In a certain country there lived a king named Filon, whose wife
Chaltura had an only son, named Astrach, who from his earliest years
had a strong desire to render himself famous by knightly deeds. When
he arrived at mature age, Astrach began to think of marrying, and he
asked his father in what kingdom lived the most beautiful of all
Tsar's or King's daughters. The King replied: "If it is your wish to
marry, my dearest son, my noble child, I will show you the portraits
of the daughters of the Tsars and Kings of all lands." So saying, he
led Prince Astrach to a gallery, and showed him the pictures. After
examining them all closely, Astrach fell passionately in love with the
Tsarevna Osida, daughter of Afor, the Tsar of Egypt. Then he besought
his father's blessing, and asked leave to repair to the Court of the
Egyptian Sultan, to sue for the hand of Osida. King Filon rejoiced at
the thought of his son's marrying, gave him his blessing, and
dismissed him.
Then Prince Astrach went to seek a goodly steed in the royal stables,
but could find none there to his mind. So he bade farewell to his
father and mother, and started for his journey to Egypt alone on
foot; and he wandered long, here and there, far and near, until at
length he saw on the plain a palace of white marble, roofed with gold,
which emitted beams of light, shining like the sun. Prince Astrach
went up to the palace; and, on reaching it, he walked round the
building, looking in at every window, to see if any persons were
there; but he could discover no one. So he went into the courtyard,
and wandered up and down for a long time; but there, too, he could see
no living soul; then he entered the marble palace, and went from room
to room, but all was silent and deserted. At length he came to an
apartment, in which a table was spread for one person; and being very
hungry, Prince Astrach sat down, and ate and drank his fill; after
which he laid himself down on a bed and fell fast asleep.
As soon as he awoke, he wandered again through the palace until he
came to a room, from the window of which he saw the most beautiful
garden he had ever beheld, and it came into his mind to go for a walk
in it. Then he went out of the palace and strolled about for a long
time; and at length came to a stone wall, in which was an iron door,
with a massive lock. As the Prince touched the lock he heard behind
the door the neighing of a horse; and, wishing to remove the lock, he
took up a huge stone in his arms and fell to hammering the door. At
the first blow it burst open, and there behind it was a second iron
door, with a lock like the first. This, too, he broke open, and found
behind it ten other doors, through all of which he forced his way in
like manner; and behind the last he beheld a noble charger, with a
complete suit of armour. Then he went up and stroked the horse, which
stood still as if rooted to the spot.
Prince Astrach forthwith proceeded to saddle his horse with a
Tcherkess saddle, put a silken bridle into his mouth, and leading him
out, mounted, and rode into the open fields. But as soon as he applied
the spur, the horse grew restive, reared higher than the waving
forests, plunged lower than the flying clouds; mountains and rivers he
left behind; small streams he covered with his tail and broad rivers
he crossed at a bound, until at length Prince Astrach so tired out the
brave steed that he was covered with foam.
Then the horse spoke with a man's voice the following words: "O
Prince, thou my noble rider, it is now three-and-thirty years since I
served the dead Yaroslav Yaroslavovich--that stout and powerful
knight--and I have borne him in many a single combat and battle; yet
never have I been so worn out as to-day; now I am ready to serve you
faithfully till death." Then Prince Astrach returned into the
courtyard, put his brave steed into the stable, and gave him white
corn and spring water; after which he went into the marble palace, ate
and drank his fill, and then laid him down to sleep.
The following morning he rose early, saddled his good horse, and rode
forth towards Egypt, to Tsar Afor, to sue for the hand of his
daughter, the beautiful Tsarevna Osida. When he arrived at the court
he announced himself as the son of King Filon, whereupon Tsar Afor
received him with all honour, and enquired what purpose had brought
him thither, to which Prince Astrach replied: "Great Tsar of all the
lands of Egypt, I am not come to your Court to feast and banquet, but
to ask for your lovely daughter to wife."
"Brave Knight, Prince Astrach," answered the Tsar, "I will gladly
bestow my daughter on you; but one service you must render me. The
unbelieving Tartar Tsar is drawing near, and threatens to lay waste my
kingdom, to carry off my daughter, and slay me and my wife." Prince
Astrach replied: "My gracious lord, Tsar Afor, readily will I go forth
to battle for the Faith with this unbelieving Tsar; and to protect
your city from untimely destruction." Whereat Tsar Afor was glad at
heart, and ordered a great banquet to be prepared for the bold and
fair Prince Astrach; so there was great feasting, and the betrothal
took place with all solemnity.
The next day the Busurman army of three hundred thousand men arrived
before the city, whereat Tsar Afor was greatly alarmed, and took
counsel with Astrach. Then the Prince saddled his steed, went into the
royal palace, and offered up his prayers, bowing himself to all four
quarters of the globe. After this he took leave of Tsar Afor and his
wife, and his betrothed Tsarevna, the beautiful Osida, and rode
straight to the enemy's camp; and when he spurred his charger, the
steed bounded from the earth higher than the waving forests, and lower
than the drifting clouds; mountains and valleys he left beneath his
feet, small streams he covered with his tail, wide rivers he sprang
across, and at length arrived at the enemy's camp. Then Prince Astrach
fell upon the Busurmen with fearful slaughter, and in a short time cut
them to pieces; and wherever he waved his arm, a way was opened, and
where he turned his horse there was a clear space for him; so he
routed and destroyed the whole army, took the Busurman Tsar himself
prisoner, and brought him to Tsar Afor, who threw him into prison.
Then there was great feasting and rejoicing, and the revels lasted
for a whole fortnight. At the end of this time, Prince Astrach
reminded Tsar Afor of his marriage contract with the Tsarevna Osida;
and Tsar Afor ordered a great banquet to be made, and bade his
daughter prepare for the wedding. When the Tsarevna heard this, she
called Prince Astrach and said: "My beloved friend and bridegroom, you
are in too great a haste to marry; only think how dull a wedding feast
would be without any music, for my father has no players. Therefore,
dear friend, ride off, I entreat you, through thrice nine lands, to
the thirtieth kingdom, in the domain of the deathless Kashtshei, and
win from him the Self-playing Harp; it plays all tunes so wonderfully
that every one is bound to listen to it, and it is beyond price: this
will enliven our wedding."
Then Astrach, the King's son, went to the royal stable and saddled his
steed; and, after taking leave of Tsar Afor and his betrothed
Princess, mounted his good horse and rode off to the kingdom of the
deathless Kashtshei, in search of the Self-playing Harp. As he rode
along he saw an old hut, standing in a garden facing a wood; and he
called out with his knightly voice: "Hut, hut, turn about, with your
back to the wood, and your front to me!" And instantly the hut turned
itself round. Then Prince Astrach dismounted and entered the hut, and
there was an old witch sitting on the floor spinning flax. And the
witch screamed with a frightful voice: "Fu! fu! fu! never before has
the sound of a Russian spirit been heard here; and now a Russian
spirit comes to sight!" Then she asked Prince Astrach: "Wherefore,
good youngling, Prince Astrach, art thou come hither--of thine own
free will or not? Hither no bird flies, no wild beast wanders, no
knight ever passes my hut. And how has God brought you here?"
But Prince Astrach replied: "You silly old wife, first give me food
and drink, and then put your questions." Thereupon the old witch
instantly set food before Prince Astrach, whipped him into the
bath-room, combed his locks, made ready his bed, and then fell again
to questioning him. "Tell me, good youth, whither art thou
travelling--to what far country? and dost thou go of thine own free
will or no?"
And Prince Astrach answered: "Willingly as I go, yet I go twice as
unwillingly through thrice nine lands into the thirtieth kingdom, the
domain of the deathless Kashtshei, to fetch the Self-playing Harp."
"Ho! ho! ho!" cried the old witch. "You'll find it a hard task to
gain the Harp; but say your prayers and lie down to rest; the morning
is the time for such exploits, but the night for sleep." So Astrach,
the King's son, laid himself down to sleep.
The next morning the witch awoke early, got up, and aroused Prince
Astrach. "Bestir yourself, Prince Astrach, it is time for you to set
out on your travels." So Astrach arose and speedily dressed himself,
pulled on his stockings and boots, washed, and said his prayers,
bowing himself north, south, east, and west, and made ready to take
leave of the witch. Then she said: "How! will you go away without
asking an old woman like me how you can gain the Self-playing Harp?"
And when he asked her she said: "Go your way, in God's name, and when
you come to the realm of the deathless Kashtshei, manage to arrive
exactly at noon. Near his golden palace is a green garden, and in this
garden you will see a fair Princess walking about. Leap over the wall
and approach the maiden; she will rejoice to see you, for it is now
six years since she was carried off from her father's court by the
deathless Kashtshei. Enquire of this maiden how you can obtain the
Self-playing Harp, and she will direct you."
Thereupon Prince Astrach mounted his good steed and rode far and
fast, and came into the kingdom of the deathless Kashtshei. Then he
repaired to the golden palace, and heard the sound of the Self-playing
Harp: he stood still to listen, and was absorbed by its wonderful
music. At last he came to himself, leaped over the wall into the green
garden, and beheld there the Princess, who was at first sight
terrified; but Prince Astrach went up to her, quieted her fears, and
asked her how he could obtain the Self-playing Harp. Then the Tsarevna
Darisa answered: "If you will take me with you from this place I will
tell you how to obtain the Harp." So Prince Astrach gave her his
promise. Then she told him to wait in the garden, and meanwhile she
herself went to the deathless Kashtshei and began to coax him with
false and flattering words. "My most beloved friend and intimate, tell
me, I pray you, will you never die?"
"Assuredly never," replied Kashtshei.
"Then," said the Princess, "where is your death? Is it here?"
"Certainly," he replied; "it is in the broom under the threshold."
Thereupon Tsarevna Darisa instantly seized the broom and threw it into
the fire; but, although the besom burned, the deathless Kashtshei
still remained alive. Then the Tsarevna said to him: "My beloved, you
do not love me sincerely, for you have not told me truly where is your
death; nevertheless, I am not angry, but love you with my whole
heart."
And with these fawning words, she entreated Kashtshei to tell her in
truth where was his death. Then he said with a laugh: "Have you any
reason for wishing to know? Well, then, out of love I will tell you
where it lies; in a certain field there stand three green oaks, and
under the roots of the largest oak is a worm, and if ever this worm is
found and crushed, that instant I shall die."
When the Tsarevna Darisa heard these words, she went straight to
Prince Astrach, and told him how he must go to that field, and seek
for the three oaks, dig up the worm under the biggest oak and crush
it. So the Prince went forth, and rode on from morning to night, until
at length he came to the three green oaks. Then he dug up the worm
from the roots of the largest, and having killed it, he returned to
the Tsarevna Darisa, and said to her: "Does the deathless Kashtshei
still live? I have found the worm and destroyed it." And she replied,
"Kashtshei is still alive."
Then said Prince Astrach, "Go again and ask him right lovingly where
is his death." So the Princess went, and said to him with tears: "You
do not love me, and don't tell me the truth, but treat me as a
stupid"; and at last King Kashtshei yielded to her entreaties, and
told her the whole truth, saying: "My death is far from hence, and
hard to find, on the wide ocean: in that sea is the island of Bujan,
and upon this island there grows a green oak, and beneath this oak is
an iron chest, and in this chest is a small basket, and in this basket
a hare, and in this hare a duck, and in this duck an egg; and he who
finds this egg, and breaks it, at that same instant causes my death."
As soon as the Tsarevna heard these words she hastened back to Prince
Astrach and told him all. And thereupon he straightway mounted his
good steed, and rode to the seashore. There he saw a fisherman in a
boat, and asked him to carry him to the island of Bujan; and, taking a
seat in the boat, they speedily reached the island, where he landed.
Prince Astrach soon found the green oak, and he dug up the iron chest,
and broke it in pieces, and opened the basket, and took out of the
basket the hare, and tore in pieces the hare, when out flew a grey
duck; and as she flew over the sea, she let fall the egg into the
water. Thereat Prince Astrach was very sorrowful, and ordered the
fisherman to cast his nets into the sea, and instantly the man did so,
and caught a huge pike. So Prince Astrach drew the pike out of the
net, and found in it the egg which the duck had dropped: and, seating
himself in the boat, he bade the fisherman make for the shore. Then,
after rewarding the man for his trouble, the Prince mounted his steed
and returned to the Tsarevna Darisa.
As soon as he arrived and told her that he had found the egg, the
Princess said: "Now fear nothing; come with me straight to Kashtshei."
And when they appeared before him, Kashtshei jumped up, and would have
killed Prince Astrach; but the Prince instantly took the egg in his
hand and fell to crushing it gradually. Then Kashtshei began to cry
and roar aloud, and said to the Tsarevna Darisa: "Was it not out of
love that I told you where my death was? And is this the return you
make?" So saying he seized his sword from the wall to slay the
Tsarevna; but at the same moment Astrach, the King's son, crushed the
egg, and Kashtshei fell dead upon the ground like a sheaf of corn.
Then the Tsarevna Darisa led Astrach into the palace, where was the
Self-playing Harp, and said to him: "The Harp is now thine--take it;
but in return for it, conduct me back to my home." So Prince Astrach
took up the Harp, and it played so gloriously that he was struck dumb
with amazement at its sounds, as well as its workmanship of the
purest Eastern crystal and gold strings. After gazing at it for a long
time, Prince Astrach left the palace, and mounting his gallant steed
with Darisa, set out upon his return. First he carried the Tsarevna
back to her parents, and afterwards went on his way to Egypt, to Tsar
Afor, and gave the Self-playing Harp to his betrothed, the Tsarevna
Osida. Then they placed the Harp on the table, and it fell to playing
the most beautiful and merry tunes.
The next day Prince Astrach married the fair Tsarevna Osida, and in a
short time left Egypt, and returned to his native country. When his
father and mother saw their dear son again they rejoiced exceedingly.
Not long afterwards King Filon died, and Prince Astrach wore his
father's crown, and lived with his beloved Queen Osida in all joy and
happiness until they died.