In a certain kingdom in a certain land lived Ivan Tsarevich. He had
three sisters. The first was Marya Tsarevna; the second, Olga
Tsarevna; the third, Anna Tsarevna. Their father and mother were dead.
When dying they said to their son: "Whoever woos first a sister of
thine, give her to him; keep not thy sisters with thee long."
The Tsarevich buried his parents, and from sorrow went with his
sisters to walk in the green garden. Suddenly a black cloud rose in
the sky; a fearful storm was coming. "Let us go home, sisters," said
Ivan Tsarevich. They had barely entered the castle when thunder
roared, the ceiling opened, and a bright falcon flew into the chamber.
The falcon struck the floor, became a gallant youth, and said: "Hail,
Ivan Tsarevich! Ere now I came as a guest, but now I'm a suitor. I
wish to sue for thy sister, Marya Tsarevna."
"If thou art pleasing to my sister, I shall not restrain her. Let her
go, with God."
Marya Tsarevna agreed, the Falcon married her, and bore her away to
his own kingdom.
Days followed days, hours chased hours, a whole year was as if it had
not been. Ivan Tsarevich went with his two sisters to walk in the
green garden. Again a cloud rose with whirlwind, with lightning. "Let
us go home, my sisters," said the Tsarevich. They had barely entered
the castle when a thunderclap came, the roof fell apart, the ceiling
opened, and in flew an eagle. The eagle struck the floor and became a
gallant youth. "Hail, Ivan Tsarevich! Ere now I came as a guest, but
now I'm a suitor." And he asked for Olga Tsarevna in marriage.
Ivan Tsarevich answered: "If thou art pleasing to Olga Tsarevna, then
let her marry thee; I take not her will from her." Olga Tsarevna
consented, and accepted the Eagle in marriage. The Eagle caught her up
and bore her to his own kingdom.
Another year passed. Ivan Tsarevich said to his youngest sister: "Let
us go to walk in the green garden." They walked a little; again a
cloud rose with whirlwind, with lightning. "Come home, my sister,
come!" They returned to the castle, but had not sat down when a
thunderclap came, the ceiling opened, and in flew a raven. The raven
struck the floor and became a gallant youth. The others were beautiful
in person, but he was still better.
"Well, Ivan Tsarevich! Ere now I came as a guest, but now I'm a wooer.
Give me Anna Tsarevna."
"I take not her will from my sister. If thou hast pleased her, take
her in marriage."
Anna Tsarevna married the Raven, and he bore her away to his own
kingdom.
Ivan Tsarevich remained alone. He lived a whole year without sisters,
grew wearied. "I will go," said he, "to seek out my sisters."
He made ready for the road, travelled and travelled, saw an army, a
power lying slain on the field. Said Ivan Tsarevich: "If there is a
living man here, let him speak. Who killed this great army?"
A living man answered: "Marya Morevna, the fair Korolyevna, killed all
this great army."
Ivan Tsarevich went farther; he came to white tents. Marya Morevna,
the fair Korolyevna, came forth to meet him. "Hail, Tsarevich! Where
does God bear thee? Of thy own will, or against thy will?"
Ivan Tsarevich gave answer: "Good heroes travel not against their
will."
"Well, if thy work be not hasty be a guest in my tents."
Ivan Tsarevich was glad; he spent two nights in the tents, pleased
Marya Morevna, and married her. Marya Morevna, the fair Korolyevna,
took him with her to her own kingdom. They lived together a time, and
then the Korolyevna had a thought to make war; she left to her husband
her household, and said: "Go everywhere, see after all things, but
look not in this closet."
Ivan Tsarevich could not endure this, but when Marya Morevna had gone
he rushed to the closet, opened the door, looked, and there Koshchéi
Without-Death was hanging inside, fastened with twelve chains.
Koshchéi implored the Tsarevich: "Take pity on me, give me to drink.
Twelve years do I sit here in torment; I have not eaten nor drunk; my
throat is parched."
The Tsarevich gave him a whole three-gallon tub of water. He drank it,
and begged, "With one tub my thirst cannot be quenched." The Tsarevich
gave him another tub. Koshchéi drank that, and begged for a third; and
when he had drunk the third tub he regained his former strength, shook
his chains, and in one moment broke all twelve.
"God save thee, Ivan Tsarevich!" said Koshchéi Without-Death; "now
thou wilt never see Marya Morevna any more than thy own ears;" and he
went out a terrific whirlwind, flew through the window, overtook on
the road Marya Morevna, the fair Korolyevna, seized her, and bore her
away.
But Ivan Tsarevich cried bitterly, bitterly, made ready, and went on
his road, on his way. "Whatever may happen, I will find Marya
Morevna." He travelled one day, he travelled a second; at the dawn of
the third day he saw a wonderful palace, near the palace an oak, on
the oak a bright falcon. The falcon flew down from the tree, struck
the earth, turned into a gallant youth, and shouted: "Ah! my dear
brother-in-law, how does God favor thee?"
Marya Tsarevna ran out, met Ivan Tsarevich joyously, asked about his
health, his life, and told about her own life and household.
The Tsarevich stayed three days with them, and said: "I cannot stay
longer, I am in search of my wife, Marya Morevna, the fair
Korolyevna."
"It is hard to find her," said the Falcon. "In any case leave thy
silver spoon here; we will look at it and think of thee."
Ivan Tsarevich left his silver spoon and went his way. He travelled a
day, he travelled a second; at the dawn of the third he saw a castle
better than the first, at the side of the castle an oak, on the oak
sits an eagle. The eagle flew from the tree, struck the ground, turned
into a gallant youth, and shouted: "Rise up, Olga Tsarevna; our dear
brother is coming." Olga Tsarevna ran out that moment to meet him; she
began to kiss, to embrace her brother, to ask about his health, and to
tell of her own life and household.
Ivan Tsarevich remained three days with them, and then said: "I have
no time to visit longer; I am going to seek my wife, Marya Morevna,
the fair Korolyevna."
Said the Eagle: "It is hard for thee to find her. Leave with us thy
silver fork; we will look at it and remember thee."
He left the fork and went his way. He travelled a day, he travelled a
second; and on the dawn of the third day he saw a castle better than
the other two. At the side of the castle was an oak, and on the oak a
raven was perched. The raven flew down, struck the earth, turned into
a gallant youth, and cried: "Anna Tsarevna, hurry out; our brother is
coming."
Anna Tsarevna ran out, met him joyously, began to kiss and embrace her
brother, to ask about his health, and to tell about her own life and
household.
Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them three short days, and said: "Farewell,
I am going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the fair Korolyevna."
The Raven said: "It is hard for thee to find her; but leave thy gold
ring with us, we will look at it and remember thee. If the ring is
bright, it means that thou art alive and well; if dim, then we shall
know that evil has come on thee."
Ivan Tsarevich left his gold ring and went his way. He travelled a
day, he travelled a second; and on the third he came to Marya Morevna.
She saw her dear one, rushed on his neck, covered herself with tears,
and said: "Ivan Tsarevich, why didst thou not obey me; why didst thou
look in the closet and let out Koshchéi Without-Death?"
"Forgive me, Marya Morevna; remember not the past. Better go with me
while Koshchéi is not here; mayhap he will not overtake us."
They made ready and went. Koshchéi was out hunting; toward evening he
was coming home, his good steed stumbled under him. "Why stumble,
hungry crowbait; or dost feel some misfortune?"
The horse answered: "Ivan Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna
away."
"Can we overtake them?"
"Thou mightest sow wheat, wait till it should ripen, reap it, thresh
it, make flour, bake five ovens of bread, eat that bread, go in
pursuit, and overtake them."
Koshchéi galloped on, overtook Ivan Tsarevich. "Well," said he, "I
forgive thee the first time for thy kindness, because thou didst give
me water to drink; and a second time I'll forgive thee: but for the
third have a care; I will hew thee to pieces."
He took Marya Morevna and led her away. Ivan Tsarevich sat on a stone
and wept; he cried and cried, went back for Marya Morevna. Koshchéi
Without-Death did not happen to be at home.
"Let us go, Marya Morevna."
"Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, he will overtake us!"
"Let him overtake us; anyhow, we shall pass a couple of hours
together." They made ready and started away.
Koshchéi Without-Death was coming home; his good steed stumbled under
him. "Why dost thou stumble, hungry crowbait; or feelest thou evil?"
"Ivan Tsarevich came and carried Marya Morevna away."
"Can they be overtaken?"
"Barley might be sown, waited for till ripe, harvested, threshed, and
beer made of it; we might drink the beer, sleep after drinking, then
pursue and catch them."
Koshchéi galloped on, rode up, overtook Ivan Tsarevich. "But I have
said that thou canst no more see Marya Morevna than look at thy own
ears." He took her away and led her home.
Ivan Tsarevich remained alone; he cried and cried, and went back for
Marya Morevna. That time Koshchéi was not at home.
"Let us go, Marya Morevna."
"Ah! Ivan Tsarevich, he will come up with us, will hew thee to
pieces."
"Let him hew me; I cannot live without thee." They made ready and
started.
Koshchéi Without-Death was coming home; his good steed stumbled under
him. "Why dost thou stumble, hungry crowbait; or feelest thou evil?"
"Ivan Tsarevich came, and took Marya Morevna away."
Koshchéi galloped on, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, hewed him into
small pieces, put him in a pitched barrel, took that barrel,
strengthened it with iron hoops, and cast it into the blue sea. Marya
Morevna he took home.
Now the silver grew black at the houses of Ivan Tsarevich's
brothers-in-law. "Oh," said they, "it is clear that some evil has
happened!"
The Eagle rushed off to the blue sea, caught the barrel, and drew it
to shore; the Falcon flew for the living water, and the Raven for the
dead water. All flew together to the same place, broke the barrel,
took out the pieces of Ivan Tsarevich, washed them, put them together
in proper order. The Raven sprinkled them with dead water, the body
grew together and united; the Falcon sprinkled the body with living
water. Ivan Tsarevich trembled, rose up, and said, "Oh, how long I
have been sleeping!"
"Thou wouldst have slept still longer without us," answered the
brothers-in-law. "Come now to our houses."
"No, brothers, I shall go to seek Marya Morevna." He came to her and
said, "Discover from Koshchéi Without-Death where he found such a
steed."
Behold, Marya Morevna seized a favorable moment, inquired of Koshchéi.
Koshchéi said: "Beyond the thrice-ninth land, in the thirtieth
kingdom, beyond the fiery river, lives Baba-Yaga; and she has a mare
on which she flies round the world each day; she has many other
glorious mares. I was her herdsman for three days. I let not one mare
stray from her, and for that service Baba-Yaga gave me a colt."
"But how didst thou cross the river of fire?"
"I have a kerchief of such sort that when I wave it on the right side
three times, a bridge is made, lofty and high; the fire cannot reach
it."
Marya Morevna listened, told all to Ivan Tsarevich, carried away the
kerchief, and gave it to him. Ivan Tsarevich crossed the fiery river,
and went to Baba-Yaga. Long did he go without eating and drinking; a
bird from beyond the sea, with her little children, happened in his
way. "I'll eat one little chick," said Ivan Tsarevich.
"Eat it not, Ivan Tsarevich," begged the bird from beyond the sea; "in
time I will serve thee."
He went farther, saw in the forest a swarm of bees. "I'll take some
honey," said he.
The queen-bee called out, "Touch not my honey, Ivan Tsarevich; in time
I will serve thee."
He left the honey and went on. Then a lioness and her whelp met him.
"At least I'll eat this little lion; I feel such hunger that I am
sick."
"Touch him not, Ivan Tsarevich; in time I will serve thee."
"Well, let it be as thou sayest."
He went on hungry; he travelled and travelled. There is the house of
Baba-Yaga. Around the house stand twelve stakes; on eleven are heads
of men,--only one stake is unoccupied.
"Hail to thee, grandmother!"
"Hail to thee, Ivan Tsarevich! Hast come of thy own good will, or from
need?"
"I have come to earn of thee an heroic steed."
"Very well, Tsarevich; no need to serve a year with me, but three days
in all. If thou wilt herd my mares, I'll give thee an heroic steed;
but if not, be not angry, thy head will be on the last stake."
Ivan Tsarevich consented. Baba-Yaga gave him food with drink, and
ordered him to begin the work. As soon as he had driven the mares
a-field, they raised their tails and all ran apart through the
meadows. The Tsarevich could not cast his eyes round before they had
vanished. Then he began to weep and grow sad; he sat on a stone and
fell asleep. The sun was going down when the bird from beyond the sea
flew up and roused him.
"Rise, Ivan Tsarevich; the mares are now home."
The Tsarevich stood up, came home, but Baba-Yaga was screaming and
crying at her mares. "Why did ye come home?"
"How could we help it, when birds from the whole world flew together
and almost picked our eyes out?"
"Well, to-morrow don't run in the meadows, but scatter through the
sleeping forest."
Ivan Tsarevich slept the night; in the morning Baba-Yaga said: "See to
it, Tsarevich. If thou dost not herd the mares, if thou losest even
one of them, thy stormy head will be on the stake."
He drove the mares a-field. That moment they raised their tails and
ran through the sleeping forest. Again the Tsarevich sat down on a
stone, cried and cried, then fell asleep. The sun had gone behind the
forest when the lioness ran up. "Rise, Ivan Tsarevich; the mares are
driven in."
Ivan Tsarevich stood up and went home. Baba-Yaga was screaming and
crying more than before at her mares. "Why did ye come home?"
"How could we help coming? Savage beasts ran at us from the whole
world, came near tearing us to pieces."
"Well, run to-morrow into the blue sea."
Ivan Tsarevich slept that night; next morning Baba-Yaga sent him to
herd the mares. "If thou dost not guard them, thy stormy head will be
on the stake."
He drove the mares to the field; that moment they raised their tails
and vanished from the eye, ran into the blue sea, and stood to their
necks in the water.
Ivan Tsarevich sat on a stone, cried, and fell asleep. The sun had
gone beyond the forest when a bee flew up and said: "Ivan Tsarevich,
the mares are driven in. But when thou art home, do not show thyself
before the eyes of Baba-Yaga; go to the stable and hide behind the
manger. There is a mangy little colt lying on the dung-heap; steal
him, and at dark midnight leave the place."
Ivan Tsarevich rose up, made his way to the stable, and lay down
behind the manger. Baba-Yaga screamed and cried at her mares: "Why did
ye come home?"
"How could we help coming home when bees, seen and unseen, flew from
the whole world and began to sting us on every side till the blood
came!"
Baba-Yaga went to sleep, and just at midnight Ivan Tsarevich stole
from her the mangy colt, saddled him, sat on his back, and galloped to
the fiery river; when he came to the river he shook the kerchief three
times on the right side, and suddenly, from wherever it came, a high,
splendid bridge was hanging over the river. The Tsarevich crossed on
the bridge, waved the kerchief on the left side only twice, and there
remained above the river a bridge very, very slender.
In the morning Baba-Yaga woke up; the mangy colt is not to be seen
with sight. Baba-Yaga, on an iron mortar, rushed off in pursuit with
all her breath, urging forward with a pestle, and removing her trail
with a broom. She galloped to the fiery river, looked and thought:
"The bridge is good." She rode out on it, and the moment she reached
the middle the bridge broke. Baba-Yaga went headlong into the river;
there a savage death came to her.
Ivan Tsarevich fed his colt in the green meadows, and it became a
marvellous steed. The Tsarevich came to Marya Morevna; she ran out to
him, threw herself on his neck.
"How has God brought thee to life?"
"In this way and that way," said he; "come with me."
"I am afraid, Ivan Tsarevich. If Koshchéi overtakes us again, thou
wilt be cut to pieces."
"No, he will not overtake us. I have a glorious, heroic steed now; he
goes like a bird."
They sat on the horse and rode off. Koshchéi Without-Death was coming
home; under him stumbled his steed.
"Why stumble, hungry crowbait; or feelest thou evil?"
"Ivan Tsarevich came, took away Marya Morevna."
"Can we overtake him?"
"God knows! Now Ivan Tsarevich has an heroic steed better than I."
"I cannot stand this," said Koshchéi the Deathless, "I'll give chase."
Whether it was long or short, he caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, sprang
to the ground, and wanted to cut him with his sharp sword. That moment
Ivan's horse struck, with all the sweep of his hoof, Koshchéi
Without-Death, and smashed his skull. The Tsarevich finished him with
his club. Then he raised a pile of wood, made a fire, burned Koshchéi
Without-Death on the fire, and scattered the ashes to the wind.
Marya Morevna mounted Koshchéi's horse, and Ivan Tsarevich his own.
They went to visit the Raven, then the Eagle, and last the Falcon;
wherever they came they were met with joy.
"Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, we did not think to see thee! It was not for
nothing thou didst struggle; another such beauty as Marya Morevna
could not be found if sought for in the whole world."
They visited and feasted, and set out for their own kingdom; arrived
there, gained wealth, and drank mead.