“Dear husbands, ride out against this stranger, and deliver our father
from him. Let not such shame come on us!”
Their husbands were mighty riders, and they came out to attack the
Russian horseman; and they had good horses and sharp lances, and thought
it would be an easy matter to kill him. When Robber Nightingale saw
them, he called out and said—
“My dear sons, let no shame come on you, and do not attack so brave a
knight, for if you do he will but slay you. Ask him, rather, to enter
the house and drink with us.”
When Ilija heard the invitation he turned to enter the palace,
suspecting no treachery; but the eldest daughter had hung a beam, by
means of a chain, over the entrance, so that she might kill him as he
rode through. When Ilija saw that he gave her a stroke with his lance
and killed her. Then he rode on to Kiev and came to the prince’s palace.
He entered the palace, prayed to God, and saluted the nobles.
“Tell me, my good young man,” said the prince, “what is your name, and
to what place you belong?”
“I am called Little Ilija, sir,” said he; “my father is Ivan, and I was
born in the town of Murom, near to Katatscharowa.”
The prince next asked him by what road he had come.
“From Murom I rode to Tschernigof, and there I slew a great host of
pagans and saved the city. From that place I came here. I have taken
prisoner the famous Robber Nightingale, and I have brought him here
bound to my stirrup.”