Ilyá let the silken bridle hang loose on the neck of his good hero horse and urged on his horse to the white linen, saying: “Pleasant indeed would it be to taste it, if the heroes’ horses will allow him upon the white linen cloth to share the millet and spring corn.” His good horse stood by the linen cloth and began to eat the millet and spring corn, and the old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom went to the white tent. In the tent were twelve heroes, and the heroes were all Russian, and they sat there eating bread and salt, and they were about to dine. And Ilyá went into the tent and said: “A good appetite to you, Heroes of Holy Russia, and to thee, Samson, my dear godfather!” “Come here, my dear godson!” said his godfather. “Come, old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom. Sit down and eat with us.” And he stood up on his nimble feet to greet Ilyá of Múrom. And they greeted each other and kissed each other, and he made Ilyá sit at their table to eat bread and salt with them. Twelve heroes were they, and Ilyá was the thirteenth. They all ate and drank, and when they had dined they came away from the oaken table and made their prayer to God. Then the old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom, spoke and said: “My dear godfather, Samson, and you, O mighty Russian heroes! I pray you saddle your good horses and ride out through the free and open plain to glorious, royal Kiev town. For before our town of Kiev stands that dog, King Kálin with his great army. He will lay waste royal Kiev town and cut the peasants to pieces. He will send the churches of God up in smoke; and as for Prince Vladímir and Apráxia the Princess, he would cut off their turbulent heads. Now, come ye and defend the Faith and country, and defend our glorious, royal Kiev town, and protect Prince Vladímir and Apráxia the Princess.” And Samson, his godfather, answered him: “O my beloved godson, old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom! We will not saddle our horses and ride through the free and open plain to defend our Faith and country, and defend royal Kiev town. We will not defend the churches of God or protect Prince Vladímir and Apráxia the Princess. For the Prince in truth has many princes and nobles, and he gives them food and drink and rewards them. Nothing have we from Prince Vladímir.” “O Samson, my dear god-father,” said the old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom, “this would be no good thing on our part, to stand apart when King Kálin lays waste Kiev town, and cuts the peasants to pieces, and sends the churches of God up in smoke, and cuts off the turbulent heads of Vladímir the Prince and the Princess Apráxia. Come, saddle your good horses and ride through the open plain to Kiev town, to defend the Faith and country and glorious, royal Kiev, and to protect the churches of God, and Vladímir the Prince with the Princess Apráxia.”