The Russian story book : $b containing tales from the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod and other early sourcesWilson, Richard
General
The Russian story book : $b containing tales from the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod and other early sources
Wilson, Richard
Mythology, Slavic -- Juvenile literature
"I will go now," said Ilya, "upon the last road, where wealth is to be
won." So he rode again over the open steppe, and came at length to a
green meadow where deep pits were dug, and then to a dark and gloomy
forest in which there was a mountain cave filled with fair red gold,
white silver, and fine seed pearls; and above the entrance to the cave,
in the face of the smooth rock, were carved the words,
"This treasure will fall to Ilya of Murom."
For seven days Ilya sat wondering what he should do to dispose of
the treasure. Then he arose and went to the nearest town, where he
hired builders and carpenters, architects and workers in metal. These
men he set to work to build a fair cathedral on the place where the
gloomy forest had stood, and when the glorious building was completed,
he instituted church singing and the sound of bells, for in these
things his soul delighted. When this work had been finished--and it
occupied a fair space of time--Ilya returned to Kiev city, where the
courteous Prince Vladimir asked him where he had been.
Sitting down in the great corner near the stove, the old man smiled
gently, stretched his feet to the blaze, and told the Prince the
Adventure of the Three Roads and of the Burning White Stone. Then he
yawned and went to bed in the peace of accomplishment.
HOW QUIET DUNAI HAD BROUGHT THE PRINCESS APRAXIA TO KIEV
The tale of the wedding of Vladimir and the Princess Apraxia was one
which was often told after a banquet; and here it is:
Quiet Dunai was a great traveller, and one who loved to move without
turbulence, leisurely and at his chosen ease. From land to land he
wandered, both seeing and observing, across the green and open steppe
in summer, but resting in the winter within whatever palace of fair
white stone he could find a seat in the great corner and hearers who
would listen quietly to his traveller's tales.
At last he came to the kingdom of Lithuania, where in the palace of
the monarch he served for three years as equerry with the care of the
King's horses and chargers; for three more years he served as Grand
Steward with the oversight of the great banquets with which the King
honoured his nobles; for three more years he served as Groom of the
Chambers, and knew all the King's mind. And during all these years he
loved, at times somewhat turbulently but yet on the whole quietly and
devotedly and faithfully and hopefully, the Princess Nastasya, who in
her turn favoured him silently and kept him ever in her golden heart.
Now, on a certain day, the King of Lithuania made a great feast and
invited all his nobles to share his hospitality. Quiet Dunai was
very busy with the preparations for the banquet, and on one of his
many visits to the King's apartments he happened to meet, quite by
accident, the Princess Nastasya. She looked at him quietly and said:
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