Russian Folk-TalesAfanas'ev, A. N. (Aleksandr Nikolaevich)
General
Russian Folk-Tales
Afanas'ev, A. N. (Aleksandr Nikolaevich)
Folklore -- Russia
The witch asked him to give her her brother, but the Sun would not. Then
the witch said, “Iván Tsarévich must put himself on one balance and I
will put myself on the other, and if I am the heavier I will eat him up;
and, if he is the heavier he shall lay me low.”
So they went and set up the scales. First Iván Tsarévich sat down on it,
then the witch on the other side; but as soon as ever she had put her
foot into it the Tsarévich was hurled with such force into the house,
that he flew right into the very bosom of the sky, into the chambers of
the Sun, whilst the witch remained on the earth.
MÁRYA MORYÉVNA
In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there once lived Iván
Tsarévich, who had three sisters: one was called Márya Tsarévna, the
second Ólga Tsarévna, and the third Ánna Tsarévna. Their mother and
father had died: when they were dying they bade the son, “Whoever come
first as a suitor for your sisters’ hands, let them take them; do not
keep them long with you.” The Tsarévich buried his parents; and, in his
grief, went with his sisters to walk in a green garden. Then a dark
cloud appeared in the sky, and a fearful clap of thunder was heard. “Let
us go home, sisters,” said Iván Tsarévich.
Soon they reached the palace: the thunder rattled and the ceiling fell
down, and the ceiling divided into two. And a clear-eyed Hawk came into
the room, struck the ground, and turned himself into a fair, doughty
youth: “Hail, Iván Tsarévich! before, I came to you as a guest, now I am
coming to ask for your sister’s hand: I wish to marry Márya Tsarévna.”
“If you wish my sister, I will not say you nay: take her with God’s
blessing.”
Márya Tsarévna agreed, and the Hawk married her and took her away to his
own kingdom.
Then day followed day and hour followed hour. One whole year went by
unheeded. Iván Tsarévich stayed with his sisters in the green garden.
Then there came a cloud and there was thunder and lightning. “Let us go
home, sisters,” said the Tsarévich.
When they came to the palace there was a thunderclap, and the roof fell
in and the ceiling was cleft in two, and an Eagle flew in, struck the
ground and turned himself into a doughty youth, and said, “Hail, Iván
Tsarévich! formerly I came to you as a guest, now I come to you as a
suitor.” And he asked for the hand of Ólga.
And Iván Tsarévich answered, “If Ólga Tsarévna pleases you, she may go
to you—I will not withstand your will.”
Ólga Tsarévna was willing, and married the Eagle: the Eagle laid hold of
her and took her to his own kingdom.
One year further went by, and Iván Tsarévich said to his youngest
sister, “Let us go and have a walk in the green garden,” and they went
for a little walk. And a cloud came over the sky with thunder and
lightning. “Let us turn back, sister, home!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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