Russian Folk-TalesAfanas'ev, A. N. (Aleksandr Nikolaevich)
General
Russian Folk-Tales
Afanas'ev, A. N. (Aleksandr Nikolaevich)
Folklore -- Russia
Iván Tsarévich wept bitterly, got ready and started on his road: “Come
what may, I will seek out Márya Moryévna.” And he went one day, and he
went another day, and on the dawning of the third day he saw a wonderful
palace, and in front of the palace there was an oak, and on the oak
there sat a clear-eyed hawk.
And the Hawk flew down from the oak, struck the ground, turned into a
doughty youth, and cried out, “O my beloved brother: how is the Lord
dealing with you?”
And Márya Tsarévna came out, went to meet Iván Tsarévich, asked him how
he was, and began to tell him all her own story.
So the Tsarévich abode as their guest for three days, and then said, “I
cannot stay with you any longer: I am going to seek my wife Márya
Moryévna the fair Queen.”
“This will be a hard search for you,” answered the Hawk. “At least leave
a silver spoon here; we can gaze on it and think of you.”
Iván Tsarévich left his silver spoon with them, and set out on his road.
So he went on one day and a second day, and at the dawning of the third
day he saw a palace fairer than the first, and in front of the palace
there was an oak, and an eagle sat on the oak: the Eagle flew down from
the tree, struck the earth, turned into a doughty youth and cried:
“Rise, Ólga Tsarévna, our dear brother has arrived.”
Ólga Tsarévna at once came to meet him, began kissing and welcoming him,
asking how he was, and they told of all they had lived and done.
Iván Tsarévich stayed with them three little days, and then said, “I can
no longer be your guest: I am going seeking my wife, Márya Moryévna the
fair Princess.”
And the Eagle answered: “It will be an evil quest. Leave us your silver
fork; we will look at it and think of you.”
So he left his silver fork, and he went on the road.
And a day went by and a second, and at the dawn of the third day he saw
a palace fairer than the first two. And in front of the palace there was
an oak, and on the oak there perched a crow. And the Crow flew down from
the oak, struck the earth, turned into a doughty youth, and cried out,
“Ánna Tsarévna, come out as fast as you can: our brother has arrived.”
Then Ánna Tsarévna came out, met him joyously, began to kiss and to
welcome him, asking him how he was. And they spoke of all they had lived
and done.
After three days Iván Tsarévich said, “I can stay no longer with you; I
am going to seek my wife, Márya Moryévna, the fair Queen.”
“This will be a hard search for you,” the Crow said. “At least leave us
your silver snuff-box; we can gaze on it and think of you.”
So Iván Tsarévich left them his silver snuff-box, and set out on his
road.
Then a day went and another day, and on the third day he at last reached
Márya Moryévna. When she saw her beloved through the window, she rushed
out to him, flung herself at his neck, wept, and said, “Oh! Iván
Tsarévich, why did you not obey me? Why did you look into the
lumber-room and let Koshchéy the Deathless out?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account