When Yaroslav went out of the tent Ivan said: "My beloved Princess,
tell me, is there in the world a fairer one than thou art, or a braver
knight than my brother Yaroslav Lasarevich? I have gone far and wide
and have not found thine equal." "Nay," replied the Princess, "there
are yet fairer than I am. In the open fields is a white tent, in which
dwell the daughters of the Tsar Bogrigor. The eldest is named Prodora,
the second Tivobriga, and the youngest Legia: they are ten times
fairer than I; compared to them I am as night to day. Whilst with my
parents I was still fair, but now I am wasted with sorrow. And on the
road to the kingdom of India there is a knight, in the dominions of
Tsar Dalmat, named Ivashka Whitemantle Saracen's-cap. I have heard
from my father that for three-and-thirty years he has guarded the
kingdom of India, and that no traveller or knight rides past, no
animal runs by, and no bird flies past; I know no one braver than he,
for I have never before heard of the valour of Yaroslav Lasarevich."
Now Yaroslav overheard these words, and his chivalrous heart could not
brook it. He saddled his steed, embraced Ivan the Russian knight, and
the Princess Kandaula, and rode off towards the kingdom of the Tsar
Dalmat, to engage in fight with Ivashka Whitemantle. He had journeyed
for some time, when he bethought himself that he was bound on an
enterprise of life and death, without having taken leave of his father
and mother. So he turned and rode till he came to the kingdom of the
Tsar Kartaus, where he encountered Prince Daniil the White, at the
head of three thousand men, who boasted that he would subdue the
kingdom of Kartaus, take prisoners the Tsar himself, Prince Lasar, and
the twelve knights, and carry them off to his own country. Yaroslav
rode straight to the city, and there beheld Prince Lasar assembling an
army for battle. Then dismounting from his horse, he threw himself
with his face to the ground and said: "Long life to my lord and
father! How fares it with thee? Wherefore so sad, my lord?" And Prince
Lasar answered: "My dear son, whence art thou come like a sunbeam to
cheer me? How can I help grieving? Prince Daniil has invaded our
dominion with an immense army and threatens to seize it and carry off
the Tsar and me and the twelve knights prisoners." Then spoke Yaroslav
Lasarevich: "My lord and father, give me the shield, and lance, and I
will go out to fight the enemy." But Prince Lasar answered: "My son,
how canst thou combat such a host, who hast never been in battle? The
cries of the Tartars will terrify thee, and they will slay thee!"
"Teach not the goose to swim, father," answered Yaroslav, "nor a
knight's son to fight with Tartars! Only give me what I demand, and
fear nought."
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