Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 6 · page 21 2101Prince Ivan walked along it to the other side, and then he set out again for his mother's.102When he got there, they greeted each other lovingly, and then she hid him again as before.103Presently in flew Koshchei the Deathless and said:104"Phoo, Phoo!105No Russian bone can the ear hear nor the eye see, but there's a smell of Russia here!"106"What are you talking about, Koshchei?107There's no one with me," replied Prince Ivan's mother.108A second time spake Koshchei and said, "I feel rather unwell."109Then Prince Ivan began squeezing the egg, and thereupon Koshchei the Deathless bent double.110At last Prince Ivan came out from his hiding-place, held up the egg and said, "There is your death, O Koshchei the Deathless!"111Then Koshchei fell on his knees before him, saying, "Don't kill me, Prince Ivan!112Let's be friends!113All the world will lie at our feet."114But these words had no weight with Prince Ivan.115He smashed the egg, and Koshchei the Deathless died.116Ivan and his mother took all they wanted and started homewards.117On their way they came to where the King's daughter was whom Ivan had seen on his way, and they took her with them too.118They went further, and came to the hill where Ivan's brothers were still waiting for him.119Then the maiden said, "Prince Ivan! do go back to my house.120I have forgotten a marriage robe, a diamond ring, and a pair of seamless shoes."121He consented to do so, but in the mean time he let his mother go down the ladder, as well as the Princess--whom it had been settled he was to marry when they got home.122They were received by his brothers, who then set to work and cut away the ladder, so that he himself would not be able to get down.123And they used such threats to his mother and the Princess, that they made them promise not to tell about Prince Ivan when they got home.124And after a time they reached their native country.125Their father was delighted at seeing his wife and his two sons, but still he was grieved about the other one, Prince Ivan.126But Prince Ivan returned to the home of his betrothed, and got the wedding dress, and the ring, and the seamless shoes.127Then he came back to the mountain and tossed the ring from one hand to the other.128Immediately there appeared twelve strong youths, who said:129"What are your commands?"130"Carry me down from this hill."131The youths immediately carried him down.132Prince Ivan put the ring on his finger--they disappeared.133Then he went on to his own country, and arrived at the city in which his father and brothers lived.134There he took up his quarters in the house of an old woman, and asked her:135"What news is there, mother, in your country?"136"What news, lad?137You see our queen was kept in prison by Koshchei the Deathless.138Her three sons went to look for her, and two of them found her and came back, but the third, Prince Ivan, has disappeared, and no one knows where he is.139The King is very unhappy about him.140And those two Princes and their mother brought a certain Princess back with them; and the eldest son wants to marry her, but she declares he must fetch her her betrothal ring first, or get one made just as she wants it.141But although they have made a public proclamation about it, no one has been found to do it yet."142"Well, mother, go and tell the King that you will make one.143I'll manage it for you," said Prince Ivan.144So the old woman immediately dressed herself, and hastened to the King, and said:145"Please, your Majesty, I will make the wedding ring."146"Make it, then, make it, mother!147Such people as you are welcome," said the king. "148But if you don't make it, off goes your head!"149The old woman was dreadfully frightened; she ran home, and told Prince Ivan to set to work at the ring.150But Ivan lay down to sleep, troubling himself very little about it.151The ring was there all the time.152So he only laughed at the old woman, but she was trembling all over, and crying, and scolding him.153"As for you," she said, "you're out of the scrape; but you've done for me, fool that I was!"154The old woman cried and cried until she fell asleep.155Early in the morning Prince Ivan got up and awakened her, saying:156"Get up, mother, and go out! take them the ring, and mind, don't accept more than one ducat for it.157If anyone asks who made the ring, say you made it yourself; don't say a word about me."158The old woman was overjoyed and carried off the ring.159The bride was delighted with it.160"Just what I wanted," she said.checked by a teacher161So they gave the old woman a dish full of gold, but she took only one ducat.162"Why do you take so little?" said the king.163"What good would a lot do me, your Majesty? if I want some more afterwards, you'll give it me."164Having said this the old woman went away.165Time passed, and the news spread abroad that the bride had told her lover to fetch her her wedding-dress or else to get one made, just such a one as she wanted.166Well, the old woman, thanks to Prince Ivan's aid, succeeded in this matter too, and took her the wedding-dress.167And afterwards she took her the seamless shoes also, and would only accept one ducat each time and always said that she had made the things herself.168Well, the people heard that there would be a wedding at the palace on such-and-such a day.169And the day they all anxiously awaited came at last.170Then Prince Ivan said to the old woman:171"Look here, mother! when the bride is just going to be married, let me know."172The old woman didn't let the time go by unheeded.173Then Ivan immediately put on his princely raiment, and went out of the house.174"See, mother, this is what I'm really like!" says he.175The old woman fell at his feet.176"Pray forgive me for scolding you," said she.177"God be with you," said he.178[116]179So he went into the church and, finding his brothers had not yet arrived, he stood up alongside of the bride and got married to her.180Then he and she were escorted back to the palace, and as they went along, the proper bridegroom, his eldest brother, met them.181But when he saw that his bride and Prince Ivan were being escorted home together, he turned back again ignominiously.1 2← previousChapter II. 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