Soon the other princes and inhabitants of the city cried aloud: "O
Yaroslav Lasarevich, cease killing and slaying! It is the will of
fate--live with us and rule over our land!" But Yaroslav replied:
"Choose a Tsar from among yourselves: I am no Tsar for you." He
ceased, however, slaying the people, and taking some of the Tsar's
blood, put it into a phial; then mounting his horse, he rode out of
the city and away, until he came to Sir Raslanei, and, taking the
headless body, he set the head upon it, and sprinkled it with the
blood. Thereupon the Knight stood up, as if awakened from a dream; and
Yaroslav embraced him, and they called one another brothers: Raslanei
was the elder, and Yaroslav the younger. Then they parted, and each
rode his way. Raslanei rode to his Sadonic kingdom, to receive his
mother's blessing, as he wished to marry the daughter of the Tsar of
Shtchetin, and rule over that city. But Yaroslav rode on and on for
half a year, until he came to the kingdom of Daniil the White. On
entering the city he went straight to the prison, before which a
strong guard was posted: so he slew them all, broke open the gates,
entered the prison, and said: "Hail, O Tsar Kartaus, and thou my
father, Prince Lasar, and ye twelve knights! How does Heaven protect
you?" But the Tsar Kartaus answered: "Man, whence are thou, and what
is thy name?" "O Tsar," replied Yaroslav, "I was born in thy kingdom,
the son of Prince Lasar, and my name is Yaroslav. I have fulfilled thy
commands and slain the mighty Tsar, and have taken some of his blood."
Then said Kartaus: "If thy name is indeed Yaroslav Lasarevich, and
thou hast slain the Tsar and taken of his blood, anoint our eyes with
it; then we shall see the light of heaven and shall believe thee."
So Yaroslav took the blood from his phial and anointed their eyes, and
they saw again; thereat they were overjoyed, and with tears exclaimed:
"O Yaroslav Lasarevich, it is indeed he!" and they embraced him. Then
the Tsar Kartaus asked him: "Where hast thou been so long?" "Wait an
instant," replied Yaroslav; and so saying, he left the prison, mounted
his good steed, and rode out of the city.
Early the next morning Yaroslav cried out with a loud voice; and when
Prince Daniil the White heard the shout, he ordered the trumpets to
sound and the drums to beat. Then the Murses and Tartars flocked
around him, and divers warlike peoples, and Prince Daniil the White
rode with them all out of the city.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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