🧚 Opening, part 6 · page 2

The Sun is thirty times the size it appears: looks very small because it is very high up from the earth.65

The Sun has an apparel and a crown which would befit a Tsar, and fifteen thousands of angels of the Lord accompany him and deck him every day.66 And when the Sun wanes to the West, then the angels strip off from him that garb and crown which would befit a Tsar, and lay it on the throne of the Lord.67

Three angels remain with the Sun and make him ready, and God has consigned one hundred angels to enrobe the Sun in an apparel and a crown meet for a Tsar.68

And when the Sun arises from the East crossing to the West, then fiery phœnixes and the _Ksálavy_ of paradise fly in front of the Sun, but first wet their wings in the waters of the ocean and asperse with their wings the Sun that he may not sear them with his golden rays.69

But from the fire of the Sun the feathers even of these birds are consumed, because they are scorched away.70 And they again bathe in the ocean and are renewed.71

For this reason the cock is a prophet, and it has under its wings a white feather belonging to the other birds.72

And when the Sun wanes to the West, then the cock’s feathers warp.73

But when the Lord’s angels take the dress and the crown from the throne of the Lord, the cock awakens, lifts up his voice, flutters with his wings, the first time to announce the resurrection to the world and to tell the angels of the law; then to say: “O Christ, Giver of Light, look down on us and bestow on the world Thy light”; and the third time to sing: “Christ is the Life and accomplishes all things.”74 And thus the cock sings to the light, magnifies its Creator, and announces joy to the just.75 Amen.76

THE LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS77

In a certain city there was a merchant and his wife and their son, who was wise beyond his years; he was called Vasíli.78 Once all three were lunching together, and in a cage there was a Nightingale singing over the table, singing so woefully that the merchant could not bear it, and he said, “If there ever were a man who could really tell me what that Nightingale is saying and the doom he is foreboding, I should like to meet him: I would give him in my life half of my possessions, and after my death I would bequeath him many goods.”79

Then the little boy, who was only six years old, looked his father and mother fixedly in the eyes and said, “I know what the Nightingale is singing, only I am frightened of saying it.”80

“Speak out openly,” said the mother and father.81

And then Vasíli said with tears, “The Nightingale is foretelling that a time and season is coming when you will be my servants, when father will draw me water and mother will give me the towel to wipe my face and hands.”82

These words made the merchant and his wife very angry, so they decided to get rid of their child; they built a little boat, and in the dark of night, put the sleeping boy into it and let it sail into the open sea.83

Just then the prophetic Nightingale flew out of its cage into the boat and sat on the boy’s shoulder.84 Then the boat came to the seashore, and a ship came to meet it with all its sails spread.85 The master of the ship saw the boy, pitied him, adopted him, asked him questions, promised to keep and love him as if he were his own son.86

Next day the boy said to his new father, “The Nightingale foretells that a storm is brewing which will break the masts and shatter the sails.87 You must go back to the haven.”88

But the master of the ship would not go.89 And a storm arose at once, and the masts were shattered, and the sails torn down.90 It was no good, what is ended cannot be mended, so new masts were built and new sails were rigged.91 And they sailed on further.92

Again Vásya said, “The Nightingale sings that there are twelve ships coming to meet us, all pirate ships, and they will take us prisoner.”93

This time the master of the ship believed him, and returned to the island, and he saw the twelve bold pirates go sailing by.94 So the master of the ship waited as long as need be, and then sailed further.95

Some time went by, not too much, not too little, and the ship arrived at the city of Khvalynsk; and, for very many years, in front of the palace of the King of Khvalynsk, a Crow, with his wife and child, had been flying and screeching, giving no rest either by day or night.96 Whatever they did, whatever gins they might set, they could not drive them off from the window.97 Small shot was not any good.98 And so that King ordained that at every cross-road and at all the harbours this notice should be exhibited:99

“IF ANY MAN CAN DRIVE AWAY THE CROW, WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILD, FROM THE ROYAL WINDOWS, THE KING WILL GRANT HIM AS A REWARD HALF OF HIS KINGDOM, AND HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AS WIFE—BUT IF ANY SHALL UNDERTAKE THE WORK AND SHALL NOT FULFIL IT HE SHALL FORFEIT HIS HEAD.”100

Very many were the hunters eager to become kinsmen of the King, and all of their heads had been hewn off and hung on stakes.101

Now Vasíli heard of this, went up and asked the master of the ship, “Let me go to the King; possibly I can chase away the Crow and his wife.”102

They endeavoured to deter him, but failed.103 “Very well, go.104 And if you come by any harm, put the blame on yourself!”105

So Vasíli came into the palace, told the King, and ordered the windows to be opened in front of which the Crows were flying.106 He then listened to what the birds were saying, and told the King, “Your Majesty, you see that there are three flying here, the Crow, Madam Crow, and Master Crow: the Crow is disputing with his wife as to which of them the son belongs, whether to the father or to the mother; and they are asking for a decision.107 Your Majesty, decide to whom it is the son belongs.”108

The King answered, “To the father.”109

As soon as the King had said this, the Crow with Master Crow sailed to the right, but Madam Crow to the left.110

After this the King took the youth unto himself, and he lived at the royal court and received the greatest kindness and honour, grew up and became a youth of youths, married the Princess, and received half of the kingdom as a dowry.111

One day he thought he would like to journey to foreign parts and see strange lands, view the folks of the world, and show himself.112 So he set out to roam through the world.113 In one city he stayed for a night, passed the night there, got up in the morning and said he wished to wash.114 So the master brought him water and the mistress brought him the towel.115 The King’s son spoke with them, and then saw that they were his father and mother, wept for joy, and fell at the feet of his parents.116 Afterwards he took them with him to his own city of Khvalynsk, and they lived together long, and lived to enjoy good.117