🧚 Opening, part 23 · page 2

And Ánna Tsarévna went with the Crow, and he took her to his own kingdom.65

So Iván Tsarévich was there alone, and for one whole year he lived there without any sisters, and began to feel melancholy.66 “I will go,” he said, “and seek my sisters.”67 So he started out on the road.68 He went on and on and on.69 And there lay on the field an army of a great host conquered.70 And Iván asked them: “If there be any man alive here, let him call!71 Who slew this mighty host?”72

And one man who was still alive replied: “All this mighty host was conquered by Márya Moryévna, the fair princess.”73

And Iván Tsarévich went on yet further, and he came upon white tents, and Márya Moryévna came to meet him, the fair queen.74

“Hail,” she said, “Tsarévich! where is God taking you?75 Is it at your will or perforce?”76

And Iván Tsarévich answered her: “Doughty youths do not go perforce.”77

“Well, if you have no quest to accomplish, come and stay in my tents.”78

And Iván Tsarévich was glad of this, and he stayed two nights in the tents, fell in love with Márya Moryévna, and married her.79

Márya Moryévna took him with her to her own kingdom, and they lived together for some time; and they thought of making ready for war; and so she handed all of her possessions over to Iván, and said: “Go everywhere, look at everything, only into this lumber-room you must not look.”80

But he was impatient: as soon as Márya Moryévna’s back was turned, he at once opened the lumber-room, opened the door and looked in, and there Koshchéy the Deathless was hanging.81

Koshchéy asked Iván Tsarévich, “Have pity on me: give me something to eat.82 I have been tortured here for ten years.83 I have eaten nothing, I have drunken nothing, and my throat is all dried up.”84 Iván Tsarévich gave him a whole gallon of water: he drank it at a single gulp, and he still asked, “I am still thirsty: give me a gallon,” and Iván gave him a second gallon, and yet a third.85 And when he had drunk the third, he recovered all his former strength, broke all his chains, shattered them all, all the twelve chains.86 “Thank you, Iván Tsarévich,” Koshchéy the Deathless said.87 “Now you will never again see Márya Moryévna any more!” and with a fearful flash of lightning he flew into the country, gathered up Márya Moryévna on the road, the fair Queen, snatched her up and took her to himself.88

Iván Tsarévich wept bitterly, got ready and started on his road: “Come what may, I will seek out Márya Moryévna.”89 And he went one day, and he went another day, and on the dawning of the third day he saw a wonderful palace, and in front of the palace there was an oak, and on the oak there sat a clear-eyed hawk.90

And the Hawk flew down from the oak, struck the ground, turned into a doughty youth, and cried out, “O my beloved brother: how is the Lord dealing with you?”91

And Márya Tsarévna came out, went to meet Iván Tsarévich, asked him how he was, and began to tell him all her own story.92

So the Tsarévich abode as their guest for three days, and then said, “I cannot stay with you any longer: I am going to seek my wife Márya Moryévna the fair Queen.”93

“This will be a hard search for you,” answered the Hawk.94 “At least leave a silver spoon here; we can gaze on it and think of you.”95

Iván Tsarévich left his silver spoon with them, and set out on his road.96

So he went on one day and a second day, and at the dawning of the third day he saw a palace fairer than the first, and in front of the palace there was an oak, and an eagle sat on the oak: the Eagle flew down from the tree, struck the earth, turned into a doughty youth and cried: “Rise, Ólga Tsarévna, our dear brother has arrived.”97

Ólga Tsarévna at once came to meet him, began kissing and welcoming him, asking how he was, and they told of all they had lived and done.98

Iván Tsarévich stayed with them three little days, and then said, “I can no longer be your guest: I am going seeking my wife, Márya Moryévna the fair Princess.”99

And the Eagle answered: “It will be an evil quest.100 Leave us your silver fork; we will look at it and think of you.”101

So he left his silver fork, and he went on the road.102

And a day went by and a second, and at the dawn of the third day he saw a palace fairer than the first two.103 And in front of the palace there was an oak, and on the oak there perched a crow.104 And the Crow flew down from the oak, struck the earth, turned into a doughty youth, and cried out, “Ánna Tsarévna, come out as fast as you can: our brother has arrived.”105

Then Ánna Tsarévna came out, met him joyously, began to kiss and to welcome him, asking him how he was.106 And they spoke of all they had lived and done.107

After three days Iván Tsarévich said, “I can stay no longer with you; I am going to seek my wife, Márya Moryévna, the fair Queen.”108

“This will be a hard search for you,” the Crow said.109 “At least leave us your silver snuff-box; we can gaze on it and think of you.”110

So Iván Tsarévich left them his silver snuff-box, and set out on his road.111

Then a day went and another day, and on the third day he at last reached Márya Moryévna.112 When she saw her beloved through the window, she rushed out to him, flung herself at his neck, wept, and said, “Oh!113 Iván Tsarévich, why did you not obey me?114 Why did you look into the lumber-room and let Koshchéy the Deathless out?”115

“Forgive me, Márya Moryévna; let bygones be bygones: come away with me now, whilst Koshchéy the Deathless is away: possibly he may not catch us up.”116

So they went away.117

Now Koshchéy was out hunting.118 Towards evening he returned home, and his horse stumbled.119 “Why, you sorry jade, are you stumbling, or is it some evil that you fear?”120

And the horse answered: “Iván Tsarévich has arrived, and has taken away Márya Moryévna.”121

“Can one catch them up?”122

“You can sow wheat, wait until it grows up, harvest it, thresh it, turn it into flour, make five stones of bread, eat the bread, and then set out on the hunt, and we shall succeed.”123

Koshchéy leapt on the horse, caught up Iván Tsarévich.124 “Now,” he said, “for the first time I will let you go for your doughtyhood, as you fed me with water; for the second time I will let you go; for the third time, take care: I will tear you to morsels.”125 And he took Márya Moryévna from him, took her away, and Iván Tsarévich sat on the stone and cried.126

And he cried and he cried, and again came back to Márya Moryévna.127 Koshchéy the Deathless was not at home: “Let us start, Márya Moryévna.”128

“Oh, Iván Tsarévich, he will catch us up.”129

“Well, let him; still we shall have one or two hours together.”130