🧚 Opening, part 8

But the younger brother, who had turned to the left, heard that there was a fair princess in a certain kingdom who was indescribably lovely.1 But she was very grudging, and she announced in all countries that she would only marry the man who could feed her army for three whole years; yet every one had to try his luck.2 So the boy went there, and he went on his way, went on the broad road.3 And he spat into his little bag, and spat it full of pure gold.4 Well, it may be long, it may be short, it may be near, it may be far, but he at last reached the fair princess, and he said he would accomplish her task.5 He had no need to ask for gold, he simply had to spit and there it was.6 For three years he maintained the princess’s army, gave it food and drink and dress.7

So the time came for a jolly feast and for the wedding.8 But the princess was still full of wiles.9 She asked herself and she sought to know whence God had sent him such enormous wealth.10 So she invited him to be her guest, received him, honoured him.11 And the doughty youth fell sick, and he vomited up the liver of the hen, and the Tsarévna swallowed it.12 From that day gold fell from her lips, and she would not have her bridegroom with her.13 “What shall I do with this ignoramus?” she asked her _boyárs_, and she asked her generals.14 “He has had the idiotic idea of wanting to marry me.”15

So the _boyárs_ said he must be hung, and the generals said he must be shot.16 But the Tsarévna had a better idea—that he ought to be sent to hell.17

So the doughty youth escaped and once more set forth on his road.18 And he had only one thought in his mind, how he should make himself wise and revenge himself on the Tsarévna for her unkind jest.19 So he went on and went on, and he came into the dreamy wood, and he looked and he saw three men fighting with their fists.20

“What are you fighting about?”21

“We have three finds in the road, and we cannot divide them; every one wants them for himself.”22

“What are the finds? what are you contending for?”23

“Look, this is a barrel: you only have to knock it, and a soldier leaps out of its mouth.24 This is a flying carpet: wherever you think it will take you.25 And this is a whip: strike a maiden and say ‘You have been a maiden, now become a mare,’ and she will become a mare at once.”26

“These are valuable gifts, and they are hard to divide.27 But this is the way out: I will send an arrow in this direction, and you all run after it; he who reaches it first shall have the barrel, and the second shall have the flying carpet, and the third shall have the whip.”28

“Very well; shoot the dart.”29

So the youth sent out the arrow very far.30 The three darted after it and ran, and they never looked up.31 But the doughty youth took the barrel and the whip, sat upon the flying carpet, waved it one end, and he rose higher than the forest that stood there, lower than the clouds above, and he flew whither he would.32

So he went back to the forbidden lands of the fair princess, began beating the barrel, and an enormous army came out; infantry, cavalry and artillery, with cannon and with powder waggons.33 And the mighty host rolled on and rolled on.34 The doughty youth asked for a horse, mounted it, and went up to his army and commanded it.35 The drums beat out and the trumpets sounded, and the army went at a pace.36 Then the Tsarévna saw from her rooms and was very much frightened, and sent her _boyárs_ and generals to ask for peace.37 The good youth bade these ambassadors be seized, had them cruelly and savagely punished and sent them back to the Tsarévna, who was to come herself and ask for a reconciliation.38

Well, there was no help for it: so the Tsarévna herself got out of her carriage, recognised him and swooned.39 But he took the whip, struck her on the back: “You are a maiden, now become a mare!”40 And the Tsarévna turned into a mare.41 He bridled and rode her, and went to the kingdom of his elder brother.42 He galloped at a full pace, put both spurs into her back and used a scourge of three iron rods, and the army followed him, an unbelievable host.43 It may be long, it may be short, at last they came to the boundary, and the doughty youth stopped, collected his army into the barrel, and went to the capital.44 He went straight to the royal palace, and the king himself saw him and looked at the mare and began to wonder: “What is this great hero approaching?45 I have never seen such a fine mare in all my life.”46 So he sent his generals to trade for that horse.47

“No, what an envious king you have!” said the youth.48 “It would evidently be out of the question in your city to come here with a young wife; if you are so greedy for a mare, you would certainly take away my wife.”49

Then he went to the palace and said, “Hail, brother!”50

“Oh, I never knew you!”51

So they set to kissing each other.52

“What sort of barrel have you?”53

“That is for drinking.54 How should I journey forth on the road otherwise?”55

“And the carpet?”56

“Sit down and you will find out.”57

So they sat on the flying carpet, and the younger brother shook it at the corner and they flew higher than the forest, lower than the wandering cloud, straight back to their own country.58 So they flew back, took a room with their father, and as to who they were they never told their father and mother.59 So they then thought they would give a feast to all the christened world.60 They assembled all the people in countless hosts, and for three whole days they gave food and drink to all without requital, without any charge.61 And afterwards every one began saying had any one a tale of wonder to tell; let him start.62 But no one would say: “We, it is said, are strange folk, but——”63

“Well, I will tell you a story,” said the younger brother; “only do not talk until the end.64 Whoever interrupts three times is to be ruthlessly punished.”65 So they all agreed.66

And he began to tell how the two old folks had lived together, how they had had a hen which laid jewels, and how the mother had made friends with the apprentice.67 “What a lie!” interrupted the mistress.68 But the son went on with his tale.69 And he narrated how they had twisted the hen’s neck, and the mother again interrupted.70 At last the story went up to the point when the old woman wished to take away the children, and again she would not stand it: “It is untrue!” she said.71 “Could ever such a thing happen?72 Could ever a mother wish to be torn from her children?”73

“Obviously, it is possible.74 Look at us, mother; we are your children.”75

Then the whole story came out, and the father bade his wife be chopped up into bits.76 He tied the apprentice to the tail of horses, and the horses broke in every direction and scattered his bones over the fields.77 “Let the dog die a dog’s death!” said the old man.78 And he gave all his property to the poor and went to live in his elder son’s kingdom.79