Again the little man no bigger than a nail, with a beard a cubit long, brought a letter. The Water King demanded the dragon’s slayer. The nobleman did not feel like going to the Water King, but there was nothing that he could do. He was ordered to go there. A ship was rigged out and they set sail (Prince Ivan was now serving in the fleet, and somehow happened to be on this ship). They were sailing along briskly when a ship came toward them. It flew like a bird and from it came cries as it rushed by: “The culprit! The culprit!” They sailed on a little farther and met another ship, and again cries came from it: “The culprit! The culprit!” Prince Ivan pointed at the nobleman; he was thrashed and thrashed until he was half dead. The ship went by. Now they came to the Water King. He ordered that a bath of iron or steel be heated red hot and the culprit put in it. The nobleman was terrified, his heart went into his boots—little father death was coming! But one man on the ship had become attached to Prince Ivan and served him faithfully, realizing that he was not of lowly birth. Prince Ivan sent him, saying: “Do you go and sit in that bath.” He went at once, and, wonder of wonders, nothing happened to him; he came back unharmed. Again the culprit was sent for, this time to be brought before the Water King himself. The Water King abused him roundly, thrashed him, and had him driven out. Then they all went home.
Upon his return the nobleman began to boast even louder than before. He did not leave the king’s side for a moment, so impatient was he to have the wedding celebrated. The king agreed, and a day was set for the nuptials. Now the nobleman was very proud—so proud, no one dared to touch him or come near him! But the princess said to her father: “Father, command all the soldiers to assemble; I want to look at them.” Straightway the soldiers were assembled. Princess Martha reviewed them all. When she came to Prince Ivan, she glanced at his cheek and saw the scar she had made when she cut him with her penknife. She took him by the hand and led him to her father. “Here is the man who rescued me from the dragon, father,” she said. “I did not know who he was, but now I recognize him by the scar on his cheek. The nobleman just sat in the woods with his soldiers.” All the soldiers were asked whether they had sat in the woods while the dragon was slain, and they answered: “That is the truth, Your Royal Majesty!” The nobleman was half dead from shame. He was disgraced and banished; but Prince Ivan married Princess Martha, and they began to live and chew bread together.
THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE FOX
ONCE THERE WAS an old man who had a cat and a cock. The old man went to work in the woods; the cat brought him some food and the cock was left to watch the house. Just then a fox came to the house.
Cock-a-doodle-doo, little cock,
Golden crest!
Look out the window
And I’ll give you a pea.
Thus sang the fox as he sat under the window. The cock opened the window and poked out his head to see who was singing. The fox snatched the cock in his claws and carried him off to eat him for dinner. The cock cried out: “The fox is carrying me away, he is carrying the cock beyond dark forests, into distant lands, into foreign countries, beyond thrice nine lands, into the thirtieth kingdom and the thrice tenth empire! Cat Cotonaevich, rescue me!” In the field the cat heard the cock’s voice, rushed after him, overtook the fox, rescued the cock, and brought him home. “Now mind, Petya,” said the cat to the cock, “don’t look out of the window again, don’t trust the fox; he’ll eat you up, bones and all!”
Once again the old man went to work in the woods and the cat went to bring him food. Before leaving, the old man told the cock to watch the house and not to look out of the window. But the fox was wily, he wanted very badly to eat the cock; so he came to the hut and began to sing:
Cock-a-doodle-doo, little cock,
Golden crest!
Look out the window
And I’ll give you a pea—
I’ll give you seeds too.
The cock walked about the room and did not answer. Once again the fox sang his song and cast a pea in through the window. The cock ate the pea and said: “No, fox, you cannot fool me! You want to eat me, bones and all.” “Don’t say such things, Petya. I have no idea of eating you. I just wanted you to pay me a visit, to see my house and take a walk around my estate.” And he sang again:
Cock-a-doodle-doo, little cock,
Golden crest!
I gave you a pea,
I’ll give you seeds too.
The cock looked out of the window and at once the fox snatched him in his claws. The cock cried in a shrill voice: “The fox is carrying me off, carrying the cock beyond dark woods, beyond thick forests, along steep banks, up high mountains! He wants to eat me, bones and all!” In the field the cat heard him, rushed after him, rescued him, and brought him home. “Did I not tell you not to open the window, not to poke out your head, or the fox would eat you, bones and all? Listen now, heed my words! Tomorrow we shall be even farther away.”
Again the old man went to work and again the cat went to bring him his food. The fox stole under the window and began to sing the same song; he sang it three times, but the cock remained silent. The fox said: “What’s the matter, has Petya become dumb?” “No, fox, you cannot fool me, I won’t look out of the window.” The fox cast a pea and several wheat grains in at the window and again sang:
Cock-a-doodle-doo, little cock,
Golden crest,
Butter head,
Look out the window!
I have a big mansion:
In every corner
There’s a measure of wheat;
Eat your fill!
Then he added: “And, Petya, you should also see my collection of curios! Don’t believe the cat; if I wanted to eat you, I would have done so long ago. The truth is, I like you, I want to show you the world, to develop your mind, to teach you how to live. Now show yourself, Petya! I’ll go behind a corner,” and he concealed himself closer to the wall. The cock jumped up on a bench and looked through the window from a distance; he wanted to see whether the fox was still there. Then he poked his head out of the window, and at once the fox snatched him and darted off. The cock sang the same tune as before, but the cat did not hear him. The fox carried the cock away and ate him up behind a fir grove, leaving only his tail feathers for the wind to scatter. The old man and the cat came home and discovered that the cock was gone. They were deeply distressed and said to each other: “This is what comes of not heeding warnings!”
BALDAK BORISIEVICH
IN THE FAMOUS CITY of Kiev, in Tsar Vladimir’s castle, dukes and boyars and mighty champions assembled for a solemn feast. Tsar Vladimir spoke these words: “Hail, boys! Gather together, sit down around one table.” They gathered around one table, ate and drank half their fill, and Tsar Vladimir spoke: “Who would render me a great service? Who would go beyond thrice nine lands, to the thrice tenth kingdom, to the Turkish sultan, and take his steed with the golden mane, kill his talking cat, and spit in the sultan’s own face?” The brave knight Ilya Muromets, son of Ivan, offered to go. Tsar Vladimir had a beloved daughter, and she said these words: “My father, Tsar Vladimir, although Ilya Muromets is boasting loud, he will not perform this task. Disband the solemn feast, father; go to all the taverns in your town and seek the young Baldak, son of Boris, seven years of age.”
And the tsar heeded his daughter, and went to seek the young Baldak Borisievich, and found him in a tavern sleeping under a bench. The tsar pushed him with the toe of his boot and Baldak jumped up from his sleep, as though nothing had happened. “Hail, Tsar Vladimir, what do you want of me?” Whereupon Tsar Vladimir answered: “I invite you to the solemn feast.” “I am not worthy to go to the solemn feast; I get drunk in taverns and wallow on the floor.” Tsar Vladimir spoke these words to him: “If I invite you to the feast, you must come; we have great need of you.” And young Baldak Borisievich bade the tsar return from the tavern to the royal castle, and said that he himself would soon follow.
Baldak remained alone in the tavern, drank enough green
wine to chase away his drunkenness, and went without delay to the castle of Tsar Vladimir. He crossed himself as was prescribed, bowed low as he had been taught, bowed to all sides, and in addition to the Tsar himself. “Hail, Tsar Vladimir,” he said. “Why have you bidden me to this feast?” Tsar Vladimir answered him: “Young Baldak Borisievich, render me a great service. Go beyond thrice nine lands, to the thrice tenth kingdom, to the Turkish sultan. Take from him his steed with the golden mane, kill his talking cat, and spit in the sultan’s own face. Take as many troops as you need, take as much gold as you please!” And young Baldak Borisievich answered: “As you have commanded, Tsar Vladimir! For my troops give me only twenty-nine youths. I myself will be the thirtieth.”
Speedily a tale is spun, with less speed a deed is done. Young Baldak Borisievich set out on his way to the Turkish sultan and managed to arrive just at midnight. He entered the sultan’s courtyard, took the steed with the golden mane from the stables, seized the talking cat and tore him in twain, and spat in the sultan’s own face. And the sultan also had a favorite garden, which extended for three versts; all kinds of tree were planted in this garden, all kinds of flower grew in it. Young Baldak Borisievich ordered his companions, the twenty-nine youths, to cut down the entire garden; he himself fetched fire and with this fire razed everything to the ground. Where the garden had been he pitched thirty thin white canvas tents.
Early in the morning the Turkish sultan awoke; his first glance went to his favorite garden, and as soon as he looked he saw that all the trees had been cut down and burned, and that thirty white canvas tents stood where the garden had been. “Who has thus trespassed upon my garden?” he thought. “An emperor, a king, or a very mighty champion?” The sultan cried in a loud voice for his favorite Turkish pasha, called him before him, and spoke these words: “My kingdom fares ill! I have been expecting a Russian villain, young Baldak Borisievich, and now I am invaded—by whom? An emperor, a king, or a mighty champion? I do not know, nor do I know how to find out.”
As he took counsel, the eldest daughter of the Turkish sultan appeared and said to her father: “What are you holding council about, and what is it that you cannot find out? O Father, Turkish sultan! Give me your blessing and order that twenty-nine maidens, the most beautiful in the whole kingdom, be chosen! I myself will be the thirtieth. We will go to spend the night in those canvas tents and will find the culprit for you.” And her father consented and she went to the tents with twenty-nine maidens, the most beautiful in the kingdom. Young Baldak Borisievich came out to meet her, took her by her white hands, and cried in his loud voice: “Eh you youths, my companions! Take the lovely maidens by their hands, lead them to your tents, and do what you know how to do.” They slept together one night. Next morning the sultan’s eldest daughter returned to him and said: “My beloved father, order the thirty youths from the white canvas tents to come to your house; I myself will point out the culprit.”
Straightway the Turkish sultan sent his favorite pasha to the tents to summon to him young Baldak Borisievich with all his companions. The thirty youths came out of their tents: they were all of one face, like blood brothers, hair for hair, voice for voice! And they spoke these words to the envoy: “Go back, we shall soon follow you.” Young Baldak Borisievich asked his boys: “Is there not some sign on me? Examine me carefully.” And they found that his legs were smeared with gold up to the knees, and his arms with silver up to the elbows. “She is cunning, but I understand her stratagem,” said Baldak, and put the same signs on all his companions: their legs were now gold up to the knees and their arms silver up to the elbows. He ordered them to put on gloves. “Let no one,” he commanded, “take them off without my order when we arrive in the sultan’s house.”
Now they arrived at the sultan’s house. The eldest daughter came forth and pointed out young Baldak Borisievich as the culprit. Baldak said to her: “How do you recognize me—by what proof?” The sultan’s eldest daughter answered: “Remove your boots from your legs, and your gloves from your hands: there I have put my signs. Your legs are gold up to the knees, your arms silver up to the elbows.” “Have we not many such youths?” said young Baldak Borisievich, and gave an order to his boys: “Let everyone remove a boot from one leg, and a glove from one hand!” The same signs that he had were found on everyone—the chambers were illumined by the brightness of the silver and gold. And the Turkish sultan was merciful and kind, and did not believe his daughter. “You lie,” he said. “I need one culprit, and now, according to you, there are thirty culprits!” And the Turkish sultan commanded: “Get out, all of you!”
Thereupon he became even more distressed and aggrieved, and again began to think and to take counsel with his favorite pasha about how to discover the culprit. To their meeting came the sultan’s second daughter and said to him: “Father, give me twenty-nine maidens; I myself will be the thirtieth. I will go to the white canvas tents, spend one night there, and discover the culprit for you.” No sooner said than done. Next morning the Turkish sultan sent his favorite pasha to summon young Baldak Borisievich and his companions to his palace. As before, Baldak answered: “Go back, we shall soon follow you.” As soon as the pasha left, young Baldak cried in his loud voice: “Come out of the tents, all of you, my companions, you twenty-nine youths! See whether there is a sign on me. Straightway they all came out of the tents and found golden hair on his head. Young Baldak Borisievich said: “She is cunning, but I understand her stratagem.” He put golden hair on all the youths, just as had been done to him, and ordered them to cover their rash heads with caps. “Let no one,” he warned, “remove them without my order when we are in the Turkish sultan’s palace.”
As soon as young Baldak Borisievich and his companions entered the sultan’s palace, the sultan said to his second daughter: “My beloved daughter, show me the culprit.” And she knew with certainty who it was, because she had spent the night with him; she walked straight to young Baldak and said: “Here is the culprit.” To this young Baldak Borisievich answered: “How do you recognize me—by what proof?” “Remove your cap from your head: there I have made a sign—golden hair.” “Have we not many such youths?” answered Baldak, and ordered all his boys to throw down their caps. Their golden hair appeared, and the chambers were illumined! The sultan grew angry at his second daughter: “You do not speak the truth! I need one culprit, and according to you all of them are culprits!” And he commanded her: “Leave my palace!”
Now the Turkish sultan was even more distressed and aggrieved than before. But his third and youngest daughter came forth, chided her two elder sisters, and begged her father: “My beloved father, order me to choose twenty-nine maidens, the loveliest in the kingdom. I myself will be the thirtieth, and will find the culprit.” The sultan acceded to the request of his youngest daughter, and she went to the same tents to spend the night. Baldak Borisievich jumped out of his tent, took the sultan’s daughter by her white hands, and led her to his tent. And to his youths he cried in a loud voice: “My boys, take the lovely maidens by the hands and lead them to your tents.” The maidens spent the night there and next morning went home. The sultan sent his favorite pasha for the good youths. The envoy went to the white canvas tents and summoned young Baldak and his companions to the Turkish sultan himself. “Go back, we shall soon follow you,” was the reply. Young Baldak Borisievich spoke to his companions: “Well, boys, see whether there is a sign on me.” They looked and searched all over him, but could not find any sign. “Ah brothers, it looks as if I am lost now,” said Baldak, and asked them to render him a last service. He gave them each a sharp saber and told them to conceal the weapons under their clothes. “And when I give the signal,” he bade them, “cut in all directions!”
As soon as they came before the Turkish sultan, the youngest daughter came forth and pointed at young Baldak. “Here is the culprit!” she said. “He has a golden star under his heel.” And a golden star was found under his heel just as she had said. The sultan sent all of the twenty-
nine youths out of his palace, and held only the culprit, young Baldak, son of Boris, and cried to him in a loud, shrill voice: “I will take you, put you on the palm of one hand, and clap with the other. There will be nothing left of you but a moist spot.” Young Baldak answered him: “O Turkish sultan! Emperors, kings, and mighty heroes fear you, but I, a seven-year-old boy, do not fear you. I took your steed with the golden mane, I killed your talking cat, spat in your own face, and cut and burned your favorite garden!” The sultan fell into an even greater rage than before and ordered his servants to set up in the square two oaken pillars with a maplewood crossbeam, and to prepare three nooses on this crossbeam—the first of silk, the second of hemp, and the third of bast. And he proclaimed through the whole town that all the people, big and little, should assemble on the square to see how the Russian culprit would be put to death.
The Turkish sultan himself got into a light carriage and took with him his favorite pasha and his youngest daughter, who had discovered the culprit. Young Baldak was tied and chained and placed at their feet, and all of them drove straight to the oaken pillars. On the way young Baldak spoke thus: “I will propose riddles, and you, Turkish sultan, shall guess them. A horse runs fast. Why does his tail drag?” “What a blockhead you are,” answered the sultan. “Every horse is born with a tail.” They drove a little farther, and Baldak spoke again: “The front wheels are moved by the horse, but why the devil do the back wheels roll?” “What a blockhead! In sight of death he has lost his mind and is all confused! The master made the four wheels, so four wheels roll.” They arrived at the square and got out of the carriage. They took the culprit, untied him and unchained him, and led him to the gallows.
Russian Fairy Tales (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library) Page 8