IN the celebrated city of Murom, near to Katatscharowa, there lived a
countryman named Ivan Timofejevitch. He had one son named Ilija, the
Muromer, and of him he was very fond. He was thirty years old when he
began to walk. Then, all of a sudden, not only did he become strong
enough to go about, but also made himself a suit of armour and a steel
spear. Then he saddled his horse, went to his father and mother, and
asked them for their blessing, saying—
“Father and mother of mine, let me go to the celebrated town of Kiev, to
pray to God and to see the prince.”