‘Thanks, Prince Ivan!’ cried Koshchei the Deathless, ‘now you will
sooner see your own ears than Marya Morevna!’ and out of the window he
flew in the shape of a terrible whirlwind. And he came up with the fair
Princess Marya Morevna as she was going her way, laid hold of her and
carried her off home with him. But Prince Ivan wept full sore, and he
arrayed himself and set out a-wandering, saying to himself, ‘Whatever
happens, I will go and look for Marya Morevna!’
One day passed, another day passed; at the dawn of the third day he saw
a wondrous palace, and by the side of the palace stood an oak, and on
the oak sat a falcon bright. Down flew the Falcon from the oak, smote
upon the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud:
‘Ha, dear brother-in-law! how deals the Lord with you?’
Out came running the Princess Marya, joyfully greeted her brother Ivan,
and began inquiring after his health, and telling him all about
herself. The Prince spent three days with them; then he said:
‘I cannot abide with you; I must go in search of my wife, the fair
Princess Marya Morevna.’
‘Hard will it be for you to find her,’ answered the Falcon. ‘At all
events leave with us your silver spoon. We will look at it and remember
you.’ So Prince Ivan left his silver spoon at the Falcon’s, and went on
his way again.
On he went one day, on he went another day, and by the dawn of the
third day he saw a palace still grander than the former one and hard by
the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat an eagle. Down flew the
Eagle from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave youth,
and cried aloud:
‘Rise up, Princess Olga! Hither comes our brother dear!’
The Princess Olga immediately ran to meet him, and began kissing him
and embracing him, asking after his health, and telling him all about
herself. With them Prince Ivan stopped three days; then he said:
‘I cannot stay here any longer. I am going to look for my wife, the
fair Princess Marya Morevna.’
‘Hard will it be for you to find her,’ replied the Eagle. ‘Leave with
us a silver fork. We will look at it and remember you.’
He left a silver fork behind, and went his way. He travelled one day,
he travelled two days; at daybreak on the third day he saw a palace
grander than the first two, and near the palace stood an oak, and on
the oak sat a raven. Down flew the Raven from the oak, smote upon the
ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud:
‘Princess Anna, come forth quickly! our brother is coming.’
Out ran the Princess Anna, greeted him joyfully, and began kissing and
embracing him, asking after his health and telling him all about
herself. Prince Ivan stayed with them three days; then he said:
‘Farewell! I am going to look for my wife, the fair Princess Marya
Morevna.’
‘Hard will it be for you to find her,’ replied the Raven. ‘Anyhow,
leave your silver snuff-box with us. We will look at it and remember
you.’
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account