🧚 Opening, part 38

In a certain kingdom in a certain land a Tsar and his Tsarítsa lived.1 They had a son called Iván Tsarévich, and the son had an attendant who was called Katomá Dyádka[57] of the oaken-cap.2 When the Tsar and the Tsarítsa had reached a great age both of them became ill, and they felt that they would never become hale again.3 So they called Iván Tsarévich, and said to him: “If we die, always follow Katomá’s advice, and do well by him, then you will live happily; but if you do not, you will falter and fail like a fly.”4

Next day the Tsar and the Tsarítsa died.5 Iván Tsarévich buried his parents, heeded their advice, and always took counsel with Katomá before undertaking any enterprise.6

Very soon, maybe a long time, maybe short, he grew up, and he wanted to marry.7 He said to Katomá: “Katomá, Oaken-cap, it is so melancholy living by oneself; I want to marry.”8

“Tsarévich,” Katomá replied, “you are of the age at which you ought to look for a bride: go into the great hall, where you will see pictures of all the Korolévny[58] and Tsarévny in the world.9 Gaze on them carefully, and select for yourself a bride, one who pleases you, and you shall marry her.”10

Iván Tsarévich went into the great hall, looked at the pictures, and he was most delighted with Anna the Fair.11 She was so fair that she was fairer than any princess in the world.12 But under her portrait there was a legend: “_He who can set her a riddle she cannot solve is to marry her.13 Anyone whose riddle she solves dies.14

Iván Tsarévich read the legend, and was very sad.15 He went up to Katomá and said: “I was in the great hall, and I selected as my bride Anna the Fair: but I do not know whether I can woo her.”16

“Yes, Tsarévich, it will be hard for you; if you had to go there by yourself, you would never win her.17 Take me.18 Do what I say, and all will go well.”19

Then Iván Tsarévich begged Katomá Oaken-cap to fare there with him, and pledged him his word of honour he would obey him in joy and sorrow.20

So they set out on the way to seek Anna the Fair Tsarévna.21 They journeyed for one year, the second year, and the third year, and they traversed many lands.22 Iván Tsarévich said, “We have been so long on the journey and are at last approaching the realms of Anna the Fair, and still we have not thought out any riddles for her!”23

“Time enough yet,” Katomá replied.24

So they rode on, and Katomá saw a purse lying on the road and said: “Iván Tsarévich, there is your riddle for the Tsarévna; give her this riddle to solve: ‘Good lies on the road: we took the good with good, and set it down to our good.’25 That she will never solve all her life long, for every riddle she has solved at once, for she had only to look in her magical book; and she would then have your head cut off.”26

At last the Tsarévich and Katomá came to a lofty castle, where the fair Tsarévna lived.27 She was just standing at her balcony, and sent her messengers to meet them, to know whence they came and what was their will.28

Iván Tsarévich answered: “I have come from my distant realm in order to woo Anna Tsarévna the Fair.”29

This she was told, and she bade the Tsarévich be introduced into her castle: he was to set her a riddle in front of all her councillors and her princes and _boyárs_.30 [59] “For I have sworn,” she said, “to marry him who sets me a riddle I cannot solve: but if I guess it, then he must die.”31 The fair Tsarévna listened to the riddle: “Good lies on the road; we took the good with good, and set it down to our good.”32

Anna the Fair took her conjuring book and searched it through for the riddle—looked the whole book through in vain.33 So the princes and _boyárs_ decided that she must marry the Tsarévich.34 But she was very gloomy over it, yet still had to make ready.35 But in her heart of hearts she kept thinking: “How could I postpone the date and get rid of my bridegroom?”36 So she decided to tire him out through severe tasks.37 One day she called Iván Tsarévich to her and said: “Dear Iván Tsarévich, my chosen mate, we must get ready for the marriage.38 Do me a small service.39 In my realm there stands in a certain village a great iron column: bring it to the great kitchen and split it up into little logs as firewood for the cook.”40

“What do you want, Tsarévna?41 Have I come to cut down fuel for you?42 Is that my duty?43 Oh, my servant can see to that!”44 So he called Katomá, and he told him to bring the iron column into the kitchen and to hew it into small logs as fuel for the cook.45

Katomá at once went, took the pillar in his two hands, brought it into the kitchen and split it up.46 But he kept back four iron shafts and put them into his pocket, for he thought: “Later I may make use of them!”47

Next day the Tsarévna said, “Dear Tsarévich, my chosen husband, to-morrow we shall marry.48 I shall go in a carriage to church, and you will have a fine prancing steed given you.49 You must get him ready yourself.”50

“I must get the horse ready!51 Oh, my servant can do that!”52

So Iván Tsarévich called Katomá, and said: “Come into the stable and command the grooms to bring the horse out; ride it, and to-morrow I will go to church on it.”53

But Katomá could see the guile in the Tsarévna’s heart, and instantly went into the stable and ordered them to bring the horse out.54 Twelve grooms opened the twelve locks, undid twelve doors, and led the magical horse out by twelve chains.55 Katomá went up to him, and as soon as ever he had swung himself on to the horse’s back the steed rose high into the air, higher than the tree-tops in the forest, lower than the clouds in heaven.56 But Katomá had a firm seat, and with one hand he held the mane, and with the other he fetched an iron sheet out of his pocket and struck the palfrey between the ears.57

One sheet broke, then he took a second and a third; and after the third broke he was taking the fourth.58 The horse was so tired that it could not resist him any more, but spoke in a human voice: “Father Katomá, leave me some life, and I will come down to earth and whatever you will I will do.”59

“Listen then, wretched animal!”60 Katomá answered.61 “To-morrow Iván Tsarévich will ride you to his wedding.62 Listen!63 When the servants take you into the broad courtyard, and he comes up to you and lays his hand on you, stand still: do not prick your ear.64 When he mounts, kneel down with your hoofs on the ground, and step under him with a heavy tread as if you were bearing a burdensome load.”65 So the horse sank half-dead on to the earth.66 Katomá, seated by the tail, hailed the grooms and said, “Ho, you there! grooms and coachmen, take this carrion into the stable.”67

Next day came, and the hour for going to church.68 The Tsarévna had a carriage ready, and the Tsarévich was given the magical horse.69 And from all parts of the country the people had assembled in multitudes, countless multitudes, to see the bride and bridegroom leave the white stone palace.70 And the Tsarévna went into the carriage and was waiting to see what would happen to Iván Tsarévich.71 She thought to herself that the horse would prance him up against the winds, and that she could already see his bones scattered in the open fields.72