In a certain kingdom in a certain land there lived a Tsar; that Tsar
had three sons,--two crafty, and the third simple. Somehow the Tsar
had a dream that beyond the thrice ninth land, in the thirtieth
kingdom, there was a beautiful maiden, from whose hands and feet water
was flowing, that whoever would drink that water would become thirty
years younger. The Tsar was very old. He summoned his sons and
counsellors, and asked: "Can any one explain my dream?"
The counsellors answered the Tsar: "We have not seen with sight nor
heard with hearing of such a beautiful maiden, and how to go to her is
unknown to us."
Now the eldest son, Dmitri Tsarevich, spoke up: "Father, give me thy
blessing to go in all four directions, look at people, show myself,
and make search for the beautiful maiden."
The Tsar gave his parental blessing. "Take," said he, "treasure as
much as thou wishest, and all kinds of troops as many as are
necessary."
Dmitri Tsarevich took one hundred thousand men and set out on the
road, on the journey. He rode a day, he rode a week, he rode a month,
and two and three months. No matter whom he asked, no one knew of the
beautiful maiden, and he came to such desert places that there were
only heaven and earth. He urged his horse on, and behold before him is
a lofty mountain; he could not see the top with his eyes. Somehow he
climbed the mountain and found there an ancient, a gray old man.
"Hail, grandfather!"
"Hail, brave youth! Art fleeing from labor, or seekest thou labor?"
"I am seeking labor."
"What dost thou need?"
"I have heard that beyond the thrice ninth land, in the thirtieth
kingdom, is a beautiful maiden, from whose hands and feet healing
water flows, and that whoever gets and drinks this water will grow
thirty years younger."
"Well, brother, thou canst not go there."
"Why not?"
"Because there are three broad rivers on the road, and on these rivers
three ferries: at the first ferry they will cut off thy right hand, at
the second thy left foot, at the third they will take thy head."
Dmitri Tsarevich was grieved; he hung his stormy head below his
shoulders, and thought: "Must I spare my father's head? Must I spare
my own? I'll turn back."
He came down from the mountain, went back to his father, and said:
"No, father, I have not been able to find her; there is nothing to be
heard of that maiden."
The second son, Vassili Tsarevich, began to beg: "Father, give me thy
blessing; perhaps I can find her."
"Go, my son."
Vassili Tsarevich took one hundred thousand men, and set out on his
road, on his journey. He rode a day, he rode a week, he rode a month,
and two, and three, and entered such places that there was nothing but
forests and swamps. He found there Baba-Yaga, boneleg. "Hail,
Baba-Yaga, boneleg!"
"Hail, brave youth! Art thou fleeing from labor, or seekest labor?"
"I am seeking labor. I have heard that beyond the thrice ninth land,
in the thirtieth kingdom, is a beautiful maiden, from whose feet and
hands healing water flows."
"There is, father; only thou canst not go there."
"Why not?"
"Because on the road there are three ferries: at the first ferry they
will cut off thy right hand, at the second thy left foot, at the third
off with thy head."
"It is not a question of saving my father's head, but sparing my own."
He returned, and said to his father: "No, father, I could not find
her; there is nothing to be heard of that maiden."
The youngest son, Ivan Tsarevich, began to beg: "Give me thy
blessing, father; maybe I shall find her."
The father gave him his blessing. "Go, my dear son; take troops and
treasure all that are needed."
"I need nothing, only give me a good steed and the sword Kládyenets."
Ivan Tsarevich mounted his steed, took the sword Kládyenets, and set
out on his way, on his journey. He rode a day, he rode a week, he rode
a month, and two and three; and rode into such places that his horse
was to the knees in water, to the breast in grass, and he, good youth,
had nothing to eat. He saw a cabin on hen's feet, and entered: inside
sat Baba-Yaga, boneleg.
"Hail, grandmother!"
"Hail, Ivan Tsarevich! Art flying from labor, or seekest labor?"
"What labor? I am going to the thirtieth kingdom; there, it is said,
lives a beautiful maiden, from whose hands and feet healing water
flows."
"There is, father; though with sight I have not seen her, with hearing
I have heard of her: but to her it is not for thee to go."
"Why so?"
"Because there are three ferries on the way: at the first ferry they
will cut off thy right hand, at the second thy left foot, at the third
off with thy head."
"Well, grandmother, one head is not much; I will go, whatever God
gives."
"Ah! Ivan Tsarevich, better turn back; thou art still a green youth,
hast never been in places of danger, hast not seen great terror."
"No," said Ivan; "if thou seizest the rope, don't say thou art not
strong." He took farewell of Baba-Yaga and went farther.
He rode a day, a second, and a third, and came to the first ferry: the
ferrymen were sleeping on the opposite bank. "What is to be done?"
thought Ivan. "If I shout, they'll be deaf for the rest of their
lives; if I whistle, I shall sink the ferry-boat." He whistled a half
whistle. The ferrymen sprang up that minute and ferried him across the
river.
"What is the price of your work, brothers?"
"Give us thy right hand."
"Oh, I want that for myself!" Then Ivan Tsarevich struck with his
sword on the right, and on the left. He cut down all the ferrymen,
mounted his horse, and galloped ahead. At the two other ferries he got
away in the same fashion. He was drawing near the thirtieth kingdom.
On the boundary stood a wild man, in stature tall as a forest, in
thickness the equal of a great stack of hay; he held in his hands an
enormous oak-tree.
"Oh, worm!" said the giant to Ivan Tsarevich, "whither art thou
riding?"
"I am going to the thirtieth kingdom; I want to see the beautiful
maiden from whose hands and feet healing water flows."
"How couldst thou, little pigmy, go there? I am a hundred years
guarding her kingdom, great, mighty heroes came here,--not the like of
thee,--and they fell from my strong hand. What art thou? Just a little
worm!"
Ivan Tsarevich saw that he could not manage the giant, and he turned
aside. He travelled and travelled till he came to a sleeping forest;
in the forest was a cabin, and in the cabin an old, ancient woman was
sitting. She saw the good youth, and said: "Hail, Ivan Tsarevich! Why
has God brought thee hither?"
He told her all without concealment. The old woman gave him magic
herbs and a ball.
"Go out," said she, "into the open field, make a fire, and throw these
herbs on it; but take care to stand on the windward. From these magic
herbs the giant will sleep a deep sleep; cut his head off, then let
the ball roll, and follow. The ball will take thee to those regions
where the beautiful maiden reigns. She lives in a great golden castle,
and often rides out with her army to the green meadows to amuse
herself. Nine days does she stay there; then sleeps a hero's sleep
nine days and nine nights."
Ivan Tsarevich thanked the old woman and went to the open field, where
he made a fire and threw into it the magic herbs. The stormy wind bore
the smoke to where the wild man was standing on guard. It grew dim in
his eyes; he lay on the damp earth and fell soundly asleep. Ivan
Tsarevich cut off his head, let the ball roll, and rode on. He
travelled and travelled till the golden palace was visible; then he
turned from the road, let his horse out to feed, and crept into a
thicket himself. He had just hidden, when dust was rising in a column
from the front of the palace: the beautiful maiden rode out with her
army to amuse herself in the green meadows. The Tsarevich saw that the
whole army was formed of maidens alone. One was beautiful, the next
surpassed that one; fairer than all, and beyond admiration was the
Tsarevna herself.
Nine days was she sporting in the green meadows, and the Tsarevich did
not take his eyes from her, still he could not gaze his fill. On the
tenth day he went to the golden palace. The beautiful maiden was lying
on a couch of down, sleeping a hero's sleep; from her hands and feet
healing water was flowing. At the same time her trusty army was
sleeping as well.
Ivan Tsarevich took a flask of the healing water. His heroic heart
could not withstand her maiden beauty. He tarried awhile, then left
the palace, mounted his good steed, and rushed toward home.
Nine days slept the beautiful maiden, and when she woke her rage was
dreadful. She stamped, she screamed with a piercing voice: "What
wretch has been here?" she sprang on to her fleet-flying mare, and
struck into a chase after Ivan Tsarevich. The mare races, the ground
trembles; she caught up with the good hero, struck him with her sword,
and straight in the breast did she strike. The Tsarevich fell on the
damp earth: his bright eyes close, his red blood stiffens. The fair
maiden looked at him, and great pity seized her; through the whole
world might she search, and not find such a beauty. She placed her
white hand on his wound, moistened it with healing water. All at once
the wound closed, and Ivan Tsarevich rose up unharmed.
"Wilt thou take me as wife?" asked she.
"I will, beautiful maiden."
"Well, go home, and wait three years."
Ivan Tsarevich took farewell of his betrothed bride and continued his
journey. He was drawing near his own kingdom; but his elder brothers
had put guards everywhere, so as not to let him come near his father.
The guards gave notice at once that Ivan Tsarevich was coming. The
elder brothers met him on the road, drugged him, took the flask of
healing water, and threw him into a deep pit. Ivan Tsarevich came out
in the underground kingdom.
He travelled and travelled in the underground kingdom. When he came to
a certain place, a great storm rose up, lightning flashed, thunder
roared, rain fell. He went to a tree to find shelter; looked up, and
saw young birds in that tree all wet. He took off his coat, covered
them, and sat himself under the tree.
When the old bird flew to the tree, she was so large that she hid the
light, and it grew dark as if night were near. When she saw her young
covered, she asked: "Who has protected my little birds?" Then, seeing
the Tsarevich, she said: "It is thou who didst this; God save thee!
Whatever thou wishest, ask of me; I will do everything for thee."