The Russian Grandmother's Wonder TalesHoughton, Louise Seymour
General
The Russian Grandmother's Wonder Tales
Houghton, Louise Seymour
Slavs -- Folklore
The three emperors now took counsel over their brother-in-law's
body, and decided to recall him to life. So they summoned three of
the swiftest dragons and asked which one of them could most speedily
bring some water from the river Jordan. The first one said, "I can do
it within half an hour"; the second said, "I can do it in a quarter of
an hour"; the third said, "I will have it here in nine minutes." The
emperors said to this one, "Then set out, Dragon, as fast as possible."
The Dragon put forth all his impetuous strength, and truly within
nine minutes he brought back the water from the Jordan. The emperors
took the water, poured it over the two portions of the Prince's body,
and scarcely had the water touched them when the young man sprang
upon his feet, safe and sound, as if nothing had happened to him.
The emperors then counselled him, "Now go back home, since you have
been restored to life!"
But the Prince answered that he must once more try his luck, and,
by one means or another, free his wife from the clutches of that
fiend. His imperial brothers-in-law remonstrated:
"Do give it up! You will surely perish this time, for you have no
life at command except the one God lent you!"
But for all answer the Prince remained dumb.
Then the emperors said, "All right; if you are bent upon trying again,
come what come may, at least don't attempt to get your wife away by
flight, but beg her to wheedle Steelpacha into telling her wherein
his strength lies. Then bring us word, that we may help you to get
the best of him."
So the Prince stole secretly to his wife and told her how she should
coax Steelpacha to tell her the secret of his strength. Then he betook
himself to some place of safety.
When Steelpacha came home the Princess beset him with questions. "In
Heaven's name, do tell me wherein your strength lies!"
Steelpacha answered, "My pretty wife, my strength lies in my sword."
Then the Princess prayed to the sword as if to God. At sight of
this Steelpacha burst into a mocking laugh and said to her, "Oh,
you simple woman! my strength lies not in my sword but in my arrow."
Therefore she fell upon her knees before the arrow and began to pray
to it. Then Steelpacha said, "My wife, some one must have well taught
you how to coax from me the secret of my strength. If your husband
were alive I should say it was he who had taught you."
But she swore by body and soul that no one had taught her, no one
had been there.
After several days her husband came again, and she told him that
thus far it had been impossible to learn from Steelpacha wherein his
strength lay. But the Prince answered, "Try again," and went away.
When Steelpacha came home she asked him anew wherein his strength
lay. Upon which he answered her, "Since I see that you have a high
respect for my strength, I will confess the truth about it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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