🧚 Opening, part 27 · page 2

Iváshko set to valorously, and then he told his tale.79 “I am seeking a bride; if you will marry me, come with me!”80

So the maiden consented, and she gave him a golden ball.81 Then they went on and on together, until they reached the silver realm, where they took the maiden who was there; and they went on and on and on from there to the copper realm, and took this maiden with them as well.82 And then they came to the hole through which they were to climb out.83 The rope ladder stood all ready, and there there stood the elder brothers, who were looking for him.84 Iváshko tied the maiden out of the copper realm to the ladder, and the brothers lifted her out, and they let the ladder down again.85 Then Iváshko laid hold of the maiden from the silver realm, and she was drawn up, and the ladder let down again.86 This time the maiden from the golden realm came, and was also drawn up.87 When the steps were let down again, Iváshko sat on them, and the brothers drew it up into the height.88 But when they saw that this time it was Iváshko Zapéchnik who sat on it, they began to reflect: “If we let him out perhaps he will not give us any of the maidens.”89 So they cut the steps down, and Iváshko fell down.90 He wept bitterly, but it was no good.91 He went down farther, and he then came across a tiny old man, who sat on a tree stem and had a long white beard.92 Iváshko told him how it had been.93

The old man advised him once more to go on.94 “You will come to a little hut.95 Enter it and you will see a long man lying in it from one corner to the other.96 Ask him how you shall reach Russian land once more.”97

So Iváshko went up to the hut, stepped in and said: “Strong giant,[37] spare me, and tell me how I shall get home again.”98

“Fi, fo, fum, you Russian bones!” said Ídolishche, “I did not summon you, and still you have come.99 Go to the thrice-tenth sea, there there stands a hut on cocks’ legs in which the Bába Yagá lives.100 She has an eagle who will carry you.”101

So the young boy went on and on, a far way, to the hut, and he stepped in.102

The Bába Yagá cried out at once, “Fi, fo, fum, Russian bones, why have you come here?”103

“Oh, mother, the giant Ídolishche sent me to ask you to lend me your mighty eagle to carry me to Russia.”104

“Go,” said Bába Yagá, “into the garden.105 At the gate there stands a watchman; take his keys and pass through seven doors, and when you open the last the eagle will flap his wings.106 Sit on his back if you are not afraid, and fly away.107 But take meat with you and give him to eat whenever he turns round.”108

Iváshko did as he was bidden, sat on the eagle and flew away.109 The eagle flew on, flew on; then he soon turned his head round, and Iváshko gave him a bite of flesh.110 Then the eagle flew on afar, and turned round again, and Iváshko fed him.111 And he fed him until he had nothing more left, and Russia was still far off.112 Then the eagle turned round, and as he had no flesh, he tore a fragment out of Iváshko’s withers and ate it up.113 But they had already reached the aperture.114 When Iváshko parted from the eagle, he spat a bit of flesh out and bade Iváshko lay it on him.115 And Iváshko did so, and his body healed; and Iváshko went home, took the maiden from the golden realm from his brothers; and they then lived happily, and may still be living if they are not dead.116

I was there and I drank beer; I drank the beer, and it flowed up to my whiskers, but none of it reached my mouth.117

CHUFÍL-FÍLYUSHKA118

Once upon a time there were three brothers in a family; the eldest was called the Ram, the second the Goat, and the third and youngest Chufíl-Fílyushka.119 [38] One day all three went into the forest, where the warder lived who was their real grandfather.120 With him Ram and Goat left their own brother Chufíl-Fílyushka, and went out into the forest to hunt.121 Fílyushka had all his own will and way: his grandfather was old, and a great stupid; and Fílyushka was generous.122 He wanted to eat an apple.123 So he eluded his grandfather, got into the garden, and climbed up the apple-tree.124

All of a sudden, Heaven knows where from, who should come but the Yagá-Búra,[39] with an iron mortar, and a pestle in her hand; she leaped up to the apple-tree, and said, “How are you, Fílyushka?125 What have you come here for?”126

“Oh, to pluck an apple!” said Fílyushka.127

“Well, then, dearie, have a bite of mine!”128

“No, it’s a rotten one,” said Fílyushka.129

“Well, here’s another one!”130

“No, it’s all wormy!”131

“Don’t be saucy; just come up and take one out of my hand.”132

He stretched out his hand.133 Then Yagá-Búra gripped it tight, put him into the mortar, and made off, leaping over hills, and forests, and clefts; and swiftly with the pestle driving the mortar.134

Then Fílyushka remembered himself, and began to cry out, “Goat, Ram, come along quick.135 Yagá has carried me away beyond the high, steep hills, the dark, lone woods, the steppes, where the geese roam.”136

The Ram and the Goat were just then resting.137 One was lying on the ground, and heard a noise of somebody shouting.138 So he told the other one: “Come and lie down, and listen!”139

“Oh, it’s our Fílyushka crying.”140

Off they went and ran and ran, and ran the Yagá-Búra down, saved Fílyushka and brought him home to his grandfather, who had nearly gone out of his mind with fright!141 They told him to look after Fílyushka better, and went out again.142

But Fílyushka was a real boy, and the first chance he got, off he was again to the apple-tree, clambered up.143 There was the Yagá-Búra again, and offering him an apple.144

“No, you won’t catch me this time, you old beast!” said Fílyushka.145

“Don’t be unkind—do just take an apple from me; I’ll throw it to you!”146

“Right: throw it down.”147

Then Yagá threw him down an apple: he stretched out his hand, and she clutched it and leapt over hills, and valleys, and dark forests, so fast that it seemed like a twinkling of an eye, got him into her home, washed him, went out and put him into the bunk.148

In the morning she made ready to go out, and ordered her daughter, “Listen! heat the oven well, very hot, and roast me Chufíl-Fílyushka for supper.”149 And she went out to seek further booty.150

The daughter went and got the oven thoroughly hot, took out and bound Fílyushka, and put him on the shovel, and was just going to shove him into the oven, when he went and knocked his forehead with his feet.151

“That’s not the way, Fílyushka,” said the daughter of the Yagá-Búra.152

“How then?” he answered.153 “I don’t understand.”154

“Look here, just let go; I’ll show you.”155 She went and lay down on the shovel in the right fashion.156