III, 276, note †. I had remarked that this ballad was after the fashion
of Russian bylinas. Professor Wollner indicates especially the bylina of
Dobrynja and Vasilij Kazimirović, which in a general way is singularly
like ‘Hugh Spencer.’ In this very fine ballad, Vladimir is in arrears
with his tribute to a Saracen king, and appoints Vasilij his envoy, to
make payment. Vasilij asks that he may have Dobrynja go with him, and
Dobrynja asks for Ivanuka’s company. (Compare #B#.) Dobrynja beats the
king at chess and at the bow (which corresponds to the justing in the
English ballad); then follows a great fight, the result of which is that
the Saracen king is fain to pay tribute himself. Wollner, Volksepik der
Grossrussen, pp. 123–125.
Other examples of difficult feats done in foreign lands, commonly by
comrades of the hero, in Karadić, II, 445, 465, Nos 75, 79; also II,
132, No 29; and the Bulgarian Sbornik, II, 130, 1, 132, 3. (W. W.)