"Go into the open fields," said Bulat the Brave Companion, "and there
you will see three green oaks; and, on the ground under these oaks, an
iron door, with a copper ring. Under the door is a stable, in which
stands a good steed, shut in by twelve iron doors with twelve steel
locks. Heave up this door, strike off the twelve steel locks, and open
the twelve doors; there you will find a horse; mount him and come to
me; I will give you back your arrow, and then you will let me out of
this prison."
When Ivan Tsarevich heard this he went into the open fields, saw the
three green oaks, and found the iron door with the copper ring. So he
hove up the door, knocked off the twelve locks, and opened the twelve
doors, and entered a stable, where he beheld a knightly steed and a
suit of armour. Then Ivan Tsarevich laid his hand upon the horse, and
the horse fell not upon his knees, but merely bent himself a little.
And as soon as the horse saw a knight standing before him, he neighed
loudly, and let Ivan saddle and bridle him. Ivan Tsarevich took the
steed, the battle-axe, and sword, led the horse out of the stable,
leaped into the Tcherkess saddle, and took the silken bridle in his
white hand. Then Ivan wished to try his steed, and struck him on the
flank: the horse chafed his bit, and rose from the ground, and away he
went over the tall forests and under the flying clouds, left hill and
dale beneath his feet, covered small streams with his tail, bounded
over wide rivers and marshes; and so at last Ivan came to Bulat the
Brave Companion, and said with a loud voice: "Now give me back my
arrow, Bulat my brave fellow, and I will let you out of your cage." So
Bulat instantly gave him back his arrow, and Ivan set him free.
"I thank you, Ivan Tsarevich," said Bulat, "for giving me freedom. I
will, in return, render you good service; whenever you are in any
difficulty, and want me, only say: 'Where is my Bulat, the Brave
Companion?' and I will instantly come to you and serve you faithfully
in your need."
So saying, Bulat cried with a loud voice:
"Sivka Burka! he!
Fox of Spring! Appear!
Like a grass blade, here
Stand before me!"
Instantly a steed stood before Bulat the Brave, who crept into his
ear, ate and drank his fill, and then crept out at the other ear; and
he became such a handsome youth as no one can imagine, no pen can
describe, nor story tell. Then Bulat mounted his horse and galloped
off, exclaiming: "Farewell, then, for the present, Ivan Tsarevich!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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