentries to keep their eyes open, and as soon as -a certain soldier came to give him the honour due to a general. - -Next day, as soon as ever the soldier had appeared at the barriers, a -sentry ran out and gave him a generous honour. So the soldier wondered, -“What does this mean?” And he asked, “To whom are you showing these -honours?” - -“To you, soldier.” - -So he took a handful of gold out of his wallet and gave it to the sentry -as a tip. Then he entered the town. Wherever he went all the sentries -gave him honours, and he always paid them back in tips. “What a wretched -dolt was this servant of the Tsar’s: he has given a hint to everybody -that I have plenty of money on me!” So he came up to the palace, and the -entire army was assembled there, and the Tsar met him in the same dress -in which he had gone hunting. - -Then the soldier at last saw with whom he had passed the night in the -wood, and he was terribly frightened. “This was the Tsar,” he said, “and -I threatened him with my cutlass, just as though he had been my -brother!” But the Tsar took him by the hand and rewarded him with a -generalship, and degraded the brother into the ranks, telling him he -must not disown his own kin. - - - - - THE TALE OF ALEXANDER OF MACEDON - - -Once upon a time there lived a king on the earth whose name was -Alexander of Macedon: this was in the old days very long ago. So long -ago that neither our grandfathers, nor great-grandfathers, nor our -great-great-grandfathers, nor our great-great-great-grandfathers -recollect it. This Tsar was one of the greatest knights of all knights -that ever were. No champion of earth could ever conquer him. He loved -warfare, and all his army consisted entirely of knights. Whomsoever Tsar -Alexander of Macedon might go to combat, he would conquer, and he -numbered under his sway all the kings of the earth. - -He went to the edge of the world, and he discovered such peoples that -he, however bold he was himself, felt afraid of them; ferocious folk, -fiercer than wild beasts, who ate men; live folks who had but one eye; -and that eye was on the forehead; folks who had three eyes, folks who -had only a single leg; others who had three, and they ran as fast as an -arrow darts from the bow. The names of these peoples were the Gogs and -Magogs. Tsar Alexander of Macedon never lost courage at seeing these -strange folk, but he set to and waged warfare on them. It may be long, -it may be short, the war he waged—we do not know. Only the wild peoples -became dispersed and ran away from him. He began to hunt and to chase -after them, and he chased them into such thickets, precipices and -mountains as no tale can tell and no pen can describe. - -So at last they were able to hide themselves from Tsar Alexander of -Macedon. What then did Tsar Alexander of Macedon do with them? He rolled -one mountain over them, and then another roof-wise on top; on the arch -he put trumpets, and he went back to his own land. The winds blew into -the trumpets, and a fearsome roar was then raised to the skies, and the -Gogs and Magogs sitting there cried out, “Oh, evidently Alexander of -Macedon must still be alive!” The Gogs and Magogs are still alive and to -this day are afraid of Alexander. But, before the end of the world, they -shall escape. - - - - - THE BROTHER OF CHRIST - - -An old man was dying, and he was enjoining on his son not to forget the -poor. - -So on Easter Day he went into the church, and he took some fine eggs -with him with which to greet his poor brothers, although his mother was -very angry with him for so doing—for she was an evil-minded woman and -merciless to the poor. - -When he reached the church there was only one egg left, and there was -one dirty old man. And the lad took him home to break his fast with him. - -When the mother saw the poor man, she was very wroth. “It would be -better,” she said, “to break your fast with a dog than with such a -filthy old beggar.” And she would not break the fast. - -So the son and the old man broke their fast together, and went out for a -walk. Then the son looked and saw that the dress of the old man was very -shabby, but the cross on him burnt like fire. - -“Come,” said the old man, “we will change crosses; you become my brother -by the cross.” - -“No, brother,” the lad replied, “however much I may wish it; for I -should get such a fine cross as you are carrying, and can give you -nothing in return.” - -But the old man overbore the youth, and they exchanged. And he asked him -to come as his guest on Tuesday in Easter week. “And if you want to find -your way,” he said, “follow the path yonder. You need only say, ‘The -Lord bless me!’ and you will find me.” - -That very Tuesday the youth set out on the footpath, and said: “The Lord -bless me!” and set out on his way journeying forth. He went a little -way, and he heard children crying: “Brother of Christ, speak of us to -Christ, whether we must be long in pain?” And he went on a few steps -farther; and he saw maidens ladling water out of one well into another. -“Brother of Christ!” they said to him, “speak of us to Christ, how long -we must remain in torture?” And he went on still farther, and saw a -hedge, and beneath that hedge there became visible old men, and they -were all covered with slime. And they said to him: “Brother of Christ, -speak of us to Christ, how long shall we remain in pain?” - -And so he went on and on. Then he saw the very old man with whom he had -broken his fast. And the old man asked him: “What did you see on the -way?” - -And the youth recounted all that he had met. - -“Well, do you recognise me?” said the old man. And it was only at this -moment that the peasant boy understood that he was speaking to Jesus -Christ Himself. - -“Why, O Lord, are the children tortured?” - -“Their mother cursed them in the womb, and they can never enter -Paradise.” - -“And the maidens?” - -“They traded in milk, and they mixed water with their milk; and now for -all eternity they must ladle out water.” - -“And the old men?” - -“They lived in the white world, and they used to say: ‘How pleasant it -really might be to live in this world! But, as it is, there is nothing -worth caring about!’ So they must bear up against the mire.”[24] - -Then Christ led the boy into Paradise, and told him his place was ready -for him there, and you may be sure the boy was none too anxious to leave -it on that day. And afterwards He led him into Hell, and there the -peasant’s mother was sitting. - -So the peasant boy began to beseech Christ to have mercy on her. “Have -mercy on her, Lord!” - -And Christ bade the lad plait a rope of brome-grass. The peasant plaited -the rope of brome-grass, and the Lord must have supervised. - -And he brought it to Christ, Who said: “Now you have been weaving this -rope for thirty years and have laboured sufficiently for your mother, -rescue her out of Hell.” - -And the son dangled the rope down to the mother who was sitting in the -boiling pitch. And the rope never burned nor singed: so did God provide. -And the son tried and tried to drag his mother up, and caught hold of -her head, and she cried out to him: “You savage dog! Why, you are almost -choking me!” Then the rope broke off, and the guilty soul once more flew -down into the burning pitch. - -“She had not desired to escape,” said Christ, “and all of her heart is -down there, and she must stay there for all eternity.” - - - - - ALYÓSHA POPÓVICH[25] - - -In the sky the young bright moon was being born, and on the earth, of -the old prebendary, the old pope León, a son was born, a mighty knight, -and he was called by name Alyósha Popóvich, a fair name for him. - -When they began to feed Alyósha, what was a week’s food for any other -babe was a day’s food for him, what was a year’s food for others was a -week’s food for him. - -Alyósha began going about the streets and playing with the young boys. -If he touched the little hand of anyone, that hand was gone: if he -touched the little nose of anyone, that nose was done for: his play was -insatiate and terrible. Anyone he grappled with by the waist, he slew. - -And Alyósha began to grow up, so he asked his mother and father for -their blessing, for he wished to go and to fare into the open field. - -His father said to him, “Alyósha Popóvich, you are faring into the open -field, but we have yet one who is even mightier than you: do you take -into your service Marýshko, the son of Parán.” - -So the two youths mounted their good horses and they fared forth into -the open field. The dust rose behind them like a column, such doughty -youths were they to behold. - -So the two doughty youths went on to the court of Prince Vladímir. And -Alyósha Popóvich went straight to the white stone palace, to Prince -Vladímir, crossed himself as is befitting, bowed down in learned-wise in -all four directions, and especially low to Prince Vladímir. Prince -Vladímir came to meet the doughty youths and set them down at an oaken -table, gave the doughty youths good food and drink, and then asked their -news. And the doughty youths sat down to eat baked gingerbread and to -drink strong wines. - -Then Prince Vladímir asked the doughty youths, “Who are ye, doughty -youths? Are ye mighty knights of prowess or wandering wayfarers bearing -your burdens? I do not know either your name or your companion’s name.” - -So Alyósha Popóvich answered, “I am the son of the old prebendary León, -his young son Alyósha Popóvich, and my comrade and servant is Marýshko, -the son of Parán.” - -And when Alyósha had eaten and drunk he went and sat on the brick stove -to rest from the midday heat, whilst Marýshko sat at the table. - -Just at that time the knight, the Snake’s son, was making a raid and was -ravaging all the kingdom of Prince Vladímir. Túgarin Zmyéyevich[26] came -to the white stone palace, came to Prince Vladímir. With his left leg he -stepped on the threshold and with his right leg on the oaken table. He -drank and ate and had conversation with the princess, and he mocked -Prince Vladímir and reviled him. He put one round of bread to his cheek -and piled one on another; on his tongue he put an entire swan, and he -thrust off all the pastry and swallowed it all at a gulp. - -Alyósha Popóvich was lying on the brick stove, and spake in this wise to -Túgarin Zmyéyevich: “My old father, León the pope, had a little cow -which was a great glutton: it used to eat up all the beer vats with all -the lees; and then the little cow, the glutton, came to the lake, and it -drank and lapped all the water out of the lake, took it all up and it -burst, and so it would also have torn Túgarin to bits after his feed.” - -Then Túgarin was wroth with Alyósha Popóvich and burst on him with his -steel knife. Alyósha turned aside and stood behind an oaken column. Then -Alyósha spoke in this wise: “I thank you, Túgarin Zmyéyevich; you have -given me a steel knife: I will break your white breast, I will put out -your clear eyes, and I will behold your mettlesome heart.” - -Just at that time Marýshko Paránov leapt out from behind the table, the -oaken table, on to his swift feet, seized Túgarin, and fell on his back -and threw him over; lifted up one of the chairs and hurled in the white -stone palace, and the glass windows were shattered. - -Then Alyósha Popóvich said from the brick stove, “O Marýshko, son of -Parán, thou hast been a faithful servant!” - -And Marýshko the son of Parán answered, “Do you give me, Alyósha -Popóvich, your steel knife, and I will break open the white breast of -Túgarin Zmyéyevich, I will close his clear eyes, and I will gaze on his -mettlesome heart.” - -But Alyósha answered, “Hail, Marýshko Paránov, do you not sully the -white stone palace; let him go into the open field wherever he may, and -we will meet him to-morrow in the open field.” - -So, in the morning early, very early, Marýshko the son of Parán arose, -together with the little sun, and he led out the stout horses to water -them in the swift stream. Túgarin Zmyéyevich flew into the open and -challenged Alyósha Popóvich to fight him in the open field. And Marýshko -Paránov came to Alyósha Popóvich and said: “God must be your judge, -Alyósha Popóvich: you would not give me your steel knife; I should have -carved out the white breast from that pagan thief, should have gouged -out his bright eyes, and I should have taken out his mettlesome heart -and gazed on it. Now, what will you make of Túgarin? He is flying about -in the open.” - -Then Alyósha Popóvich spake in this wise: “That was no service, but -treachery.” - -So Alyósha led out his horse, saddled it with a Circassian saddle, -fastened it on with twelve silken girths, not for the sake of -decoration, but for the sake of strength. Alyósha set out into the open -field, and he saw Túgarin Zmyéyevich, who was flying in the open. - -Then Alyósha made a prayer: “Holy Mother of God, do thou punish the -black traitor, and grant out of the black cloud a thick gritty rain that -shall damp Túgarin’s light wings, and he may fall on the grey earth and -stand on the open field!” - -It was like two mountains falling on each other when Túgarin and Alyósha -met. They fought with their clubs, and their clubs were shattered at the -hilts. Their lances met, and their lances broke into shreds. Then -Alyósha Popóvich got down from his saddle like a sheaf of oats, and -Túgarin Zmyéyevich was almost striking Alyósha down. But Alyósha -Popóvich was cautious. He stood between his horse’s feet and, turning -round to the other side from there, smote Túgarin with his steel knife -under his right breast, and threw Túgarin from his good horse. And then -Alyósha Popóvich cried out, “Túgarin, I thank you, Túgarin Zmyéyevich, -for the steel knife: I will tear out your white breast, I will gouge out -your bright eyes, and I will gaze on your mettlesome heart.” - -Then Alyósha cut off his turbulent head, and he took the turbulent head -to Prince Vladímir. And as he went on he began playing with that little -head, flinging it high up in the air and catching it again on his sharp -lance. - -But Vladímir was dismayed. “I see Túgarin bringing me the turbulent head -of Alyósha Popóvich: he will now take captive all of our Christian -kingdom.” - -But Marýshko Paránov gave him answer: “Do not be distressed, oh bright -little sun, Vladímir, in thy capital of Kíev. If Túgarin is coming on -earth and is not flying in the skies he is putting his turbulent head on -my steel lance. Do not be afraid, Prince Vladímir; whatever comes I will -make friends with him.” - -Then Marýshko the son of Parán looked out into the open field, and he -recognised Alyósha Popóvich, and he said, “I can see the knightly gait -and youthful step of Alyósha Popóvich. He is guiding his horse uphill -and he is playing with a little head: he is throwing the little head -sky-high, and is catching the little head on the point of his sharp -lance. He who is riding is not the pagan Túgarin, but Alyósha Popóvich, -the son of the old prebendary, the pope León, who is bringing the head -of the pagan Túgarin Zmyéyevich.” - - - - - GOD’S BLESSING COMPASSES ALL THINGS - - -Once upon a time in a certain country, in a certain kingdom, there were -two peasants, Iván and Naúm. They entered into a partnership and went -together to look for work, and they rambled about until they came to a -rich village and got work with different masters. For the whole week -they kept at work and met on Sunday for the first time. - -“Brother, how much have you earned?” asked Iván. - -“God has given me five roubles.” - -“God gave them to you? He does not give much unless you work for it.” - -“No, Brother, without God’s blessing you can do nothing; you cannot gain -a groat.” - -So they quarrelled about this, and at last they decided, “We will each -go our own way. We will ask the first man we meet which of us is right. -He who loses the bet must sacrifice all his earnings.” - -So they went on some twenty paces. Afterwards they came across an unholy -spirit in human guise, and they asked him and received his reply. “What -you earn for yourself is the proper thing; place no reliance on God.” - -Naúm gave Iván his money and returned emptyhanded to his master. One -week later the two men met once again, and set about the same argument. -Naúm said: “Though you took my money from me last week, still, this week -God gave me yet more.” - -“If God gave it you as you said, we will once more ask the first person -who meets us who is right. The loser of the bet shall have the money, -and shall have his right hand hewn off.” - -Naúm consented. On their way they met the same devil, who returned the -same reply. Iván gave Naúm his money, hacked off his right hand, and -left it behind. - -Naúm pondered for a long time what he should do without his right hand. -Who would give him meat and drink? But God is merciful. So he went to -the river, and he lay down on a boat on the shore. “I will sit down -here, and to-morrow I may see what I shall do, for the morning is wiser -than the evening.” - -And about midnight very many devils assembled on the boat and began to -tell each other what tricks they had played. The first said: “I started -a quarrel between two peasants, backed up the one who was in the wrong; -and the one, who was in the right, had his hand hacked off.” - -“That’s not much of a feat! If he were to wave his hand, three times -over the dew, his hand would grow again,” said the second. - -Then the third began to boast, “I have sucked a lord’s daughter dry, and -she can hardly stir.” - -“What! if any one had any compassion on the lord, he would heal the -daughter at once. It is as simple as possible. You have only to take -this herb”—pointing to a herb on the shore—“cook it, boil her in the -brew, and she will be healed.” - -“In a certain pond,” a fifth devil said, “there is a peasant who has put -up a water-mill, and for many years he has been striving to make it go, -but whenever he lets the water through the sluice, I make a hole in it, -and all the water flows through.” - -“What a fool your peasant is!” said the sixth devil. “He ought to dam it -up well, and as soon as the water breaks through, throw in a sheaf of -straw, and all your work would be no good.” - -Naúm had listened very attentively. Next day he grew his hand on again, -then he saw to the peasant’s dam, and he healed the lord’s daughter. -Both the peasant and the lord rewarded him richly, and he lived a fine -life. - -Once he met his former companion, who was very much astonished, and -asked: “How is it you have become so rich, and how did you grow your -hand on again?” - -Naúm told him exactly what had happened, and kept nothing back. - -Iván listened very attentively, and thought, “Ha! I shall do the same, -and shall become richer than he!” So he went to the river and lay down -on the shore, in the boat. - -And at midnight all the devils gathered together. “Brothers,” they said, -“somebody must have been eavesdropping on us, for the peasant’s hand -grew again, the maiden is healed, and the mill-wheel is turning!” - -So they burst on the boat, found Iván, and tore him into tiny bits. - - * * * * * - -Then the wolves wept cows’ tears. - - - - - SHEMYÁK THE JUDGE - - -Once in a certain country, in a certain kingdom, there lived two -brothers; one was rich and the other poor. One day the poor brother came -to the rich and asked him for a horse to fetch wood out of the forest. -The rich man lent him a horse. Then the poor man also asked him for a -horse-collar: this the rich brother refused, and became angry. Then the -poor man decided to tie the wood to the horse’s tail. And so he drove -into the wood. He cut down so much wood that the horse could hardly drag -it. When he got home he opened the door, but he forgot to remove the -cross-beam. The horse jumped over it, but wrenched his tail out. - -The poor brother brought the rich man the horse back without a tail. -When he saw the animal in this condition, he would not take it; but went -with the poor man before Judge Shemyák. The poor man went with his -brother, and surmised he would fare very badly, for the sentence would -be exile; the poor man is a butt for all, as he cannot give anything. - -The brothers came to a rich peasant and asked for a night’s lodging. The -peasant gave the rich man good food and drink, but the poor man nothing. -The poor man lay on the oven and saw how merry the other two were -making; and fell down and killed the child in the cradle. - -Then the peasant decided to go with the brothers, to bring a further -indictment against the poor man. They went off together, the peasant and -the rich brother in front, and the poor man after them. Then they -crossed a bridge: the poor man considered that he would hardly escape -the Court with his life; so he jumped over the bridge, in order to -commit suicide. But, under the bridge, a son was bathing his sick -father, and the poor man fell plump on the old man and drowned him. Then -the son also went up to the Court in order to bring a plaint against the -poor man. - -The rich man put in a plea to the Court that his poor brother had torn -off the horse’s tail. In the meantime the poor man had wrapped a stone -in a cloth and was threatening the judge with it behind the brother’s -back, for he was thinking, “If the judge goes against me, I will kill -him.” The judge believed that the poor man was offering him a hundred -roubles so as to prove his case, and he gave judgment that the rich man -must leave the horse in the poor peasant’s possession until the tail -grew again. - -Then the peasant came and complained that the poor man had killed his -son. Once again the poor man lifted up the same stone in a menacing way -against the judge, behind the peasant’s back. And the judge this time -felt perfectly sure of getting a hundred roubles more for the judgment. -And he commanded the peasant to give his wife to the poor peasant until -another son was born. “Then you can take your wife and the child back.” - -This time it was the son’s turn. And he brought in a plea that the poor -man had murdered his father. Once again the poor man took the stone out -of his pocket and showed it to the judge. Then the judge felt sure he -would get altogether three hundred roubles in the case, and he commanded -the son to go to the bridge, “and you, poor man, go there; stop under -the bridge; and the son is to jump into the water plump on to you and to -kill you.” - -Judge Shemyák sent his servant to the poor man to ask for the three -hundred roubles. - -Then the poor man showed the servant the stone with which he had -threatened the judge: “If the judge had not decided in my favour I -should have killed him with this stone!” - -When the judge heard of this, he crossed himself piously and said: -“Thank God I decided for the right party.” - -The poor brother went to the rich brother to fetch the horse from him in -accordance with the judge’s decision, until the tail should grow again. -The rich man did not want to give the horse, so he gave him instead five -roubles, three quarters of corn, and a milch-goat; and made peace with -him for all time. - -Then the poor man went to the peasant, and in accordance with the -judgment, asked for the wife, in order that she might remain with him -until another child came. Then the peasant made a compromise with the -poor man, gave him fifty roubles, a cow and a calf, and a mare with a -foal, and four quarters of corn, and settled matters with him. - -Then the poor man went to the son whose father he had killed, and read -the judgment out to him, according to which the son was to jump on him -from the bridge, so as to kill him. Then the son began to consider: “If -I do jump, possibly I shall kill him, possibly I shall not; anyhow I -shall be done for.” So he made terms with the poor man, gave him two -hundred roubles and a horse, and five quarters of corn; and lived in -peace with him for ever. - - - - - A STORY OF SAINT NICHOLAS - - -In a certain city, in a certain state, there once lived a merchant -Nicholas with his wife. From the beginning they lived happily and were -wealthy. But their chief joy was in this: that the Lord had presented -them with a son, and such a beautiful son too! Sensible and wise—and the -only prayer which the mother and father addressed to God and to his holy -godfather St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, was that they should endow him -with happiness and long life. - -But, as old age crept on, they, for some reason, began to become poor; -and they became so poor that Nicholas, from a famous merchant, became a -mere tradesman, and they only had one little shop, and in the shop there -was a chest of tobacco, a few nails, and a little iron. And either from -the fact that they were growing poorer, or that they were becoming -older, the mother and father of Iván—for this was the name of Nicholas’s -son—had become feeble. - -One day the father called Iván to him, and said: “Now, our beloved son, -we, it seems, shall soon die; but do you not weep for us, but rather -pray God. For we have already lived out our life; and this is as it must -be. But you bury us properly, for I have saved up money for you for this -purpose. One third of the money you are to spend on the funeral, the -second on the Requiem Mass, and with the third buy a shop and go into -trade. And I will give you my blessing. Do not give any one false -measure or cheat; and if you shall grow rich, do not forget God, and to -give alms to the poor, as I did time agone. Now, my son, farewell. May -the Divine mercy guard you and our guilty souls.” - -Seven days passed, and Iván buried his father, and his mother soon -afterwards, and began to trade. Soon he began to overlook the stock, and -in the corner he found an image of the holy St. Nicholas the -Wonder-Worker. So he brought the image into the _izbá_[27] and he poured -water into a vessel, washed it out, cleaned it in front of the image, -and soon after went to market, bought a little lamp, and lighted it in -front of the image. - -On the first Sunday he called the Pope in, had a Mass said for his -parents, chanted a prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, and took -the image into the shop, so that he might gaze at it constantly; and -thereafter, whenever he went into the shop, he used first of all to pray -before the image, and afterwards he began to trade. - -And his trade went so well that it seemed as if the Lord Himself had -been sending customers. Later on he built a second shop, and every day -he gave much money in alms, and amongst others, to one old man who every -day repaired to him. Iván was very fond of him, and when a new clerk had -to be engaged for the new shop, he said to this old man: “Grandfather, I -do not know thy hallowed name; I do not know, father, how to call thee; -only do not be angry with me, for I have built a new shop, and I have no -clerk. Come with me as my clerk, and I will obey you as I would have -obeyed my own father. Do be kind and do not refuse.” - -The old man at the beginning would very gladly have refused; but -afterwards they agreed, and began to live and dwell together, and Iván, -in all things, obeyed the old man, and called him _Bátyushka_. - -The old man carried on trade prosperously and profitably; and one day he -said: “Ivánushka, your trade does not altogether suit me; for you trade -in tobacco, and God loves not smoking, nor does He love tobacconists. So -buy some small goods, and you will have more purchasers, and will not -incur sin.” - -Iván obeyed, and purchased many goods of all sorts, and set up shop -anew. When all the goods were sold out, Iván went into the -counting-house, and he saw threefold his money wherever he looked. Iván -was extremely joyous at so big a profit, and he called in the Pope, and -he recited the prayer to Nicholas the Wonder-Worker. And as to the old -man, he was so happy, and he prayed so heartily to God. - -So they traded on for three years more, and Iván became so rich that the -old man advised him to sell out and cross the seas with his goods. And -Iván obeyed the old man, bought a ship, loaded it with wares, and gave -his house to the poor, setting one of them in as the master until he -should come back himself. And they prayed to God, and he and the old man -set sail. - -Soon they arrived: it may be near, it may be far—the tale is soon told, -but the deed is not soon done—and suddenly robbers came upon them and -plundered them of all their goods: and only left themselves alive and -unscathed. It was a bitter shock to Iván. But the old man quieted him, -and said that all of this was for the best. So they sailed on for three -days after this; and on the third day they landed on an island, and they -saw a great mass of bricks. The old man said to Iván: “Get ready, -Ivánushka, and load these bricks on your ship.” Iván said: “What shall I -do with these bricks? I would sooner die than do trade in them.” But the -old man answered and said: “Oh, Ivánushka, Ivánushka, you have had -little experience; and I tell you that any single one of these bricks is -worth more than all the wares of which the robbers plundered you!” And -he threw one of the bricks on the ground, and under the clay there was a -splendid jewel. - -So Iván was glad, and began loading the ship with the bricks. And when -they had loaded it to the full, the old man said: “Now, Ivánushka, you -must also make some plain bricks in order that buccaneers may not steal -the valuable ones.” So they loaded plain bricks as well. But on their -way the wind arose and they sailed farther, and the robbers fell on them -again and began to search for the goods. So the old man said to them: -“Have mercy, good folk! Leave us alive; for robbers some time ago took -away all we had, and now we only carry bricks, such bricks as we made on -the island.” The pirates looked and were persuaded and sailed farther -on, and so did Iván and the old man, and very soon arrived at a haven -and stayed there. - -In that kingdom there was a custom that all merchants who arrived should -bring some of all their wares as a homage to the king. So the old man -said to Iván: “Ivánushka, pray to the Lord God, and go and buy a golden -vessel and a _fatá_, and to-morrow go and make your homage to the king.” -Iván obeyed the old man, and the next day went to make his homage to the -king. They told the king that a merchant had come to do allegiance, and -the king sat on his throne and gave audience to Iván. - -Iván came up to the king, and in his hands there was a golden vessel -covered by a _fatá_, and in the golden vessel there was a brick. So the -king asked Iván from what realm he came, and how his father and mother -were named. And then he uncovered the _fatá_, and when he saw the brick -he was very wroth, and said: “I suppose you think I have very few -bricks, and you have come to trade in them in my kingdom!” And then he -rushed at Iván. But Iván turned aside and the brick fell to the ground -and split in two. - -Then the king saw that he had behaved unseemlywise, and began to ask -Iván for forgiveness. And he forthwith bought the entire ship off Iván. -And when Iván saw this, he said: “You may take all my goods, but I will -not sell my vessel, for therein do I have an old man who is my clerk, -and we should not be able to live in the town.” “Oh,” said the king, -“are there two of you?” And the king, on hearing this, became very -angry, and said: “I will not let you go, but I must have the ship.” And -Iván went down on his knees and besought him that he would let them go. -Then the king said: “If one of you will read some psalms for three -nights to my daughter who is now in the church, you may keep the ship.” -For his daughter was a witch, and every night turned into a human being. - -Iván returned to his ship, and he was sad and disheartened. He did not -wish to go himself, for he did not wish to die; and if he dismissed the -old man, it was very hard to part. - -The old man said to Iván: “Why, Ivánushka, why are you so miserable and -hang your head?” And Iván told him all that had happened, and what the -king had said. So the old man answered him: “Never mind, Ivánushka, -cheer up! Pray to the Saviour, and lie down and sleep, and I will think -out some means of getting out of the danger.” - -Soon it began to grow dark, and the old man roused Iván and said: “Here -are three tapers. As long as the first burns, pray to God; when the -second is burnt out, light the third, and then enter by the right-hand -side of the Holy Gates by the altar-screen and say nothing; only mutter -a prayer all the time. Go, and God bless you.” - -So Iván landed, and the king’s attendants took Iván into the church and -locked it, and he began to read the Psalter. One candle went out and -then another, and he lighted the third, and lay down at the right-hand -side of the Holy Gates. Then the flooring suddenly jumped up, and the -witch began to search for Iván: “Where are you? I want to eat you.” And -she looked, and she looked, and she could not find him, and then the -cock crew, and she went once more into the grave. Then Iván got up, -covered up the grave, and began to read once more. - -In the morning they went there to collect his bones; but there Iván was, -as large as life. And they went and told the king. And he bade him for -the second time go and read prayers. - -And Iván went to the old man and told him what had happened in the -church by night. - -Next night the old man told Iván to lie down on the left-hand side of -the Holy Gates. And once more the witch could not find him. - -On the third night the old man gave him three tapers and a ball of -pitch; and the pitch was rolled round with hair. He said: “To-night, -Ivánushka, is the last night. When you have burned out the last taper, -lie down beside the grave, and when the witch rises out of it, go and -lie in the grave in her place, and do not let her in until she shall -read out the prayers ‘_Maiden Mother of God, rejoice!_’ and ‘_Our Father -Which art in Heaven_.’” - -Iván went into the church and began to read the Psalter, and after -lighting the third candle, lay down on the right-hand side of the grave. -The witch broke out of the coffin and passed over Iván and began to look -for him all over the church. When the time came for her to lie down, -there was Iván in her place. “Ah! there art thou!” the witch cried. “For -thrice twenty-four hours I have been hungry. Come out; I want to eat -you.” And Iván threw the ball covered with hair at her, and she nibbled -and gnawed at it. And she at last said: “Let me go!” “No,” said Iván, “I -will not let you go.” “Let me go!” the witch repeated. “Then do you,” -said Iván, “recite the prayer ‘_Maiden Mother of God, rejoice!_’ after -me, and then I will let you go.” And the witch read out the prayer and -then said: “Let me go!” And Iván said: “Now read the _Our Father_, then -I will let you go.” And the witch read it out. Then Iván came out and -said: “Lie down.” But the witch said: “Now I cannot lie down.” Then she -and Iván began to pray. - -In the morning two men came in, and they not only saw Iván, but also -Olyóna, the king’s daughter—for this was the witch’s name. And they went -to the king, and recounted all they had beheld. - -And the king assembled all the spiritual hierarchy and went into the -church. And he thought it must be that Iván had turned into a wizard, -but when he saw how things really were, he embraced Iván and called him -his son. And the witch said to Iván: “Now, Iván, the merchant’s son, if -you have been able to pray to God and to bring me to life again, now -learn how to master me, and I will never depart one step from you.” - -So Iván went to the ship, and he told the old man all that had happened, -and the old man said: “Ivánushka, fear nothing, take Olyóna -Korólyevna[28] as your wife, only for the first three nights do not go -to sleep until the cock has crowed three times, and then she will never -more oppress you.” - -There was no loitering at the king’s court; very soon all was got ready, -and Iván was affianced to Princess Olyóna. And for two weeks he lived -quite happily. Then he said to his father-in-law: “Good father, let me -go home and have a Mass said for my father and mother, and once more see -my home.” And the king said: “My beloved son, Iván, the merchant’s son, -I will not withstand your wish, but do return hither. You see yourself I -am no longer young, and I have no heir. When you return I will give you -my kingdom, and you will live happily and merrily.” - -So they set out on their journey, and arrived at their own kingdom, to -their native land. And Iván took Olyóna with him. When they arrived at -the island of the bricks, they loaded all the vessels, and there were -many ships, and they excavated the entire island. - -One day the old man began to cut firewood, took them to the opposite -side of the island and said: “Ivánushka, my well-doer, I must now speak -with you.” And he bade them come where the firewood was stacked. He lit -the firewood; and when it was in flame he took Olyóna, threw her down, -trod on one leg, and pulled her apart into two halves, taking hold of -the other leg. Iván did not know what to say! And the old man put both -halves on the fire, and out of the fire there then crept snakes, frogs, -and all sorts of reptiles. Then he took the two parts out of the fire, -rinsed them thoroughly in the sea, sprinkled them over with water, made -the sign of the cross, and Olyóna arose such a beauty as no tale can -tell and no pen can write. Then he said: “Now, my well-doer, Ivánushka, -you are to be a mighty king; Iván, the merchant’s son, you are now rich -and famous and happy, so see to it that you do not forget God and the -poor. I shall see you no more.” - -Iván and Olyóna knelt down and began to beseech him, but the old man -said: “Beg no more of me, but rather thank God for sending me to you. I -loved you and your father, Iván, and you even more, because you kindly -gave me alms; and now you are rich and famous, do not forget to give -alms to the poor.” Then he vanished. - -Iván and Olyóna praised God, went back to the ships, and sailed farther -on. - -When the poor saw that Iván had arrived with untold wealth, they crowded -to the shore and began to kiss Iván’s hands, his feet, and the hem of -his garment; and all present were so joyous that the tears flowed from -their eyes. - -Iván put up crosses on his parents’ grave, clothed the poor, gave them -his house, and returned to his father-in-law, and for many years -governed his kingdom. And he lived so long that he saw in his old age -his sons, his grandsons, and his great-grandsons. And he ever prayed and -blessed God and Nicholas the Wonder-Worker for the mercy they had -manifested to him. - -In that kingdom where he was king, to this very day King Iván and his -wife Olyóna the Fair are remembered.[29] - - - - - THE POTTER - - -Once a potter was journeying on his road with his goods and dozed off. -The Tsar Iván Vasílyevich came driving by in his carriage and said, -“Peace be to you!” - -The potter looked up and said, “I thank you very much and wish you the -same.” - -“Have you been asleep?” - -“Yes, my lord. Do not fear a man who sings songs; but fear a man who -slumbers!” - -“You are a bold fellow, potter: I have seen very few such, and I like -them. Coachman, slower! Potter, tell me, have you been long at your -trade?” - -“Ever since my youth, and I am now middle-aged.” - -“Can you keep your children with it?” - -“Yes, I do not sow, nor plough, nor mow, nor reap, and no frosts can do -me any harm.” - -“Right, potter; but there are still misfortunes left in the world.” - -“Yes, I know three of them.” - -“What are the three?” - -“The first is an evil neighbour, the second an evil wife, and the third -a weak understanding.” - -“Yet now, tell me which is the worst of these evils?” - -“The evil neighbour can be escaped; so can the evil wife if one has -children enough, but the weak intellect can never be got rid of.” - -“Yes, that is true, potter; you are a sensible fellow. Listen! You suit -me and I suit you. When there are geese flying over Russia, will you -pluck a feather out of them or let them fly by in peace?” - -“If it suit me, I should let them fly by as they should; otherwise I -should pluck them bald.” - -“Potter, hold in your horse a little while I look at your stock.” - -The potter stopped and displayed his goods. - -“Can you make any such for me?” - -“How many?” - -“Ten cartloads.” - -“How long will you require?” - -“One month.” - -“In a fortnight I can bring them into the town. I suit you and you suit -me.” - -“Thank you, potter.” - -“Will you be in the city when I bring the goods?” - -“Yes, I shall be there as the merchant’s guest.” - -So the Tsar drove into the city and ordered that at all his feasts the -plates should be neither of silver nor of pewter, nor of copper nor of -wood, but only of clay. The potter carried out the Tsar’s orders and -brought his goods into the city. A _boyár_ rode up to the potter and -said to him: “God be with you, potter.” - -“Thank you, your honour.” - -“Sell me all your goods.” - -“I cannot; they are already sold.” - -“What does that matter? Take my money for it; you will be doing no -wrong, as long as you have received no orders for the work. What do you -want?” - -“I want every plate filled with money.” - -“Listen, potter—that is too much.” - -“Very well, then: one filled with money and two empty. Do you agree?” - -So they agreed at that: “You suit me and I suit you.” - -They filled up the plates and again emptied them, and they went on -filling plates until there was not any money left: but there were ever -so many plates over. The _boyár_ saw he was getting the worst of the -bargain and sent for more money from the house. So they piled the plates -higher still, but all the money vanished, and still all the goods had -not been used up. - -“What is to be done, potter? Why are you so greedy?” - -“There is nothing to be done.” - -“I have a very high esteem for you, potter, but do you know what?” - -“Do you carry me in to the courtyard, and I will give you the goods and -the money back as well.” - -So the _boyár_ hesitated: he was very sorry to lose his money and for -himself, but he could not help himself, and so they agreed. They -unharnessed the horse, and the peasant sat in the carriage and the -_boyár_ walked on. The potter sang a song, and the _boyár_ drew it -along, drew it along. “How far must I take you in front of that -courtyard?” - -The potter went on singing joyously and said, “In front of the house, at -the very top of the carriage.” - -When he reached the palace he stood up erect and sang, joyously. - -The Tsar heard him singing and ran to the flight of steps, and -recognised the potter. “Ha! welcome, potter!” - -“Thank you, your honour.” - -“What are you travelling with?” - -“With folly.” - -“Now, you fine potter, you have known how to sell your goods; _boyár_, -take off your gay costume and your boots; and you, potter, take off your -_kaftán_ and your bast shoes. Put the peasant’s smock on, _boyár_, and -you, potter, put on the _boyár’s_ robes. You have sold your goods very -finely, potter; you have done very little, and you have won much. But as -for you, _boyár_, you were not able to keep your rank. Now, potter, were -there any geese flying over Russia? Did you pluck a feather out of them, -or did you leave them in peace?” - -“No, I plucked them bald.” - - - - - THE WITCH AND THE SISTER OF THE SUN - - -In a distant country, a country far away, once there lived a Tsar and -Tsarítsa, who had a son, Iván Tsarévich, who was dumb from his birth. -When he was twelve years old he went to the stable to the groom whom he -loved, who always told him stories. But this time he was not to be told -any. - -“Iván Tsarévich,” said the groom, “your mother will soon have a -daughter, and you will have a sister. She will be a dreadful witch and -will eat up your father and your mother and all their subjects. Go back -home and ask your father to give you his best horse; mount that and ride -away and follow your eyes if you would escape misfortune.” - -Iván Tsarévich ran up to his father and spoke for the first time in his -life. The Tsar was so glad at this that he never asked what the -Tsarévich wanted the horse for, but ordered the very best of his _Tabún_ -to be saddled for him. - -Iván Tsarévich mounted the horse and rode away, following his eyes. He -rode far, to a very great distance, and he came to two old seamstresses, -and asked them if they would not let him live with them. - -“We should be very glad to accept you, Iván Tsarévich,” they replied, -“but we shall not live much longer. We are breaking up this box and with -our needles sewing it together again, and as soon as we have done that -Death will come to us.” - -Then Iván Tsarévich wept and rode on farther. And he rode on, very very -far, and came to Vertodúb. And he begged him, “Will you take me as your -son?” - -“I should be very glad to take you,” Vertodúb replied, “but, as soon as -I have turned round all these oaks with all their roots, the hour will -have come for me to die.” - -Then the Tsarévich wept yet more, and he rode farther on, and he came to -Vertogór, and he made him the same request. - -“I should be very glad to take you, Iván Tsarévich, but I too shall not -live much longer,” was the answer he received. “You see, I am placed -here in order to turn these mountains round; and when I have done with -the last of them then I must die.” - -Then Iván Tsarévich wept bitter tears, and he rode yet farther. And at -last he came to the Sister of the Sun. She gave him meat and drink and -adopted him as a son. The Tsarévich had a fine time there. But still he -was always dissatisfied, because he did not know what was going on at -home. And so he clomb a lofty mountain, looked out to his own house, and -saw that everything there had been eaten up, and only the walls were -standing. Then he sighed and wept. - -And when he came down from the mountain, the Sister of the Sun met him -and asked, “Iván Tsarévich, why hast thou wept?” - -“It was the wind which was blowing something in my eye!” And once again -he began to weep. - -And he went a second time into the mountain, and saw that only the walls -of his house remained standing—everything had been eaten up. And he wept -and returned home. - -Again the Sister of the Sun met him: “Iván Tsarévich, why hast thou -wept?” - -“It was the wind which was blowing something in my eye!” And the Sun was -angry, and forbade the wind to blow. - -And he mounted the hill a third time, and this time he was forced to say -why he was sad, and beg the Sister of the Sun for leave to go home to -see what had been happening, like a doughty youth. So she gave him a -brush and comb and two apples to take with him. And, however old a man -might be, if he only ate one apple, he would be young once more. - -Iván ran away, and he found Vertogór, who had only one mountain left. So -Iván Tsarévich took his brush, and threw it into the open field. And -suddenly mountains grew up everywhere, and their summits and peaks -pierced into the skies, and there were so many of them that no man could -count them. Vertogór was then very happy and set about work gaily. - -Iván Tsarévich met Vertodúb once more, and there were only three oaks -left. So he threw the comb into the field, and then there rustled out of -the earth a thick oak forest, every tree thicker than the other. And -Vertodúb was then very joyous and set to work gaily. - -And at last, after a journey long or short, Iván Tsarévich reached the -old women, and he gave each of them an apple. They ate them, and they -once more became young, and gave him a little handkerchief, which he -need only shake, and a big lake would appear. - -When Iván Tsarévich came home, his sister ran to him and caressed him. -“Sit down, brother mine; play on the harp whilst I go and prepare -dinner.” - -Iván Tsarévich sat down and began to finger the strings when a mouselet -crept out of the corner and spoke with a human voice: “Run away, -Tsarévich, as fast as you can. Your sister is now whetting her teeth.” - -Iván Tsarévich then left the room, sat on his horse, and went all the -way back to the Sun. The mouselet ran up and down on the strings of the -harp, and the sister never noticed that the brother had gone away. When -she had sharpened her teeth, she ran into the room, but there was not a -single soul to be seen there, even the mouselet had crept back into its -hole. And the witch became furious, gnashed her teeth and made ready to -pursue Iván Tsarévich. Iván Tsarévich heard a noise behind him, looked, -and saw his sister had almost caught him up, so he waved his -handkerchief, and a deep lake rose behind him. Whilst the witch was -swimming through the lake Iván Tsarévich flew a vast way, and she was -swifter than he, and again came near. - -Vertodúb guessed Iván was fleeing from his sister, and piled oaks on the -way, whirled a vast mass of them in her path and she could not get -through; she had at first to clear the road. So she gnawed and gnawed -away, and at last made herself a path. But Iván Tsarévich in the -meantime had gained ground. So she followed him farther, and she had -almost caught him up. - -When Vertogór saw what was happening, he seized hold of the highest -mountain, piled it up on the road and stuck another on top of it. And -the witch was very furious, and began climbing up, and in the meantime -Iván Tsarévich got far and far away. But the witch soon got up and cried -out: “This time you shall not escape me.” - -He had got into the palace of the Sister of the Sun, and cried out, -“Sun, Sun! open your big windows.” The Sun opened his window and Iván -Tsarévich leaped in on his horse. - -The witch asked him to give her her brother, but the Sun would not. Then -the witch said, “Iván Tsarévich must put himself on one balance and I -will put myself on the other, and if I am the heavier I will eat him up; -and, if he is the heavier he shall lay me low.” - -So they went and set up the scales. First Iván Tsarévich sat down on it, -then the witch on the other side; but as soon as ever she had put her -foot into it the Tsarévich was hurled with such force into the house, -that he flew right into the very bosom of the sky, into the chambers of -the Sun, whilst the witch remained on the earth. - - - - - MÁRYA MORYÉVNA - - -In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there once lived Iván -Tsarévich, who had three sisters: one was called Márya Tsarévna, the -second Ólga Tsarévna, and the third Ánna Tsarévna. Their mother and -father had died: when they were dying they bade the son, “Whoever come -first as a suitor for your sisters’ hands, let them take them; do not -keep them long with you.” The Tsarévich buried his parents; and, in his -grief, went with his sisters to walk in a green garden. Then a dark -cloud appeared in the sky, and a fearful clap of thunder was heard. “Let -us go home, sisters,” said Iván Tsarévich. - -Soon they reached the palace: the thunder rattled and the ceiling fell -down, and the ceiling divided into two. And a clear-eyed Hawk came into -the room, struck the ground, and turned himself into a fair, doughty -youth: “Hail, Iván Tsarévich! before, I came to you as a guest, now I am -coming to ask for your sister’s hand: I wish to marry Márya Tsarévna.” - -“If you wish my sister, I will not say you nay: take her with God’s -blessing.” - -Márya Tsarévna agreed, and the Hawk married her and took her away to his -own kingdom. - -Then day followed day and hour followed hour. One whole year went by -unheeded. Iván Tsarévich stayed with his sisters in the green garden. -Then there came a cloud and there was thunder and lightning. “Let us go -home, sisters,” said the Tsarévich. - -When they came to the palace there was a thunderclap, and the roof fell -in and the ceiling was cleft in two, and an Eagle flew in, struck the -ground and turned himself into a doughty youth, and said, “Hail, Iván -Tsarévich! formerly I came to you as a guest, now I come to you as a -suitor.” And he asked for the hand of Ólga. - -And Iván Tsarévich answered, “If Ólga Tsarévna pleases you, she may go -to you—I will not withstand your will.” - -Ólga Tsarévna was willing, and married the Eagle: the Eagle laid hold of -her and took her to his own kingdom. - -One year further went by, and Iván Tsarévich said to his youngest -sister, “Let us go and have a walk in the green garden,” and they went -for a little walk. And a cloud came over the sky with thunder and -lightning. “Let us turn back, sister, home!” - -So they turned back home, and they had hardly sat down when the thunder -clapped and the ceiling was divided into two, and a Crow flew in. And -the Crow struck the ground and turned himself into a doughty youth. The -former suitors were fair enough in themselves, but he was fairer still. -“Formerly I came to you as a guest, but now I come to you as a suitor: -give me your sister Ánna.” - -“I will not withstand my sister’s will; if you are in love with her she -may have you.” - -And Ánna Tsarévna went with the Crow, and he took her to his own -kingdom. - -So Iván Tsarévich was there alone, and for one whole year he lived there -without any sisters, and began to feel melancholy. “I will go,” he said, -“and seek my sisters.” So he started out on the road. He went on and on -and on. And there lay on the field an army of a great host conquered. -And Iván asked them: “If there be any man alive here, let him call! Who -slew this mighty host?” - -And one man who was still alive replied: “All this mighty host was -conquered by Márya Moryévna, the fair princess.” - -And Iván Tsarévich went on yet further, and he came upon white tents, -and Márya Moryévna came to meet him, the fair queen. - -“Hail,” she said, “Tsarévich! where is God taking you? Is it at your -will or perforce?” - -And Iván Tsarévich answered her: “Doughty youths do not go perforce.” - -“Well, if you have no quest to accomplish, come and stay in my tents.” - -And Iván Tsarévich was glad of this, and he stayed two nights in the -tents, fell in love with Márya Moryévna, and married her. - -Márya Moryévna took him with her to her own kingdom, and they lived -together for some time; and they thought of making ready for war; and so -she handed all of her possessions over to Iván, and said: “Go -everywhere, look at everything, only into this lumber-room you must not -look.” - -But he was impatient: as soon as Márya Moryévna’s back was turned, he at -once opened the lumber-room, opened the door and looked in, and there -Koshchéy the Deathless was hanging. - -Koshchéy asked Iván Tsarévich, “Have pity on me: give me something to -eat. I have been tortured here for ten years. I have eaten nothing, I -have drunken nothing, and my throat is all dried up.” Iván Tsarévich -gave him a whole gallon of water: he drank it at a single gulp, and he -still asked, “I am still thirsty: give me a gallon,” and Iván gave him a -second gallon, and yet a third. And when he had drunk the third, he -recovered all his former strength, broke all his chains, shattered them -all, all the twelve chains. “Thank you, Iván Tsarévich,” Koshchéy the -Deathless said. “Now you will never again see Márya Moryévna any more!” -and with a fearful flash of lightning he flew into the country, gathered -up Márya Moryévna on the road, the fair Queen, snatched her up and took -her to himself. - -Iván Tsarévich wept bitterly, got ready and started on his road: “Come -what may, I will seek out Márya Moryévna.” And he went one day, and he -went another day, and on the dawning of the third day he saw a wonderful -palace, and in front of the palace there was an oak, and on the oak -there sat a clear-eyed hawk. - -And the Hawk flew down from the oak, struck the ground, turned into a -doughty youth, and cried out, “O my beloved brother: how is the Lord -dealing with you?” - -And Márya Tsarévna came out, went to meet Iván Tsarévich, asked him how -he was, and began to tell him all her own story. - -So the Tsarévich abode as their guest for three days, and then said, “I -cannot stay with you any longer: I am going to seek my wife Márya -Moryévna the fair Queen.” - -“This will be a hard search for you,” answered the Hawk. “At least leave -a silver spoon here; we can gaze on it and think of you.” - -Iván Tsarévich left his silver spoon with them, and set out on his road. - -So he went on one day and a second day, and at the dawning of the third -day he saw a palace fairer than the first, and in front of the palace -there was an oak, and an eagle sat on the oak: the Eagle flew down from -the tree, struck the earth, turned into a doughty youth and cried: -“Rise, Ólga Tsarévna, our dear brother has arrived.” - -Ólga Tsarévna at once came to meet him, began kissing and welcoming him, -asking how he was, and they told of all they had lived and done. - -Iván Tsarévich stayed with them three little days, and then said, “I can -no longer be your guest: I am going seeking my wife, Márya Moryévna the -fair Princess.” - -And the Eagle answered: “It will be an evil quest. Leave us your silver -fork; we will look at it and think of you.” - -So he left his silver fork, and he went on the road. - -And a day went by and a second, and at the dawn of the third day he saw -a palace fairer than the first two. And in front of the palace there was -an oak, and on the oak there perched a crow. And the Crow flew down from -the oak, struck the earth, turned into a doughty youth, and cried out, -“Ánna Tsarévna, come out as fast as you can: our brother has arrived.” - -Then Ánna Tsarévna came out, met him joyously, began to kiss and to -welcome him, asking him how he was. And they spoke of all they had lived -and done. - -After three days Iván Tsarévich said, “I can stay no longer with you; I -am going to seek my wife, Márya Moryévna, the fair Queen.” - -“This will be a hard search for you,” the Crow said. “At least leave us -your silver snuff-box; we can gaze on it and think of you.” - -So Iván Tsarévich left them his silver snuff-box, and set out on his -road. - -Then a day went and another day, and on the third day he at last reached -Márya Moryévna. When she saw her beloved through the window, she rushed -out to him, flung herself at his neck, wept, and said, “Oh! Iván -Tsarévich, why did you not obey me? Why did you look into the -lumber-room and let Koshchéy the Deathless out?” - -“Forgive me, Márya Moryévna; let bygones be bygones: come away with me -now, whilst Koshchéy the Deathless is away: possibly he may not catch us -up.” - -So they went away. - -Now Koshchéy was out hunting. Towards evening he returned home, and his -horse stumbled. “Why, you sorry jade, are you stumbling, or is it some -evil that you fear?” - -And the horse answered: “Iván Tsarévich has arrived, and has taken away -Márya Moryévna.” - -“Can one catch them up?” - -“You can sow wheat, wait until it grows up, harvest it, thresh it, turn -it into flour, make five stones of bread, eat the bread, and then set -out on the hunt, and we shall succeed.” - -Koshchéy leapt on the horse, caught up Iván Tsarévich. “Now,” he said, -“for the first time I will let you go for your doughtyhood, as you fed -me with water; for the second time I will let you go; for the third -time, take care: I will tear you to morsels.” And he took Márya Moryévna -from him, took her away, and Iván Tsarévich sat on the stone and cried. - -And he cried and he cried, and again came back to Márya Moryévna. -Koshchéy the Deathless was not at home: “Let us start, Márya Moryévna.” - -“Oh, Iván Tsarévich, he will catch us up.” - -“Well, let him; still we shall have one or two hours together.” - -So they started, and off they went. - -Koshchéy the Deathless came back home, and his good horse stumbled under -him. “Why, you sorry jade, are you stumbling, or is it some evil thing -which you fear?” - -And the horse answered, “Iván Tsarévich has again arrived, and has taken -Márya Moryévna away.” - -“Can one catch them up?” - -“It would be possible to sow barley and to wait until it grows up, reap -it, thresh it, to brew beer, drink it until you were drunk, sleep out -your sleep and then to go on the hunt, and we should still succeed.” - -Koshchéy leaped on his horse, caught up Iván Tsarévich, and said, “I -said you were not to see anything more of Márya Moryévna!” and he took -her away with him. - -So Iván Tsarévich was again left alone, and he wept bitterly; and once -again he returned to Márya Moryévna, and this time too Koshchéy was not -at home. “Let us go, Márya Moryévna!” - -“Oh, Iván Tsarévich, he will catch us up and he will tear you to bits.” - -“Let him tear me to bits; I cannot live without you.” - -So they got ready, and off they went. - -Koshchéy the Deathless returned home, and under him his good horse -stumbled. “Why do you stumble, you sorry jade, or is it some evil that -you fear?” - -“Iván Tsarévich has arrived, and has taken Márya Moryévna with him.” - -Koshchéy leaped on his horse, caught up Iván Tsarévich, broke him up -into tiny bits, put them into a tar cask, took this cask, locked it with -iron bolts and threw it into the blue sea. And he took Márya Moryévna -away with him. - -At the same time the brothers-in-law of Iván Tsarévich looked at their -silver ornaments and found they had turned black. “Oh,” they said, -“evidently some disaster has befallen him!” The Eagle rushed into the -blue sea, dragged out the cask to the shore, and the Hawk flew for the -Water of Life, and the Crow flew for the Water of Death. Then they all -three met at a single spot and broke up the cask, took out the bits of -Iván Tsarévich, washed them, laid them together as was fit: then the -Crow sprinkled him with the Water of Death, and the body grew together -and was one; and the Hawk sprinkled him with the Water of Life, and Iván -Tsarévich shivered, sat up and said, “Oh, what a long sleep I have had!” - -“But your sleep would have been very much longer if we had not been -there,” answered the brothers-in-law. “Now you must come and be our -guest!” - -“No, brothers, I must go and seek Márya Moryévna.” - -So he came to her and said, “Go and find out from Koshchéy the Deathless -where he got such a fine horse!” - -Then Márya Moryévna looked out for a good opportunity, and asked -Koshchéy the Deathless. - -Koshchéy answered, “Beyond thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-tenth -kingdom, beyond the river of fire, lives the Bába Yagá. She has a mare -on which every day she rides round the whole of the world. She has many -splendid mares. I was there for three days as a herd, and she would not -let me have the mare; but she gave me one of the foals.” - -“How can one cross the river of fire?” - -“I have a kerchief: if you shake it to the right three times a lofty -bridge rises and the fires cannot overreach it.” - -Márya Moryévna listened, told Iván Tsarévich all about it, and he took -the cloth away. Iván Tsarévich crossed the river of fire and he reached -the Bába Yagá: but journeying afar, neither eating nor drinking. A -sea-bird came to meet him with her young. Iván Tsarévich asked if he -might eat one of her chicks. - -“Do not eat it,” the sea-bird said; “at some time I shall be of service -to you, Iván Tsarévich.” - -Then he went farther, and he was in a wood, and he saw a bee-hive. -“Perhaps,” he said, “I may take a little honey.” - -Then the queen-bee answered him, “Do not touch my honey, Iván Tsarévich; -at some time or other I shall be of service to you.” - -So he did not touch the honey, but went farther. Then he met a lioness -with her whelps. “May I eat this lion-whelp? I am so hungry!” - -“Do not touch it, Iván Tsarévich,” the lioness said; “at some time or -other I shall be of service to you.” - -“Very well; it shall be as you will.” - -So he went on hungry, and he went on and on and on, and at last he -reached the house of the Bába Yagá. Round the house there were twelve -poles, and on eleven of the poles there were the skulls of men: only one -as yet was untenanted. - -“Hail, _bábushka_!” he said. - -“Hail, Iván Tsarévich!” she replied: “what have you come for? By your -own good will or for need?” - -“I have come to earn of you a knightly horse.” - -“Very well, Iván Tsarévich: you are to serve me not one year, but only -three days. If you can guard my mares, I will give you a knightly horse; -if you cannot, do not be angry, but your head must also lie on the last -of the stakes.” - -Iván Tsarévich agreed, and Bába Yagá gave him drink and food and bade -him set to work. As soon as ever he had driven the mares into the field, -they all turned their tails and ran in the meadows so far that the -Tsarévich could not trace them with his eyes: and thus they were all -lost. Then he sat down and wept, and became melancholy, and sat down on -a stone and went to sleep. - -The sun was already setting when the sea-bird flew to him, woke him up -and said, “Arise, Iván Tsarévich—all the mares have gone home.” - -The Tsarévich got up, turned back home; but Bába Yagá was angry with her -mares. “Why have you all come home?” - -“Why should we not come home? the birds flew down from every quarter of -the sky and almost clawed out our eyes.” - -“Well, to-morrow do not stray in the meadows, but scatter into the -dreamy forest.” - -So Iván Tsarévich passed that night; and next day Bába Yagá said to him, -“Look, Iván Tsarévich, if you do not keep the mares well, if you lose -one, then your false head shall nod up and down on the stake.” - -So then he drove all the mares to the field, and this time they turned -their tails, and they ran into the dreamy woods. And once again the -Tsarévich sat on the stone and wept and wept and went to sleep, and the -sun began to rest on the woods when the lioness ran up and said, “Get -up, Iván Tsarévich—all the mares have been collected.” Then Iván -Tsarévich got up and went home. - -And Bába Yagá was angry that the mares had come home, and she called out -to her mares, “Why have you all come home?” - -And they answered, “How should we not come home?—wild beasts from all -the four quarters of the world assembled round us and almost tore us to -bits.” - -“Well, you go to-morrow into the blue sea.” - -Once again Iván passed the night there, and the next day Bába Yagá sent -her mares to feed. “If you do not guard them, then your bold head shall -hang on the pole.” - -He drove the mares into the field, and they at once turned tail and -vanished from his eyes and ran into the blue sea and stood up to their -necks in the water. So Iván Tsarévich sat on the stone, wept and went to -sleep. And the sun was already setting on the woods when the bee flew up -to him and said: “Get up, Iván Tsarévich—all the mares have been -gathered together. But, when you return home, do not appear before Bába -Yagá; go into the stable and hide behind the crib. There there is a -mangy foal who will be rolling in the dung: steal him; and, at the deep -of midnight, leave the house.” - -Iván Tsarévich got up, went into the stable, and lay behind the crib. - -Bába Yagá made a tremendous stir and cried out to her mares: “Why did -you come back?” - -“How should we not come back?—all the bees from every part of the world, -visible and invisible, flew round us, and they stung us till our blood -flowed.” - -Bába Yagá went to sleep; and that same night Iván Tsarévich stole the -mangy steed from its stall, mounted it and flew to the fiery river. He -reached that river, waved the cloth three times to the right; and, at -once, from some strange source, a lofty, splendid bridge hung all the -way over. The Tsarévich crossed the bridge, waved the cloth to the left -twice, and all that was left of the bridge was a thin thread. - -In the morning Bába Yagá woke up and she could not see the mangy foal, -so she hunted to the chase: with all her strength she leapt into her -iron mortar and she chased after with the pestle, and very soon she was -on their track. When she came to the river of fire, she looked across -and thought, “Ah ha ha! a fine bridge!” Then she went on to the bridge; -but as soon as she got on to the bridge it snapped, and Bába Yagá -slipped into the river, and it was a savage death she had. - -Iván Tsarévich fed his foal on the green, and a splendid horse grew out -of him; then the Tsarévich arrived at the palace of Márya Moryévna. She -rushed out, fell upon his neck and said, “How has God blessed you?” And -he told her how it had gone with him. “I am frightened, Iván Tsarévich; -if Koshchéy catches us up you will again be torn to atoms.” - -“No, he will not catch us up now; I have a fine knightly horse which -flies like a bird.” So they sat on the horse and went. - -Koshchéy the Deathless came back home, and his horse stumbled. “Oh, you -sorry jade, why do you stumble, or is it that you fear some evil?” - -“Iván Tsarévich has arrived, and has taken away Márya Moryévna.” - -“Can one catch them up?” - -“God knows; now Iván Tsarévich has a knightly horse better than me.” - -“No, I will not stand it,” Koshchéy the Deathless said. “We will up and -after him!” - -And, sooner or later, so soon he caught up Iván Tsarévich, and he leapt -to him and was going to cleave him with his curved sabre; but then the -steed of Iván Tsarévich kicked Koshchéy the Deathless with all his -might, and clove in his head, and the Tsarévich struck him down with his -club. Then the Tsarévich gathered together a mass of timber, set fire to -it, burnt Koshchéy the Deathless on the pile and scattered the dust to -the winds. - -Márya Moryévna then sat on Koshchéy’s steed, and Iván Tsarévich on his -own, and the two went and stayed as guests, first of all with the Crow, -then with the Eagle, and lastly with the Hawk. Wherever they went they -were joyously received. “Oh! Iván Tsarévich, I am so glad to see you! We -never expected to see you back. And your work has not been in vain; such -a beauty as Márya Moryévna might be sought for all over the world and -you would not have found any other.” - -So they were as guests and junketed well, and arrived into their own -kingdom, reached it and began to live a life of joy enduring and to -drink good mead. - - - - - THE REALM OF STONE - - -In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, once there lived a soldier who -had served long and faithfully and knew all about the Tsar’s service, -the reviews, and always came up to parade looking clean and smart. The -last year of his service came along, and, to his ill-luck, his superior -officers, great and small, did not like him, and as a result he was -soundly thrashed. This grieved the soldier, and he thought of deserting. -So, with his wallet on his back and his gun on his shoulder, he began to -bid farewell to his comrades, who asked him, “Where are you going? Do -you want to enter a battalion?” - -“Do not ask me, my brothers; just buckle my wallet firmly on, and do not -think evil of me.” - -Then the good youth set forth whither his eyes gazed. May be far, may be -near, he went on and on, and arrived at another kingdom, saw the -sentry-guard and asked “May I rest here?” - -So the sentry-guard told the Corporal, the Corporal told the Officer, -and the Officer told the General, and the General told the King himself. -And the King ordered the soldier to be brought before him in order that -he might see him with his own eyes. And the soldier appeared before him -in his proper regimentals, with musket on his shoulder, as though he -were rooted to the ground. - -Then the King asked him, “Tell me on your faith and oath, whence are you -and where are you going?” - -“Your kingly Majesty, do not have me punished! Bid the word be not -spoken.” And he told the whole story to the King, and asked to be -admitted to the service. - -“Very well,” said the King; “come and serve me as sentry in my garden. -All is not well in my garden: somebody is breaking my best-loved trees, -and you must endeavour to preserve them; and, as to the reward for your -labour, you shall not fare ill.” - -So the sentry agreed and stood as sentry in the garden. For a year, for -two years, he served on, and all went well. But in the third year, as he -went out, he went to look in the garden, and saw that half of the best -trees had been shattered. “My goodness!” he thought to himself, “what a -fearful misfortune! If the King observes this he will instantly have me -pinioned and hanged.” So he took his gun in his hand, went to a tree, -and began pondering very hard. Then he heard a crackling and a rumbling. -So the good youth glimpsed down, and he saw a fearful, huge bird flying -into the garden and overthrowing the trees. The soldier fired at the -bird, but could not kill it; and could only wing it on the right wing, -and three feathers fell out of the wing, but the bird took to flight. -After him the soldier dashed. The bird’s wings were swift, and very -speedily it flew into a pit and vanished from sight. But the soldier was -not afraid and dived down after him into the pit, fell into the deep -crevasse, fell down flat and lay for whole days unconscious. - -When he came to himself he got up and he looked, and he found himself in -the subterranean world, where there was the same light as was here. “I -suppose there are people here as well,” he thought. So he went on and -on, and saw a great city and a sentry-box in front of it, and in it a -sentry. He began to ask him questions, but never an answer, never a -movement! So he took him by the hand, and found that he was all stone. -Then the soldier went into the sentry-box: and there were many people, -and they stood or sat, only they had all been turned to stone. He then -set to wandering in the streets, and everywhere it was the same—not a -single live soul to be seen! Soon he came to a decorated, raised, -clean-cut palace, marched in there, and looked. Rich rooms; and food and -drink of all sorts were on the table; and all was silent and empty. So -the soldier ate and drank; sat down to have a rest. Suddenly it seemed -to him as though some one had come up the steps. So he shouldered his -musket and went to the door. - -A fair Tsarévna was coming in with her maids of honour and attendants. -The soldier bowed down to her, and she curtsied to him kindly. - -“Hail, soldier!” she said. “By what ill doom have you fallen down here?” - -So the soldier began to tell her. “I was engaged as sentry in the -imperial garden, and a big bird came and flew round the trees and -shattered them. I watched him, fired at him, and three feathers fell out -of his wing. I began to chase after him, and arrived here.” - -Then she answered, “That bird is my own sister: she does much evil of -every kind and has set an ill doom on my kingdom, having turned all my -people to stone. Listen! here is a book for you. Stand here and read it -from evening time until the hour when the cocks crow. Whatever suffering -may come over you, do your duty; read the book, keep it close to you -that they may not tear it from you, otherwise you will not remain alive. -If you can stay here for three nights I will come and marry you.” - -“Very well,” said the soldier. - -Soon it became dark, and he took the book and began reading it. Then -there was a knocking and a thundering, and an entire host appeared in -the palace. All his former superiors appeared in front of the soldier, -scolded him and threatened him with the punishment of death. And they -got their guns and were levelling them at him: but the soldier never -looked at them, never let the book drop out of his hand, and simply went -on reading. Then the cocks crowed, and it all vanished! - -On the next night it was still more terrible, and on the third night -worst of all. All the executioners came up with their saws, axes, clubs, -and wanted to break his bones, put him on the rack, burn him at the -stake, and were devising any means of getting the book out of his hand. -It was fearful torture, and the soldier could hardly endure it. Then the -cocks crowed, and the demons vanished! - -At the same time the entire kingdom awoke, and in the streets and in the -houses people bestirred themselves, and in the palace the Tsarévna and -her generals and her suite appeared, and all began to thank the soldier, -and they made him their king. - -On the next day he married the fair Princess, and lived with her in love -and joy. - - * * * * * - -So the soldier, the peasant’s son, became a Tsar, and he still reigns. - -He is a very good king over his subjects, and is very generous to other -soldiers. - - - - - THE STORY OF TSAR ANGÉY AND HOW HE SUFFERED FOR PRIDE - - -Once there was in the city of Filuyán[30] a Tsar named Angéy, who was -very famous. And, in course of time, it came upon him to stand in the -church at the Divine Service at the reading of the sacred Gospel by the -priest, when the priest was reading those verses in the Gospel in which -it is said: _He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath -exalted the humble and meek_. And when the Tsar heard this he grew -angry, and the Tsar spoke: “This writing is falsely written; the word of -the Gospel is untrue.” And the Tsar said: “I am very rich and famous. -How shall I be put down from my seat and the humble and meek be -exalted?” And then he was filled with fear. And the Tsar bade the priest -be confined in a dungeon, and he bade that page be torn out of the -Gospel Book. And the Tsar went to his palace and began to eat and drink -and be merry. - -When the Tsar saw a deer in the fields, he went up and he took his young -men with him, and he hunted him and almost captured the deer; and the -deer was very beautiful. And the Tsar spoke to his champions: “Do ye -stand here. I will go, and I alone will take the deer alive.” And he -hunted after him, and they swam across the stream. The Tsar tied his -horse to an oak, and tied his garments around him, and swam naked across -the stream. Then the deer became invisible, and an angel of God stood by -the Tsar’s horse in the image of Tsar Angéy and spoke to the youths. -“The deer has swum across the stream.” - -And he went with the youths into the Tsar’s city to his palace. - -But Tsar Angéy went back for his horse, but he could neither find his -steed nor his apparel, and he remained there naked and began to think. -And Angéy went up to his city, and he saw shepherds feeding oxen, and he -asked them: “Ye lesser brothers, shepherds, where have ye seen my horse -and my garments?” And the shepherds asked him: “Who art thou?” He said -to them: “I am Tsar Angéy.” And the shepherds spake: “Wicked boaster! -how darest thou call thyself the Tsar, for we have seen Tsar Angéy, who -has just ridden into his city with five youths!” And they began to -rebuke him and to beat him with whips and scourges. And the Tsar began -to weep and to sob. The shepherds drove him afar, and he went naked into -his city. - -The trade folk of the city met him on his way and asked him: “Man, why -art thou naked?” And he said to them: “Robbers have stolen my garments.” -And they gave him a poor and tattered dress. He took it and bowed down -to them, and he went unto his city, and arrived in his town, and he -asked a widow if he might stay there the night, and he questioned her, -saying: “Say, my mistress, who is the Tsar here?” And she replied to -him: “Art thou not a man of our country?” And she said: “Our Tsar is -Tsar Angéy.” He asked: “For how many years has he been Tsar?” And she -said: “For years five and thirty.” - -He then wrote a letter with his own hand to the Tsarítsa, that he had -secret things and thoughts to speak of with her; and he bade a woman -take this letter to the queen. The Tsarítsa received the letter and had -it read to her. He signed it as her husband, Tsar Angéy. And a great -fear fell upon her, and in her fear she began to speak: “How can this -poor man name me his wife? I must inform the Tsar and have him -punished.” And she bade him be beaten with whips mercilessly, without -informing the Tsar. He was pitilessly beaten, and was scarcely left -alive, and could hardly leave the town. He wept and sobbed, and -remembered the words of the Gospel: _He hath put down the mighty from -their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek_. And he spoke to a -pope of this, how he had profaned the Sacred Book, and had sent the -priest into the dark dungeon, and had gone a long, long way. - -And the Tsarítsa spoke to the angel who was taking the shape of the -Tsar: “Thou, my dear lord, for one year hast not slept with me. How can -I, then, be thine?” And the Tsar spake to her: “I have made a covenant -with God that for three years I will not sleep with thee nor share thy -bed.” And he left her and went into the Tsar’s palace. - -Angéy the Tsar arrived in an unknown town and engaged himself with a -peasant to reap the harvest; and he did not know how to do a peasant’s -work; and the peasant discharged him, and he began to weep and sob, and -went on his way from that city. And poor men met him on the road. He -said to them: “Will ye take me up with ye? I am now a poor man, and do -not know how to work, and I am ashamed to beg. What ye bid of me I will -do. I will work for you.” And they accepted him and gave him a burden to -carry. And they went to lie at night, and they bade him heat the bath, -carry water, and lay the bed. And Tsar Angéy wept bitterly: “Woe to me! -What have I done! I was wroth with the Sovereign, and He has deprived me -of my kingdom and has brought me to ruin, and I have suffered all this -through the word of the Gospel.” - -In the morning the poor men got up, and they arrived at his own city of -Filuyán. And they reached the abode of the Tsar and began to beg for -alms. At this time the Tsar was holding a mighty feast, and he bade the -poor be summoned into the palace, bade them be fed sufficiently, and he -bade the food of the poor men be taken into the Tsar’s palace and put -into a special room. And, when the Tsar’s feast was over and the -_boyárs_[31] and the guests had all separated, the angel who had taken -the form of the Tsar Angéy came to him in the palace where Angéy the -Tsar was dining with the beggars: “Dost thou know of a proud and mighty -Tsar, how he profaned the word of the Gospel?” And he began to teach him -and to instruct him before all of the world, that he must not profane -the word of the Gospel, and must show respect for the priests, and must -not upraise himself, but must be kindly and inclined to the ways of -peace. - - - - - THE FEAST OF THE DEAD - - -Some girls were out at night for the evening, and arranged for an -evening party. They went out to get some _vódka_. There were bones lying -on the road. “Ho!” they said, “bones, bones, come and be our guests: we -are having an evening party.” - -So, they went back home, brought the _vódka_, and stepped in over the -threshold. - -But the bones came and sat at the table just like men, and said to the -maidens, “Now give us the brandy.” - -So the girls gave them brandy. - -“Give us bread!” - -So they gave them bread. - -They all sat down to eat, and one maiden dropped the meat. - -Then the bones began lifting and stretching their legs under the bench. -The girls tried to run away; and the bones raced after them. The bones -caught one girl up, and broke her across their knees. The other girls -made their escape into the loft; one girl hid behind the water-butt. - -The bones ran up to the loft and asked: “What is there up there?” - -“God’s taper.” - -“But down there?” - -“The Devil’s poker,” she answered. - -So the bones hauled the second girl out and strangled her. - - - - - THE QUARRELSOME WIFE - - -“Father, I should like to marry! Mother, I should like to marry, I -should really,” said the youth. - -“Well then, my child—marry.” - -So he married, and chose a lanky, black, squinting wife. She would have -pleased Satan more than the clear-eyed hawk, and it was no good frothing -at anybody: he was the only person in the wrong. So he lived with her -and wrung his tears out with his fist. - -One day he went out where audiences were being given, stood there, and -came home. - -“Wherever have you been sauntering?” asked his squint-eyed wife. “What -have you seen?” - -“Oh, they say that a new Tsar has come on the throne and has issued a -new _úkaz_ that wives are to command their husbands!” - -He only meant to joke, but she sprang up, pulled his whiskers and said, -“Go to the stream and wash the shirts, take the broom and sweep the -house, then go and sit by the cradle and rock the child, cook the supper -and grill and bake the cakes.” - -The man wanted to answer, “What are you talking about, woman? That is -not a man’s work.” Then he looked at her, and he froze cold and his -tongue clave to his throat. - -So he got the washing together, baked the cakes, swept the cottage, and -was no good for anything. - -One year went by, and a second, and the good youth got rather weary of -the yoke. But what on earth was he to do? He had married and he had tied -himself for all eternity, and, may-be, his entire life would go by in -this misery. From sheer wretchedness he contrived himself this -contrivance. In the forest there was a deep pit of which neither end nor -bottom could be seen. So he took and closed it up on the top with -stakes, and strewed it over with straw. Then he came up to his wife: “My -dear wife, you don’t know that there is a treasure in the forest. It -simply moans and groans with gold, and will not give itself up to me. It -said, ‘Send for your wife.’” - -“Ha, ha! let us go: I will take it, and you say nothing about it.” - -So they went into the wood. “Sssh, woman, that is hollow ground out of -which the treasure comes forth.” - -“Oh, what a fool you are of a peasant, frightened of everything! This is -how I run up to it.” So she ran up to the straw and was precipitated -into the pit. - -“Now, off you go,” said the peasant; “I am now going to have a rest.” - -So he had a rest for a month, and a second month, but he soon became -melancholy without his squint-eyed wife. So he went into the forest, and -he went into the field, and he went to the river, and he could only -think of her. “Possibly by now she has become quiet. Possibly I will -take her out again.” So he took a withy, let it into the ground, and he -listened: she was sitting there. He drew it up, looked at it very near, -looked very carefully, and in the basket there was a little devil -sitting. At this the peasant was frightened, and almost let the cord -fall out of his hands. - -Then the little devil begged him and cried in his ear: “Do let me go, -peasant. Your wife has been torturing and oppressing us. Tell me what to -do: I will be your faithful servant. I will this very instant run into -the _boyárs’_ palace; I will in an instant cook the grill; by day and -night I will knock and drive away the _boyárs_. You are to declare -yourself a doctor to go and to call on me. I will leap up on the spot -and vanish. Now, go and dig; shovel up your money.” - -So the peasant let the devil leap out, shake himself and vanish away. -And from that day everything went upside down in the _boyárs’_ house, -and they began looking for some doctor: the good youth dubbed himself a -doctor, exorcised the devil, and received good pay. Soon the rumour went -forth that in the prince’s palace, in the lofty castle home, familiar -spirits were appearing, and never gave the princes rest. They sent for -hunters in every part of the earth, and summoned them to assemble -doctors. They collected from all the kings: it was no good. The familiar -spirits still knocked and groaned. - -At last our doctor arrived, recognised his old acquaintance, called for -his little devil, and the little devil never thought of running away, -and he would not leave the prince’s palace. “Wait a little, if this is -the case,” cried the doctor. “Ho, my squint-eyed wife, just come up -here!” Then the little devil could not stand it and took to his heels -out of the stove. - -So the doctor received honour and praise, and earned a mine of money. -But it is said, not untruly, that, even in Paradise, it is sad to live -alone. For the good youth grew melancholy, and he again went to seek his -squint-eyed wife. So he let down the basket right away into the pit. -There the woman was sitting, and he hauled her to the top. As soon as -ever she came near she was breathing out fire and fury, gnashing her -teeth and brandishing her fists. The peasant’s hands shook with fear, -and the withy broke, and the squint-eyed woman clashed down as before -into Hell. - - - - - ELIJAH THE PROPHET AND ST. NICHOLAS - - -Once, a long time ago, there lived a peasant. He always observed St. -Nicholas’ day, but never, never, that of St. Elias; he even worked on -it. He used to say a _Te Deum_ to Nicholas, and burn a taper, but never -gave as much as a thought to the Prophet Elijah. - -One day Elijah and Nicholas were walking through this peasant’s fields, -going along and surveying; and the ears were so large, so full, that it -warmed one’s heart to look at them! - -“What a fine crop this will be!” said Nicholas. “Yes, and he’s a fine -fellow, a good, brave peasant, pious; he remembers God, and reveres the -Holy Saints. Whatever he turns his hand to shall prosper.” - -“Ha, let’s have a look, brother,” Elijah demurred. “Will there be so -much over? My lightnings shall glint and my hail beat his field down; -then your peasant shall learn right, and regard my name-day.” - -So they wrangled and argued, and at last agreed to go each his own way. - -St. Nicholas at once went off to the peasant, and said: “Go and sell the -Father by St. Elias’ all your standing corn: not a blade will be left; -it will be destroyed by hail.” - -Up the peasant dashed to the pope: “Oh, _bátyushka_, won’t you buy all -my standing corn? I’ll sell you my whole field; I am so short of money; -take it and give it me. Do buy it, Father; I’ll sell it cheap.” - -They haggled and bargained, and at last agreed. The peasant took his -cash and went home. - -Time went by—not much, nor little; a heavy thundrous cloud gathered, -and, with frightsome lightning and hail, played on the peasant’s field, -cut through his crops like a scythe, and left not one blade to tell the -tale. - -Next day, Elijah and Nicholas were faring through, and Elijah said: -“Look how I’ve blasted the peasant’s field!” - -“The peasant’s field? No, my brother, no; you’ve done your work -thoroughly; but it belongs to the pope by St. Elias, not to the -peasant.” - -“What! That pope?” - -“Oh, yes; about a week ago the peasant sold the field to the pope, and -got hard cash for it! And the pope is crying over the spilt money.” - -“That won’t do,” said Elijah; “I will grow the meadow anew—’twill be as -good as it was.” - -They had their talk out and went on their way. - -Up went St. Nicholas to the peasant once again. “Go and see the pope,” -he said, “and redeem your field; you won’t lose by it.” - -The peasant went to see the pope. “The Lord has grievously afflicted -you, has smitten your field with hail, as smooth as a board. Let’s share -the cost of it; I will take back my field, and to relieve your loss will -return you half the money.” - -Oh, how glad the pope was to consent! They shook hands on it at once. - -Meanwhile, somehow or other, the peasant’s field righted itself; new -shoots sprang up out of the old roots, the rain poured down on them, and -nourished the earth; wonderful fresh corn grew up, lofty and thick; not -a weed to be seen; and the ears were so full that they bowed down to -earth. The little sun warmed them, and the rye was warmed through, and -waved like a field of gold. The peasant bound up sheaf after sheaf, -built rick after rick; carted it away and stacked it. - -Just then Elijah and St. Nicholas were once more passing by. Elijah -looked blithely at the field and said: “Just look, Nicholas, what a -blessing I have wrought! This is my reward to the pope, and he’ll never -forget it all his life.” - -“The pope! No, brother; it is a great boon, but then this is the -peasant’s field; the pope hasn’t a rod of it!” - -“Wha-at?” - -“It is true. After the meadow had been battered by hail, the peasant -went up to the pope and bought it back at half price.” - -“Stop a bit,” said the Prophet Elijah, “I’ll take all the good out of -it; out of all the peasant’s ricks he shall not thresh more than six -gallons at a time.” - -“Here, this looks bad,” thought St. Nicholas, and instantly went to see -the peasant, and said: “See to it; when you start threshing, never take -more than a sheaf at a time on the threshing-floor.” - -So the peasant set to threshing, and he got six gallons out of every -sheaf; all his granaries and lofts were full up with rye, and still -there was much left over; he built new storehouses, and filled them full -to the flush. - -But one day Elijah the Prophet and St. Nicholas were passing by his -courtyard, and Elijah glanced up and said: “Why has he built these new -granaries? How can he stock them all?” - -“They’re full up,” St. Nicholas replied. - -“How did he get so much grain?” - -“Oho! Every sheaf yielded him six gallons, and, as soon as he started -threshing, he brought them in sheaf by sheaf.” - -“Oh, my brother Nicholas!” Elijah guessed: “you must have told him what -to do!” - -“Well, I thought it all out, and was going to say....” - -“What are you after? It’s all your work. Never mind; your peasant shall -still have a reminder of me.” - -“What will you do?” - -“I shall not tell you this time!” - -“Well, if evil is to be, it will come.” - -Nicholas thought, and again went to the peasant, told him to buy two -tapers, one big and one small, and gave him instructions. - -Next day Elijah the Prophet and St. Nicholas were out together in the -guise of wanderers, and the peasant happened to meet them, carrying two -waxen candles—one big one that cost a rouble, and a little one that cost -a kopek. - -“Where are you going to, peasant?” St. Nicholas said. - -“Oh, I am going to light the rouble taper to the Prophet Elijah; he has -been so charitable to me. My field was ravaged by hail, so he -intervened, _bátyushka_, and gave me a crop twice as good.” - -“For whom is the farthing dip?” - -“Oh, for St. Nicholas!” the peasant said, and pursued his way. - -“There you are, Elijah,” said St. Nicholas: “you said I gave everything -away to the peasant; now you see what the truth is.” - -And with this the dispute was ended: Elijah the Prophet was reconciled, -and ceased persecuting the peasant with hail-storms, so that he lived a -merry life from that day and honoured both name-days equally. - - - - - THE PRINCESS TO BE KISSED AT A CHARGE - - -We still say that we are clever, but our elders go and quarrel with us -and say, “No, we had more sense than you.” But the tale tells that, even -when our grandfathers had not learned their lessons and our -great-great-great-great-grandfathers had not been born, in a certain -kingdom, in a certain land, once there lived an old man who had taught -his three sons reading and writing. - -“Now, children,” he said to them, “I shall die; do you come and read -prayers over my grave.” - -“Very well, _bátyushka_,” the three sons answered. And the two elder -brothers were indeed fine lads, and they grew up fine stout fellows; but -the youngest, Vanyúshka,[32] was under-sized, like a starved duckling, -and flat-chested. The old man, their father, died. - -Just about then a decree was issued by the Tsar that his daughter, Eléna -Tsarévna the Fair, had ordered a temple to be built for her, with twelve -columns and twelve wreaths. She was going to sit in this temple on a -lofty throne, and was going to wait for the bridegroom—the valiant man -who should on a flying horse, at a single spring, kiss her on the lips. -All the young folks were bustling about, washing themselves clean, -combing their hair, and considering to whom should the great honour -fall. - -“Brothers,” Vanyúshka said, “our father is dead: who of us will go and -read prayers on his grave?” - -“Whoever wishes may go,” answered the brothers. - -So the youngest went. But the elders got ready and mounted their horses, -curled their hair, dyed their hair; and all their kinsmen gathered -round. - -Then the second night came: “Brothers, I read the prayers last night,” -Ványa said; “it’s your turn; which of you will go?” - -“Any one who wishes may go; don’t interfere with us.” - -They gave their hats a knowing tilt, whooped and shouted, flew about, -and rushed and galloped abroad on the open fields; and once again Ványa -read the prayers; and so, too, on the third night. But the brothers -saddled their horses, combed out their whiskers, and got ready on the -very morrow to try their prowess in front of the eyes of Eléna the Fair. -“What about our youngest brother?” they thought. - -“Never mind about him; he will only disgrace us and make people smile: -let us go by ourselves.” So they started. - -But Ványa also very much wanted to look at Princess Eléna the Fair, and -so he wept sorely, and he went to his father’s grave, and his father -heard him in his last home, and he came up to him, shook off the grey -earth from his forehead, and said, “Do not grieve, Vanyúshka; I will aid -you in your sorrow.” Then the old man got up, whistled and halloed with -a young man’s voice, with a nightingale’s trill; and from some source or -other a horse ran up, and the earth trembled, and from his nostrils and -from his ears flames issued forth. He breathed smoke, and stood in front -of the old man as though he were rooted to the ground, and asked him, -“What do you wish?” - -Ványa mounted the horse by one ear, dismounted it by the other, and -turned into so fine a youth as no tale can tell and no pen can write. He -sat on the horse, bent over sideways; and he flew like your hawk over -there, straight to the palace of Eléna the Fair Tsarévna. He stretched -out, leaped on, and he did not reach two of the crowns. He again made an -effort, flew up, jumped; there was only one wreath left. He made one -more effort, turned round once more, and, as fire leaps to the eyes, he -instantly kissed and smacked Eléna the Fair on the lips. “Who is it! Who -is it! Catch him!” For his very trace had vanished. Then he leapt back -to his father’s grave, and he let his horse free into the open field; -and he then bowed down to the earth and asked advice of his father, and -the old man gave him advice. Ványa went back home as though he had never -been there; and the brothers told him where they had been, what they had -done and seen; and he listened as though he had never heard of it -before. - -There was another bout next day, and you could never see an end of the -_boyárs_ and the lords seated at the royal palace. The elder brothers -started out, and the younger brother set out on foot secretly and -quietly, just as though he had never kissed the Tsarévna, and he stopped -in his distant corner. Eléna Tsarévna was asking for her bridegroom; -Eléna Tsarévna was wishing to show him to the whole world, desiring to -give him the half of her kingdom; but never a bridegroom appeared. They -were looking for him in the midst of the _boyárs_, in the midst of the -generals; and they went to them all, but they could not find him. But -Ványa looked on and smiled, and waited until his bride came to him. For -he said, “I won her like a knight; now she is to love me in my -_kaftán_.” - -So she got up, looked out of the open windows, glanced through them all, -and then she saw and recognised her bridegroom, took him to herself, and -soon the betrothal took place. And oh, what a fine young man he was—so -sensible, brave, and so handsome! He used to sit on his flying horse, -undo his cap, put his arms a-kimbo; and he seemed like a king, like the -reigning king; and you looked on, and you would never have imagined that -at one time he could ever have been poor Vanyúshka. - - - - - THE WOOD SPRITE - - -One day the daughter of a pope, without asking leave of her mother or -her father, went for a walk into the wood, and utterly lost her way. -Three years went by. Now, in this wood, in which her mother and father -lived, there was a bold hunter. On every holy day he used to go hunting -with his gun and his dog in the dreamy forest. - -One day he went into the wood, and the hairs of his dog bristled up. -Then the hunter looked, and in front of him there was a stump on the -wood path, and a Peasant stood on the stump and was cleaning his bast -shoe. He went on with his shoe and was threatening the moon: “Light, -give me light, clear moon.” It was all very strange to the hunter. “Why -does this Peasant,” he thought, “live by himself? He looks so young, but -his hair is quite grey.” - -He only thought this, but the Peasant guessed his thought and said, “Why -am I grey? Because I am the Devil’s grandfather.” - -Then the hunter understood that it was no mere peasant he saw, but the -Wood Sprite, and he aimed at him with his gun, _Bang!_ and he hit him in -the belly. The Wood Sprite groaned, almost fell down from the stump, and -that very instant jumped up again and crept into the thicket. After him -ran the dog, and after the dog ran the hunter. So he went on and on and -on, and he came up to the mountains, and on one of the mountains there -was a fissure, and in the fissure stood a little hut. - -He entered the hut and looked, and there was the Wood Sprite rolling on -a bench, absolutely out of breath, and beside him a maiden who was -weeping bitterly. “Who will now give me food and drink?” - -“Hail, fair maiden!” said the hunter; “tell me what you are and whence.” - -“O doughty youth, I do not know myself: I have never seen the free -world, and I have never known my father and mother.” - -“Well, come quickly, I will take you back to Holy Russia.” So he took -her with him and led her out of the wood, and he went through the -villages, inquiring of all of the places. Now, this maiden had been -taken away by the Wood Sprite, and had lived with him for three whole -years, and she had been enclosed and cut off, and was almost entirely -naked, but she had no shame. Then they came to the village, and the -huntsman began to ask whether anyone had lost a maiden. - -Then the pope said, “This is my daughter.” And the pope’s wife came: -“Oh, my dear daughter, where have you been so long? I never thought I -should see you any more.” - -Then the daughter looked at them, but was simply staggered and -understood nothing, and only afterwards, little by little, came to -herself. The pope and his wife gave her in marriage to the huntsman and -rewarded him with all good things. - -Then they went to look for the _izbá_[33] in which she had lived with -the Wood Sprite. They wandered far into the woods, but could not find -it. - - - - - THE REALMS OF COPPER, SILVER AND GOLD - - -Once upon a time there was an old man and his old wife, and they had -three sons. One was called Egórushko Zalyót;[34] the second was called -Mísha Kosolápy;[35] and the third was called Iváshko Zapéchnik.[36] The -parents wanted to secure wives for them, and sent the eldest son out to -seek a bride. He went for a long time, and saw many maidens, but he took -none to wife, for he liked none well enough. On the way he met a -three-headed dragon, and was very frightened. - -The dragon asked him, “Whither are you going, brave youth?” - -“I am going a-wooing, but I cannot find a bride.” - -“Come with me; I will take you where you may find one.” - -So they journeyed together till they came to a great heavy stone; and -the dragon said to him: “Lift that stone off, then you will find what -you are seeking.” And Egórushko endeavoured to lift the stone away, but -he failed. Then the dragon said: “I have no bride for you here!” - -So Egórushko went back home, and he told his father and mother all he -had gone through. And the parents reflected for a long time. And they at -last sent Mísha Kosolápy on the same journey. He met the dragon after -many days, and asked him to show him how he should get a bride. The -dragon bade him go with him. And they came to the stone. Mísha tried to -lift it away, but in vain; so he returned to his parents and told them -all he had gone through. - -This time the parents were at an utter loss what they should do. Iváshko -Zapéchnik could not have any better luck! But still Iváshko asked his -parents’ leave to go to the dragon, and after some reluctance he -obtained it. - -Iváshko met the three-headed dragon, who asked him: “Where are you -going, sturdy youth?” - -“My brothers set out to marry, but they could find no brides. It is now -my turn.” - -“Come with me; perhaps you may win a bride.” - -So the dragon and Iváshko went up to the stone, and the dragon commanded -him to lift the stone up, and Iváshko thrust the stone, and it flew up -from its bed like a feather, as though it were not there, and revealed -an aperture in the earth, with a rope ladder. - -“Iváshko,” said the dragon, “go down that ladder; and I will let you -down into the three kingdoms, and in each of them you will see a fair -maiden.” - -So Iváshko went down, deeper and deeper, right down to the realm of -copper, where he met a maiden who was very fair. - -“God greet you, strange guest! Sit down where you may find room, and say -whence you come.” - -“Oh, fair maiden, you have given me nothing to eat and drink, and you -ask me for my news!” - -So the maiden gave him all manner of meat and drink and set them on the -table. - -Iváshko had a drink, and then said: “I am seeking a bride; will you -marry me?” - -“No, fair youth! go farther on into the silver kingdom. There there is a -maiden who is much fairer than I.” Thereupon she gave him a silver ring. - -So the young boy thanked her for her kindness, said farewell; and he -went farther until he reached the silver kingdom. There he saw a maiden -who was fairer yet than the former, and he prayed and bowed down low. -“Good day, fair maiden!” - -“Good day, strange youth! Sit down and tell me whence you come and what -you seek.” - -“But, fair maiden, you have given me nothing to eat or drink, and you -ask my news!” - -So the maiden put rich drink and food on the table, and Iváshko ate as -much as he would. Then he told her that he was seeking a bride, and he -asked her if she would be the bride. “Go yet farther into the golden -realm; there there is a maiden who is yet much fairer than I!” the girl -said, and she gave him a golden ring. - -Iváshko said farewell, and went yet farther, went deeper still, into the -golden realm. There he found a maiden who was much, very much fairer -than the others, and there he said the right prayer, and he saluted the -maiden. - -“Whither art thou going, fair youth; and what do you seek?” - -“Fair maiden, give me to eat and drink, and I will tell you my news.” - -So she got him so fine a meal that no better meal on earth could be -wished, and she was so fair that no pen could write and no tale could -tell. - -Iváshko set to valorously, and then he told his tale. “I am seeking a -bride; if you will marry me, come with me!” - -So the maiden consented, and she gave him a golden ball. Then they went -on and on together, until they reached the silver realm, where they took -the maiden who was there; and they went on and on and on from there to -the copper realm, and took this maiden with them as well. And then they -came to the hole through which they were to climb out. The rope ladder -stood all ready, and there there stood the elder brothers, who were -looking for him. Iváshko tied the maiden out of the copper realm to the -ladder, and the brothers lifted her out, and they let the ladder down -again. Then Iváshko laid hold of the maiden from the silver realm, and -she was drawn up, and the ladder let down again. This time the maiden -from the golden realm came, and was also drawn up. When the steps were -let down again, Iváshko sat on them, and the brothers drew it up into -the height. But when they saw that this time it was Iváshko Zapéchnik -who sat on it, they began to reflect: “If we let him out perhaps he will -not give us any of the maidens.” So they cut the steps down, and Iváshko -fell down. He wept bitterly, but it was no good. He went down farther, -and he then came across a tiny old man, who sat on a tree stem and had a -long white beard. Iváshko told him how it had been. - -The old man advised him once more to go on. “You will come to a little -hut. Enter it and you will see a long man lying in it from one corner to -the other. Ask him how you shall reach Russian land once more.” - -So Iváshko went up to the hut, stepped in and said: “Strong giant,[37] -spare me, and tell me how I shall get home again.” - -“Fi, fo, fum, you Russian bones!” said Ídolishche, “I did not summon -you, and still you have come. Go to the thrice-tenth sea, there there -stands a hut on cocks’ legs in which the Bába Yagá lives. She has an -eagle who will carry you.” - -So the young boy went on and on, a far way, to the hut, and he stepped -in. - -The Bába Yagá cried out at once, “Fi, fo, fum, Russian bones, why have -you come here?” - -“Oh, mother, the giant Ídolishche sent me to ask you to lend me your -mighty eagle to carry me to Russia.” - -“Go,” said Bába Yagá, “into the garden. At the gate there stands a -watchman; take his keys and pass through seven doors, and when you open -the last the eagle will flap his wings. Sit on his back if you are not -afraid, and fly away. But take meat with you and give him to eat -whenever he turns round.” - -Iváshko did as he was bidden, sat on the eagle and flew away. The eagle -flew on, flew on; then he soon turned his head round, and Iváshko gave -him a bite of flesh. Then the eagle flew on afar, and turned round -again, and Iváshko fed him. And he fed him until he had nothing more -left, and Russia was still far off. Then the eagle turned round, and as -he had no flesh, he tore a fragment out of Iváshko’s withers and ate it -up. But they had already reached the aperture. When Iváshko parted from -the eagle, he spat a bit of flesh out and bade Iváshko lay it on him. -And Iváshko did so, and his body healed; and Iváshko went home, took the -maiden from the golden realm from his brothers; and they then lived -happily, and may still be living if they are not dead. - - -I was there and I drank beer; I drank the beer, and it flowed up to my -whiskers, but none of it reached my mouth. - - - - - CHUFÍL-FÍLYUSHKA - - -Once upon a time there were three brothers in a family; the eldest was -called the Ram, the second the Goat, and the third and youngest -Chufíl-Fílyushka.[38] One day all three went into the forest, where the -warder lived who was their real grandfather. With him Ram and Goat left -their own brother Chufíl-Fílyushka, and went out into the forest to -hunt. Fílyushka had all his own will and way: his grandfather was old, -and a great stupid; and Fílyushka was generous. He wanted to eat an -apple. So he eluded his grandfather, got into the garden, and climbed up -the apple-tree. - -All of a sudden, Heaven knows where from, who should come but the -Yagá-Búra,[39] with an iron mortar, and a pestle in her hand; she leaped -up to the apple-tree, and said, “How are you, Fílyushka? What have you -come here for?” - -“Oh, to pluck an apple!” said Fílyushka. - -“Well, then, dearie, have a bite of mine!” - -“No, it’s a rotten one,” said Fílyushka. - -“Well, here’s another one!” - -“No, it’s all wormy!” - -“Don’t be saucy; just come up and take one out of my hand.” - -He stretched out his hand. Then Yagá-Búra gripped it tight, put him into -the mortar, and made off, leaping over hills, and forests, and clefts; -and swiftly with the pestle driving the mortar. - -Then Fílyushka remembered himself, and began to cry out, “Goat, Ram, -come along quick. Yagá has carried me away beyond the high, steep hills, -the dark, lone woods, the steppes, where the geese roam.” - -The Ram and the Goat were just then resting. One was lying on the -ground, and heard a noise of somebody shouting. So he told the other -one: “Come and lie down, and listen!” - -“Oh, it’s our Fílyushka crying.” - -Off they went and ran and ran, and ran the Yagá-Búra down, saved -Fílyushka and brought him home to his grandfather, who had nearly gone -out of his mind with fright! They told him to look after Fílyushka -better, and went out again. - -But Fílyushka was a real boy, and the first chance he got, off he was -again to the apple-tree, clambered up. There was the Yagá-Búra again, -and offering him an apple. - -“No, you won’t catch me this time, you old beast!” said Fílyushka. - -“Don’t be unkind—do just take an apple from me; I’ll throw it to you!” - -“Right: throw it down.” - -Then Yagá threw him down an apple: he stretched out his hand, and she -clutched it and leapt over hills, and valleys, and dark forests, so fast -that it seemed like a twinkling of an eye, got him into her home, washed -him, went out and put him into the bunk. - -In the morning she made ready to go out, and ordered her daughter, -“Listen! heat the oven well, very hot, and roast me Chufíl-Fílyushka for -supper.” And she went out to seek further booty. - -The daughter went and got the oven thoroughly hot, took out and bound -Fílyushka, and put him on the shovel, and was just going to shove him -into the oven, when he went and knocked his forehead with his feet. - -“That’s not the way, Fílyushka,” said the daughter of the Yagá-Búra. - -“How then?” he answered. “I don’t understand.” - -“Look here, just let go; I’ll show you.” She went and lay down on the -shovel in the right fashion. - -But, although Chufíl-Fílyushka was small, he was no fool! He stuffed her -at once into the oven, and shut the oven door with a bang. - -About two or three hours later Fílyushka smelt a smell of good roast -meat, opened the door, and took out the daughter of the Yagá-Búra well -cooked; buttered it over, put it into the frying-pan and covered it with -a towel, and put it into the bunk; then he climbed up to the roof-tree -and took away the business-day pestle and mortar of the Yagá-Búra. - -About evening time, the Yagá-Búra came in, went straight to the bunk and -took the roast meat out; ate it all up, collected all the bones, laid -them out on the ground in rows, and began to roll on them. But somehow -she could not find her daughter, and thought she had gone away to -another cottage to weave. But suddenly, whilst she was rolling, she -said, “My dear daughter, do come to me and help me roll Fílyushka’s -little bones!” - -Then Fílyushka cried out from the rafters: “Roll away, mother, and stand -on your daughter’s little bones!” - -“Are you there, you brigand! You just wait, and I’ll give it you!” - -But little Chufíl was not frightened, and when the Yagá-Búra, gnashing -her teeth, stamping on the ground, had got up to the ceiling, he just -got hold of the pestle and with all his might struck her on the -forehead, and down she flopped. Then Fílyushka climbed up on to the -roof, and saw some geese flying, and called out to them, “Lend me your -wings; I want wings to carry me home.” - -They lent him their wings, and he flew home. - -But they had long, long ago been praying for the repose of his soul at -home, and how glad they were to see him turn up alive and sound! So they -changed the requiem for a merry festival, and lived out their lives, and -lived on to receive more good yet! - - - - - DONOTKNOW - - -Here begins the tale of a grey horse, a chestnut horse and of the wise -fallow-bay. On the shore of the ocean, in the isle of Buyán, there stood -a roasted ox, and behind pounded garlic: on the one side cut your meat, -on the other dip deep and eat. - - -Once upon a time there lived a merchant who had a son, and when the son -grew up he was taken into the shop. Now, the first wife of the merchant -died, and he married a second. - -After some months the merchant made ready to sail to foreign lands, and -he loaded his ship with goods and he bade his son look after the house -well and attend to business duly. - -Then the merchant’s son asked, “_Bátyushka_,[40] when you go, get me my -luck!” - -“My beloved son,” answered the old man, “where shall I find it?” - -“It is not far to seek, my luck. When you get up to-morrow morning, -stand at the gates and buy the first thing that meets you and give it to -me.” - -“Very well, my son.” - -So next day the father got up very early, stood outside the gates, and -the first thing that met him was a peasant who was selling a sorry, -scabby foal—mere dog’s meat. So the merchant bargained for it and got it -for a silver rouble, took the foal into the courtyard and put it into -the stable. - -Then the merchant’s son asked him, “Well, _bátyushka_, what have you -found as my luck?” - -“I went out to find it, and it turned into a very poor thing.” - -“Well, so it really had to be: whatever luck the Lord has given us we -must use.” - -Then the father set sail with his goods into foreign lands, and the son -sat on the counter and engaged in trade. He grew into the habit, whether -he were going into the shop or returning home, always to go and stand in -front of his foal. - -Now, his stepmother did not love her stepson, and looked out for -fortune-tellers to learn how to get rid of him. At last she found an old -wise woman, who gave her a poison and bade her put it under the -threshold just when her stepson was coming in. As he came back from the -shop, the merchant’s son went into the stable and saw that his foal was -standing in tears, and so he stroked him and asked, “Why, my good horse, -do you weep? Why your counsel do you keep?” - -Then the foal answered, “Oh, Iván the merchant’s son, my beloved master, -why should I not weep? Your stepmother is trying to ruin you. You have a -dog: when you go home let it go in front of you, and you will see what -will come to it.” - -So the merchant’s son listened, and as soon as ever the dog crossed the -threshold it was torn into small atoms. - -Iván the merchant’s son never let his stepmother know that he saw -through her spite, and set out next day to the shop, whilst the -stepmother went to see the soothsayer. So the old woman got a second -poison, and bade her put it into the trough. In the evening, as he went -home, the merchant’s son went into the stable; and once more the foal -was standing on tip-toes and in tears; and he struck him on the haunches -and said, “Why, my good horse, do you weep? Why your counsel do you -keep?” - -Then the foal answered, “Why should I not weep, my master, Iván the -merchant’s son? I hear a very great misfortune—that your stepmother -wishes to ruin you. Look when you go into the room and sit down at the -table: your mother will bring you a draught in the glass. Do you not -drink it, but pour it out of the window: you will yourself see what will -happen outside.” - -Iván the merchant’s son did as he was bidden and as soon as ever he had -thrown the draught out of the window it began to rend the earth; and -again he never said a single word to his stepmother; so she still -thought that he was in the dark. - -On the third day he went to the shop, and the stepmother again went to -the soothsayer. The old woman gave her an enchanted shirt. In the -evening, as he was going out of the shop, the merchant’s son went up to -the foal, and he saw that there stood his good horse on tip-toes and in -tears. So he struck him by the bridle and said, “Why do you weep, my -good horse? Why your counsel do you keep?” - -Then the foal answered him, “Why should I not weep? Do I not know that -your stepmother is wishing to destroy you? Listen to what I say. When -you go home your stepmother will send you to the bath, and she will send -the boy to you with a shirt. Do not put on the shirt yourself, but put -it on the boy, and you will see yourself what will come of it.” - -So the merchant’s son went up to his attic, and his stepmother came and -said to him, “Would you not like to have a steam bath? The bath is now -ready.” - -“Very well,” said Iván, and he went into the bath, and very soon after -the boy brought him a shirt. As soon as ever the merchant’s son put it -on the boy he that very instant closed his eyes and fell on the floor, -as though he were dead. And when he took the shirt off him and cast it -into the stove, the boy revived, but the stove was split into small -pieces. - -The stepmother saw that she was doing no good, so she again went to the -old soothsayer and asked and besought her how she should destroy her -stepson. The old woman answered, “As long as the horse is alive nothing -can be brought about. But you pretend to be ill, and when your husband -comes back tell him, ‘I saw in my sleep that the throat of our foal must -be cut and the liver extracted, and I must be rubbed with the liver; -then my disease will pass away.’” - -Some time after the merchant came back, and the son went out to meet -him. - -“Hail, my son!” said the father. “Is all well with you at home?” - -“All is well, only mother is ill,” he answered. - -So the merchant unloaded his wares and went home, and he found his wife -lying in the bedclothes groaning, saying, “I can only recover if you -will fulfil my dream.” - -So the merchant agreed at once, summoned his son and said, “Now, my son, -I want to cut the throat of your horse: your mother is ill, and I must -cure her.” - -So Iván the merchant’s son wept bitterly and said, “Oh, father, you wish -to take away from me my last luck!” Then he went into the stable. - -The foal saw him and said, “My beloved master, I have saved you from -three deaths—do you now save me from one. Ask your father that you may -go out on my back for the last time to fare in the open fields with your -companions.” - -So the son asked his father for leave to go into the open field for the -last time on the horse, and the father agreed. Iván the merchant’s son -mounted his horse, leapt into the open field, and went and diverted -himself with his friends and companions. Then he sent his father a -letter in this wise: “Do you cure my stepmother with a twelve-tongued -whip—this is the best means of curing her illness.” He sent this letter -with one of his good companions, and himself went into foreign lands. - -The merchant read the letter, and began curing his wife with a -twelve-tongued whip: and she very soon recovered. - -The merchant’s son went out into the open field, into the wide plains, -and he saw horned cattle grazing in front of him. - -So the good horse said, “Iván the merchant’s son, let me go free at -will, and do you pull three little hairs out of my tail: whenever I can -be of service to you burn a single hair, and I shall appear at once in -front of you, like a leaf in front of the grass. But you, good youth, go -to the herd, buy a bull and cut its throat; dress yourself in the bull’s -hide, put a bladder on your head, and wherever you go, whatever you are -asked about, answer only this one word, ‘Idonotknow.’” - -Iván the merchant’s son let his horse go free, dressed himself in the -bull’s hide, put a bladder on his head, and went beyond the seas. On the -blue sea there was a ship a-sailing. The ship’s crew saw this marvel—an -animal which was not an animal, a man that was not a man, with a bladder -on his head and with fur all round him. So they sailed up to the shore -in a light boat and began to ask him and to inquire of him. Iván the -merchant’s son only returned one answer, “Idonotknow.” - -“If it be so, then your name must be ‘Donotknow.’” Then the ship’s crew -took him, carried him on board the boat, and they sailed to their King. - -May-be long, may-be short, they at last reached a capital city, went to -the King with gifts, and informed him of Donotknow. So the King bade the -portent be presented before his eyes. So they brought Donotknow into the -palace, and the people came up from all parts, seen and unseen, to gaze -on him. - -Then the King began to ask him, “What sort of a man are you?” - -“Idonotknow.” - -“From what lands have you come?” - -“Idonotknow.” - -“From what race and from what place?” - -“Idonotknow.” - -Then the King put Donotknow into the garden as a scarecrow, to frighten -the birds from the apple trees, and he bade him be fed from his royal -kitchen. - -Now this king had three daughters: the elder ones were beautiful, but -the younger fairer still. Very soon the son of the King of the Arabs -began asking for the hand of the youngest daughter, and he wrote to the -King with threats such as this, “If you do not give her to me of your -good will, I will take her by force.” - -This did not suit the King at all, so he answered the Arab prince in -this wise, “Do you begin the war, and it shall go as God shall will.” - -So the Prince assembled a countless multitude and laid siege. - -Donotknow shook off his oxhide, took off his bladder, went into the open -fields, burnt one of the hairs, and cried out in a grim voice with a -knightly whistle. From some source or other a wondrous horse appeared in -front of him, and the steed galloped up, and the earth trembled. “Hail, -doughty youth, why do you want me so speedily?” - -“Go and prepare for war!” - -So Donotknow sat on his good horse, and the horse asked him, “Where -shall I carry you—aloft, under the trees, or over the standing woods?” - -“Carry me over the standing woods.” - -So the horse raised himself from the earth and flew over the hostile -host. Then Donotknow leapt upon the enemies, seized a warlike sword from -one of them, tore a golden helmet from another of them, and put them on -himself; covered his face with the visor, and set to slaying the Arab -host. Wherever he turned, heads flew: it was like mowing hay. The King -and the Princess looked on in amazement from the city wall: “What a -mighty hero it must be! Whence has he come? Is it Egóri the Brave who -has come to help us?” - -But they never imagined that it was Donotknow whom the King had set in -the garden as a scarecrow. Donotknow slew many of that host, and even -more than he slew his horse trampled down, and he left only the Arab -Prince alive and ten men as a suite to see him home. After this great -combat he rode back to the town wall and said, “Your kingly Majesty, has -my service pleased you?” Then the King thanked him and asked him in as a -guest. But Donotknow would not come. He leapt into the open field, sent -away his good horse, turned back home, put on the bladder and the bull’s -hide, and began to walk about in the garden, as before, just like a -scarecrow. - -Some time went by, not too much, not too little, and the Arab Prince -again wrote to the King, “If you do not give me your youngest daughter’s -hand I will burn up all your kingdom and will take her prisoner.” - -This also did not please the King, and so he wrote in answer that he -would await him with his host. Once again the Arab Prince collected a -countless host, larger than before, and he besieged the King from all -sides, having three mighty knights standing in front. - -Donotknow learned of this, shook off the bull’s hide, took off the -bladder, summoned his good horse, and leapt to the field. One knight -came to meet him. They met in combat, greeted each other and set at each -other with their lances. The knight struck Donotknow so doughtily that -he could hardly hold on by one stirrup. Then he got up, flew like a -youth, struck off the knight’s head, seized him, and threw him over, -saying, “This is how all of your heads shall fly.” Then another knight -came out, and it happened likewise with him; and a third came, and -Donotknow fought with him for one whole hour. The knight cut his hand -and drew blood, but Donotknow cut off his head and threw it with the -rest. Then all of the Arab host trembled and turned back. Just then the -King, with the Princesses, was standing on the town wall; and the -youngest Princess saw that blood was flowing from the valiant champion’s -hand, took a kerchief off her neck and bound up the wound herself; and -the King summoned him as a guest. “I will come one day,” said Donotknow, -“but not this time.” So he leapt into the open field, dismissed his -horse, dressed himself in his oxhide, put the bladder on his head, and -began walking up and down the garden like a scarecrow. - -Some time went by, not much, not little, and the King gave his two elder -daughters away to famous Tsarévichi. He was making ready for a great -celebration, and the guests came to walk in the garden; and they saw -Donotknow and asked, “What sort of a monster is this?” - -So the King said, “This is Donotknow: I am using him as a scarecrow: he -keeps the birds off my apple trees.” - -But the youngest daughter looked at Donotknow’s hand and observed her -kerchief on it, blushed and never said a word. From that time she began -to walk into the garden and to gaze on Donotknow, and became thoughtful, -never giving heed to the festivals and to the merriment. - -“Where are you always going, my daughter?” asked her father. - -“Oh, father, I have lived so many years with you, I have so often walked -in the garden, and I have never seen such a delightful bird as I saw -there just now!” - -Then she began to ask her father to give her his blessing and to wed her -to Donotknow. And for all the father might do to convince her, she -insisted. “If you will not give me to him, I will remain unmarried all -my life and will seek no other man.” So the father agreed and he -betrothed them. - -Soon afterwards the Arab Prince wrote to him for the third time and -asked for the hand of his youngest daughter. “If you will not consent, I -will consume all of your kingdom with fire, and I will take her by main -force.” - -Then the King answered, “My daughter is already promised: if you wish, -come yourself and you will see.” So the Prince came, and when he saw -what a monster was betrothed to the fair Princess he thought he would -slay Donotknow, and he summoned him to mortal combat. - -Donotknow shook off his oxhide, took the bladder from his head, summoned -his good horse and rode out, so fair a youth as no tale can tell and no -pen can write. - -They met in the open field, in the wide plains, and the list lasted -long. Iván the merchant’s son killed the Arab Prince. Then at last the -King recognised that Donotknow was not a monster but a splendid and -handsome knight, and he made him his heir. Iván the merchant’s son lived -on in his kingdom for good and lived all for happiness, took his own -father to stay with him, but consigned his stepmother to punishment. - - - - - THE SEA TSAR AND VASILÍSA THE WISE - - -Once a Tsar lived with his Tsarítsa beyond thrice-nine lands in the -thrice-tenth kingdom. He liked to go hunting and shooting the wild -beasts. One day the Tsar went out hunting, and saw a young eagle sitting -on an oak; and he was just going to shoot him down, when the eagle -begged him, “Do not shoot me, Tsar my master, rather take me to -yourself; and at some time or other I shall be of service to you.” And -the Tsar thought and thought, and he said, “How can you be of any -service to me?” And again he wanted to shoot him. And the eagle said to -him a second time, “Do not shoot, Tsar my master, rather take me to -yourself; and some day I shall be of service to you.” And the Tsar -thought and thought, and again he could not imagine whatever service the -eagle would be to him, and he still wanted to shoot him. So for the -third time the eagle spoke to him, “Do not shoot me, Tsar my master, -rather take me to yourself, and feed me for three years; and at some -time I shall be of service to you.” - -So the Tsar was mollified, and took the eagle to himself, and he fed him -one year and another year, and the eagle ate up so much, ate up all the -cattle; and the Tsar had neither a sheep nor a cow left. - -Then the eagle said to him, “Let me go free.” And the eagle tried his -wings, but no, he could not fly; and he asked him, “Now, Tsar my master, -you have fed me for two years, even as you said; now feed me one year -more. Only go on and feed me, and you will not lose.” - -So the Tsar did this. - -“Go and hire cattle and feed me; you will not lose.” - -So the Tsar did this. From all countries round he went and hired cattle, -and every one helped him to feed the eagle. And afterwards he let him go -free at his own will. - -Then the eagle rose higher and higher, and he flew and flew, and then he -came down to earth and said, “Now, Tsar my master, come and sit on me: -we will fly together.” - -So the Tsar sat on the eagle and they flew on and on. Maybe much time -went by, maybe little, but they at last flew to the border of the blue -sea. Then the eagle shook the Tsar off himself, and he fell into the -sea, and he was wetted up to his knees, only the eagle did not let him -drown, but supported him on his wing, and asked, “Why, Tsar my lord, why -are you frightened?” - -“I was frightened,” said the Tsar, “lest I should be drowned.” - -And so once more they flew on, until they came to another sea. And the -eagle shook the Tsar off into the middle of the sea, and the Tsar was -wetted up to his waist, but the eagle supported him by his wing and -asked him, “Why, Tsar my master, why are you frightened?” - -“I was frightened,” said the Tsar, “and I was thinking, it may be you -are never going to drag me out.” - -And again they flew on, and they arrived at the third sea, and the eagle -threw the Tsar into the great depths, and he was immersed in the water -up to his very neck. Again, the third time the eagle held him by the -wing and asked him, “Why, Tsar my master, why are you frightened?” - -“I was,” said the Tsar, “I was thinking if only you would rescue me!” - -“Now, Tsar my master, you have learned the fear of death. All this shall -be for you in the past, and shall be an old tale. You may recollect how -I was sitting on the oak and you wished to kill me. Three times you took -up your gun to shoot me, but I asked you to spare me; and I was thinking -in my mind, may you not destroy me but have pity and take me to -yourself!” - -So he then flew across thrice-nine lands, for a very long flight. And -the eagle said, “Come and see, Tsar my master, what is over us and what -is under us.” - -And the Tsar looked: “Over us,” he said, “is the sky, and under us the -earth.” - -“Look once more: what is there on the left and right-hand sides?” - -“On the right-hand side there is an open field and on the left-hand side -there is a house.” - -“We will fly there,” said the eagle; “there my youngest sister lives.” - -So they flew straight to the courtyard, and the sister came to meet them -and received her brother, seated him on an oaken table; but she would -not look on the Tsar—she left him outside in the courtyard and she let -the fleet dogs out to feed on him. - -But the eagle was very angry, and he leaped up from the table, laid hold -on the Tsar and flew, yet farther. So they flew and flew, and the eagle -said to the Tsar, “Look, what is there behind us?” - -So the Tsar turned round and looked, and said, “Behind us there is a -beauteous house.” - -Then the eagle said to him, “It is the house of my youngest sister that -glitters: she would not receive you, but gave you for food to the fleet -hounds.” - -So they flew and flew on, and the eagle asked him again, “Look, Tsar my -master, what is there over us, and what under us?” - -“Over us the sky and under us the earth.” - -“Look, what is there on the right-hand, and what is there on the left?” - -“On the right-hand side there is the open field, and on the left-hand -side there stands a house.” - -“There my younger sister lives; we will fly there and be her guests.” - -So they came down to the open courtyard, and the younger sister came and -received her brother, and she seated him on an oaken stool, but she left -the Tsar in the courtyard, and she released the fleet hounds on him. - -And the eagle was angry, leaped up from the table, laid hold on the Tsar -and flew with him yet farther; and they flew on and on, and the eagle -said to the Tsar, “Look, what is there behind us?” - -“Behind us there is a beauteous house.” - -“It is the house of my younger sister that glitters,” said the eagle. -“Now we will fly where my mother and eldest sister live.” - -So they flew thither, and the mother and eldest sister were ever so glad -to see them, and they received the Tsar with honour and affection. - -“Now, Tsar my master,” said the eagle, “come and rest with us, and -afterwards I will give you a ship, and I will repay you all I ate up -whilst I was with you; and go home with God’s aid.” So he gave the Tsar -a ship and two coffers, one was red and the other green. And he said, -“Take heed, do not open the coffers until you reach home: open the red -coffer in the back courtyard and the green coffer in the front -courtyard.” - -So the Tsar took the two coffers, bade farewell to the eagle, and went -on the blue sea: and he went on and he arrived at an island, where the -ship stopped. He got out on the shore, and he remembered the two -coffers, and began to wonder what was in them, and why the eagle had -bidden him not to open them; and he thought and thought, and his -patience gave way. He so badly wanted to know, and so he took the red -coffer, put it on the ground and opened it, and out of it all sorts of -cattle came out, so many that the eye could not count, and they almost -filled the entire island. When the Tsar saw this he was grieved, and -began to weep and say, “Whatever shall I do now? how shall I collect all -of this herd into such a tiny coffer?” - -And then he saw that out of the water came a man, who went up to him and -asked him, “Why are you weeping so bitterly, Tsar my master?” - -“Why should I not weep?” answered the Tsar. “How can I put all this -great herd into this tiny coffer?” - -“If you will I can aid you in your trouble; I will collect all this -herd, only on condition that you give me what you do not know of at -home.” - -So the Tsar began to ponder, “What do I not know of at home? It seems to -me that I know of everything.” So he thought, and he considered it, and -he said, “Go and collect them together, and I will give you what I do -not know of at home.” - -Then the man collected all of the cattle into the box, and the Tsar went -on board and sailed on his own journey. - -When he reached home he saw that a son had been born to him, the -Tsarévich, and he began to kiss him and to fondle him. But then he began -to weep bitter tears. - -“Tsar my master,” said the Tsarítsa, “why do you weep such bitter -tears?” - -“Out of joy,” he said; for he feared to tell her the truth that he must -give up the Tsarévich. - -So then he went into the courtyard and opened the red coffer, and out of -it oxen and kine, sheep and rams, came out. There was a multitude of all -sorts of cattle. All the barns and the folds were full. He then came to -the forecourt and he opened the green coffer, and in front of him a -wonderful garden spread out with every kind of tree in it, and the Tsar -was so joyous, and forgot to give his son up. - -Many years went by: one day the Tsar wanted to take a walk, and he went -to the river; and just then that same man peered up out of the water and -said: “You are a very forgetful person, Tsar my master: you should -recollect your debts.” - -Then the Tsar went home with grief in his groaning heart, and he told -the Tsarítsa and the Tsarévich all the real truth, and they were -afflicted; and they all wept together and resolved that something must -be done, and that they must give up the Tsarévich. So they took him to -the seashore and left him by himself. - -And the Tsarévich looked round, and he saw a path, went on it, trusting -God might lead him aright. So he went on and on, and he lost his way in -the slumberous forest, and he saw a little _izbá_[41] in the forest, and -in the _izbá_[41] there lived the Bába Yagá. “I will go in,” thought the -Tsarévich, and he went into the _izbá_.[41] - -“Good-day, Tsarévich,” said Bába Yagá: - - “Is it work on your way, - Or for sloth do you stray?” - -“Hey, _bábushka_, give me food and drink, and ask me afterwards.” - -So she then gave him food and drink, and the Tsarévich told her all his -sorrow without any concealment—whither he was going and why. - -Then Bába Yagá said to him, “Go, my child, to the sea; there you will -find twelve spoonbills flying in the air, they will turn into fair -maidens, who will bathe. You go and hide yourself, and seize the shirt -of the eldest maiden. When you have made friends with her, go to the Sea -Tsar.” - -The Tsarévich bade farewell to Bába Yagá, went to the spot she named on -the seashore, and he hid himself behind the bushes. Then twelve -spoonbills flew along, struck the grey earth, and turned into fair -maidens, who began bathing. The Tsarévich stole the maiden’s shirt, sat -behind the bush, and never stirred. The maidens came out of the sea and -went on shore: eleven of them struck the earth, turned into birds and -flew home: one was left alone, the eldest—Vasilísa the Wise. And when -she saw that her sisters flew away she said, “Do not seek me, my dear -sisters, but fly home. I am myself to blame; it is all my own fault; I -did not look, and I must pay the cost.” So the sisters, the fair -maidens, struck the grey earth and turned into spoonbills, spread their -wings, and flew far away. Vasilísa the Wise was left by herself, and she -looked round and said: “Whoever he be who now has my shirt, let him come -here: if he be an old man, he shall be as my own father; if he be a -middle-aged man, he shall be as my beloved brother; if he be of my age, -he shall be my lover.” - -As soon as he heard this, Iván Tsarévich came out of his lurking-place. -So she gave him a golden ring and said, “Iván Tsarévich, how long you -have been in coming! The Sea Tsar is wroth with you. That is the road -which leads to the kingdom under the sea; come on it boldly. There you -will find me as well, for I am Vasilísa the Wise, the daughter of the -Sea Tsar.” Then Vasilísa the Wise, the eldest, struck the earth, turned -into a spoonbill, and flew away from the Tsarévich. - -Then Iván went into the under-seas, and he saw light there as it is -above, fields and meadows and green arbours; and the sun was hot. Then -he came to the Sea Tsar, and the Sea Tsar shrieked out at him: “Why have -you been so long? You have been guilty, and you must do me this service: -I have a piece of waste ground thirty versts long and broad, and there -is nothing on it except ditches, ravines and sharp stones. By to-morrow -morning all this must be as smooth as the palm of my hand; rye must be -sown and grow so high that a jackdaw might be hidden in it. But if you -fail, your head shall roll off your shoulders.” - -Iván Tsarévich left the Sea Tsar and wept a sea of tears. Out of the -window of her room, from a lofty turret, Vasilísa the Wise saw him and -asked, “Hail, Iván Tsarévich! why are you weeping?” - -“How should I not weep?” answered Iván. “The Sea Tsar has bidden me in a -single night level the ravines and clear the stones from a piece of land -thirty versts long and broad, and grow rye on it so high that a jackdaw -might hide in it.” - -“That is easy enough: this is no trouble—trouble is still ahead. Come -and lie down in peace; the morning is wiser than the evening. All shall -be ready.” - -So Iván Tsarévich went and lay down, and Vasilísa the Wise went to a -little window and cried in a thunderous voice, “Hail, my faithful -servants, go and level the deep ravines, take away the sharp stones, sow -the ground with full-eared rye, so that in the morning it shall grow so -high that a jackdaw might hide in it.” - -In the morning Iván Tsarévich awoke, and when he looked out it was all -done: there were no ravines and no crevasses, and the field was as flat -as the palm of his hand, and the rye on it was red and so lofty that a -jackdaw might hide in it. And he went to report his prowess to the Sea -Tsar. - -“Thank you,” said the Sea Tsar. “You have been able to fulfil me this -service. Here is your second work. I have thirty hayricks, and each -hayrick contains as much as thirty piles of white-eared barley. Thresh -me all the barley clean, quite clean to the last grain, and do not -destroy the hayricks nor beat down the sheaves. If you do not do this, -your shoulders and your head will part company.” - -“I will obey your Majesty,” said Iván Tsarévich, and again he went to -the courtyard and was lost in tears. - -“Why are you weeping, Iván Tsarévich, so bitterly?” Vasilísa the Wise -asked him. - -“Why should I not weep? The Sea Tsar has bidden me thresh clean thirty -hayricks of barley without destroying a hayrick or a single sheaf, and -all in a single night.” - -“That is an easy task. Harder tasks are to come. Sleep in peace, for the -morning is wiser than the evening.” - -So Iván Tsarévich went and lay down. - -Vasilísa went to her window and cried out in a threatening voice, “Hail, -ye creeping ants, as many as there be of you in the white world, all -creep here and pick out all the corn of my father’s hayricks quite -cleanly.” - -In the morning the Sea Tsar asked Iván Tsarévich if he had done this -service. - -“I have, your Majesty.” - -“Let us go and see.” - -So they went to the barn floor, and there all the hayricks stood -untouched; and they went to the granary, and all the lofts were filled -to the top with corn. - -“Thank you, brother,” said the Sea Tsar. “Now you must make me a church -out of white wax, to be ready to-night, and this shall be your last -task.” - -Once again Iván Tsarévich went to the courtyard and began to weep. - -“Why are you weeping, Iván Tsarévich?” - -“Why should I not weep? The Sea Tsar has bidden me in a single night -build a church of white wax.” - -“That is an easy task: harder tasks are near at hand. Lie down in peace, -for the morning is wiser than the evening.” - -So Iván Tsarévich went to sleep. - -Then she went to her window and called to her all the bees in the white -world, “Hail, ye bees my servants, do ye build me a church of your white -wax, and let it be finished before the morning.” - -In the morning Iván got up, looked, and saw the church stood there made -of clean wax, and he went to the Sea Tsar and reported. - -“Thank you, Iván Tsarévich: of all the servants I have had, none of them -have been able to do as well as you. Now be my heir and the preserver of -my kingdom. Now select yourself a bride out of my twelve daughters. They -are all alike, face for face, hair with hair, clothing with clothing. If -you guess three times the same one, she shall be your bride; if you do -not, you shall suffer.” - -Vasilísa the Wise learned of this, chose her opportunity, and said to -the Tsarévich, “The first time I will wave my dress, the second time I -will smooth my dress, and the third time there shall be a fly buzzing -round my head.” Thus he was able to guess Vasilísa all three times. And -they were betrothed, and there was a merry feast for three days. - -Time went by, may-be little, may-be much. Iván Tsarévich grew anxious to -see his father and mother, and he wished to go back to Holy Russia. - -“Why are you so grieved, Iván Tsarévich?” - -“O Vasilísa the Wise, I am afflicted for my father and my mother, and -desire to behold Holy Russia.” - -“If we go away there will be a mighty chase after us. The Sea Tsar will -be wroth, and will give us over to death. We must be cunning.” So -Vasilísa spat in three corners, and the doors of her room opened, and -she, with Iván Tsarévich, ran into Sacred Russia. On the second day, -very early, an embassy came from the Sea Tsar to catch the young couple -and to summon them into the palace, and they knocked on the door: “Wake -up, get up from your sleep; your father is calling you.” - -“It is yet early: we have not yet had our sleep; come later on,” one -pool answered. - -Then the ambassadors retired, and they waited one hour and another hour, -and they knocked again: “This is not the time and season to sleep; this -is the time and season to get up.” - -“Have a little patience, we will get up; we are dressing,” the second -pool answered. - -And the third time the envoys came, saying that the Sea Tsar was angry: -“Why are you so long making ready?” - -“We will be down soon,” answered the third pool. - -So the messengers waited and waited, and then again knocked. Then there -was no answer and no reply, so they broke in the door, and all was -empty. Then they went and sent word to the Sea Tsar that the young folk -had run away. He was very angry, and he set a mighty hunt after them. - -But Vasilísa the Wise, with Iván Tsarévich, was already very far ahead: -they were leaping on swift horses without staying, without taking -breath. “Now, Iván Tsarévich, bend your head down to the grey earth and -listen. Is there no noise of a hunt from the Sea Tsar?” - -Iván Tsarévich leapt down from his horse, put his ear to the ground, and -said, “I hear the talk of people, and the tramp of horses.” - -“This is the hunt after us,” said Vasilísa the Wise. And she at once -turned the horses into a green meadow, Iván Tsarévich into an old -shepherd, and herself into a brooding lamb. - -The hunt passed by. - -“Ho, old man, have you seen a doughty youth with a fair maiden galloping -by?” - -“No, good folk, I have not seen them,” said Iván Tsarévich. “It is forty -years I have been pasturing on these fields; not one bird has ever flown -by, not one wild beast has ever rambled by.” - -So they returned home. - -“Your Imperial Majesty, we saw no one on the road; we only saw a -shepherd feeding a little sheep.” - -“Why did you not take it? That was themselves!” said the Sea Tsar. And -he sent out a second hunt. - -But Iván Tsarévich and Vasilísa the Wise were leaping far off on their -swift steeds. “Now, Iván Tsarévich, put your head to the grey earth and -listen whether there is no hunt from the Sea Tsar.” - -Iván Tsarévich leapt off his horse, put his ear to the grey earth and -said, “I hear the talk of people and the hoppety-hop of horses.” - -“This is the chase, that is the steeds,” said Vasilísa the Wise; and she -turned herself into a church, and Iván Tsarévich into an elderly pope -and the horses into trees. - -So the hunt went by. - -“Ho, _bátyushka_, have you seen a shepherd with a little lamb passing -by?” - -“No, good people, I have not. I have been working for forty years in -this church; not one bird has flown by, not one beast has rambled by.” - -So the hunt went back and reached home. - -“Your Imperial Majesty, we could not find the shepherd with the little -lamb: the only thing we saw on the road was a church and an old man as -pope.” - -“Why did you not break down the church and capture the pope? That was -themselves!” the Sea Tsar exclaimed, and he himself leapt out to hunt -after Iván Tsarévich and Vasilísa the Wise. - -So they went far, and again Vasilísa the Wise said, “Iván Tsarévich, put -your ear to the ground; can you hear any hunt?” - -Then the Tsarévich leapt down, put his ear to the grey earth, and said, -“I hear the talk of people and the thunder of horses’ hooves faster than -before.” - -“This is the Sea Tsar himself who is galloping.” - -So Vasilísa the Wise turned the horses into a mere, Iván Tsarévich into -a drake, and herself into a duck. The Sea Tsar came up to the lake and -he instantly guessed who were the duck and the drake, so he struck the -grey earth and turned into an eagle. The eagle wanted to smite them to -death, and it might well have been; but, as soon as ever he struck at -the drake, it dived into the water, and whenever he struck at the duck -the duck dived into the water, and whatever he might do was all in vain. - -So the Sea Tsar galloped back to his own kingdom under the seas, and -Vasilísa the Wise with Iván Tsarévich waited a while and then returned -to Sacred Russia. It may-be long, it may-be short, at last they came -into the thrice-ninth realm. When they arrived home his father and -mother were overjoyed to see Iván Tsarévich, for they had given him up -as lost. And they made a great feast and celebrated the marriage. - - -I was there, I drank mead and wine: it flowed up to my beard, but it -never entered my mouth. - - - - - THE ANIMALS’ WINTER QUARTERS - - -Once an Ox was wandering in the wood, and a Ram met him. “Where are you -going, Ram?” asked the Ox. - -“I am seeking summer in winter,” answered the Ram. - -“Come with me.” - -So they went together. And they met a Pig. - -“Where are you going, Pig?” asked the Ox. - -“I am seeking summer in winter.” - -“Come with us.” - -So they all went together. And they then met a Goose. - -“Where are you going, Goose?” said the Bull. - -“I am seeking summer in winter,” said the Goose. - -“Well, come with us.” - -So the Goose came with them. So they went on, and they met a Cock. - -“Where are you going, Cock?” asked the Bull. - -“I am seeking summer in winter.” - -“Then come with us,” said the Bull again. - -So they went on their road and way, and began speaking amongst each -other. “What shall we do, brothers and comrades? the cold time is -approaching: how shall we have warmth?” - -So the Ox said, “We will build an _izbá_,[42] and we shall not freeze -during the winter.” - -Then the Ram said: “My _shúba_ is very warm; I will pass the winter in -this fashion.” - -Then the Pig said, “I do not mind any frost whatsoever: I will burrow -into the ground and do without any _izbá_.”[43] - -Then the Goose said, “I will sit in the middle of this spruce, lie on -one wing, and cover myself over with the other, and the cold cannot -touch me. That is how I shall pass the winter.” - -Then the Cock said, “I shall do the same.” - -Then the Ox saw he could not do any good: every man must do as he likes. -“Well,” he said, “as you wish. _I_ am going to build an _izbá_.”[43] - -So he built himself an _izbá_,[43] and he lived in it. - -Then the cold time came, and earth began to feel the frosts. And the -Ram, who could not help himself, came to the Bull and said, “Brother, -let me in.” - -“No, Ram, you have a warm _shúba_; that is how you are going to pass the -winter! I shall not let you in.” - -“But if you do not let me in, I shall run up and will dislodge the -joists of the _izbá_,[43] and you will feel much colder.” - -So the Bull thought, and on second thoughts said, “Very well, I will let -you in. Otherwise I might freeze.” And he let the Ram in. - -Soon the Pig felt frozen, and came to the Bull and said, “Brother, let -me in.” - -“No, Pig, I will not let you in. You need only burrow down in the -ground: that is how you are going to pass the winter!” - -“But if you will not let me in, with my snout I will drill all of your -uprights and will knock your _izbá_[43] down.” - -Well, there was no help for it, and the Bull had to let Piggy in. - -Then the Goose and the Cock came to the Bull and said, “Brother, we want -to come in and warm ourselves.” - -“No, I will not let you in: both of you have two wings. One of them you -put under you, and the other you put over you: that is how you pass the -winter.” - -“But if you do not let us in,” said the Goose, “I will pluck away all -the moss from the walls, and you will be much colder!” - -“What! won’t you let me in?” said the Cock. “I will fly on to the garret -and I will scatter all the earth from the roof, and you will be much -colder.” - -Well, the Bull was beaten, and he was forced to admit the Goose and the -Cock. In the warm hut the Cock crowed and began singing merry songs. - -Now the Fox heard the Cock singing merry songs, and thought he would -like to make such a dainty acquaintance, only he did not know how to. - -So the Fox bethought himself of his wiles, and ran up to the Bear and -the Wolf and said, “Now, my dear kinsmen, I have found food for all of -us: a Bull for you, Mr. Bear, a Ram for you, Mr. Wolf, and a Cock for -myself.” - -“What a capital fellow you are, Mr. Fox!” said the Bear and the Wolf. -“We shall never be oblivious of your services: let us kill and eat -them.” - -So the Fox led them up to the little _izbá_.[44] When they reached the -hut, the Bear said to the Wolf: “You go first.” - -But the Wolf said, “That would be altogether wrong—you must go first.” - -So then the Bear and the Wolf said to the Fox, “You must go first.” - -As the Fox went in, the Bull gored him with his horns to the wall, and -the Ram sat on his flanks, and the Pig tore him to atoms, whilst the -Goose flew on to him and picked out his eyes. But the Cock went and flew -up to the girder and crowed, “Do come in, oh do, do, do!” - -“Why is the Fox such a long time at work with the Cock?” said the Wolf: -“Unlock the door, Mikháylo Ivánovich,[45] and I will come in.” - -“Very well, come in!” So the Bull opened the door and the Wolf leapt -into the _izbá_.[46] - -As the Wolf went in the Bull gored him to the wall with his horns, the -Ram sat on his sides and the Pig tore him to atoms, while the Goose flew -on to him and picked out his eyes. The Cock flew up to the girders and -began shouting, “Come along here, come along here!” - -But the Bear got tired of waiting so long: “What a long job he is making -of that Ram!” he thought. “I must go in.” So he also went into the hut, -and the Bull gave him the same royal welcome. - -He burst out by sheer force and galloped away at full speed, and never -once looked round. - - - - - THE STORY OF THE BRAVE AND DOUGHTY KNIGHT ILYÁ MÚROMETS AND THE - NIGHTINGALE ROBBER - - -Once in the famous city of Múrom[47] in the village of Karachárovo, a -peasant lived who was called Iván Timoféyevich; he had one beloved son, -Ilyá Múromets. And he sat down in a house as a stay-at-home for thirty -years, and after the thirty years had gone by he began to walk on his -feet mightily, and he gained great strength. Then he made himself the -trappings of war and a lance of steel, and got himself a good steed, a -knightly horse; he then went up to his mother and father and asked their -blessing. “Ye, my masters, my mother and father, let me go into the -famous city of Kíev, to pray to God and to do homage to our prince at -Kíev.” - -The mother and father gave him their blessing, and made him swear a -mighty oath, and they enjoined a mighty service upon him. And they spake -in this wise: “Do you go straight to the city of Kíev, straight to the -city of Chernígov, and on your journeying do no one any hurt, spill no -Christian blood vainly.” - -Ilyá Múromets took the blessing of his father and mother, prayed to God, -bade farewell to his father and mother, and set forth on his way and -road. And he journeyed far in the dark woods, and lighted on a camp of -robbers. Those robbers saw Ilyá Múromets, and were envious in their -robber-like hearts for his knightly horse, and began to speak amongst -themselves how they might take that horse; for steeds so fine were not -seen in those parts, and now some unknown man was passing by on one. So -they set on Ilyá Múromets, ten at once and then by twenties. And Ilyá -Múromets stopped his knightly horse, took a tempered dart and set it on -his strong bow. He let the tempered dart fall on the earth, and it tore -into the earth fifty feet. - -And seeing this, the robbers were afraid, and collected in a circle, -fell on their knees and prayed him, “Master, our father, youth mighty of -prowess, we are guilty in thine eyes; and, for this our guilt, as it -pleaseth thee, inflict on us a fine as much as is fit, whether it be -coloured clothes or droves of horses.” - -Ilyá smiled at them and said: “I need no garments, but, if ye wish to -enjoy your life, henceforth take no more hazards.” - -And he went on his road to the famous city of Kíev. And Ilyá Múromets -set out on the road; when he came under the walls of the city of Sébezh -he saw three Tsarévichi from foreign parts, who had a host of thirty -thousand men; they wished to capture the city of Sébezh and to take the -Tsar of Sébezh prisoner. So Ilyá Múromets set out after the three -Tsarévichi, and he pursued them down to the seashore and slew all the -rest of the army, but captured the Tsarévichi alive and returned to the -city of Sébezh, and the citizens saw him and gave news of this to their -Tsar. - -When he arrived at the city of Chernígov, under the walls of the city of -Chernígov there was a Saracen host too many to count besieging the city -of Chernígov: they were going to sack it and to set God’s churches -aflame, and to take captive the Prince, the Duke of Chernígov. And at -that mighty host and fray, Ilyá Múromets was afraid, but he placed -himself at the will of the Saviour, and thought how he would sacrifice -his head for the Christian faith. Then Ilyá Múromets began to lay low -the Saracen host with his lance of steel, and he routed all of the pagan -host and took the Tsarévich of the Saracens captive and led him into the -city of Chernígov. As he entered, all the citizens of the city of -Chernígov met him and gave him honour, and the Prince and Duke of -Chernígov himself came out to receive the doughty youth with honour and -to give thanks to the Lord God for sending such unexpected succour to -the city and not letting them all perish helplessly before the mighty -Saracen host. They received him into their palace and they gave him a -great feast, and set him on his way. - -Ilyá Múromets went to the city of Kíev straight from Chernígov on the -road by the village of Kutúzovo, which the Nightingale Robber had been -oppressing for thirty years, not letting any man pass, whether on -horseback or on foot, and assailing them not with any weapon, but only -with his robber’s whistle. Ilyá Múromets rode into the open field and -saw the scattered bones of knights and warriors. He rode over them and -arrived at the Bryánski woods,[48] the miry swamp, to the hazel-tree -bridges, and to the Smoródina river. The Nightingale Robber heard his -end approaching, and felt a foreboding of a terrible ill; and before -Ilyá Múromets had advanced twenty versts, he whistled with his powerful -robber’s whistle. But the valorous heart of Ilyá was not afraid, and -before ever he had advanced ten versts more the Nightingale Robber -whistled more terribly than before, and the horse of Ilyá Múromets -stumbled at the sound. - -At last Ilyá arrived at the nest, which was spread above twelve oaks, -and the Nightingale Robber was sitting in the nest, saw the white -Russian knight approaching, and began to whistle with all of his might, -essaying to smite Ilyá Múromets to death. Ilyá Múromets took out his -strong bow, put a tempered dart to it, and shot it at the nest of the -Nightingale Robber; it fell into his right eye and went beyond. And the -Robber-Nightingale fell down from his nest like a sheaf of oats. Ilyá -Múromets took the Robber-Nightingale, tied him strongly to his steel -stirrup and rode to the famous city of Kíev. - -On his way he passed the palace of the Nightingale Robber, and as soon -as he came up to the Robber’s palace the windows were opened and out of -these windows the Nightingale Robber’s three daughters were looking. The -youngest daughter saw him, and cried out to her sisters: “Here is our -father coming back with booty: he is bringing us a man tied to his steel -stirrup.” - -But the elder sister looked out and cried bitterly: “That is not our -father; some unknown man is coming along and is dragging our father -after him.” - -Then they cried out to their husbands, “Masters, do ye go and meet that -man and slay him for the slaying of our father, lest our name be -disgraced.” - -Then their husbands, mighty warriors, set out to face the white Russian -knight. They had good horses, sharp lances, and they wished to hoist -Ilyá aloft on their lances. - -The Nightingale Robber saw them, and said, “My beloved sons, do not -dishonour nor take such a bold knight, and so all receive your death -from him; it would be better to ask his forgiveness in humbleness and to -ask him into my house to have a goblet of green wine.” - -So at the invitation of the sons-in-law Ilyá returned home and received -no evil of them. - -The eldest daughter raised an iron storm-board of chains for him to -stumble against; but Ilyá saw her on the gates, struck at her with his -lance, and he smote her to death. - -When Ilyá arrived at the city of Kíev, he went straight to the Prince’s -courtyard, entered the white stone palace, prayed to God and did homage -to the Prince. - -The Prince of Kíev asked him, “Say, doughty youth, how do they call -thee? Of what city art thou?” - -And Ilyá Múromets returned answer: “My lord, they call me Ílyushka, and -by my father’s name Ivánov; I live in the city of Múrom in the village -of Karachárovo.” - -Then the Prince asked him, “By what road didst thou come?” - -“From Múrom by the city of Chernígov, and under the walls of Chernígov I -routed a Saracen host too many to count, and I relieved the city of -Chernígov. And from there I went straight and I took the mighty -Nightingale Robber alive and dragged him along at my steel stirrup.” - -Then the Prince was angry and said, “Why art thou telling such tales?” - -When the knights Alyósha Popóvich and Dobrýnya Nikítich heard this, they -dashed out to look, and assured the Prince that this was really so. - -Then the Prince bade a goblet of green wine be given to the doughty -youth. The Prince, however, wished to hear the whistle of the -Robber-Nightingale. Ilyá Múromets put the Prince and Princess into a -sable _shúba_, seized them under the arm, called in the Nightingale -Robber and bade him whistle like a nightingale with only half his -whistle; but the Nightingale Robber whistled with all his robber’s -whistle, and he deafened all of the knights, so that they fell to the -ground, and as a punishment for this was slain by Ilyá Múromets. - -Ilyá Múromets swore blood brotherhood with Dobrýnya Nikítich, then they -saddled their good horses and rode forth on the open fields; and they -journeyed on for about three months and found no opponent worthy of -their steel: they had only gone in the open field. Then they met a -passer-by, a beggar singing psalms. His shirt weighed fifteen _pud_, and -his hat ten _pud_, and his stick was ten _sazhéns_ long. Ilyá Múromets -set on him with his horse, and was going to try his mighty strength on -him. - -Then the passing beggar saw Ilyá Múromets and said: “Hail, Ilyá -Múromets! Do you recollect? I learned my letters with you in the same -school, and now you are setting your horse on me, who am only a beggar, -as though I were an enemy, and you do not know that a very great -misfortune has befallen the city of Kíev. The infidel knight, the mighty -man, the dishonourable Ídolishche, has arrived. His head is as big as a -beer cauldron, and his shoulders a _sazhén_ broad. There is a span -length between his brows, and between his ears there is a tempered dart. -And he eats an ox at a time and he drinks a cask at a time. The Prince -of Kíev is very aggrieved with you that you have left him in such -straits.” - -So Ilyá Múromets changed into the beggar’s dress and rode straight back -to the palace of the Prince, and cried out in a knightly voice: “Hail to -thee, Prince of Kíev! give me, a wandering beggar, alms.” - -And the Prince saw him and spoke in this wise: “Come into my palace, -beggar. I will give you food and drink and will give you gold on your -way.” - -So the beggar went into the palace and stood at the stove and looked -round. - -Ídolishche asked to eat, so they brought him an entire roasted ox and he -ate it to the bones; then Ídolishche asked for drink, so they brought -him a cauldron of beer; and twenty men had to bring it in. And he held -it up to his ears and drank it all through. - -Ilyá Múromets said, “My father had a gluttonous mare; it guzzled until -its breath failed.” - -Ídolishche could not stand this affront, and said, “Hail, wandering -beggar! Do you dare me? I could take you in my hands; if it had been -Ilyá Múromets I would even have braved him.” - -“Well,” said Ilyá Múromets, “that is the kind of man he was!” And he -took off his cap and struck him lightly on the head, and he nearly -knocked through the walls of the palace, took Ídolishche’s trunk and -flung it out. And in return the Prince honoured Ilyá Múromets, praised -him highly, and placed him amongst the mighty knights of his court. - - - - - NIKÍTA THE TANNER - - -One day, somewhere near Kíev, a dragon appeared, who demanded heavy -tribute from the people. He demanded every time to eat a fair maiden: -and at last the turn came to the Tsarévna, the princess. But the dragon -would not eat her, she was too beautiful. He dragged her into his den -and made her his wife. When he flew out on business, he used to pile -logs of wood in front of the den to prevent the Tsarévna escaping. But -the Tsarévna had a little dog that had followed her all the way from -home. When she wrote a letter to her father and mother she used to tie -it to the neck of her little dog, which would run all the way home and -bring an answer back. One day her parents wrote to her: “Try to discover -any one who is stronger than the dragon.” The Tsarévna got every day on -more intimate terms with her dragon in order to discover who was -stronger. At last he owned that Nikíta, the tanner at Kíev, was the -stronger. So the Tsarévna at once wrote to her father: “Look for Nikíta, -the tanner at Kíev, and send him on to me to deliver me from my -imprisonment.” - -So the Tsar looked for Nikíta, and went to him himself to beg him to -release the land from the cruelty of the dragon and redeem the princess. - -Just then Nikíta was tanning skins. He was just enfolding twelve hides -in his hands. But when he saw the Tsar come to see him, his hands so -trembled for fear that he rent the twelve hides. But, however much the -Tsar and the Tsarítsa asked him, he would not set out against the -dragon. Then the Tsar assembled five thousand children, who were to -mollify the tanner with their bitter tears. The little ones came to -Nikíta and begged him to go and fight the dragon. And when he saw them -weep, Nikíta the tanner himself almost felt the tears flowing. He took -thirty _puds_ of hemp, tarred it, and swathed himself in it in order -that the dragon might find him a hard morsel, and then set out. But the -dragon locked himself up in his den and would not come to view. - -“Come with me into the open field, otherwise I will shatter your den to -pieces!” said the tanner, and began clattering at the doors. - -Then the dragon, seeing his doom approach, came out into the open. -Nikíta the tanner fought the grisly worm some time, maybe long, maybe -short, and at last got him under. - -Then the dragon besought Nikíta the tanner: “Do not beat me to death. -Stronger than us two there is nothing in the white world. Let us divide -the earth. You may live on the one half and I on the other.” - -“Very well!” said Nikíta, “only we must delimit frontiers.” - -So the tanner took the plough, which weighed three hundred _puds_, and -harnessed to it the dragon, and drew the harrow all the way from Kíev to -the Caspian Sea. - -“Now we have divided the entire earth,” said the dragon. - -“Yes, we have divided the earth, but not the sea; we must also divide -the sea, otherwise you would say I was taking your share of the water.” -So they then set out into the middle of the sea, and there Nikíta slew -the dragon and drowned him. - -The trench may still be seen: it is two fathoms deep. They plough all -round it; but never touch the bottom: those who do not know whence came -this trench call it a battlement. - -When Nikíta had done this feat, he demanded no reward for it, but went -home and went on tanning. - - - - - THE SINGING-TREE AND THE SPEAKING-BIRD - - -Once upon a time there was a very inquisitive King who spent all his -time eavesdropping at the window. There was also a merchant, who had -three daughters, and one day they were talking to their father, and one -said: “If only the King’s bread-bearer would marry me!” The second one -said: “If only the King’s valet would cast his eyes upon me!” But the -third said: “I want the King himself: I would bear him two sons and one -daughter.” - -Now the King was listening to all this conversation; and after a few -days he did exactly as they had wished: the eldest married the King’s -bread-bearer, the middle one the King’s valet, but the youngest married -the King himself. - -The King married very happily, and after some time his Queen was about -to bear him a child. He was sending for the midwife of the town, but the -elder sisters asked him why he should; they would act as midwives. As -soon as the Queen had born him a son, the midwives took him away and -told the King his wife had born a pup; and they put the new-born babe -into a box and threw it into a big pond in the King’s garden. - -At this the King was very angry, and wanted to have his wife blown to -bits at the cannon’s mouth; but—it so happened—some other princes were -on a visit, and persuaded him to forgive a first offence. So the King -pardoned her for the nonce, and gave her a second chance. - -One year went by, and the Queen bore him another son, and the sisters -again took it away, and told him she had born a kitten. The King was -angry at first, this time he was sore enraged, and was agog to punish -his wife, but once more he was won over. - -So he gave her a third chance. This time the Queen bore a very beautiful -daughter, and the sisters took it and told the King she had born an -unheard-of monster. Oh! there were no bounds to his fury now; he ordered -the hangman in and bade him hang his wife on the spot; but once more -some visiting princes overruled him and said: “Would it not be better to -put an oratory up near the church and put her into it, and let every one -who goes to Mass spit into her eyes?” So he did; but, so far from being -spat upon by every passer-by, every one brought her fine loaves and -pasties. - -But, when her three children had been thrown into the pond in the King’s -garden, they were not drowned, for the King’s gardener took them home -and brought them up. They were fine children; you could _see_ them -growing up, not by years, but months, not by days, but by hours. The -King’s sons shot up, youths no men could imagine, guess, or draw, or -paint; and the Tsarévna was such a beauty! Almost terribly beautiful! -One day, when they were older, they asked the gardener to let them build -themselves a little home behind the town. The gardener consented, and -they erected a big, splendid house, and led a merry life in it. The -brothers used to go hunting hares, and one day they went off and left -their sister alone at home. - -A visitor knocked at the door: the sister opened the door and saw an old -hag, who said: “You have a pretty little place here; three things are -lacking.” - -“What are they? I always thought we had everything!” - -The hag replied: “You still need the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and -the Water of Life.” - -And then the sister was left all alone once more; when her brothers came -home, she said: “Brothers, we lack nothing save three things.” - -“What are they?” - -“We haven’t a Talking-Bird, a Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!” - -The elder brother said: “Sister, give me your blessing, and I’ll go and -discover you these marvels. If I die, or am killed, you will know by -this knife dripping blood. There it is, stuck into the wall.” - -So he went, and wandered away, far, far away into the forest. At last he -came to a gigantic oak-tree; and on the tree there was an old man -sitting, whom he asked how he was to procure the “Talking-Bird, a -Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life.” - -The old man replied: “Possible it is, but not easy; many go, but few -return.” - -But the young man persisted and left the old man. The old man gave him a -rolling-pin, and told him to let it roll on in front of him, and follow -wherever it went. The pin rolled on, and after it walked the Prince: it -rolled up to a steep hill, and was lost. Then the Prince went up the -hill, went half-way up; and, as he went along, he heard a voice: “Hold -him, seize him, grip him!” He looked round and was turned into stone. - -That very same hour blood began to drip from the knife in the cottage, -and the sister told the younger brother that the elder was dead. - -So he answered: “Now I will go, sister mine, and capture the -Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!” - -So she blessed him, and he went on and on for very many weary miles, and -met the old man on the tree, who gave him another rolling-pin: and the -pin rolled up to the mountain; and both were lost, pin and Prince! - -The sister waited for many years, but he never came back, and she -thought he, too, must have died. So she set out to find the -Talking-Bird, Singing-Tree, and Water of Life. She arrived at last at -that same oak-tree, saw the old man sitting on it, greeted him, and -shaved his head and brows, as she brought scissors and a mirror with -her. - -“Look,” she said, “what a change it makes in you!” He looked into the -mirror: “Yes,” he said; “I am quite a fine man now. I’ve sat here thirty -years: never a soul cut my hair, you guessed my need.” - -Then she asked him: “Grandfather, how can I get the Talking-Bird, the -Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life?” - -He answered: “How can you get them? Cleverer folk than you have been -after them, and they have all been lost.” - -But she persisted: “Please tell me!” - -So he gave her another rolling-pin, and told her to follow it: she would -hear cries of “Catch her: scotch her,” but she must not look round, for -fear of being turned into stone. “At the top you will see a well and the -Talking-Bird. As you come back, you will see lofty stones standing -upright; sprinkle them all with the Water of Life.” - -So on she went: the pin rolled on, far or near, long or short, it -reached a steep mountain; and the girl climbed up and heard cries: -“Where are you going? We shall kill you! We shall eat you up!” - -But still she went on and on, reached the summit, and there she found a -well and the Talking-Bird. She took it and asked it: “Tell me how to get -the Singing-Tree and the Water of Life.” - -The Bird replied: “Go straight by this path.” - -She did, and came upon the Singing-Tree, and in it all sorts of birds -were singing. She broke off a sprig, pulled up a water-lily, and put -some of the Water of Life into the cup of the flower, and turned back -homewards. - -As she clomb downhill, she saw boulders standing upright, and sprinkled -them with the Water of Life; and her brothers jumped up alive and said: -“Oh, what a long sleep we have had!” - -“Yes, my brothers, but for me you would have slept on for ever. And look -here; I have got you the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water -of Life!” - -The brothers were overjoyed, went home and planted the Singing-Tree in -the garden; it overspread the whole garden, and all kinds of birds began -singing. - -One day they were out hunting and the King met them by chance. He fell -in love with the gay huntsmen, and invited them home. They said they -would ask their sister, and come at once if she consented. - -So they went back home. The sister met them and greeted them, and the -brothers said: “Please, sister, may we go and dine with the King? He has -asked us in.” - -She said “Yes,” and they went. At the banquet, the King gave them the -place of honour, and they begged he would honour them with a visit. Some -days later the King went. They gave him a rich spread, and showed him -the Singing-Tree and the Talking-Bird. - -He was amazed and said: “I am the King, and have nothing as good!” - -Then the King looked at them and said: “Who is your father?” - -They said: “We do not know.” But the Talking-Bird broke in and said: -“They are your children.” - -Then the King looked at the maiden and wanted to marry her. Again the -Talking-Bird said: “You may not; she is your daughter.” - -The King then saw how matters stood; was overjoyed; took them to live -with him for ever. As to the two evil sisters, he had them shot; but his -wife he released from the chapel, and took her to himself again, and -they lived merrily on for many years of happiness. - - - - - AT THE BEHEST OF THE PIKE - - -Once there lived a poor peasant; and, however much he might toil and -moil, he got nothing out of it. “Oh,” he thought to himself, “mine is a -sorry lot; I spend all my days on my fields; and then, when I look, I am -starving, whilst my neighbour is lying all day long on his back, and -then he has a big estate and all the profits swim into his pockets. -Evidently I have not pleased God. I will get up in the morning and pray -until evening, and perhaps the Lord may have mercy on me.” - -So he began to pray to God, and went hungry for days on days; and he -still went on praying. - -At last Easter Day came, and the bells rang for Mass. So the poor -peasant thought, “All good folks are getting ready to break the fast, -and I have not a crust of bread. Well, if I bring water, I can sip it -like soup.” So he took a small can, went to the well, and as soon as he -dipped it into the water a big pike fell into it. Then the peasant was -very glad. “Here is something for supper; I will cook it and make fish -soup of it, and shall have a fine supper.” - -Then the pike said to him in a human voice: “Let me go free, good man, -go free. I will make you happy; whatever your soul may desire you shall -possess. You need only say: - - At the pike’s good pleasure, - By God’s good measure— - -let this or that appear! and you will get it at once.” - -So the peasant put the pike back into the water, went to his hut, sat -down at the table and said: - - “At the pike’s good pleasure, - By God’s good measure— - -let the table be covered and my dinner ready.” - -Then from somewhere or other all sorts of dishes and drinks appeared on -the table, enough to please a Tsar, and a Tsar would not have been -ashamed of it. So the poor man crossed himself, said “Glory be to Thee, -O Lord! now I can break the fast.” So he went to the church, attended -Matins and Mass, turned back and again broke his fast, ate and drank as -well, went outside the door and sat at the counter. - -Just about then the Princess had an idea that she would go abroad in the -streets, and she went with her attendants and maids of honour, and for -the sake of the holy festival went to give alms to the poor; she gave to -them all but forgot the poor peasant. Then he said to himself: - - “At the pike’s good pleasure, - Of God’s good treasure— - -let the Tsarévna bear a child.” And at the word that very instant the -Tsarévna became pregnant, and in ten months she bore a son. - -Then the Tsar began to ask her, “Do acknowledge with whom you have been -guilty.” - -Then the Tsarévna wept and swore in every way that she had been guilty -with nobody. “I do not know myself,” she said, “why the Lord has -chastised me.” - -The Tsar asked, but found nothing out. - -Soon a boy was born who grew not by days but by hours; and at the end of -a week he could already talk. So the Tsar summoned all the _boyárs_ and -the senators from every part of the kingdom to show them the youth, but -none of them acknowledged that he was the father. - -“No,” the boy answered, “none of them is my father.” - -Then the Tsar bade the maids of honour and attendants take him up to -every courtyard, through all the streets, and to show him to all manner -of people. So the attendants and maids of honour took the youth through -all the courtyards, through all the streets they went. But the boy said -nothing. - -At last they came to the poor peasant’s hut. As soon as the boy saw that -peasant, he at once stretched out his little hands and said “_Tyátya, -Tyátya!_” Then they told the Emperor of this, and they summoned the poor -man into the palace, and the Tsar began to inquire of him, “Acknowledge -on oath, is this your boy?” - -“No, he is God’s son.” - -Then the Tsar was angry and married the poor man to the Princess, and -after the wedding he set them both with the child in a big tub, smeared -it with tar, and sent it out into the open sea. So the tub sailed on the -open sea, and the boisterous winds carried and bore it to a distant -shore. When the poor man heard that the water no longer moved under -them, he said: - - “At the pike’s good pleasure, - At God’s good measure— - -let the barrel rest on a dry spot.” - -So the barrel turned round and got on to a dry spot, and they went on, -following their eyes. And they went on and on, on and on, and they had -nothing to eat or drink. The Princess was utterly exhausted and had -pined away to a shadow, and she could hardly stand on her legs. - -“Now,” said the poor man, “do you know what hunger and thirst are?” - -“Yes, I do,” said the Princess. - -“Well, this is what the poor have to endure. Yet you would not give me -alms on Easter Day.” Then the poor man said: - - “At the pike’s good pleasure, - Of God’s good treasure— - -let there be here a rich palace, the finest in all the world, with -gardens and ponds and all sorts of pavilions.” - -As soon as he had spoken a rich palace appeared; faithful henchmen ran -out of it and carried them in their hands, led them into the white stone -rooms, and they sat down at the oaken tables with chequered linen on -them. It was marvellously decorated, was this palace. On the table -everything was ready, wine and sweets and made dishes. The poor man and -the Tsarévna ate and drank at their will, rested them, and went for a -walk into the garden. - -“Everything is beautiful here,” said the Princess; “the only thing still -lacking is to see the birds upon our ponds.” - -“Wait, you shall have birds as well,” answered the poor man, and he said -at once: - - “At the pike’s good pleasure, - At God’s good measure— - -let twelve ducks and one drake swim on the pond, and let them have one -feather of gold and another of silver, and let the drake have a diamond -tuft on his forehead!” And lo and behold, on the water there were twelve -ducks and one drake swimming; one feather was of gold and one feather -was of silver, and the drake had a diamond tuft on his forehead. - -So there the Princess and her husband lived without grief or moil, and -their son grew up a big lad and began to feel in himself a giant’s -strength. And he asked leave of his father and mother to go out into the -white world and to seek himself a bride. They gave him leave to go, and -said, “Go, my son.” - -So he saddled his knightly horse and set out on his road and way. And as -he journeyed on he met an old woman who said, “Hail, Russian prince, -where do you wish to go?” - -“I am going, _bábushka_,[49] to seek a bride, but I do not know where I -am to find her.” - -“Stay, I will tell you, my child. Do you go beyond the ocean into the -thrice-tenth kingdom; there there is a king’s daughter so fair, that, if -you go through all the world, you will never find any one more -beautiful.” - -So the good youth thanked the woman, went to the seashore, hired a boat, -and sailed to the thrice-tenth land. He sailed, maybe far, maybe near, -maybe long, maybe short—the tale is soon told but the deed is not soon -done—and he at last arrived at that kingdom, and appeared before the -king of it, and asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage. - -Then the King said to him, “You are not the only suitor for my daughter; -there is another suitor, a mighty knight. If I refuse him he will -destroy all of my kingdom.” - -“But, if you decline my offer, I will ravage your kingdom.” - -“What will you?—you had better measure your strength with him: to -whichever of you conquers I will give my daughter.” - -“Very well; summon all the Tsars and Tsarévichi, all the Kings and -Korolévichi, to see us wage an honourable holmgang to win your -daughter.” - -So then hunters were sent out to all cities, and one year had not gone -by before from all the neighbouring parts all the Tsars and Tsarévichi, -all the Kings and Korolévichi came together, as also the Tsar who had -put his own daughter into the barrel and sent her out into the sea. - -On the day appointed all the knights made ready for a bloody holmgang. -They fought and fought, and the earth groaned at their blows, the -forests bowed down and the rivers rose in waves. The Tsarévna’s son -first overcame his opponent and cut off his turbulent head. - -Then all the royal _boyárs_ ran up, took the doughty youth into their -hands and led him into the palace. Next day he was married to the -Korolévna. And after they had feasted at the wedding he set about -inviting all the Tsars and Tsarévichi, the Kings and the Korolévichi as -his guests to his father and mother. So they all came together, and they -got their ships ready and sailed on the sea. The Tsarévna with her -husband received her guests with honour, and they began to celebrate -banquets and to be joyous. The Tsars and the Tsarévichi, the Kings and -the Korolévichi, gazed at the palace and the gardens and wondered. They -had never seen such wealth. Then some of them wondered when they saw the -ducks and drakes, every one of them worth half a kingdom. - -So the guests were fed and bethought themselves of going home, but -before ever they had got to the haven, swift hunters precursed them, -saying, “Our master bids you turn back again; he wishes to hold secret -counsel with you.” - -So the Tsars and Tsarévichi, the Kings and Korolévichi, were turning -back, when the master came to meet them and said: “Oh ye good folk, one -of my ducks has gone: has any one of you taken it?” - -“Why are you making a vain quest?” the Tsars and Tsarévichi, the Kings -and Korolévichi answered; “this would be an unguestly act. Search us all -over. If you find the duck on any one of us do with him what you will; -if you do not, let your own head pay for it.” - -“I will,” said the master. And he placed them all in a row and searched -them; and, as soon as he had come to the father of the Tsarévna, he said -quietly: - - “At the pike’s good pleasure, - At God’s good measure— - -under the lappet of the kaftan of this Tsar, let the duck be found.” So -he went and lifted his kaftan and found the duck tied to the lappet; one -feather was of gold, one was of silver. - -Then all the Tsars and Tsarévichi, Kings and Korolévichi cried out -fiercely, “Ho! ho! ho! what a deed! are Tsars turning into thieves?” - -Then the Tsarévna’s father swore by everything holy that as to thieving -there had never been such an idea in his head. And he had no idea how -the duck had come to him. - -“That is a fine tale; it was found on you; you must be guilty.” - -Then the Tsarévna came out, burst upon her father, and acknowledged that -she was his daughter whom he had given away to the poor peasant in -marriage and had put into a barrel. “_Bátyushka_,”[50] she said, “you -would not then believe my words, and now you have acknowledged yourself -that it is possible to be guilty without guilt.” - -And she told him how it had all arisen. And after that they began to -live, and lived all together and lived all for good and forgot bygones. - - - - - THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM - - -An archimandrite one day got up for matins; and, whilst laving his -hands, saw an unclean spirit in the Holy Water, seized him and crossed -him. - -The devil besought him: “Let me go, Father, I will do you any service I -can; I will, I will!” - -So the Archimandrite said: “Will you take me to Jerusalem between High -Mass and matins?” - -The Archimandrite released him, and after matins was transported to -Jerusalem, and was back in time for High Mass. Then inquiries were set -going how this might be, and every one was astonished how he could get -to Jerusalem and back so fast. They asked him about it, and he told them -the story. - - - - - VAZÚZA AND VÓLGA - - -The Vólga and the Vazúza had a long argument whether who was the wiser -and the stronger and the more honourable of the two. They contended and -quarrelled, and could not decide it. So they resolved at last: “Let us -both go to sleep at the same time, and the one which wakes up earlier -and first reaches the Khvalýnsk Sea is wiser and stronger and the more -honourable.” - -So the Vólga went to sleep, and so did the Vazúza. - -But at night the Vazúza got up quietly and ran away from the Vólga; she -took the next nearest way and flowed off. - -When the Vólga woke up she went neither hurriedly nor lagging, but in an -ordinary fashion. At Zubtsov she overtook the Vazúza, and looked so -threatening that the Vazúza was frightened, and owned she was the -younger daughter, and begged the Vólga to take her in her arms into the -Sea of Khvalýnsk. - -And, to this day, the Vazúza wakes up in the spring before the Vólga, -and wakes the Vólga up out of her winter sleep. - - - - - THE ENCHANTED TSARÉVICH - - -Once upon a time there was a merchant who had three daughters: it so -happened he had one day to go to strange countries to buy wares, and so -he asked his daughters, “What shall I bring you from beyond the seas?” - -The eldest asked for a new coat, and the next one also asked for a new -coat; but the youngest one only took a sheet of paper and sketched a -flower on it: “Bring me, _bátyushka_,[51] a flower like this!” - -So the merchant went and made a long journey to foreign kingdoms, but he -could never see such a flower. So he came back home, and he saw on his -way a splendid lofty palace with watch-towers, turrets, and a garden. He -went a walk in the garden, and you cannot imagine how many trees he saw -and flowers, every flower fairer than the other flowers. And then he -looked and he saw a single one like the one which his daughter had -sketched. “Oh,” he said, “I will tear off and bring this to my beloved -daughter: evidently there is nobody here to watch me.” So he ran up and -broke it off, and as soon as he had done it, in that very instant a -boisterous wind arose and thunder thundered, and a fearful monster stood -in front of him, a formless, winged snake with three heads. - -“How dared you play the master in my garden!” cried the snake to the -merchant. “Why have you broken off a blossom?” - -The merchant was frightened, fell on his knees and besought pardon. - -“Very well,” said the snake, “I will forgive you, but on condition that -whoever meets you first, when you reach home, you must give me for all -eternity; and, if you deceive me, do not forget, nobody can ever hide -himself from me: I shall find you wherever you are.” - -The merchant agreed to the condition and came back home. - -And the youngest daughter saw him from the window and ran out to meet -him. Then the merchant hung his head, looked at his beloved daughter, -and began to shed bitter tears. - -“What is the matter with you? why are you weeping, _bátyushka_?” - -He gave her the blossom and told what had befallen him. - -“Do not grieve, _bátyushka_,” said the youngest daughter, “it is God’s -gift: perhaps I shall fare well. Take me to the snake.” - -So the father took her away, set her in the palace, bade farewell, and -set out home. - -Then the fair maiden, the daughter of the merchant, went in the -different rooms, and beheld everywhere gold and velvet; but no one was -there to be seen, not a single human soul. - -Time went by and went by, and the fair damsel became hungry and thought, -“Oh, if I could only have something to eat!” But before ever she had -thought, in front of her stood a table, and on the table were dishes and -drinks and refreshments: the only thing that was not there was birds’ -milk. Then she sat down to the table, drank and ate, got up, and it had -all vanished. - -Darkness now came on, and the merchant’s daughter went into the bedroom, -wishing to lie down and sleep. Then a boisterous wind rustled round and -the three-headed snake appeared in front of her. - -“Hail, fair maiden! put my bed outside this door!” - -So the fair maiden put the bed outside the door and herself lay on the -bedstead. - -She awoke in the morning, and again in the entire house there was not a -single soul to be seen. And it all went well with her: whatever she -wished for appeared on the spot. - -In the evening the snake flew to her and ordered, “Now, fair maiden, put -my bed next to your bedstead.” - -She then laid it next to her bedstead, and the night went by, and the -maiden awoke, and again there was never a soul in the palace. - -And for the third time the snake came in the evening and said, “Now, -fair maiden, I am going to lie with you in the bedstead.” - -The merchant’s daughter was fearfully afraid of lying on a single bed -with such a formless monster. But she could not help herself, so she -strengthened her heart and lay down with him. - -In the morning the serpent said to her, “If you are now weary, fair -maiden, go to your father and your sisters: spend a day with them, and -in the evening come back to me. But see to it that you are not late. If -you are one single minute late I shall die of grief.” - -“No, I shall not be late,” said the maiden, the merchant’s daughter, and -descended the steps; there was a barouche ready for her, and she sat -down. That very instant she arrived at her father’s courtyard. - -Then the father saw, welcomed, kissed her, and asked her, “How has God -been dealing with you, my beloved daughter? Has it been well with you?” - -“Very well, father!” And she started telling of all the wealth there was -in the palace, how the snake loved her, how whatever she only thought of -was in that instant fulfilled. - -The sisters heard, and did not know what to do out of sheer envy. - -Now the day was ebbing away, and the fair maiden made ready to go back, -and was bidding farewell to her father and her sisters, saying, “This is -the time I must go back: I was bidden keep to my term.” - -But the envious sisters rubbed onions on their eyes and made as though -they were weeping: “Do not go away, sister; stay until to-morrow.” - -She was very sorry for her sisters, and stayed one day more. - -In the morning she bade farewell to them all and went to the palace. -When she arrived it was as empty as before. She went into the garden, -and she saw the serpent lying dead in the pond! He had thrown himself -for sheer grief into the water. - -“Oh, my God, what have I done!” cried out the fair maiden, and she wept -bitter tears, ran up to the pond, hauled the snake out of the water, -embraced one head and kissed it with all her might. And the snake -trembled, and in a minute turned into a good youth. - -“I thank you, fair maiden,” he said. “You have saved me from the -greatest misfortune. I am no snake, but an enchanted Prince.” - -Then they went back to the merchant’s house, were betrothed, lived long, -and lived for good and happy things. - - - - - THE SNAKE PRINCESS - - -A Cossack was going on his road and way, and he arrived in the sleepy -forest, and in that forest, in a glade, stood a hayrick. So the Cossack -stood in front just to have a little rest, lay down in front of the -hayrick and smoked his pipe, went on smoking, smoking, and never saw -that a spark had fallen into the hay. After his rest he again mounted -his horse and went on his road. - -But he had gone only some dozen paces, when a flame blazed out and lit -up the wood. Then the Cossack looked back steadily, and saw the hayrick -burning, and in the middle of the flame a fair maiden standing, saying -in a threatening voice, “Cossack, good man, save me from death!” - -“How shall I save you? I see flames all around and cannot get up to -you.” - -“Thrust your pike into the flame: I will jump out on to it.” - -So the Cossack thrust his pike into the flame and leapt to avoid the -great heat. Then the fair maiden turned into a snake, crept on to the -pike, crawled round the Cossack’s neck, coiled herself round his neck -three times and put her tail between her mouth. The Cossack was -frightened and had no notion what he should do or what should come to -him. - -Then the snake spoke to him in a human voice: “Do not be frightened, -good youth; bear me on your neck for seven years, and go to seek the -Kingdom of Tin: when you arrive in that kingdom stay there and live -there seven years more, and do not ever leave it: if you serve this -service you shall be happy.” - -So the Cossack went to look for the Kingdom of Tin; much time went by, -much water flowed in the river, and at the end of the seventh year he at -last reached a steep mountain, and on that mountain stood a castle of -tin, and around the castle was a lofty white stone wall. So he climbed -up the mountain, and the wall opened in front of him, and he arrived at -a broad courtyard. At that same instant the snake disentangled herself -from his neck, struck the grey earth, and turned into the maiden of his -soul, vanished from his eyes as though she had never been there. - -The Cossack stabled his horse, went into the palace, and began looking -at the rooms: there were looking-glasses all about, silver and velvet, -but never a soul of a man to be seen. “Ah!” thought the Cossack, -“Wherever have I got to? Who will give me food and drink? I must here -die of thirst and hunger.” And whilst he was thinking this, lo and -behold! in front of him stood a covered table, and on the table was food -and drink, enough for all. So he tasted what he would, drank what he -would, strengthened his body, and thought of mounting on his horse to -survey. He went into the stable, and the horse was standing in the stall -and was eagerly devouring oats. - -Well, this affair had turned out very well after all; possibly he might -go on living without any suffering. So the Cossack stayed for a very, -very long time in the tin castle, until he became wearied unto death: it -might be a joke, but he was always alone and could never exchange as -much as a whisper with anybody. So, from sheer grief, he drank himself -drunk and thought he would go out into the free world. But wherever he -ventured forth there were lofty walls, with neither an entrance nor an -exit. So he grew very angry, and the doughty youth took his cudgel, went -into the palace and began knocking about the looking-glasses and -mirrors, tearing up the velvet, breaking the chairs, shattering the -silver. Possibly, he thought, the owner might come and let him free. But -no, never a soul appeared! - -Then the Cossack lay down to sleep. Next day he woke up, went for a walk -and a saunter, and he thought he would like to have some food, and he -looked around: there was nothing to be had. “Ah!” he thought, “The slave -rains on herself the blows if unfaithfully she mows. I smoked to death -yesterday, and to-day I must starve.” He had despaired. And that very -instant food and drink stood ready for him. - -Three days went by: the Cossack slept in the morning, and then looked -out of the window, and his good horse stood saddled at the steps. What -did that mean? So he washed and dressed, prayed to God, took his long -pike and went into the open courtyard. - -Suddenly, from somewhere or other, the fair maiden appeared and said, -“Health to you, good youth: the seven years are over. You saved me from -my perdition and my end. Now, listen to me: I am a king’s daughter; -Koshchéy the Deathless fell in love with me, took me away from my father -and from my mother, wished to marry me, but I always laughed at him. -Then he grew angry, and he turned me into a wild snake: I thank you for -your long service. We will fare forth to my father’s court; he will wish -to reward you with gold from his treasury and with precious stones: but -do you take nothing of them. Simply ask for the keg which is lying in -his cellar.” - -“But what is the use of that?” - -“If you turn that keg to the right a palace appears forthwith, if you -turn it to the left, it vanishes.” - -“Very well,” said the Cossack. - -So he mounted his steed, set himself and the fair princess on it, and -the lofty walls moved away from before him, and they set out on their -road and way. May be long, may be short, at last they arrived at the -kingdom named: the king saw his daughter and was overjoyed, began -expressing his thanks and gave the Cossack sacks full of gold and -pearls: but the doughty youth answered him, “I desire neither gold nor -pearls, give me as a remembrance of you simply the keg which is lying in -your cellar.” - -“You ask for a great gift, brother; but I must do what you say, for my -daughter is dearer to me than all else that I have here. I do not regret -the barrel; take it and go with God.” - -So the Cossack took the royal gift and set out to roam through the white -world. He went on and on, and he met an ancient old man on the way: the -old man answered him, “Give me food and drink, good youth!” - -So the Cossack leapt from his horse, undid the keg, turned it to the -right, and a miraculous palace appeared on the spot: both of them went -into the painted rooms and sat on covered chairs. “Ho, ye my faithful -servants!” cried out the Cossack, “give food and drink to this guest.” -Before ever the words were uttered, the servants brought an entire ox -and three casks of beer. - -The old man set to and gourmandised, making the best of it. He ate the -entire ox, and he drank the three casks of beer, croaked and said, “That -was a small gift: still I cannot help it. I thank you for the bread and -salt.” Then they went out of the palace, and the Cossack turned his keg -to the left, and there was no sign of the palace. - -“Let us exchange,” said the old man to the Cossack. “I will give you a -sword, and you give me the keg: what is the use of the keg to you? This -is a sword which slays of itself: you need only wave it, and however -incalculable the force may be it will slay them all in front of it. You -see that forest? Shall I show you what it can do?” Then the old man drew -his sword and said to it, “Set to work, self-slaying sword, and despoil -all the dreamy forest.” So the sword flew out of his hands, cut down the -trees, and laid them all down in regular boards. Then, after it had cut -them down, it came back to its master. - -So the Cossack did not long bethink him, but gave the old man his keg -and took the self-slaying sword, waved the sword, and killed the old -man. Then he tied the keg to his saddle, mounted his horse, and thought -he would go back to the King. But just then a terrible enemy was -besieging the capital city of that King, and the Cossack saw an -incalculable host and array, waved his sword and said, “Self-slaying -sword, serve me a service and spill the hostile host.” And then there -was a fine sight—heads flying about, blood flowing freely—and within one -hour all the field was covered with corpses. - -Then the King came out, kissed him, and decided to give him the fair -princess to wife. - - -It was a gorgeous wedding. I was there at the wedding. I drank mead and -wine: it flowed up to my whiskers, but it never entered my mouth. - - - - - BEER AND BREAD - - -In a certain kingdom, in a certain State, there once lived a rich -peasant, and he had much money and bread; he used to lend money on -interest to the poor husbandmen of his village. And, if he gave corn, -then it had to be returned in full in the summer; and in addition to -that, for every three pecks the debtor had to work two days on the -lord’s field. - -And one day it happened that there was a festival in the Church, and the -peasants began brewing beer for the feast. But in this village there was -a peasant who was so poor that there was no poorer to be found. And -there he sat in the evening with his wife on the eve of the festival in -his little hut. He was thinking: “What shall I do? All the good folk are -now gadding about making merry, and we have not a crust of bread in our -house. I might have gone to the rich man and asked him for a loan; but -he would not trust me. Now what shall I do, I am so woebegone!” And he -thought and thought, and he left the bench and stood in front of the -icon, and sighed a heavy sigh. “Lord,” he said, “have forgiveness on my -sins, for I cannot buy any oil with which to fill the lamp in front of -Thy icon for Thy feast.” - -And after a little while, an old man came into the hut. - -“Hail, master,” he said. “Hail, old man! Can I stay the night here?” - -“If you will. Stay the night if you like. But, Gossip, I have not a -crust of bread in my house, and I cannot feed you.” - -“Never mind, master, I have three crusts of bread, and meat: give me a -ladle of water. I will take a taste of the loaf and a sup of the water, -and we shall be satisfied.” - -So the old man sat down on the bench, and spoke. - -“Why are you so sad, master? What has made you melancholy?” - -“Old man,” the master answered, “why should I not be heavy?—it is God’s -gift. We were so looking forward to the feast. All the good folk are -making merry and rejoicing, but we are clean swept out. All around me -and within there is emptiness.” - -“Well, be of good cheer,” said the old man; “go to the rich peasant and -ask whatever you require of him as a debt.” - -“No, I cannot go, for he will not give it.” - -“Go,” the old man insisted. “Fear nothing. Ask him for three pecks of -malt, and we will brew the beer together.” - -“But it is so late. How shall we brew beer?—the feast is to be -to-morrow.” - -“Do what I say. Go to the rich peasant and ask for the three pecks of -malt. He will give it you at once. No, he cannot refuse it. And -to-morrow you shall have beer so good at the feast—better than any you -shall find throughout the village.” - -What could the poor man say? He got up, took his sack under his arm, and -went up to the rich peasant. - -He went into the rich man’s _izbá_,[52] bowed down, besought him by his -name and his father’s name, and asked him for the loan of three pecks of -malt, as he wanted to brew beer for the festival. - -“Why did you not think of it sooner?” the rich man replied. “How can you -do it now, for this is the eve of the festival?” - -“Never mind, Gossip,” the poor man replied; “if you will be so good, I -and my wife will still brew something together, and can drink together -and celebrate the festival.” - -The rich man gave him three pecks of malt and poured them into his sack. -The poor man lifted the sack on to his shoulders and went home and -recounted how things had gone. - -“Now, master,” his old guest said, “you shall have a feast. Is there a -well at your door?” - -“There is,” said the peasant. - -“Well, we will go to your well and brew the beer. Bring your sack and -follow me.” - -So they went out to the courtyard up to the well. - -“Pour it all in there,” the old man said. - -“Why should we hurl all this good stuff into the well?” the master -replied, “for there are only three pecks, and it will all be thrown away -for nothing.” - -“It is the best thing you can do.” - -“We shall not do any good—we shall only sully the water.” - -“Listen to me, and do what I say: there is nothing to fear.” - -So what could he do? He simply had to pour all his malt into the well. - -“Now,” the old man said, “formerly there was water in the well, and -to-morrow it will be beer. Now, master, we will go into the _izbá_[53] -and lie down to sleep, for the morning is wiser than the evening, and -to-morrow you will have such good beer for dinner that one glass will -make you drunk.” - -So they waited until the morning, and then when dinner-time came round -the old man said: “Well, master, get as many tubs as you can, and stand -them round the well and fill them all full of beer, and then call every -one in to drink, and you shall have a really riotous feast.” - -And the peasant went and called all his neighbours and asked for tubs. - -“What do you want all these tubs and pails for?” they asked him. - -“Oh, I really want them at once, as I have not vessels enough to hold my -beer.” - -And the neighbours whispered: “What on earth does he mean? Is the good -fellow gone mad? There is not a crust of bread in his house, and he is -still chattering about beer.” - -Well, somehow or other, he got twenty pails and tubs together, put them -all round the well, and began to haul them up. And the beer turned out -so fine, finer than ever anybody could think or guess, or any tale could -tell. And he filled all the tubs to the very brim, and the well was as -full as ever. And he began to cry out aloud and to call guests to his -door. - -“Come to me, good Christians, and drink strong beer here, such beer as -you never saw in your life!” - -And the people looked round. “What on earth was he up to? Surely you -take water out of a well, and he calls it beer? Anyhow, let’s go and -see, whatever knavery it may be.” So they all rushed up to the tubs, and -they began to ladle it out and to look at it. Evidently, after all, it -must be beer. And they said: “Such beer we have never drunk before!” His -courtyard was full of the village folk. And the master was not at a loss -to ladle beer out of the well for himself, and treated all of his guests -right royally. - -When the rich peasant heard of this, he came to the poor man’s -courtyard, tasted the beer, and began to ask the poor man: “Please to -tell me how ever you managed to make such magnificent beer?” - -“Oh, there was not any cleverness about it,” the poor man answered. “It -is the simplest thing in the world. When I took your three pecks from -you I simply went and threw them into the well. Formerly it was water, -and in a single night it all became beer.” - -“Well,” the rich man thought, “I will go home and I will do the same.” - -So he went home, and he ordered all of his servants to take all of the -best malt out of his granaries, and throw it into the well. And his -husbandmen threw ten sacks of malt into the well. - -“Now,” the rich man said, and rubbed his hands, “I shall have finer beer -than the poor man.” - -So the next time he went out to his courtyard and up to the well, -sampled it, and looked. It was water before, and it was still water; -only it was rather dirtier. “I don’t quite understand this: I put too -little malt into it, so I will add some more,” the rich man thought, and -he ordered his workmen to put five more sacks into the well. They were -all thrown in, and it was all no good: he had simply wasted all of his -malt. - -And when the feast had passed by the water in the poor peasant’s well -was as pure as ever, just as if nothing had happened. - -Once again the old man came to the poor peasant and said: “Listen, -master, have you sown your corn this year?” - -“No, grandfather, I have not sown a single grain.” - -“Well, now go to the rich man and ask him for three pecks of every kind -of corn. We will eat with you in the fields, and we will then sow the -corn.” - -“How shall we sow it now?” the poor man answered. “It is now the very -midst of winter and the frost is crackling.” - -“Never mind about that. Go and do as I say. I brewed you beer, and I -will sow you corn.” - -So the poor man went once more to the rich peasant and asked him as a -debt for three pecks of every kind of corn. When he came back he told -his aged guest: - -“Here it all is, grandfather.” - -So they went outside to the fields, scattered it according to its nature -on the peasant’s lots; and lo and behold! they went and threw all the -grains on the white snow—every single grain. - -The old man said to the peasant: “Go home and wait until the summer; you -will have bread enough.” - -So the poor man went to his hut and became the laughing-stock of the -village for sowing his corn in the winter. “Look at him! What a fool he -is! He has forgotten when he ought to sow: he didn’t think of sowing in -the autumn.” He never minded, but waited for the spring, and the warm -days came, and the snow melted, and the grain sprouts appeared. - -“Come now,” the poor man said, “I will go and see what my stretch of -land looks like.” So he went to his stretch of land and saw such -splendid blades of corn, at which any soul might rejoice. And on all the -acres of the others it was not half as fine. “Glory be to God!” the -peasant cried; “I am now looking up!” - -Soon the time of harvest came by, and all good folk began to gather -their corn, and the old man also went and busied himself, and called his -wife to help him. And he could not get through, but had to summon for -the harvesting all the husbandmen, and to give half of his corn away; -and all the peasants were astonished at the poor man, for he had not -sown his land, but had scattered the seeds in the winter and his corn -had been splendid. The poor peasant had put his affairs straight and had -managed to live without any trouble; and whatever he required for his -household, he went into the town, sold quarters and quarters of corn, -and bought whatever he required, and repaid the rich peasant his debt in -full. - -Then the rich peasant began to think: “Heigh-ho! I shall also begin -sowing in the winter; possibly I shall have corn as fine.” So he waited -to the very day on which the poor peasant in the previous year had sown -his corn, went and took from his bins quarters of different sorts of -corn, went out into the fields and scattered it all on the snow. He -covered the fields entirely, but a storm arose at night, and mighty -winds blew, and wafted all the corn from his land away on to the other -fields. - -Then there came a fine spring, and the rich man went to his fields and -saw them bare, and saw that his own land was naked and waste; there was -not a single blade that appeared, and on all the other strips where -there had been no ploughing and no sowing, you never saw such a fine -green crop! Then the rich man began to think: “Lord, I have spent much -on corn, and it has all been in vain, and my debtors have all neither -ploughed nor sown, and their corn grows of itself. Needs I must be a -great sinner!” - - - - - SORROW - - -Once upon a time, in a wretched village, there lived two peasants, who -were own brothers. One was poor, however, and the other rich. The rich -man settled in the town, built himself a fine house, and became a -merchant. Sometimes the poor brother had not a crumb of bread and the -children (each of whom was smaller than the others) cried and begged for -something to eat. From morning to evening the peasant trudged away like -a fish on ice, but it was all of no good. - -One day he said to his wife: “I am going into the town, in order to beg -my brother to help me.” - -So he came to the rich man and asked him: “Brother, help me in my -sorrow, for my wife and children sit at home without any bread and are -starving.” - -“If you will work for me this week I will help you.” - -What was the poor fellow to do? He set to work, cleaned out the -courtyard, groomed the horses, carried the water, hewed the wood. When -the week had gone by the rich man gave him a loaf of bread. “There, you -have a reward for your pains.” - -“I thank you for it,” said the poor man, and bowed down, and was going -home. - -“Stay,” the rich brother said to him: “Come with your wife to-morrow and -be my guests. To-morrow is my name-day.” - -“Oh, brother, how can I? As you know, merchants who wear boots and furs -come to see you, whilst I have only bast shoes, and I only have my grey -coat.” - -“Never mind! Come to-morrow; I shall still have room for you.” - -“Good brother! I will come.” - -So the poor man went home, gave his wife the loaf of bread, and said: -“Listen, wife. To-morrow you and I are to be guests.” - -“Who has asked us?” - -“My brother. To-morrow is his name-day.” - -“All right, let’s go.” - -Next day they got up and went into the town. They came to the rich man’s -door, greeted him, and sat down on a bench. And at table there were many -guests, and the master of the house entertained them all magnificently. -Only he forgot the poor brother and his wife, and he gave them nothing. -They sat there, and could only look at the others eating and drinking. -When the meal was over the guests rose from table and bowed their thanks -to the master and mistress, and the poor man also stood up from his -bench and bowed down deep before his brother; and the guests went home -drunken and merry, noisily singing songs. - -But the poor man went home with an empty stomach. “We too must sing a -song!” he said to his wife. - -“Oh, you fool, the others sing, for they have had a good dinner and have -drunk well. Why should we sing?” - -“Well, after all, I was a guest at my brother’s name-day, and I am -ashamed of going back so silently. If I sing they will all think, -anyhow, that I have been served as well.” - -“Sing if you will! I shall not!” - -So the peasant sang and sang, and he heard two voices. So he stopped and -asked his wife: “Are you helping me; to sing with a thin voice?” - -“What are you thinking of? I was doing nothing of the sort.” - -“What was it, then?” - -“I don’t know,” said the wife. “Sing. I will listen.” So he went on -singing by himself, and again the two voices were heard. So he stayed -still, and said, “Sorrow, are you aiding me to sing?” - -And Sorrow answered: “Yes, I am aiding you.” - -“Now, Sorrow, we will go on together.” - -“Yes, I will ever remain with you.” - -So the peasant went home. But Sorrow called him into the inn. - -He said: “I have no money.” - -“Never mind, Hodge; what do you want money for? Why, you still have half -of a fur; what is the use of it? It will soon be summer, and you will be -no longer requiring it. We will go into the inn and drink it up.” - -So the peasant and Sorrow went into the inn, and they drank up the -half-fur. Next day Sorrow groaned and said he had a headache, a fearful -headache, owing to last night’s treat. And he enticed the peasant once -more to bib wine. - -“But I have no money!” - -“There is no need of money. Take your sleigh and your carriage; that -will be sufficient for us!” - -It was not any good. The peasant could not escape Sorrow. So he took his -sleigh and his carriage, drove them to the inn, and drank them with -Sorrow. And in the morning Sorrow groaned yet further, and reduced the -master to further drinking; and the peasant drank away his ploughshare -and his plough. - -One month had gone by, and he had drunk all his property away, pledged -his _izbá_[54] to a neighbour, and spent all the money in the inn. Then -Sorrow came to him once more. “Let us go to the inn!” - -“No, Sorrow, I have no more.” - -“Why, your wife has two sarafáns, one will be sufficient for her.” - -So the peasant took the sarafán, drank it up; and he thought: “Now I -have not anything left, neither house, nor clothes, nor anything else -for myself or my wife!” - -Next morning Sorrow woke up and saw that there was nothing more he could -take. So he said: “Master, what is your wish? Go to your neighbour and -borrow a pair of oxen and a carriage.” - -So the peasant went to his neighbour and said, “Can you lend me a car -and a pair of oxen for a short time, and I will do a week’s work for -them?” - -“What do you want with them?” - -“To fetch wood out of the forest.” - -“Well, then, take them, but don’t overload them.” - -“Oh, of course not, uncle!” - -So the peasant took the oxen, went with Sorrow into the carriage, and -drove into the field. - -“Do you know the big stone in this field?” Sorrow asked. - -“Oh, yes!” - -“Well, then, drive up to it.” - -So they arrived at the stone and dismounted. Sorrow bade the peasant -lift up the stone, and he aided him in the work. Under the stone there -was a hollow filled with gold. - -“Now, what do you see?” said Sorrow. “Load it all up quickly on to the -coach.” - -So the peasant set to work sharply, loaded all the gold up, to the very -last ducats. And when he noticed there was not anything left, he said, -“Sorrow, is there no more gold there?” - -“I don’t see any.” - -“Down there in the corner I see something glittering.” - -“No; I cannot see anything.” - -“Get down into the pit, and you will see it.” - -So Sorrow went into the pit, and as soon as he was in the peasant cast -the stone in. “Things will now go better,” said the peasant, “for if I -were to take you back with me, Sorrow, you would drink up all of this -money!” - -So the peasant went home, and he poured out the gold in the cellar. He -took the oxen back to his neighbour, and he began to set up house again, -bought a wood, built a big house, and became twice as rich as his -brother. Soon he rode to the town, in order to invite his brother and -his sister-in-law to his own name-day. - -“Whatever do you mean?” said the rich brother, “why, you have nothing to -eat, and you are giving festivals!” - -“I had nothing to eat before, but I am now as well off as you are.” - -“All right; I will come.” - -So next day the rich man, with his wife, went to the name-day; and they -saw that the poor starveling had a big new house, much finer than many -merchants’ houses. And the peasant gave them a rich dinner, with all -kinds of meat and drink. - -So the rich man asked his brother: “Tell me, how did you become so -rich?” - -Then the peasant told him the bare truth—how Sorrow had followed on his -heels and how he and his Sorrow had gone into the inn, and he had drunk -away all his goods and chattels to the last shred, until he had only his -soul left in his body; and then how Sorrow had showed him the -treasure-trove in the field, and he had thus freed himself from the -thraldom of Sorrow. - -And the rich man became envious and thought: “I will go into the field -and will lift the stone up. Sorrow will rend my brother’s body asunder, -so that he cannot then brag of his riches in front of me.” - -So he left his wife behind and drove into the field, to the big stone. -He whirled it off to the side and bowed down to see what was under the -stone. And he had hardly bowed down, when Sorrow sprang up and sat on -his shoulders. - -“O!” Sorrow cried. “You wanted to leave me here under the earth. Now I -shall never depart from you.” - -“Listen, Sorrow: I was not the person who locked you up here!” - -“Who was it, then, if it was not you?” - -“My brother. I came in order to set you free.” - -“No, you are lying and deceiving me again. This time it shall not come -off.” - -So Sorrow sat fast on the wretched merchant’s shoulders. He brought -Sorrow with him home, and his household went from bad to worse. Sorrow -began early in the morning enticing the merchant into the beerhouse day -after day, and much property was drunk away. - -“This life is absolutely unbearable!” thought the merchant. “I have done -Sorrow too good a service. I must now set myself free from him. How -shall I?” So he thought and he thought it out. He went into his -courtyard, cut two oak wedges, took a new wheel, and knocked one wedge -from one end into the axle. He went up to Sorrow. “Now, Sorrow, must you -lie about like that?” - -“What should I be doing? What else is there to do?” - -“Come into the courtyard; let us play hide-and-seek.” - -This suited Sorrow down to the ground, and at first the merchant hid and -Sorrow found him at once. - -Then Sorrow had to hide. “You will not find me so easily: I can hide -myself in any crack.” - -“What!” said the merchant. “Why, you could never get into this wheel, -much less into a crack!” - -“What! I could not get into the wheel? Just look how I manage to hide -myself in it!” - -So Sorrow crept into the wheel, and the merchant took the other oak -wedge and drove it into the hub from the other side, and threw the -wheel, with Sorrow inside, into the river. Sorrow was drowned, and the -merchant lived as before. - - - - - IVÁSHKO AND THE WISE WOMAN - - -Once there lived an old man and an old dame, and they only had one -little son, and you can’t imagine how they loved him. - -One day Iváshechko asked his mother and father, “Please may I go and -catch fish?” - -“What nonsense! you’re much too little yet: you might get drowned, and -that would be a fine story.” - -“Oh, no, I won’t get drowned. I’ll go and catch you a fish: let me go!” - -So grandfather gave him a little white shirt to wear, with a big red -sash, and off he went. Soon he was sitting in a boat and singing: - - Little boat, little boat, sail far away, - O’er the blue water away and away. - -The little skiff sailed far and far away and Iváshechko started fishing. -Soon, how long I don’t know, up came the mother to the shore and said: - - Iváshechko, Iváshechko, my little son, - Up to the shore let your little boat run: - Here is some drink and here is a bun! - -And Iváshechko said: - - Little boat, little boat, sail to the shore: - My mother’s calling me. - -The little skiff sailed up to the shore; the woman took the fish and fed -her little boy, changed his shirt and sash and sent him out again to -catch fish. And there he sat on the boat and sang: - - Little boat, little boat, sail far away, - O’er the blue water away and away. - -The little boat sailed out so far away, and Iváshechko started fishing. -Soon the grandfather came to the shore and called his son: - - Iváshechko, Iváshechko, my little son, - Up to the shore let your little boat run: - Here is some drink and here is a bun! - -And Iváshechko said: - - Little boat, little boat, sail to the shore: - For father’s calling me! - -The little skiff sailed up to the shore; the grandfather took the fish -and fed his little boy, changed his shirt and sash and sent him out -again to catch fish. And there he sat on the boat and sang: - - Little boat, little boat, sail far away, - O’er the blue water away and away. - -Now the wise woman saw how his grandparents called Iváshechko, and -wanted to get hold of the boy. So she came to the shore and called out: - - Iváshechko, Iváshechko, my little son, - Up to the shore let your little boat run: - Here is some drink and here is a bun! - -But Iváshechko knew the voice, and whose voice it was. So he sang: - - Little boat, little boat, sail far away, - O’er the blue water away and away. - The Evil Woman’s calling me - -So the wise woman saw she must act the mother’s voice, so she ran to the -smith and asked him, “Smith, just forge me a thin little voice like the -one Iváshechko’s mother has, or I’ll eat you up!” So the smith forged -the voice just like the mother’s. So up she went to the shore and sang: - - Iváshechko, Iváshechko, my little son, - Up to the shore let your little boat run: - Here is some drink and here is a bun! - -Iváshechko sailed up; she took the fish and seized and took Iváshechko -himself away. When she reached home, she told her daughter Alyónka: -“Just make my stove nice and hot and cook Iváshechko all through. I’ll -go assemble my guests.” - -And Alyónka heated the stove very hot and told Iváshechko: “Come and sit -on the shovel.”[55] - -“I’m too young and stupid,” Iváshechko answered; “show me how to sit on -the shovel.” - -“Oh, that’s easy enough!” said Alyónka; and as soon as she was on -Iváshechko shoved her into the stove, slammed the door to and went out -of the hut, and climbed a great big tall oak-tree. - -The wise woman came with her guests and knocked at the hut; there was no -reply, no one to open the door. “Oh, confound Alyónka; she must have -gone out to play.” The wise woman climbed up into the window, opened the -door and admitted her guests, opened the oven door, took out Alyónka, -who was well cooked, and they all sat down to table and ate and ate and -drank, and at last went out to take a turn on the grass: - -“I am dancing, I am prancing, I have eaten Iváshechko’s flesh.” - -Then Iváshechko interrupted from the top of the tree: “Dance and prance! -you have eaten Alyónka’s flesh.” - -“Did I hear anything?” said the wise woman; “it must have been the -leaves rustling.” Again the wise woman said, “I am dancing, I am -prancing, I have eaten Iváshechko’s flesh!” - -Iváshechko repeated: “Dance and prance! you have eaten Alyónka’s flesh!” - -So at last she looked up and saw Iváshechko, and began to gnaw at the -oak-tree on which he was sitting, and gnawed and gnawed, broke two of -her front teeth, and went to the smithy. She called the smith. “Smith, -smith, make me some iron teeth, or I’ll eat you up.” - -The smith made her two iron teeth. - -So back she went and gnawed away at the tree, and as soon as she had -gnawed it through Iváshechko just jumped on to the next oak-tree, whilst -the one the witch had gnawed through fell down. - -Then the wise woman gnawed and gnawed at this tree, and gnawed and -gnawed, broke the two front teeth, and went to the smithy. She called -the smith: “Smith, smith, make me two more iron teeth, or I’ll eat you -up.” - -The smith made her two more iron teeth. - -So she went back and gnawed away at the tree. - -So Iváshechko did not know what to do. He looked up and saw geese and -swans flying; he asked them: - - Geese and swans, geese and swans, - Waft me away on your pinions: - Take me home to my mother and father; - With my mother and my father - There is plenty to eat - And life is sweet! - -“The next covey may take you,” said the birds. - -So he waited. And another flock came, and he repeated: - - Geese and swans, geese and swans, - Waft me away on your pinions: - Take me home to my mother and father; - With my mother and my father - There is plenty to eat - And life is sweet! - -“Perhaps the last may take you.” - -So he waited on, and as the third flock appeared he said: - - Geese and swans, geese and swans, - Waft me away on your pinions: - Take me home to my mother and father; - With my mother and my father - There is plenty to eat - And life is sweet! - -They took him home on their wings up to the hut and placed Iváshechko in -the loft. - -Early next day the woman cooked a pancake on the stove, and whilst -cooking it thought of her poor little boy Iván, and said: “Where is my -Iváshechko? I dreamed of him last night!” - -And gaffer said: “I dreamed last night the geese and swans were wafting -our little Iván home.” - -She had finished the pancake by now, and said: “Now, gaffer, we’ll share -it, this bit for you, this bit for me!” - -“And none for me!” Iváshechko chimed in. - -“This is for you, and this is for me!” - -“And none for me!” - -“What’s that noise, gaffer?” the woman asked. - -The grandfather clattered up into the loft and found Iváshechko. They -were overjoyed, asked him all about everything, and lived a jolly life. - - - - - NEVER-WASH - - -Once upon a time there was a soldier who had served through three -campaigns, but had never earned as much as an addled egg, and was then -put on the retired list. Then, as he went on the road marching on and -on, he became tired and sat down by a lake. And, as he rested, he began -thinking things out: “Where shall I now betake myself, and how shall I -feed myself, and how the devil shall I enter into any service?” - -As soon as he had spoken these words a little devil rose up at once in -front of him and said, “Hail, soldier, what do you wish? Did you just -now not say that you wished to become one of our servants? Why, soldier, -come up and be hired: we will pay you well.” - -“What is the work?” - -“Oh, the work is easy enough: for fifteen years you must not shave, you -must not have your hair cut, you must not blow your nose, and you must -not change your garb. If you serve this service, then we will go to the -king, who has three daughters. Two of them are mine, but the third shall -be yours.” - -“Very well,” said the soldier, “I will undertake the contract; but I -require in return to get anything my soul hankers after.” - -“It shall be so; be at peace; we shall not be in default.” - -“Well, let it befall at once. Carry me at once into the capital and give -me a pile of money; you know yourself how little of these goods a -soldier ever gets.” - -So the little devil dashed into the lake, got out a pile of gold, and -instantaneously carried the soldier into the great city, and all at once -he was there! - -“What a fool I have been!” said the soldier: “I have not done any -service, no work, and I now have the money!” So he took a room, never -cut his hair, never shaved, never wiped his nose, never changed his -garb, and he lived on and grew wealthy, so wealthy he did not know what -to do with his money. What was he to do with his silver and gold? “Oh, -very well, I will start helping the poor: possibly they may pray for my -soul.” So the soldier began distributing alms to the needy, to the right -and to the left, and he still had money over, however much he gave away! -His fame spread over the whole kingdom, came to the ears of all. - -So the soldier lived for fourteen years, and on the fifteenth year the -Tsar’s exchequer gave out. So he summoned the soldier. So the soldier -came to him unwashed, unshaved, uncombed, with his nose unwiped and his -dress unchanged. - -“Health, your Majesty!” - -“Listen, soldier. You, they say, are good to all folks: will you lend me -some money? I have not enough to pay my troops. If you will I will make -you a general at once.” - -“No, your Majesty, I do not wish to be a general; but if you will do me -a favour, give me one of your daughters as my wife, and you shall have -as much money as you wish for the Treasury.” - -So the king began to think: he was very fond of his daughters, but still -he could not do anything whatsoever without money. “Well,” he said, “I -agree. Have a portrait taken of yourself; I will show it to my daughters -and ask which of them will take you.” - -So the soldier returned, had the portrait painted, which was feature for -feature, unshaved, unwashed, uncombed, his nose unwiped, and in his old -garb, and sent it to the Tsar. - -Now, the Tsar had three daughters, and the father summoned them and -showed them the soldier’s portrait. He said to the eldest, “Will you go -and marry him? He will redeem me from very great embarrassment.” - -The Tsarévna saw what a monstrous animal had been painted, with tangled -hair, uncut nails and unwiped nose. “I certainly won’t!” she said, “I -would sooner go to the Devil.” And from somewhere or other the Devil -appeared, stood behind her with pen and paper, heard what she said, and -entered her soul on his register. - -Then the father asked the next daughter, “Will you go and marry the -soldier?” - -“What! I would rather remain a maiden; I would rather tie myself up with -the Devil than go with him.” So the Devil went and inscribed her soul as -well. - -Then the father asked his youngest daughter, and she answered, -“Evidently this must be my lot: I will go and marry him and see what God -shall give.” - -Then the Tsar was very blithe at this, and he went and told the soldier -to make ready for the betrothal, and he sent him twelve carts to carry -the money away. - -Then the soldier made use of his devil: “There are twelve carts; pile -them all high at once with gold.” So the devil ran into the lake and the -unholy ones set to work. Some of them brought up one sack, some two, and -they soon filled the carts and sent them to the Tsar, into his palace. - -Then the Tsar looked, and now summoned the soldier to him every day, sat -with him at one table, and ate and drank with him. When they got ready -for the marriage the term of fifteen years was over. So he called the -little devil and said, “Now my service is over: turn me into a youth.” - -So the devil cut him up into little bits, threw them into a cauldron, -and began to brew him—brewed him, washed him and collected all his -bones, one by one, in the proper way, every bone with every bone, every -joint with every joint, every nerve with every nerve: then he sprinkled -them with the water of life, and the soldier arose, such a fine young -man as no tale can tell and no pen can write. He then married the -youngest Tsarévna, and they began to live a merry life of good. - - * * * * * - -I was at the wedding: I drank mead and beer. They also had wine, and I -drank it to the very dregs. - - * * * * * - -But the little devil ran back into the lake, for his elder hauled him -over the coals to answer for what he had done with the soldier. “He has -served out his period faithfully and honourably: he has never once -shaved himself, nor cut his hair, nor wiped his nose, nor changed his -clothes.” - -Then the elder was very angry. He said, “In fifteen years you were not -able to corrupt the soldier! Was all the money given in vain? What sort -of a devil will you be after this?” And he had him thrown into the -burning pitch. - -“Oh no, please, grandfather,” said the grandson, “I have lost the -soldier’s soul, but I have gained two others.” - -“What?” - -“Look: the soldier thought of marrying a Tsarévna; the two elder -daughters both declined and said they would rather marry a devil than -the soldier. So there they are, and they belong to us.” - -So the grandfather-devil approved what the grandson-imp had done, and -set him free. “Yes,” he said, “you know your business very well indeed.” - - - - - CHRIST AND THE GEESE - - -One day St. Peter and Christ were out walking together. St. Peter was -deep in thought and suddenly said: “How fine it must be to be God! If -for half a day I might be God, then let me be Peter all the rest of my -days!” - -The Lord smiled. “Your will shall be granted. Be God until nightfall.” - -They were approaching a village, and saw a peasant girl driving a flock -of geese. She drove them to the meadow, left them there, and hurried -back home. - -“Are you going to leave the geese by themselves?” St. Peter asked. - -“Well, what?—guard them to-day! It’s a feast-day.” - -“But who will look after the geese?” - -“God Almighty, maybe,” she said, and ran away. - -“Peter, you have heard her,” said the Saviour. “I should have been -delighted to go with you to the village feast, but then the geese might -come to some harm. You are God until nightfall, and must stay and watch -them.” - -Poor Peter! He was angry; but had to stay and guard the geese. He never -again wished to be God. - - - - - CHRIST AND FOLK-SONGS - - -One day Christ and St. Peter were walking about the earth and came to a -village. In one house folks were singing so finely that Christ stayed to -listen, whilst St. Peter went on. He turned back and found Christ still -at His post. St. Peter went on again, and looked back: Christ was still -listening. St. Peter went on again and then glanced back a third -time—and Christ was still listening. Then he went back and heard a -splendid folk-song in the house, stayed a while, and went on to another -house where there also was singing. There St. Peter stayed, but Christ -passed on. St. Peter hurried up and looked astounded. - -“What’s the matter?” asked Christ. - -“I could not make out why you stopped to listen to folk-songs and passed -by the house where hymns were being sung.” - -“Oh, my dear son,” said Christ, “there was a good scent there in the one -house where folk-songs were being sung; but there was no reverence about -the house where they were chanting hymns.” - - - - - THE DEVIL IN THE DOUGH-PAN - - -Once a woman was kneading bread, but had forgotten to say the blessing. -So the demon, Potánka,[56] ran up and sat down in it. Then she -recollected she had kneaded the dough without saying the blessing, went -up to it and crossed herself; and Potánka wanted to escape, but could -not anyhow, because of the blessing. So she put the leavened dough -through a strainer and threw it out into the street, with Potánka -inside. The pigs turned him over and over, and he could not escape for -three whole days. At last he tore his way out through a crack in the -dough and scampered off without looking behind him. - -He ran up to his comrades, who asked him: “Where have you been, -Potánka?” - -“May that woman be accursed!” he said. - -“Who?” - -“The one who was kneading her dough and had made it without saying the -proper blessing; so I ran up and squatted in it. Then she laid hold of -me and crossed herself, and after three livelong days I got out, the -pigs poking me about and I unable to escape! Never again will I get into -a woman’s dough.” - - - - - THE SUN, THE MOON, AND CROW CROWSON - - -Once upon a time there was an old man and an old woman who had three -daughters. The old man went into the loft for some groats, and took them -home, but there was a hole in the sack, and the groats were running and -running out of the sack. - -The old man went home, and the old woman asked, “Where are the groats?” -But all the groats had dripped out. - -So the old man went to collect them, and said, “If only the Sun would -warm the grain, and the moon show its light on it, and Crow Crowson help -me to get the groats, I would give my eldest daughter to the little Sun, -and my middle daughter to the Moon, and my youngest to Crow Crowson.” So -the old man set to collecting the grain, and the Sun warmed it, and the -Moon shone on it, and Vóron Vóronovich helped to collect the grain. - -The old man came back home and said to the eldest daughter: “You must -dress nicely and go out on the steps.” So she dressed and went out on -the steps. And the Sun laid hold of her. And he commanded the next -daughter in the same way to dress herself finely and to stand on the -steps. So she dressed herself up and went out, and the Moon seized and -took away the second daughter. And he said to the third daughter, “Dress -yourself prettily and stand on the steps.” So she dressed herself -prettily and stood on the steps, and Crow Crowson seized her and carried -her away. - -Then the old man said, “I think I might go and visit my sons-in-law.” So -he went to the Sun, and at last he arrived there. - -The Sun asked him, “With what shall I regale you?” - -“Oh, I don’t wish for anything!” - -So the Sun bade his wife make a custard ready. So the daughter prepared -the custard; the Sun sat down in the middle of the floor, and his wife -put the pan on him and the custard was soon cooked. So they gave the old -father refreshment. - -Then the old father went back home and bade his wife make him a custard; -and he sat down on the floor and commanded her to put the pan with the -custard on to him. - -“What are you talking about? Bake it on you!” said the old wife. - -“Go on!” he replied. “Put it there; it will be baked!” - -So she put the pan on him, and the custard stood there for ages and was -not ever cooked, only turned sour. It was no good. So in the end the -wife put the pan into the stove, and this time the custard was baked and -the old man got something to eat. - -Next day the old man went to stay as a guest with his second son-in-law, -the Moon, and he arrived. - -And the Moon said, “With what shall I regale you?” - -“I do not wish for anything,” said the old man. - -So the Moon got the bath heated ready for him. - -The old man said, “Won’t it be very dark in the bath?” - -“No,” said the Moon to him, “quite light; only step in.” - -So the old man went into the bath, and the Moon twisted his little -finger into a chink, and it was quite light in the bathroom. So the old -man steamed himself thoroughly, went back home and told his wife to heat -the bath at night. So the old woman heated it, and he sent her there to -steam herself. - -“But,” she said, “it will be much too dark to steam myself!” - -“Go along! it will be light enough.” - -So the old woman went. And the old man saw how the Moon had lit the -place up for him, and he went and bored a tiny hole in the bathroom and -thrust his finger through it. - -But there was still no light in the bath, and the old woman shrieked out -to him, “Dark! much too dark!” It was not any good. So she went out, -brought a lamp, and enjoyed her steam bath. - -On the third day the old man went to Vóron Vóronovich. He got there. - -“How shall I regale you?” asked Vóron Vóronovich. - -“Oh,” said the old man, “I don’t want anything!” - -“Well, let us come and sleep on the perch.” - -So the Crow put a ladder up and climbed up there with his father-in-law. -Crow Crowson settled himself comfortably with his head under his wing. -But as soon as ever the old man dropped off to sleep both of them fell -down and were killed. - - - - - THE LEGLESS KNIGHT AND THE BLIND KNIGHT - - -In a certain kingdom in a certain land a Tsar and his Tsarítsa lived. -They had a son called Iván Tsarévich, and the son had an attendant who -was called Katomá Dyádka[57] of the oaken-cap. When the Tsar and the -Tsarítsa had reached a great age both of them became ill, and they felt -that they would never become hale again. So they called Iván Tsarévich, -and said to him: “If we die, always follow Katomá’s advice, and do well -by him, then you will live happily; but if you do not, you will falter -and fail like a fly.” - -Next day the Tsar and the Tsarítsa died. Iván Tsarévich buried his -parents, heeded their advice, and always took counsel with Katomá before -undertaking any enterprise. - -Very soon, maybe a long time, maybe short, he grew up, and he wanted to -marry. He said to Katomá: “Katomá, Oaken-cap, it is so melancholy living -by oneself; I want to marry.” - -“Tsarévich,” Katomá replied, “you are of the age at which you ought to -look for a bride: go into the great hall, where you will see pictures of -all the Korolévny[58] and Tsarévny in the world. Gaze on them carefully, -and select for yourself a bride, one who pleases you, and you shall -marry her.” - -Iván Tsarévich went into the great hall, looked at the pictures, and he -was most delighted with Anna the Fair. She was so fair that she was -fairer than any princess in the world. But under her portrait there was -a legend: “_He who can set her a riddle she cannot solve is to marry -her. Anyone whose riddle she solves dies._” - -Iván Tsarévich read the legend, and was very sad. He went up to Katomá -and said: “I was in the great hall, and I selected as my bride Anna the -Fair: but I do not know whether I can woo her.” - -“Yes, Tsarévich, it will be hard for you; if you had to go there by -yourself, you would never win her. Take me. Do what I say, and all will -go well.” - -Then Iván Tsarévich begged Katomá Oaken-cap to fare there with him, and -pledged him his word of honour he would obey him in joy and sorrow. - -So they set out on the way to seek Anna the Fair Tsarévna. They -journeyed for one year, the second year, and the third year, and they -traversed many lands. Iván Tsarévich said, “We have been so long on the -journey and are at last approaching the realms of Anna the Fair, and -still we have not thought out any riddles for her!” - -“Time enough yet,” Katomá replied. - -So they rode on, and Katomá saw a purse lying on the road and said: -“Iván Tsarévich, there is your riddle for the Tsarévna; give her this -riddle to solve: ‘Good lies on the road: we took the good with good, and -set it down to our good.’ That she will never solve all her life long, -for every riddle she has solved at once, for she had only to look in her -magical book; and she would then have your head cut off.” - -At last the Tsarévich and Katomá came to a lofty castle, where the fair -Tsarévna lived. She was just standing at her balcony, and sent her -messengers to meet them, to know whence they came and what was their -will. - -Iván Tsarévich answered: “I have come from my distant realm in order to -woo Anna Tsarévna the Fair.” - -This she was told, and she bade the Tsarévich be introduced into her -castle: he was to set her a riddle in front of all her councillors and -her princes and _boyárs_.[59] “For I have sworn,” she said, “to marry -him who sets me a riddle I cannot solve: but if I guess it, then he must -die.” The fair Tsarévna listened to the riddle: “Good lies on the road; -we took the good with good, and set it down to our good.” - -Anna the Fair took her conjuring book and searched it through for the -riddle—looked the whole book through in vain. So the princes and -_boyárs_ decided that she must marry the Tsarévich. But she was very -gloomy over it, yet still had to make ready. But in her heart of hearts -she kept thinking: “How could I postpone the date and get rid of my -bridegroom?” So she decided to tire him out through severe tasks. One -day she called Iván Tsarévich to her and said: “Dear Iván Tsarévich, my -chosen mate, we must get ready for the marriage. Do me a small service. -In my realm there stands in a certain village a great iron column: bring -it to the great kitchen and split it up into little logs as firewood for -the cook.” - -“What do you want, Tsarévna? Have I come to cut down fuel for you? Is -that my duty? Oh, my servant can see to that!” So he called Katomá, and -he told him to bring the iron column into the kitchen and to hew it into -small logs as fuel for the cook. - -Katomá at once went, took the pillar in his two hands, brought it into -the kitchen and split it up. But he kept back four iron shafts and put -them into his pocket, for he thought: “Later I may make use of them!” - -Next day the Tsarévna said, “Dear Tsarévich, my chosen husband, -to-morrow we shall marry. I shall go in a carriage to church, and you -will have a fine prancing steed given you. You must get him ready -yourself.” - -“I must get the horse ready! Oh, my servant can do that!” - -So Iván Tsarévich called Katomá, and said: “Come into the stable and -command the grooms to bring the horse out; ride it, and to-morrow I will -go to church on it.” - -But Katomá could see the guile in the Tsarévna’s heart, and instantly -went into the stable and ordered them to bring the horse out. Twelve -grooms opened the twelve locks, undid twelve doors, and led the magical -horse out by twelve chains. Katomá went up to him, and as soon as ever -he had swung himself on to the horse’s back the steed rose high into the -air, higher than the tree-tops in the forest, lower than the clouds in -heaven. But Katomá had a firm seat, and with one hand he held the mane, -and with the other he fetched an iron sheet out of his pocket and struck -the palfrey between the ears. - -One sheet broke, then he took a second and a third; and after the third -broke he was taking the fourth. The horse was so tired that it could not -resist him any more, but spoke in a human voice: “Father Katomá, leave -me some life, and I will come down to earth and whatever you will I will -do.” - -“Listen then, wretched animal!” Katomá answered. “To-morrow Iván -Tsarévich will ride you to his wedding. Listen! When the servants take -you into the broad courtyard, and he comes up to you and lays his hand -on you, stand still: do not prick your ear. When he mounts, kneel down -with your hoofs on the ground, and step under him with a heavy tread as -if you were bearing a burdensome load.” So the horse sank half-dead on -to the earth. Katomá, seated by the tail, hailed the grooms and said, -“Ho, you there! grooms and coachmen, take this carrion into the stable.” - -Next day came, and the hour for going to church. The Tsarévna had a -carriage ready, and the Tsarévich was given the magical horse. And from -all parts of the country the people had assembled in multitudes, -countless multitudes, to see the bride and bridegroom leave the white -stone palace. And the Tsarévna went into the carriage and was waiting to -see what would happen to Iván Tsarévich. She thought to herself that the -horse would prance him up against the winds, and that she could already -see his bones scattered in the open fields. - -Iván Tsarévich went up to the horse, laid his hand on its back, put his -foot into the stirrup, and the magical horse stood there as though he -were made of stone, and never pricked an ear. The Tsarévich mounted it, -and the horse bowed deep to the earth. Then his twelve chains were taken -off. And he stood with a heavy even tread, whilst the sweat ran down his -back in streams. - -“What a hero he is! What enormous strength!” all the people said as Iván -Tsarévich paced by. - -So the bride and the bridegroom were betrothed, and went hand-in-hand -out of the church. - -The Tsarévna still wanted to test her husband’s strength, and squeezed -his hand, but she squeezed so hard that he could not stand it, and his -blood mounted to his head, and his eyes almost fell out of their -sockets. “That’s the manner of hero _you_ are!” she thought. “Your man, -Katomá Oaken-cap, has deceived me finely. But I shall soon be even with -him.” - -Anna Tsarévna the Fair lived with her God-sent husband as a good wife -should, and always listened to his words. But she was ever thinking how -she might destroy Katomá. If she knew that, she could very easily -dispose of the Tsarévich. But, however many slanders she might think of -to tell him, Iván Tsarévich never believed her, but held Katomá fast. - -One year later he said to his wife: “Dear wife, beautiful Tsarévna, I -should like to go home with you.” - -“Yes, we will go together. I have long wished to see your kingdom.” - -So they set out, and Katomá sat behind the coachman. As they drove out -Iván Tsarévich dozed off. - -Then Anna the Fair suddenly roused him from his sleep and complained. -“Listen, Iván Tsarévich: you are always asleep and notice nothing. -Katomá will not obey me, but is purposely taking the horses over all the -cobbles and into all the ditches, as if he wanted to destroy us. I spoke -to him very gently, but he only laughs at me. I will not go on living if -you do not punish him!” - -Iván Tsarévich was drowsy, and very angry with Katomá, and said to the -king’s daughter: “Do with him as you will.” - -So the king’s daughter at once made her servants cut off Katomá’s legs. -He submitted to his torturers and thought: “If I must suffer, still the -Tsarévich will soon learn something of what trouble is.” - -His two legs were cut off: the Tsarévna looked round and noticed a lofty -stump at the edge of the road. She bade her servants set Katomá on it. -And as to the Tsarévich, she tied him to a rope behind the carriage, and -so returned to her own kingdom. Katomá sat on his tree stem and wept -bitter tears. - -“Farewell, Iván Tsarévich: forget me not!” - -Iván Tsarévich had to leap behind the carriage, and knew very well that -he had made a mistake, but it could not be cured. - -When Anna the Fair had again reached her kingdom the Tsarévich had to -mind the cows. Every morning he drove them into the open field, and -every evening drove them back into the royal courtyard; and the Tsarévna -sat on the balcony and saw that none of the cows was missing. Iván -Tsarévich had to count the cows and to stable them all, and to give the -last one a kiss under its tail. The cow knew what was expected of her, -and remained standing at the door and lifted her tail up. - -Katomá all day long sat on his tree-stump without meat or drink, but -could not descend, and he thought: “I must die of hunger.” But near by -there was a thick forest, and there a knight lived who was blind but -very strong. This knight used to scent the animals which ran by, run -after them and catch them, not minding whether it were a rabbit, or fox, -or a bear. He could roast them for lunch. And he could run so fast, -faster than any animal that leaps. One day a fox came by, and the knight -heard him and ran after him. The fox ran up to the tree on which Katomá -sat, and turned round there. In his haste the blind man struck the tree -so hard with his forehead that it fell out with its roots. Katomá -tumbled down and asked: “Who are you?” - -“I am the blind knight, and for three years I have lived in the wood, -feeding myself on the animals I can catch and bake on my fire; otherwise -I should have died of hunger.” - -“Were you blind from birth?” - -“No; Anna the Fair put my eyes out.” - -“Brother!” said Katomá, “she also cut off my legs, both of them.” - -So the two knights decided they would live together and aid each other. - -The blind man said to Katomá, “Sit on my back and show me the way: I -will serve you with my feet and you me with your eyes.” The blind man -lifted Katomá up, and the legless man cried out, “Left; right; straight -on!” So for a long while they lived in the wood and used to catch -rabbits, foxes and bears for their food. - -One day Katomá said: “Why should we live alone here? I am told that -there is in the town a rich merchant and his daughter. She, they say, is -indescribably kind towards the poor men and cripples, and gives them -alms with her own hands. Brother, we must carry her off. She shall live -with us as the mistress of the house.” - -So the blind man took a barrow, put the legless knight into it, and ran -him into the town, up to the merchant’s house. When the daughter looked -out of the window she instantly rushed out in order to give them alms. -She came to Katomá and said, “Take this as God’s blessing!” - -He accepted her gift and laid hold of her hand, dragged her into the -barrow, and cried out to the blind man, who ran away so fast, faster -than any horses could overtake him. It was all in vain for the merchant -to try to overtake the two knights. The knights brought the merchant’s -daughter to their _izbá_[60] in the wood and said: “Stay with us as our -sister, and become the mistress of the house. We poor folk have no one -to cook our food or to do the washing. God will not desert you -therefor.” - -So the merchant’s daughter remained with them, and the two knights -honoured and loved her as though she were their own sister. Sometimes -they went a-hunting, and then the sister remained alone in the house -looking after the domestic service, cooking the food and doing the -washing. But one day Bába Yagá with the bony legs came into the hut and -sucked the blood out of the fair maiden’s breast. And whenever the two -knights went away on the chase, Bába Yagá came back, so that very soon -the merchant’s fair daughter became thin and feeble. But the blind man -did not notice: only Katomá noticed that something had gone wrong, so he -told his companion, and both asked their sister what was the cause. - -Bába Yagá had forbidden her to tell them anything about it; she was -therefore much too frightened for a long time to tell them what was her -trouble. But at last they persuaded her, and she told them: “Every time -when you go out on the chase an ancient hag comes into the hut. She has -an evil face and long grey hairs. She hangs her head down over me and -sucks my white breast.” - -“Oh,” said the blind man, “that is the Bába Yagá! Wait a little bit. We -must deal with her in her own fashion. To-morrow we must not go hunting: -we will try to catch her in the house and to capture her.” - -Next morning both of them went out. “Creep under the bench,” said the -blind man to Katomá, and sit still. “I will go into the courtyard, and -wait under the window. And you, Sister, sit down. If Bába Yagá comes, -whilst you are combing her hair weave a part of her hair and hang the -knot on to the window. I will then seize her by her grey tresses,” It -was said and done. The blind man seized Bába Yagá by her grey tresses, -and cried out, “Ho, Katomá! come out and hold the evil hag till I get -into the hut.” - -Bába Yagá heard it, and she wanted to lift her head and leap away, but -she was unable. She tore and grumbled, but it was no good. Katomá crept -out from the bank and turned round on her, threw himself on her life a -mountain of iron. He strangled her until the heavens appeared to her as -small as a sheepskin. - -The blind man sprang out of the hut and said: “We must build a big -faggot-heap and burn the old hag and scatter her ashes to the four -winds.” - -Bába Yagá besought them: “Father, doveling, forgive me. Whatever you -will I will do!” - -“Very well, ancient witch,” said the knights, “show us the well with the -waters of Life and Death.” - -“If you will only not lay me low, I will show it you.” - -Then Katomá mounted the blind man’s back and he took Bába Yagá by her -hair. So they fared into the deepest part of the slumberous forest, and -she there showed them a well and said: “This is the healing water that -renders life.” - -“Take care, Katomá, do not make a mistake. If she deceives us this time -we may not be able to repair it all our life long.” - -So Katomá broke off a twig. It had hardly fallen into the water before -it flamed up. - -“Ah! that was a further deceit of yours!” - -So the two knights made ready to throw Bába Yagá into the fiery brook. -But she still prayed for mercy as before, and swore a great oath she -would not deceive any more. - -“Really and truly I will show you the right water!” - -So the two knights were ready once more to adventure it, and Bába Yagá -took them to another well. Katomá broke off a dry twig from the tree and -threw it into the well. The twig had hardly fallen into the water before -it sprouted up and became green and blue. “This water is right,” said -Katomá, so the blind man washed his eyes and could at once see. And he -put the cripple into the water, and his legs grew on to him. - -Then they were both very glad, and said, “Now we are healthy, we will -again talk of our own rights; but we must first settle our account with -Bába Yagá. If we now forgive her, we shall get no good thereby, for she -will strive ever against us all her life.” So they took her back to the -fiery brook and threw her into it, and she was burned to death. - -Katomá then married the merchant’s daughter, and all three went back -into the kingdom of Anna Tsarévna the Fair to free Iván Tsarévich. They -went into the capital, and there he met them with his herd of cows. - -“Stay, herd,” said Katomá, “whither are you driving the cattle?” - -“Into the Queen’s courtyard; the Tsarévna counts them every day to see -whether all the cows have come home.” - -“Herd, put on my clothes; I will put on yours and will drive the cows -home.” - -“No, brother, that will never do. Should the Tsarévna notice it, I -should suffer.” - -“Fear nothing; nothing will happen, you will come by no harm; Katomá is -your surety.” - -Iván sighed: “O good man! if only he were here I should not be herding -cows.” - -Then Katomá showed himself who he was, and the Tsarévich embraced him -tenderly and wept bitterly. “I never expected I should see you any -more!” - -So they changed clothes, and Katomá drove the cows into the royal -courtyard. Anna Tsarévna came out on to her balcony and counted the -cattle. Then she commanded to take them all into the stable. All the -cows went into the stable: only the last stayed behind and raised her -tail. Katomá sprang up at her and cried out, “Wretched animal! why are -you stopping here?” So he gripped and snatched the tail so mightily that -the entire skin remained in his hand. - -When Anna Tsarévna saw this she cried out aloud, “What is that wretched -herdsman doing? Lay hold of him and bring him to me.” - -So the attendants laid hold on Katomá and dragged him into the castle. -Katomá suffered it without resistence and relied on his strength. - -He was taken up to the Tsarévna, who looked at him and said, “Who are -you?” - -“I am Katomá, whose legs you once cut off and then set on a tree trunk.” - -Then the Tsarévna thought, “If he can get his legs back, I can do no -more against him.” And she asked for forgiveness from him and the -Tsarévich. She repented of her sins and swore an oath that she would -ever love Iván Tsarévich and obey him in all things. - -Iván Tsarévich forgave her, and forthwith they lived in peace and -unison. The knight who was once blind stayed by them. But Katomá went -away with his wife to the rich merchant and abode in his house. - - - - - A CURE FOR STORY-TELLING - - -There was once a porter in the world: he had a wife who was passionately -fond of stories, and she would only let people come and visit her who -could tell stories. Well, as you may understand, this was rather costly -to the husband. So he began to think, “How can I cure her of this -undesirable habit?” - -Well, one day in the winter, late at night, an old man came in frozen to -atoms, and he asked to be allowed to stop the night. So the husband ran -out to him and said, “Can you tell tales?” - -Then the peasant saw that there was no help for it, as he was simply -freezing with cold, and said, “I have an idea: will you tell stories for -a long time?” - -“Yes, all night long.” - -“Capital: come in!” - -So he led the guest in. - -Then the husband said, “Now, my wife, here is a peasant who has promised -to tell stories all night long, on the condition that you are not to -make any remarks or interruptions.” - -“Yes,” said the guest; “no remarks, or else I shall not open my mouth.” - -So they had supper and lay down to sleep, and the peasant began— - - “There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and - sipped the water. - “There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and - sipped the water. - - “There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and - sipped the water. - “There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and - sipped the water.” - -And he went on telling the same thing over and over again— - - “There was an owl flying across a garden, and it sat over a well and - sipped the water.” - -So the mistress went on listening, and at last interrupted: “What sort -of a tale is this? Why, it is a mere repetition.” - -“Why do you interrupt me? I told you you must not make any exclamations: -this is the preface of the tale, and there comes another after it.” - -Then the man, after hearing this, could not help leaping up from the -bench and whipping his wife. - -“You were told not to make any interruptions, and you will not let him -end his story.” - -So he set on beating, beating, whipping, slippering, basting her, until -the wife at the end hated stories, and was in despair ever afterwards at -the sound of them. - - - - - NOTES - - -_Alyósha Popóvich._ One of the great knights at the court of Prince -Vladímir. He was an effeminate kind of person and perhaps one who rather -incited others to effort by his jibes than by his prowess. He is always -given the uncomplimentary _soubriquet_ of the ‘Mocker of Women.’ His -principal heroic episode is told in the prose ballad in this book -entitled ‘Alyósha Popóvich.’ - -_Angey_, Tsar. Filuyán is a fabulous city found in the cantations and -mystical rites of the Russian peasants. It is, however, probably derived -from the Greek Θύλη. - -_Bába Yagá._ In Professor Sypherd’s studies on Chaucer’s _House of -Fame_, Chaucer Society, 1904, a most valuable note will be found on -revolving houses. It will be seen that the legend is cognate with magic -wheels that revolve at great speed, or turn on wheels emitting flame and -poison. The nearest analogy quoted is the whirling rampart in the _Mael -Duinn_, but the Russian legend is evidently related and not derived. - -_Bogatýr._ The _bogatýr_ is the Russian Knight, but is absolutely unlike -any Western romantic notion. He is a person of magical power and -gigantic stature and prowess. Some of the _bogatyrí_ are decidedly -demi-gods; others more decisively human; but they all have some -superhuman, it may be said inhuman, touch. The derivation of the word -has been very much in dispute. The characteristic thing to note is that -the word is only found in Russian, and in no other Slavonic language, -and is almost certainly of Tatar origin, the original form being -something like _Bagadur_. The Sanskrit derivation which is attempted of -_Baghadhara_ seems scarcely probable. Goryáyev’s dictionary states that -the original meaning was a company-commander of the Tatars. If so, -_bogatýr_ is probably a corruption (through _bog_ God and _bogat_ rich) -of the form _buĭtur_, found in the Slóvo, which is certainly cognate -with the Turanian root _buĭ_, to command. _v._ notes in my edition of -Igor. - -_Bryánsk._ Bryánsk in the Province of Orél contains wonderful woods -which were in ancient times impenetrable, and became the legendary home -of magic, and of weird happenings. The Aspen tree is always associated -in Russian folk-lore with magic and wizardry; it is also said that Judas -hanged himself on this tree. - -_Chernígov._ An ancient city of Russia on the Dniepr, a little higher up -than Kíev. - -_Christ._ As, in German folk-lore, the legends of Christ walking the -earth with His disciples are very frequent and characteristic. There is -a touch of friendly familiarity in this presentation which does not -involve the least irreverence, but adds a touch of sarcastic humour -which the Germans lack. - -_The Brother of Christ._ For the punishment of the old man who grumbled -at the good things of earth there is a surprisingly close analogy in -Dante’s _Inferno_, canto vii. - - “Fitti nel limo dicon; Tristi fummo - Nell’ aer dolce che dal sol s’allegra, - Portando dentro accidioso fummo: - Or c’ attristiam nella belletta negra.” - - “Sunk in the slime they utter: ‘Loth were we, - In sweet air sullen, which the sun makes glad, - Our souls besmirched with dull reluctancy: - Now in this black morass, our hearts are sad.’” - -_Chufil-Filyushka._ Both these names are adaptations of the Greek -Θεόφιλος. - - - THE CRYSTAL APPLE AND THE SILVER SAUCER - -There is a strong Celtic flavour about this episode. Cf. The Twa Sisters -o’ Binnorie. - - Ho’s ta’en three locks o’ her yellow hair - (Binnorie, oh Binnorie), - And wi’ them strung his harp sae rare - By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie. - - And sune the harp sang loud and clear - (Binnorie, oh Binnorie), - Fareweel my father, and mother dear! - By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie. - - And then, as plain as plain could be, - (Binnorie, oh Binnorie), - There sits my sister wha drowned me! - By the bonny mill-dams o’ Binnorie. - -In this story the Russian of the words sung by the piper is also in -Russian ballad metre. - -_Danílo the Unfortunate._ This is a prose version of a ballad and -contains a very full account of this legend. The old hag whom Danílo -meets on the way is elsewhere called the Wise Woman of Kíev, an old -witch with the ugly qualities generally assigned. - -_Death._ Death is feminine in Russian and occurs all through the -folk-lore as the visible figure of a skeleton whom they met by the way -on the roadsides, and who may be cheated of her prey or dealt with like -any other demon. - -_Dobrýnya Nikítich._ One of the great figures at the legendary court of -Prince Vladímir. He was a dragon-slayer, but his principal employment -was as ambassador. - - - THE DREAM. NOTES - -The _izbá_, or hut, always has a _dvor_ or courtyard, access to which is -gained through double gates as well as through a postern. Often the hut -is raised by a flight of steps from the level of the courtyard. - -The _izbá_ may have a cooling room in which to rest, so as to avoid the -sudden change of air from the heated inner room; it is also a living -room in the summer. Outside the _dvor_ against the fence there is a -bench (_lávka_), on which the family sits in the summer. The hut is made -of logs, the fence of boards. - -Between the rafters and the sloped roof is the loft (_cherdák_), into -which a ladder leads. - -Inside the hut is that essential and central feature of Russian peasant -life, the stove, which occupies one side of a wall. In front against it -three long implements stand, the poker, broom and shovel. The oven rests -on a brick or tile foundation, about eighteen inches high, with a -semicircular hollow space below. The top of the stove is used for a -sleeping bench (_poláty_) for the old folk or the honoured guest. In -larger houses there may be a _lezhán’ka_ or heating stove, used as a -sleeping sofa. - -The bath-house is separate from the hut, and contains a flight of steps -for different degrees of heat, obtained from white-hot stones on which -water is flung. This is only found in better-class houses. In villages -there is a general bath-house to which the peasants go once a week. - -Every corner in the _izbá_ has its particular name. There is the _great -corner_, where the Ikon stands, the _upper corner_ near the door, and -the _stove corner_ opposite to the doors of the stove. - -The fence is made of boards or sticks or stumps. - -Long thin laths are stuck on to an iron spike, and lit; a pail of water -is placed below into which the cinders fall; these lamps must be renewed -as they burn down, and the charred ends swept up. - -Up to very recent times, patriarchal usages obtained through Russia, and -married sons resided in the father’s house. - -This particular story portrays some of the personifications and -allegorizings of the common acts of life; all of which have their -appropriate blessing or grace. There are a number of tales of the curse -attendant on the neglect of these duties, e.g. _The Devil in the -Dough-pan_. - -An example of the invocations is given in a note to _The Midnight -Dance_. - -_Duke._ i.e. a translation of _voyevodá_, which is again a translation -of the High-German _Herzog_, which again is derived from the Latin -_Dux_, meaning the leader of an army, not a mere title. - -_Egóri Khrábry._ Egori the Brave. Is the Russian counterpart for St. -George the Dragon-slayer. - -_Elijah the Prophet and St. Nicholas._ Perún was the God of Thunder in -pagan Slavdom, and his attributes have been transferred to Elijah who is -represented as driven up to Heaven in a fiery chariot darting fiery -rays, drawn by four winged horses, and surrounded by clouds and flames; -a tale which copied the biblical account of Elijah’s end. On earth the -noise of the wheels is called thunder. In Nóvgorod there were one or two -churches to St. Elijah of the Drought, and St. Elijah of the Rain, to be -consulted as occasion required. The name-days of these saints are -December 6th and July 20th. - -_Hawk._ The hawk is one of the most common references in Russian -folk-lore, and the reference to the clear-eyed hawk is one of the -strongest metaphors. The crow is equally common, but is generally used -as a malign being. In Russian folk-tale there is nothing incongruous in -a man having as his sons a boy, a crow and a hawk or an eagle: or as in -‘_Márya Morévna_,’ where the marriage of Iván with a beautiful princess -and of his two sisters with the eagle and the crow are all of them -equally plausible. - -_Ídolishche._ One of the symbols of paganism in the early ballads of -Russia. He is generally represented as a gluttonous monster; but in the -ballad of the Realms of Copper, Silver, and Gold his name has been given -too as a goblin. Goblins are very rare in Russian folk-lore; fairies -seem to be non-existent. - -_Ilyá Múromets._ Ilyá Múromets is one of the heroes of the Kíev cycle; -he derives his strength from mystical sources of Mother Earth, and his -great feat is the slaying of the Nightingale Robber. He is intermediate -between the ‘_elder bogatyri_,’ the earth-born Tirans, and the human -champions of the legendary Court of Vladímir. He is always of popular -origin and, as such, at variance with the semi-Scandinavian Court. - -_Iván Vasíl’evich._ The Tsar Iván Vasíl’evich is a very popular figure -in the Russian ballads; there are two of this name: Iván III. 1462–1505, -and Iván the Terrible, 1533–1584. Both were very energetic rulers who -enlarged the domain of Moscow and curbed the power of the territorial -nobility. - - - MIDNIGHT DANCE. GENERAL NOTES TO THIS STORY - -The underworld is the home of magic. This charm, to be said by a soldier -going to the wars, may be of interest. - -“Beneath the sea, the sea of Khvalýnsk [the Caspian], there stands a -house of bronze, and in that house of bronze the fiery serpent is -enchained, and under the fiery serpent lies the seven _pud_ key from the -castle of the Prince, the Prince Vladímir, and in the princely castle, -the castle of Vladímir, are laid the knightly trappings of the knights -of Nóvgorod, of the youthful war-men. - -“On the broad Volga, on the steep-set banks, the princely swan swims -from the Prince’s courtyard. I will capture that swan, I will seize it, -I will grasp it. (I will say) ‘Thou, oh swan, fly to the sea of -Khvalýnsk, peck the fiery snake to death, gain the seven _pud_ key, the -key from the earth of Prince Vladímir.’ In my power it is not to fly to -the sea of Khvalýnsk; in my power it is not to peck to death the fiery -snake; nor with my legs may I reach the seven _pud_ key. There is on the -sea, on the ocean, on the island of Buyán, the eldest brother of all the -crows, and he will fly to the sea of Khvalýnsk, he will peck to death -the fiery snake, he will gain the seven _pud_ key; but the crow is held -back by the evil witch of Kíev. In the standing wood, in the grey-clad -forest, stands a little hut, not thatched, not wattled; and, in the -little hut, lies the evil witch of Kíev. I will go to the standing -forest, the dreamy wood, I will enter in at the hut of the evil witch of -Kíev. - -“Thou, oh evil witch of Kíev, bid thy crow fly over the sea of -Khvalýnsk, to the house of bronze; bid him peck the fiery snake, bid him -gain the seven _pud_ key. She was grim, and she clove to her crow, the -evil witch of Kíev. In my old age I cannot roam to the sea, to the -ocean, to the isle of Buyán, to the Black Crow. Do thou bid, by my -enchanting words, the crow gain me the seven _pud_ key. - -“The crow has smitten the house of bronze, has pecked the fiery snake to -death, has gained the seven _pud_ key. - -“With that key I will unlock the princely castle, the castle of -Vladímir, I will gain the knightly gear, the trappings of the knights of -Nóvgorod, of the youthful war-men; and in that gear the arquebus cannot -fell me, the shots cannot hit me, the warriors and champions, the hosts -of Tatary and Kazán cannot hurt me. - -“I invoke the servant, a man, a fighter, in the host, who goeth to war -with these my potent words. - - “My words die down, - My deeds they crown.” - -[Kazán was the last stronghold of the Tatars. It was stormed in 1549.] - -_Buyán_ is a kind of fairy hill like the _Tír n’an óg_ of the Irish -folk-tales, the land of youth, and cannot probably be assigned to any -physical geography. Most probably the mythical Isle of Buyán is the -reminiscence of the Isle of Rügen. The whole of the Pomeranian coast -from Lübeck to the Memel was, prior to its conquest by the Saxons and -the Brandenburgers, a Slavonic district, and the Isle of Rügen, in -especial, the promontory of Arcona, a seat of the most highly developed -Slavonic pagan ritual: Saxo Grammaticus has conserved us full details. -Considering the intimate association of the mysterious stone _Alátyr_ -(probably meaning amber) with Buyán: and the fact that _Buyán_ is a Slav -translation of the Old Slav name Ruyán, the wind-swept isle [cf. English -_rough_, German _rauh_, etc.]; also taken the specific references in the -magic charms in connection with the facts recorded by the Scandinavian -chroniclers, there seems to be little doubt that the Isle of Buyán is a -folk-tale shadow of the old place of Pagan pilgrimage, contaminated, of -course, with other fantastic elements. - -_Katomá._ This is one of the marvellous servants whom fortunate princes -possess in folk-lore. In Russian folk-tales they have magical -attributes, and are often described by their caps, e.g. oaken-cap, -blue-cap, etc. - -_Koshchéy the Deathless._ The meaning of this name is very hard to -determine. There are at least three disparate ideas involved. First of -all the most ancient is that which occurs in the Word of Igor’s -Armament, in which the word Koshchéy is used for a warrior of the -hostile Pólovtsy; and, when Igor is said to be put on a Koshchéy saddle, -it means he is taken into captivity. Hence the word _koshchéy_ came to -be used in Russian as meaning a slave, or a groom, originally a captive -slave from the Pólovtsy who fought the Russians for over two hundred -years. Consequently the word has a meaning in Russian folk-lore which -has a widespread Aryan notion, that of a fearful Enchanter who lives in -a mountain fastness far removed; runs away with the beautiful princess, -and can only be slain by the valiant lover, going through unfordable -streams, impenetrable forests and unpassable mountains, so as to catch -hold of his soul which is contained in a casket, or in some other manner -is always terribly enclosed. He takes this soul, which is as a rule -lastly contained in an egg, up to the Monster’s palace, scrunches it in -his hand, and the monster dies. Thirdly, the word became confused with -_kost’_, bone, and so came to mean a skeleton or miser, and a wandering -Jew. The epithet ‘deathless’ does not mean indestructible, but that he -can only be slain in an extraordinary manner and will not die in a -natural way. - -_Kutúzovo._ The Kutúzovy are one of the most ancient of Russian -families; this particular village from which they derive their name must -be somewhere on the trade route of the Dniepr. - -_Kvas._ A liquid made from various kinds of flour and fermented with -sour milk to which is added malt or yeast. - -_Name-day._ The day of the patron Saint. In Russia Saints’ days are kept -in place of birthdays. - -_Na-úm._ In this Russian name the two vowels are to be sounded -separately, _Na-úm_. - -_Nightingale Robber._ His patronymics are Rakhmánovich, Odikhmantovich, -Rakhmánya, all of them very difficult of definition or explanation. - -_Nightingale Robber._ Ilyá Múromet’s conquest of the Nightingale Robber -is his most notable feat. He is a very difficult figure to explain. He -is a gigantic bird who has been explained on the one hand as a highway -robber who was a great bard, for the Russian _solovéy_ (nightingale) is -applied to a minstrel. But it is more probable that there is a confusion -of two other words in this one, and that the word _solovéy_, which has -come to mean nightingale, is either derived from _sláva_, meaning fame, -or from the same root as the hostile power whom Ilyá Múromets, in some -of the ballads, fights, namely Solóvnik the Grey One. Be this as it may, -the version which has come down is that the Nightingale Robber was an -enormous bird, whose nest spread over seven oaks, who had needed no -other weapon than his dreadful beast-like, lion-like, or dragon-like -whistle on which every wall and every beast and every man fell down in -sheer terror. The rest of this story may be gathered from the one which -has been selected for this book. - -_The Pike._ The pike plays a peculiar part in Russian folk-lore. - -_Potán’ka._ The name of Potán’ka [in which the ‘n’ and ‘k’ are to be -sounded separately as in pin-case], is also found in the Nóvgorod -ballads where Potán’ka the Lame is one of the boon companions of Vasíli -Busláyevich. - -_Prískazka._ Many of the tales begin with a conventional introduction -which has no relation to the story. Such an instance may be found in -‘The Wolf and the Tailor.’ Also in ‘A Cure for Story-telling.’ And the -tale of ‘The Dun Cow,’ ‘Princess to be Kissed at a Charge,’ etc. - -_The Realm of Stone._ For the episodes in this story of the kingdom -turned to stone there seems strong evidence of adaptation or loan from -the Arabian Nights. Cf. The Tale of the Young King of the Black Islands, -and the Tale of the City of Brass, but the development is very -different. - -_Sebezh._ A city in the Vitebsk Province bordering on Poland. - -_Shemyák._ The judge. Shemyákin Sud, the court of Shemyák, is a -proverbial expression for arbitrary judgments. He was a prince of -Galicia of the time of Vasíli II, 1425–62. He was also a leader of the -unruly nobles of that time. This may be partly the reason that the name -of the family has been given this unfortunate significance. - -_The Shovel._ Shovels are used to insert loaves and pots deep into the -Russian stove, for which use see the long note on the ‘Dream.’ - -_The Sister of the Sun._ The Russian commentator in the compilation, -from which these stories are drawn, states that this is the expression -for the dawn. - -_Sorrow._ This picture of Sorrow as an ancient hag who pursues mankind -throughout life is peculiarly Russian and is the theme of very many -beautiful ballads. She is described as a lovely beggar woman, with a -pale face, low stature, and hare’s blood in her veins, and her cheeks of -poppy red, and she entices men to drink their sorrow away in the -public-houses, and is frequently turned into a moral lesson against -over-indulgence. But this particular application of the myth, the -picture of her as a wandering devil who attaches herself to unfortunate -heroes but can be cheated into non-existence, much like the ordinary -devil of folk-lore, is a feature, as has been said, probably peculiar to -Russia. - -_St. Nicholas._ In Russia St. Nicholas is the most popular miracle -worker amongst all the saints. In the story of St. Nicholas and St. -Elias his beneficent character is clearly shown. - -In the story of St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, I have taken the story -as I found it, and have not attempted to fill up the obvious gaps. - -_The Sun, and how it was made by Divine Will._ This story is of literary -and ancient origin; the language is very antique. - -_Svyatogór._ Svyatogór in this story may be eponymous of geography. The -word standing for _svyátyya góry_, the sacred mountains. Múrom is an -ancient Russian settlement in the province of Vladímir, by the river -Oka, and the village of Karacharovo is not far off. - -As to Svyatogór’s bride, there is another story which tells how he -acquired her. One day Svyatogór was walking on the earth and laid hold -of a wallet which an old man whom he met wandering by held. He could not -lift it however, for it was rooted in the earth. He went on from there -to a smith, something like Wayland Smith (the whole tale has a curious -Norse tang), who forged his fortune, told him he would have to go to the -Kingdom by the Sea, and there he would find his wife who for thirty -years had been lying in the dung. He proceeds to the Kingdom by the Sea, -finds the miserable hut, enters it, and sees the maiden lying in the -dung. And her body was as dark as a pine. So Svyatogór purchases her -freedom by taking out five hundred roubles, laying it on the table, and -then snatching up his sharp sword out of his sheath smote her on her -white breasts and so left her. Then the maiden woke up, and the skin of -age-long filth had been broken; she went and traded with the five -hundred roubles, came to the Holy Mountains, and presented herself there -in all her maiden beauty. Svyatogór the Knight also came to look on her, -fell in love and wooed her for his wife. He then recognised her by the -scar on her white breasts. - -_The Swan Maiden._ This is one of the most baffling figures in Russian -mythology. She corresponds to the Siren of Greece, and the Lorelei of -Germany, but is very distinct in all her characteristics. She is also -called in the Russian Devítsa (maiden), which may be a corruption of -Dívitsa, the feminine of _Div_, one of the ancient pagan deities of -Russia. Like the Lorelei, she is said to sit on the rocks and draw -sailors down into the depths, but her more human characteristics are -stated in this story. - -_Thoughtless Word._ The devil in this story is the popular myth of the -water-gods or sprites, elsewhere called the _vodyanóy_ or _vódyánik_. -The point of detail, that after the rescue of the maiden the boy has to -walk backwards until he reaches the high road, is rather similar to the -Celtic notion of Widdershins, the superstition that anyone who walked -round the churchyard contrary to the direction of the sun would be -captured by the fairies. - -_Túgarin Zmyéyevich._ Túgarin Zmyéyevich, the strong man, the Serpent’s -Son. - -_Vazúza and Vólga._ Similar stories are told of other rivers. The old -Russian ballads give names and patronymics to their rivers such as the -people use for themselves, e.g. Dněpr Slovútich Don Iványch. - -The Vazúza is a short stream crossing the borders of the provinces of -Tver and Smolensk, meeting a great bend of the Vólga at Zubtsóv (in the -province of Tver). - -The Sea of Khvalýnsk is the Caspian, so called from an ancient people -(the Khvalísi) of the eleventh and tenth centuries, who lived at the -mouth of the Vólga in the Caspian. There is also a town called Khvalýnsk -on the Vólga in the province of Sarátov, above the city of Sarátov. - -This particular story is probably a poetization of a geographical fact, -but in all the Russian folk-lore the river-gods play a very great part. -Thus Igor in The Word of Igor’s Armament, on the occasion of his defeat, -has a very beautiful colloquy with the Donéts. At least two of the -heroes of the ballad cycle, Don Ivánovich and Sukhán Odikhmántevich, are -in some aspects direct personifications of the rivers, whilst the -river-gods exercise a direct and vital influence over the fortunes of -several others, such as Vasíli Buslávich and Dobrýnya Nikítich. - -Many Russian rivers have been rendered almost into human characters. The -ordinary speech is still of Mother Vólga. In the Nóvgorod ballads there -is a mention of Father Volkhov, much as we speak of Father Thames, and -there were very great possibilities of the development of a river -mythology which did not succeed. It is worth observing that in one -ballad dealing with Vasíli Buslávich, the hero of Nóvgorod, this -semi-comic figure is twitted by the men of Nóvgorod that he will one day -turn the Volkhov into _Kvas_ (q.v.): i.e. he will one day set the Thames -on fire. [Rybnikov, I, 336]. - -_The Wood Sprite._ _Léshi_ is a peculiar feature in Russian folk-lore. -He is somewhat similar to Pan, but is also represented as having copper -arms, and an iron body, terms which refer to colour rather than to -material. Sometimes he has claws for hands. - -_Yagá-Búra._ This is the same as Bába Yagá, but is specific reference to -the Witch who raises the Wind. - - - - - GLOSSARY - - -_Aspen._ Always associated with magic. Its trembling leaves give it a -weird appearance. - -_Bába Yagá._ Russian witch, also Yagá-Búra. - -_Bábushka._ The grandmother. - -_Bárkhat._ This word also means velvet. - -_Bátyushka._ Father in a general sense, meaning anybody older. _Otéts_ -is father, meaning the relationship of father and son. - -_Birds’ milk._ The Russian folk-tale expression for asking for the moon. - -_Boyárs._ This may be translated earls, but in the Russian social scale -it only meant the bigger men, the seigneurs. - -_Boyárynyi._ Countesses, feminine plural of _boyár_. - -_Chúdo-Yúda._ The Old Man of the Sea. This is a very clear loan from the -Homeric Proteus. - -_Dyádka._ Uncle. A term of respect. - -_Egórushko Zalyót._ Means George the Bold Flier. - -_Fatá._ A long silken glove. - -_Gúsli._ A musical instrument, something like a zither with seven -strings. - -_Iváshko Zapéchnik._ Iván, who is always sitting behind the stove. - -_Iváshechko._ A diminutive form of Iván. - -_Iváshko._ A diminutive form of Iván. - -_Izbá._ Hut. - -_Kaftán._ A peasant’s overcoat, made very long. - -_Khvalýnsk._ The old name of the Caspian. _Vide_ Vazúza and Vólga. - -_Korolévich._ King’s son. Koról, king. - -_Korolévna._ King’s wife. - -_Ksálavy._ Mythical birds, the meaning of which is entirely unknown. - -_Mikháilo Ivánovich._ The popular name for the bear. - -_Mísha Kosolápy._ Dmítri, the Bandy-legged. - -_Morévna._ Of the sea. - -_Nikíta._ From the Greek Νικήτης, conquer. - -_Pope._ Village priest. - -_Pud._ A Russian weight. Thirty-six pounds avoirdupois. - -_Sarafán._ A short sleeveless jacket, generally embroidered, worn over -the bodice or the blouse. - -_Sazhén._ A length of seven feet. - -_Sebézh._ A city in the Vítebsk province, bordering on Poland. The Poles -and the Mussulmen are all called infidels, Saracens or _Busormany_. - -_Shúba._ A fur mantle. - -_Stárosta._ Mayor of a town. - -_Teléga._ A peasant’s cart without springs. - -_Tsarévich._ Tsar’s son. - -_Tyátya._ Daddy. - -_Tzarévna._ Tsar’s wife. - -_Ukaz._ Imperial edict. - -_Ványa._ A diminutive form of Iván. - -_Vertodúb._ The oak-turner, a gigantic figure. - -_Vertogór._ The mountain-turner; a gigantic figure. - -_Vóron Vóronovich._ Crow Crowson. - -_Zamorýshek._ This name is freely translated Benjamin, the last-born son -of an old man. - -Footnote 1: - - Hut. - -Footnote 2: - - Hut. - -Footnote 3: - - The Mayor. - -Footnote 4: - - Hut. - -Footnote 5: - - Hut. - -Footnote 6: - - Ten kopeks. - -Footnote 7: - - Fur mantle. - -Footnote 8: - - Grandmother. - -Footnote 9: - - Another variant, “the Fearsome Swan.” - -Footnote 10: - - Little Father. - -Footnote 11: - - Hut. - -Footnote 12: - - This is a simple instance of the _prískazka_ or preface to a story. - -Footnote 13: - - A _sazhén_ is seven feet. - -Footnote 14: - - Benjamin. - -Footnote 15: - - Father. - -Footnote 16: - - The Devil in this story is the popular myth of the water-god or - spirit, The Vodyanóy. - -Footnote 17: - - Countesses. - -Footnote 18: - - Village priest. - -Footnote 19: - - Death is feminine in Russian. - -Footnote 20: - - Ilyá Múromets is one of the heroes of the _Byliny_: his great feat is - the slaying of the Nightingale Robber. This tale may be eponymous of - geography; Svyatogór (_Svyáty Góry_, Sacred Mountains) Múrom is on the - river Oka, in the Province of Vladímir, one of the oldest cities in - Russia; the village of Karachárovo is not far off. - -Footnote 21: - - Affectionate term for old servant, equivalent to uncle. - -Footnote 22: - - The word means velvet. - -Footnote 23: - - Hut. - -Footnote 24: - - Cf. Dante, _Inf._ - - Fitti nel limo dicon; ‘Tristi fummo. - Nel dolce mondo che dal sol s’allegra.... - Or c’attristiam’ nella belletta negra. - -Footnote 25: - - This is a prose version of a _bylína_: Alyósha Popóvich is one of the - Kíev cycle. - -Footnote 26: - - The strong man, the Serpent’s son. - -Footnote 27: - - Hut. - -Footnote 28: - - _Koról’_ king: hence princess. - -Footnote 29: - - I have taken this story as it stands. There are obvious gaps I have - not ventured to fill up. - -Footnote 30: - - A mythical city, very probably derived from Θύλε. - -Footnote 31: - - Earls. - -Footnote 32: - - Diminutive of Iván; so too Ványa. - -Footnote 33: - - Hut. - -Footnote 34: - - A bold flier. - -Footnote 35: - - Bandy-legged. - -Footnote 36: - - Sitting behind the stove. - -Footnote 37: - - _Ídolishche_, i.e. Big idol. - -Footnote 38: - - Θεόφιλος. - -Footnote 39: - - An equivalent to the Bába Yagá. - -Footnote 40: - - Father. - -Footnote 41: - - Hut. - -Footnote 42: - - Hut. - -Footnote 43: - - Hut. - -Footnote 44: - - Hut. - -Footnote 45: - - A mock patronymic for the Bull. - -Footnote 46: - - Hut. - -Footnote 47: - - _v._ note to p. 125. - -Footnote 48: - - A great forest in Central Russia, once impenetrable and always - legendary. - -Footnote 49: - - Grandmother. - -Footnote 50: - - Father. - -Footnote 51: - - Father. - -Footnote 52: - - Hut. - -Footnote 53: - - Hut. - -Footnote 54: - - Hut. - -Footnote 55: - - Shovels are used to insert loaves and pots deep into the oven. - -Footnote 56: - - “_n_” and “_k_” to be sounded distinct as in _pin-case_. - -Footnote 57: - - Uncle: term of affection. - -Footnote 58: - - Princesses. - -Footnote 59: - - Earls. - -Footnote 60: - - Hut. - - - - - PRINTED BY - WM. BRENDON AND SON, LTD. - PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. P. 168, changed “And Alyósha set out into the open field. And - Alyósha set out into the open field” to “And Alyósha set out into - the open field”. - 2. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. - 3. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. - 4. Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together - at the end of the last chapter. - 5. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Russian Folk-Tales, by -A. 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