Epics, legends and tales - a legend about a brave knight, about a king's son. "a valiant knight of our country, who killed nine hundred and twenty enemies"

I snatched this cover with my eye in the announcements right away. A complex combination of traditional lubok colors, a repetition of the famous Bilibino technique of “miniatures”, which are placed on the cover and form a frame for the central picture, and, of course, the style is a warm, slightly naive style of lubok. More precisely, a subtle stylization of a popular print, because it is impossible to revive a bygone tradition. You can creatively rethink it, give it life on a new turn.

In any culture there are many layers and currents, culture is a complex organism, an ocean of possibilities and probabilities, and from time to time it raises certain images to the surface. Responding to the challenges of the time or opening up to the artist's searching gaze.

Usachevsky and Ryabininsky Bova (and the artist here is a full-fledged co-author of the book) are just such a case. It is impossible not to rejoice that the text that was in popular culture Russian people for 300 recent years, returns.

Once the ocean, then everything is connected. Here is a medieval gesture, a song about deeds, a typical example of French heroic epic travels around Europe, reflected in the mirrors of English, Irish, Welsh. Here's to end of XII century, the knight "Bev from Anton" reaches Italy, where in the Venetian dialect he turns into "Bovo d" Anton.

From Venice to Croatia - 100 miles across the Adriatic, and who gets sick, they will pass along the coast. They bring wine, grain, olives, books. Translation into Serbo-Croatian is almost a ticket to Rus', the languages ​​​​were closer then, and the world is much wider. For three centuries, history has reached our expanses. Russified the knight Bev in the hands of the "fryazhsky carving masters", became the Bow-King. They took his story to popular prints booksellers in all corners of Muscovite Rus'. And the plot spun in the millstones of our culture.

Here Maria Gannibal, Pushkin's grandmother, tells him a fairy tale about Bova, right there, in one historical period, literally at his side, Radishchev for the first time retells Bova with an epic tale. So the grown-up Pushkin-Lyceum student himself tries to paint this story in a new way, in a Voltairian ironic way, with a still fragile pen. It does not work out, and the genius of our literature jokingly gives it to Batyushkov (which he does not use), leaving himself a handful of names-images as a consolation. From here, from Bova, and Pushkin's Gvidon, and Tsar Saltan, and the evil Tsar Dadon, in Bova one of the roots of our children's "gold reserve".

And the wheels keep turning, the people are changing, history itself is changing, and who knows what the natural course of events of our glorious knight would lead to, but the living current folk life stopped on October 17th (according to the new style).

How Peter upset for later generations medieval Rus' into a vaguely guessed abyss, where the insane tossed and crushed each other, similar friend at each other like twins, bearded men in funny costumes and slanting hordes in malakhas galloped, so the Bolsheviks overturned the whole history into cultural oblivion Imperial Russia. Soviet life was created with a new, unprecedented hand, and there was no place for Bove the King in the bright future.

He was remembered only by old people who naturally and unnaturally disappeared in Soviet Russia, writers, philologists, and fragments of tsarist Russia scattered all over the world. One of these fragments, Alexei Remizov, a Russian writer of the most original nature, in the middle of the 20th century turned to Beauvais, dusted off a long-standing plot and tried to discern in faded features folk tale lofty, antique scope, tragedy. But his version, although it became part of Russian literature, still did not start the frozen cultural mechanism. You won’t read it to your children, you won’t sing it.

The last attempt was the prose adaptation of Bova by the writer and translator Leonid Yakhnin in the late 70s. in a strange way I know the least about this version, it slipped almost unnoticed, although, as readers say, a worthy thing.

Time passes, and now the undercurrent of culture pushes history to the surface. After all, Usachevsky Bova was not written by order of the publishing house, Usachov hooked and pulled out this plot with his inner instinct fifteen years ago, and the text lay, lay, lay, waiting for the time signal. Now you can, jump, knight.

Larisa Ryabinina managed to “play” with the style of the popular print, updating it in places in an almost cinematic spirit (for example, the book opens with a list of characters, where each minor person is assigned a separate picture with a description). Or here are the lovingly drawn out details: what are some wisps of wool of the giant Polkan, half-dog, half-man, or oriental ornaments in the tent of Khan Saltan Saltanovich.

And Usachev managed to update the language of the fairy tale in the same way. It reads like finished script for the puppet theater, rhythmic prose with poetic inserts so clearly fits into the format folk theater that I would not be surprised if somewhere the actors have already taken him away by roles. So I read “Bov” to my son and wait for “Yeruslan Lazarevich” from the same author and in the same publishing house.

Alexey Oleinikov, especially for

And Bova arrived at the sea haven and jumped into the tent, and the two kings were tied under the bench, King Zenzevei Aidarovich and King Markobrun. And Bova unleashed two kings and put them on horses. And they went to the Kingdom of Armenia for 3 days and 3 nights over human corpses, barely a good horse galloping in blood up to its knees.

And Bova's speech to his sovereign Zenzevei Aidarovich and King Markobrun: "If the sovereign buys a good serf, then the serf will curry favor with his sovereign." And King Markobrun began to speak to King Zenzevei Aidarovich: “I heard from old people: if the sovereign buys a good serf, and the serf earns his favor for his sovereign, that serf is endowed and released.” And King Zenzevey Aidarovich began to say: “I heard from old people that it is suitable to endow such a serf and call to oneself.” And two kings arrived in the Armenian kingdom and went to the royal chambers and began to drink and eat and be merry. And Bova went to the stable and went to bed and slept for 9 days and 9 nights.

And in those days, two kings, King Zenzevey Aidarovich and King Markobrun, went with hawks to the backwaters to amuse themselves. And at that time the butler summoned 30 young men, brave knights, and began to say: “Come, young men, and kill Bova in the sleepy stable, and I will give you a lot of gold and silver.” And everyone wants to gain. And 30 young men rushed to Bova at the stable, and Bova was fast asleep. And among those 30 young men there was one wise man. And he began to say: “Only we cannot kill sleepy Bova. And Bova wakes up, what will happen to us? Bova - a brave knight, killed Bova strong and glorious hero Lukoper and 100,000 troops beat. Let's go to the butler! And the butler is the same as our sovereign Zenzevey Aidarovich, and the butler will write a letter in the royal name and send Bova to the Rakhlensky kingdom, but Bova will not recognize him from sleep. And the butler liked that word. And the butler went to the royal chamber and wrote a letter from King Zenzevey to Tsar Saltan Saltanovich, so that Tsar Saltan Saltanovich “did not turn on me, it was not I who killed Lukoper, your son, and beat 100,000 troops. His name is Bova, and I sent him to you head to death. And the butler wrote the letter and sealed it, and he himself lay down on the king's bed and dressed himself in the king's blanket, and sent it along Bov to the stable. And Bova came to the royal chamber and did not recognize Bova as the butler. And he began to speak in the royal name: “Bova, serve me with faith and truth. Go to the Rakhlen kingdom, take a petition from me to Tsar Saltan Saltanovich. And Bova accepted the letter and struck with his forehead and went to the stable. And he did not saddle the heroic horse, saddled Bov the pacer and went to the Rakhlen kingdom.

And Bova travels for 9 days and 9 nights, and Bova can’t run over either a river or a stream, but Bova wants to drink well. And he saw Bova: from the road about a mile away stands an oak, and under the oak stands a Chernoryets. And Bova went. And the pilgrim said: “My lord, the brave knight Bova the prince! I drink, and to you, sovereign, I will give you the same. And the old man scooped up the cup and poured in the soporific potion and gave it to Bova. And Bova drank, and Bova fell from his horse to the ground and slept for 9 days and 9 nights. And the old pilgrim took away the treasure-sword from Bova and took away the good horse. And Bova got up from sleep, but he had neither a good pacer horse, nor a treasurer's sword. And Bova shed a tear: “Merciful Savior and most pure Mother of God! The old man has already hurt me, and the sovereign sent me to death. And Bova went, where the eyes are. And Bove the Lord rules the way. And Bova came to the kingdom of Rakhlen and entered the royal chambers and put the letter on the table. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich accepted the letter, printed it out and read it. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich shouted: “Oh villain Bova, now you yourself have come to my death, I can hang you!” And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich shouted: “Do I have young men, brave knights? Take Bova and take her to be hanged." And soon the rails were set up, the cauldrons were prepared, and they took Bova 30 young men under his right hand, and the other 30 young men under left hand and took Bova to be hanged. And he saw Bova reli and Bova shed tears: “Merciful Savior and most pure Mother of God! What is my fault, what is my untruth, why am I dying? And God Bova put it on his mind that Bova was a strong hero. And he shook Bov with his right hand and knocked down 30 young men, and he shook Bov with his left hand and killed the other 30 young men. And Bova fled from the Rahlen kingdom.

And the king Saltan Saltanovich saw and ordered to blow the horn and gathered his yard of 5 thousand and chased after Bova. And they caught up and caught and brought to Tsar Saltan Saltanovich. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich began to speak, like blowing a trumpet: “You, villain Bova, want to escape death. I can hang you!"

And that Tsar Saltan had a daughter beautiful princess Minchitriya. And she put on a precious dress and went to her father’s ward and began to say: “My lord, father, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich! You can’t raise your son, but you can’t raise my brother, and you can’t raise 100,000 troops, but you will bring down such a strong hero. And you, sovereign father, give him to me in my arms, and I will convert him to my Latin faith and to our god Akhmet, and he will take me instead of a wife and will be our kingdom's controller and protector from all countries. And Tsar Saltan's daughter, the beautiful Princess Minchitriya, was in love. And Tsar Saltan says: "My dear child, the beautiful Princess Minchitriya, be at your will."

And Princess Minchitriya hit her father with her brow, and went to her mansions and gave Bova a lot of drink and food of various kinds and began to say: “Bova, forget your Orthodox Christian faith and take me instead of a wife. And if you don’t believe in our Latin faith and don’t take me as your wife, my father can hang you or put you on a stake. And Bova’s speech: “Even if I am hanged to be or impaled to be, I don’t believe your Latin faith and I can’t forget my true one.” And Princess Minchitriya ordered Bova to be firmly imprisoned and covered with iron boards and covered with sand, and she did not give Bova food or drink for 5 days and 5 nights. And Bove wants to drink and eat well.

And the beautiful princess Minchitriya put on a precious dress and went to Bova in the dungeon and ordered the sand to be removed and the iron board to be opened. And she went to Bovin in the dungeon and could not see Bovin's beauty for 3 hours. "Bova! Would it be better for you to die of starvation, or to be hanged, or to be impaled? Believe in our Latin faith and take me as your wife.” “Already I am already starving to death. And if I want to be hanged or put on a stake, but I don’t believe your Latin faith and I can’t forget the Orthodox Christian faith».

And Princess Minchitriya did not give Bova either food or drink, and went to her father’s chamber and began to say: “My lord, father, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich! I could not seduce Bova. Hang him up, put him on a stake." And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich began to say: “Do I have 30 young men? Go to the dungeon and take Bova and bring him to me, I can hang Bova.” And the 30 young men stood up and went to Beauvais in the dungeon, and could not remove the sand and open the iron boards, and began to break the roof. And Bova twirled: “I don’t have a treasure-sword, I have nothing to resist against 30 young men.” And he saw Bova in the corner in the dungeon with a sword-treasurer, and Bova took the sword-treasurer, Bova was joyful. And the young men began to go down to Bova in the dungeon, a man two and three, and five and six. And Bova whips them and puts them down with a ladder. And he cut down all 30 young men and folded them with a ladder. And Tsar Saltan got angry at those young men: "Let's go and talk with Bova." And he sent 30 other young men and ordered Bova to bring them immediately. And 30 young men came and began to go down to Bova in the dungeon. And Bova flogs and lays down with a ladder. And Bova came out of the dungeon and fled from the kingdom of Rahlen. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich ordered to blow the horn and gathered troops of 30,000 and chased Bova.

And Bova ran to the sea haven, and Bova saw the ship and jumped on the ship, rolled away from the shore. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich shouted in a loud voice: “Guest shipbuilders, return from the ship my traitor, who left my dungeon, and his name is Bova. And if you do not give up my traitor, henceforth, ships will not sail past my kingdom and do not trade in my kingdom. And the shipbuilders want to give Bova off the ship. And Bova took out a sword-treasurer from his bosom and cut down the peasants and threw them into the sea. And the guards on the ship buried themselves and began to say: “Sir, brave knight, you cannot destroy us, but we will run to you, sovereign, wherever you need.

“I will also follow your example,” said de Longchamp, and, taking his spear at the ready, he galloped towards the German knight and struck a blow with such force that he pierced him through. At that moment, another knight who had not yet taken part in this mini-battle stabbed Longshan's horse in the chest with his sword. The animal fell and dragged the rider along with it. Dismounting from his horse, the German knight leaned his knee on Eugene de Longchamp's chest.

“Monjou and Saint-Denis, help!” - Philip uttered a cry, seeing the defeated Longshan, and hurried to his aid. But it was too late. The German knight managed to remove the helmet from Eugene, who had lost consciousness from the fall, and stuck a dagger in his throat. He didn't have time to get up. Burning with revenge, the king, who did not have time to help his comrade in arms, struck the knight's head bent over Eugene with such force that the helmet could not stand it, and the king's sword, cutting off the neck, completely separated the head from the body.

The German infantry arrived in time, armed with short pikes, surrounded the king from all sides. Only one knight of Montagny remained next to Philip, holding the royal banner. All around them they saw only the faces of the Saxon spearmen, gradually squeezing the circle and looking greedily at the golden crown on the monarch's helmet.

However, Philip fought with desperate courage, breaking into the ranks of the soldiers and inflicting blows that forced them to retreat several times.

Montagny also showed miracles of courage. In his left hand he held a banner, which he then lowered, then raised, letting those who saw it know that the king was in danger. The right hand, armed with a long sword, sowed havoc in the ranks of the enemy.

However, in vain the king and his standard-bearer showed miracles of courage, killing their opponents with each blow of the sword. In place of the fallen soldiers, new ones appeared, and the circle in which the knights fought closed closer and closer.

Many Saxon knights, seeing the royal banner, hastened to the hill, eager to capture it.

At one moment, a soldier, who was behind the king, struck and seriously wounded the horse. Philip felt the horse stagger under him, and in the next second they were both on the ground.

Several hands with daggers simultaneously tried to break through the armor, trying to get to the vulnerable prisoner in them. human body. It seemed that only the memory of Agnes and a brief prayer remained for Philip, when a sudden cry of "Auvern! Auvern!" resounded in his ears and brought back to life, from which he had already said goodbye. Bowing his head to the bow of the saddle, receiving thousands of blows, but not stopping to reflect them, in a completely broken weapon, on a horse covered in blood and foam, Tybold of Auvergne made his way through the crowd of enemies and jumped off his horse near the fallen king and his banner. Several soldiers with daggers, looking for a gap in the armor that protected Philip, fell dead. The rest retreated, but realizing that there was only one person in front of them, they rushed at him in an angry flock. However, the long sword of the Count of Auvergne smashed anyone who tried to get close to him or Philip. Many brave souls paid with their lives for such an attempt. Seeing that the warrior could not be approached without the risk of losing his head, the foot soldiers withdrew, but they were replaced by galloping knights. The fight broke out with new force. And in this battle, one man opposed many.

victory for all French army, the life, death or captivity of the king, the fate of France, and perhaps the whole world, depended at that moment on the hand of a man deprived of reason. But this man was one of the bravest and most experienced warriors. Auverne's armor was chopped, blood streamed from numerous wounds, and every minute he received new ones, but the count did not retreat a single step, covering the king with himself, until the French knights rode to the rescue, who finally saw the plight of their monarch.

However, the numerical advantage was still on the side of the Saxons, when suddenly the cry of "de Cussy! de Cussy" was heard at the foot of the hill, and the long spears of the tankervilles appeared. The order that reigned in their ranks, discipline and faith in their commander helped them to defeat the enemy and come to the aid of their king in time. The Saxon spearmen were literally crushed by de Cussy's heavily armed horsemen. The German knights also could not withstand the onslaught and were forced to retreat. Detachments of the Compiegne and Abbeville city militias joined at the foot of the hill, and almost an hour-long battle around the royal banner ended in victory for the French army.

De Cussy immediately rushed to the king. Philip was helped to free himself from the horse that crushed him, he got up and, without sitting on the new horse brought to him, asked:

“Where is the Count of Auvergne?” I owe him my life.

“Here he is,” someone from the king’s retinue exclaimed, “in black armor.”

“De Barre, you almost stepped on his chest.

The remains of his helmet were removed from him, and the king himself knelt and raised the head of his protector, unable to believe that such a valiant knight who sacrificed his life for his monarch was dead.

Auverne, however, was still alive. His lips moved, but no sound reached the king.

- Auvern! the king said with rough male tenderness. - Auvern! If you die, I will lose the best of my subjects!

Gathering the last of his strength, the count whispered something, but so quietly that Philip did not hear. He bent over the dying man so low that his ear almost touched Thibold's lips.

“Tell her…” whispered the Count in a weak, broken voice, “tell her that I died saving your life… I did it for her… and out of love for her…”

“I'll give it to her,” Philip promised. - I swear on my honor, I will pass everything on! And I don't know her well, Tiebold, if she doesn't shed tears for you!

A faint smile appeared on the dying man's lips. He glanced gratefully at Philip, and at that very moment the fire that burned in his eyes was extinguished forever.

Farewell, Auverne! Farewell, brave and faithful knight! the king said. “De Barre, order him to be buried with full honors. Where is the battle taking place now? he turned to the soldiers. “Looks like you weren't wasting your time. The left wing of the enemy has taken flight - or is my vision deceiving me?

“You are right, sire,” replied Heinrich de Barre. “And Ferrand, Count of Flanders, is taken prisoner by the Duke of Burgundy.

He almost got caught, but he managed to get away. But what is this, sir: you have a fragment of a spear in your armor ...

- Don't worry about it! interrupted the king. - Get down to business! Otto's army is in turmoil, its ranks are broken. One more throw - and we will win, De Cussy, go ahead! Knights, uphold your honor! Burgundians, fight for the Fatherland! Monjou, Saint Denis! Go ahead, gentlemen! To battle!

It was a critical moment. Otto could muster his forces, which were twice the size of the French army, and counterattack. Moreover, the right flank of the allied army offered strong resistance. And although the Earl of Sallisbury, overturned by a blow of a spear inflicted on him by de Beauvais, dropped out of the battle, the Earl of Boulogne, who remained on the right flank at the head of the English, fought desperately and did not retreat a single step.

The Germans and their British allies took to flight. Emperor Otto barely escaped captivity, but his commanders ended up in the hands of their opponents. The Allies were completely defeated.

When the battle, which lasted more than six hours, finally ended, there were so many prisoners that King Philip was forced to stop the pursuit of the retreating enemy: the winners could remain in fewer numbers than the defeated.

At five o'clock in the evening the trumpets played the lights out. So ended famous battle under Buvin, the likes of which have never been seen in history. The battle, which significantly strengthened the position of France and deprived John of England of almost all of his possessions on the continent.

CHAPTER VII

The battle was over, order was restored, and the victorious army encamped on the banks of the river. Philip-Augustus, having retired to his tent, spent there in seclusion for about an hour, after which he called the squire and ordered to invite the military leaders who distinguished themselves most on the battlefield. The evening was delightful, and the rays of the setting sun penetrated the tent.

In all the splendor of royal grandeur, Philip received the nobles and nobles of his state. And there was no shadow of arrogance in his face when he talked with the soldiers in a paternally affectionate way: he thanked some for their support, praised others for their exploits.

“Thank you, brave Duke of Burgundy!” said the monarch, holding his hand. - We won a complete victory, and your merit is undeniable. And here is Bishop de Beauvais. By God, he is as excellent with a club as with a shepherd's staff. I hope, holy father, that there is a text in Scripture in which a priest is allowed to shed the blood of the enemy, defending his Fatherland.

“That is not bloodthirstiness, my lord,” replied the militant prelate. - And there is a difference: to slay in battle does not mean to slaughter.

“Be that as it may,” the king smiled, “but it was with your help that we destroyed the treacherous alliance directed against France.

- A! Here is the young Duke of Champagne! Duke, you now rightfully deserve spurs.

– Heinrich de Barre, you are one of best warriors and comparable to the legendary knights round table King Arthur. I grant you five hundred acres of land in my valley of Soissons.

The time of creation of the third edition of "The Tale of Bova the Queen" - late XVII century. This folk tale was so popular in Russia that the names of its heroes entered the work of even A.S. Pushkin. Until 1918, it was published in mass editions. The arrangement offered to the reader preserves all the details of the plot and age-old wisdom this remarkable monument of literature of Ancient Rus'.

TALE ABOUT BOVA KING
Arranged by Sergei Smetanin

1
In a certain kingdom, in a great state, in glorious city Antone lived a good King Guidon.
And he learned that in the glorious city of Dementian, King Kirbit had a daughter, the beautiful Princess Milithris.
And he called his beloved servant Richard to him, handed him a letter and said: "Servant Richard! Serve me faithfully, go to the city of Dementian to the good and glorious King Kirbit to marry me."
And the servant Richard did not disobey his sovereign, accepted the letter, bowed, and went to the city of Dementian to the good and glorious King Kirbit.
And the servant Richard came to the city of Dementian, and delivered the letter to King Kirbit.
And the king went to the chambers of the beautiful Princess Militrisa with the words: “My daughter, Militrisa! An ambassador from King Gvidon has come to our city to woo you. And I cannot refuse him, because he will gather a lot of troops, our city will burn with fire and he will roll a brand, but he will take you by force.
And the beautiful Princess Militrisa fell on her knees before her father, saying: “My lord, father, the glorious King Kirbit! When I was young, Tsar Dodon wooed me. And you, my lord, did not give me to him. give king Gvidon for king Dodon. King Dodon will be the ruler of our city and protector from all countries."
And the glorious King Kirbit could not defend himself from the glorious King Gvidon and gave his daughter, his beautiful Princess Militrisa, for King Gvidon.
And King Gvidon lived with her for three years, and gave birth to a son, a brave knight Bova prince.
And the beautiful princess Militrisa called the servant, and wrote a letter to King Dodon: "Kind and glorious king Dodon! Come to the city of Anton, bring out King Guidon, and take me as your wife."
"And if you, servant Richard, disobey your empress, I will slander you before King Guidon, so that he orders you to be executed with an evil death."
And the servant Richard did not disobey his empress, he accepted the letter and went to Tsar Dodon.
And the servant Richard came to King Dodon, and entered the royal chambers, and laid the letter on the table in front of King Dodon.
And Tsar Dodon accepted the letter, and printed it out, and read it, and shook his head, and laughed: "Why does your sovereign embarrass me? She is married to King Gvidon and her son is the brave knight Bova the prince."
And the servant said: “Sire, good King Dodon! Leave me here, order them to put me in prison and feed me enough. And yourself, sovereign, go to our city Anton.
And Tsar Dodon rejoiced, and ordered to blow the horn. And he gathered troops of 37,000. They went under Anton and set up tents in the royal meadow.
And Militrisa saw them from her chamber, put on a precious dress, went to the royal chambers, and said: "My lord, good King Gvidon, I am pregnant for the second time. I wanted wild boar meat. Kill the boar and feed me fresh meat."
And King Guidon was delighted, because he had not heard such speeches for three years from his beautiful princess Militrisa.
And the king ordered to saddle a horse, took a spear in his hands, and went to an open field to hunt for a wild boar.
And the beautiful princess Militris ordered the city gates to be opened and joyfully met Tsar Dodon. She took him by the white hands, kissed him kindly on the lips, and led him to the royal chambers. And they began to drink, eat and be merry.
And the brave knight Bova the prince, still a foolish child, went to the stable and hid under the manger. Bova had Uncle Simbalt, he entered the stable, found Bova under the manger and said: “My sovereign, the brave knight, Bova the prince! Your mother is a villain, the beautiful princess Militrisa. yours, the good and glorious King Gvidon. And you are still a small child, you cannot avenge the death of your father. We run, sovereign, to the city of Sumin. That city is very strong."
And Bova said to Uncle Simbalt: "My lord, Uncle Simbalt! I'm still a small child, I can't sit on a good horse and gallop at full speed." And uncle Simbalt saddled himself a good horse, and Bove a pacer, gathered thirty young men for himself and fled to the city of Sumin.
And there were traitors in the city, and they told King Dodon and the beautiful princess Militrisa that uncle Simbalt fled to Sumin and took the prince Bova with him.
And Tsar Dodon ordered to blow the horn, and gathered troops of 40,000, and chased Uncle Simbalt and Bovoy.
And the army caught up with Uncle Simbalt and Bova the prince. Uncle Simbalt looked around and saw the chase, and rushed off at full horse speed, and hid in the city of Sumine.
But Bova the prince could not ride away, and Bova fell from his horse to the ground. And they took Bova and brought him to Tsar Dodon.
And Tsar Dodon sent Bova to his mother, Princess Militrissa.
And King Dodon came near the city of Sumin, and set up royal tents in the meadow. And, resting in the tent, he had a very terrible dream, as if Bova the prince was riding on a good horse, holding a spear in his hand and piercing the heart of Tsar Dodon.
And Tsar Dodon called his brother to him, told his dream, and sent his brother to the city of Anton to the beautiful princess Militrisa, to tell about that dream and to Bova for that dream to put an evil death.
And the brother of Tsar Dodon went straight to the city of Anton, to tell a dream and ask the princess to give Bova to put him to death.
And Militrisa said: "I can put Bova to death myself. I will put him in prison and will not let him eat or drink, then he will die."
And King Dodon stood under Sumin for 6 months, and could not take the city of Sumin, and returned to the city of Anton.
And uncle Simbalt ordered to blow the horn, and gathered troops of 15,000, and went under the city of Anton. He began to beat the city wall relentlessly and shout, and ask for the extradition of the sovereign of his Prince Bova: "Don't give me my sovereign Bova the prince, I won't leave the city alive!"
And the beautiful Princess Militrisa said to King Dodon: "My lord, King Dodon. This villain will not give us peace day or night."
And King Dodon ordered to blow the horn, and gathered troops of 30,000, and drove uncle Simbalt.
And uncle Simbalt fled to the city of Sumin and closed tightly.
And Princess Milithris ordered Bova to be put in prison, covered with an iron board, covered with sand and not allowed to drink and eat for five days and five nights. And Beauvais, in his youth, really wants to eat.
And when the beautiful princess Militrisa passed through the royal court, Bova saw her from the dungeon and shouted in a loud voice: “My sovereign, mother, beautiful princess Militrisa! Why don’t you, my empress, send me neither food nor drink? Starvation is already approaching me!”
And the beautiful princess Militrisa said: "My dear child, Bova the prince! Truly, I have forgotten you from grief. I grieve for your father, for my sovereign, the good King Guidon. I will send you food and drink."
And the beautiful Princess Milithris entered the royal chambers and kneaded two loaves of bread with her own hands in snake venom. She baked two loaves of bread and sent with the girl to Bova in the dungeon.
And the girl, having come to the dungeon, ordered to shovel the sand and open the board.
And the girl came to Bova in the dungeon, wept and said: "Sire, brave knight, Bova the prince! Do not eat this bread, you will die. Your mother, and my sovereign, the beautiful princess Militrisa, kneaded this bread with snake venom."
And Bova took the loaf and threw it to the dog, and the other to the second dog. And as soon as the dogs ate the bread, they vomited.
And Bova shed a tear: "Lord! Why did my empress mother want to betray me to an evil death?"
And the girl gave Bova her bread. And Bova ate. And the girl, coming out of the dungeon, did not close it and did not pull the iron board.
And Bova came out of the dungeon, and fled through the city wall. He jumped off the wall and knocked off his legs, and lay outside the city for three days and three nights.
And Bova got up and went wherever his eyes looked. And Bova came to the seashore and saw a ship. And Bova shouted loudly, so that the waves rose on the sea, and the ship trembled.
And the sailors were surprised that such a small child was screaming so loudly.
They sent a boat and ordered to ask whether he was of Christian or Tatar origin. And if Christian, then take him to the ship.
And Bova said: "I'm not a Tatar, but a Christian, a sexton's son, and my mother was a laundress."
And they took Bova on the ship. And the sailors asked him: "How your name?" And Bova said: "My name is Bova."
And Bova began to walk around the ship. And the shipbuilders are all surprised, they can’t see enough of Bovin’s beauty, he is very handsome.
And when Bova went to bed, they argued which of them he would serve.
And Bova woke up and said: “Do not quarrel over me. I will serve you according to the calculation: whoever saw me first on the shore, I will serve him until dinner, and whoever saw me after, that after dinner until evening.
And the sailors liked his words. They raised the anchors, raised the sails, sailed on the sea for three years and three months, and sailed to the Armenian kingdom. And in the Armenian kingdom there was a king Zenzevey Adarovich.
And the sailors threw the gangway ashore, but Bova remained on the ship.
And King Zenzevey Adarovich sent to ask what kind of ship he came from, where the guests came from and with what goods. The messengers, having come to the ship and saw Bova on the ship, could not see enough of its beauty and forgot to ask what kingdom the ship was from and what city the guests with goods were from.
And then King Zenzevey ordered to saddle the horse, he himself went to the ship and saw: a very handsome young man walks on the ship. And he forgot to ask himself where the ship was from. He began to ask the guests to sell the boy to him: "Guests-shipmen, sell me the boy, take 30 buckets of gold from me."
And the sailors said: "Sir, King Zenzevei Adarovich! We cannot sell that boy to us, since he is our common worker." And King Zenzevey said to them: “And if he is your common worker, then sell him to me for 30 buckets of gold, and trade in my kingdom tax-free; and if you don’t sell, then you will not leave my kingdom alive and henceforth past my kingdom your ships can't go."
And the guests-shipmen sold Bova, and took 30 buckets of gold for him.
And King Zenzevey Adarovich put Bova on a horse, and went to the Armenian kingdom, and began to ask Bova: "Bova, what kind are you, royal or royal?"
And Bova said: "My lord, Zenzevey Adarovich! I am not of royal or royal family, I am of Christian family, the son of a sexton, and my mother was a laundress."
And King Zenzeway said: "And if you, Bova, are of such a bad kind, then serve in my stable, you will be the head groom." And Bova bowed to his sovereign and went to the stable. And Bove was then seven years old.

And Bova began to serve at the stable. And that king Zenzevey Adarovich had a daughter, the beautiful princess Druzhnevna. And she saw from her choir Bova in the stable, and from his beauty the whole stable was lit up.
And the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna put on a precious dress and went to the royal chambers to her father.
And, having come, she said: “My lord, father, King Zenzevey Adarovich! There are many, sir, I have mothers and nannies, and red maidens, but there is not a single servant. Tomorrow, sire, I have a feast, and there is no one to serve at the table. Please, sir, give me that serf you bought from the shipbuilders."
And King Zenzevei Adarovich loved his daughter. "My daughter, beautiful Princess Druzhnevna, be at your will." And he ordered to call Bova. And Bova went to the royal chamber, bowed to his sovereign. And King Zenzevei Adarovich said: "Bova! Tomorrow cook at Druzhnevna's, and distribute dishes, and wait at the table. And also, Bova, listen to my order, be constantly at Druzhnevna's." And Bova bowed, and went to the stable. And Druzhnevna bowed to her father, and went to the rear mansions.
And when the night passed and the day came, the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna sent the girl to the stable. The girl called Bova, he got dressed, went to the back mansion, and the beautiful princess Druzhnevna did not sit still in front of Bova and got up. And Bova said: "Madam, the beautiful princess! You are not doing well, you are standing up against me, you serf." And the princess was not offended by Bova.
And when the feast began, Bova brought a swan. And the beautiful princess was butchering the swan, and dropped the knife under the table. And she herself says: "Bova, give me a knife!" And Bova threw himself under the table. And the beautiful princess sank under the table, and did not take the knife, but took Bova by the head and kissed him on the mouth, and on the eyes, and on the ears. And Bova pulled away, and again stood at the table, and began to scold his mistress: "Beautiful Princess Druzhnevna! It is not good for you to kiss me, your servant, on the lips, and on the ears, and on the eyes." - And when the feast was over, Bova said: "Let me go to the stable to my comrades." And Bova went to the stable, and the beautiful princess Druzhnevna could not see enough of him after him.
And Bova, having come to the stable, went to bed, and slept for 5 days and 5 nights. The grooms could not wake him up, so they went to mow, and they mowed for Bova.
Bova got up and went to the mowers, met them, took his part of the hay and chose different colors from it, wove a wreath and put it on his head. And came to the stable. And the beautiful princess, seeing a wreath on Bova's head, sent the girl to the stable. And the girl called Bova to Druzhnevna.
Bova came to the rear mansions. And the beautiful princess could not sit still, stood up against Bova and said: "Bova, take off the wreath, put it on my head." And Bova said: "Madam, the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna! It is unsuitable for a serf from his head to put a wreath on your head with his own hands." And Druzhnevna said: “And if you don’t do as I said, then I will slander you before the father. And the father orders you to be executed with an evil death.” Bova took the wreath and threw it against the brick wall. And the princess raised the wreath, pressed it to her heart, and began to admire it, as if it were gold or pearl. And Bova went out of the ward, slammed the door, and a brick fell out of the wall and hurt Bova's head. The beautiful princess treated him with her medicines. And Bova came to the stable, and went to bed, and slept for 9 days and 9 nights.
And King Markobrun came from the Zadonsk kingdom, and with him troops of 40,000. He set up tents in the meadow and wrote a letter to King Zenzevei Adarovich: “Give your daughter for me with love, but if you don’t give it - I will burn your kingdom with fire and shake a brand, and your daughter I'll take it by force." And King Zenzevey Adarovich could not resist Markobrun, and met him at the city gates, and took him by the white hands, and kissed him on his sugary lips, and called him his beloved son-in-law. And they went to the royal chambers, and began to feast in joy.
And Markobrunov's domestics amused themselves outside the city on good horses. And Bova got up and heard a horse neighing. He went to the rear mansions and said: "Madam, the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna! What kind of noise and horse neighing is behind our kingdom?" And the beautiful princess said: “Bova, you sleep for a long time, you don’t know anything! King Markobrun came from the Zadonsk kingdom, and with him 40,000 troops, and besieged our kingdom. And my father could not defend himself, and met him at the city gates, and called him beloved son-in-law, and he is my husband." And Bova said: "Madam, the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna! There is nothing for me to ride with Markobrunov's servants to amuse myself. Get me a good horse and a sword-treasurer, an iron club and strong armor, and a shield." And the beautiful princess said: “You are still a small child, only seven years old, and you don’t know how to own a good horse, and gallop at full speed, and wave an iron mace.”
And Bova went to the stable, and saddled the pacer, and went out of town to Markobrunov's household to amuse himself. And he had neither a treasure sword nor a spear, he only took a broom with him. And the Markobrunov domestics laughed: "What kind of bl...n son went out alone to amuse himself? What kind of honor is he?" And they began to run into Bova, five, six people each. Bova began to gallop and wave a broom, and Bova killed 15,000 people.
And the princess saw that Bova was galloping alone, and she felt sorry: they would kill him. And she put on a precious dress, and went to her father, and said: “My lord, father Zenzevey Adarovich! And Bova came to the stable, and went to bed, and slept for 9 days and 9 nights.
And at that time, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich and his son Lukomor, a glorious hero, came from the Rokhlen kingdom to the Armenian kingdom. His head is like a beer cauldron, and between his eyes - a span, and between his ears a red-hot arrow will lie, and between his shoulders - a measuring fathom. And there is no such strong and glorious hero in the whole universe. And they besieged the Armenian kingdom, and began to ask for the daughter of King Zenzeveya, the beautiful princess Druzhnevna.
And King Zenzevey Adarovich said to King Markobrun: "My beloved son-in-law, King Markobrun! You have 40,000 troops, and I will gather 40,000. And we have two kings, and we have 40,000 troops each. Let's go against the strong hero Lukomor." And King Zenzevey Adarovich ordered to blow the horn, and gathered troops 40,000, and Markobrun 40,000. And two kings with two troops rode against the strong hero Lukomor. And Lukomor sent a spear at two kings with a blunt end, and knocked them down, and beat two troops. And having tied the kings, he sent them to the sea pier to his father, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich.
And Bova woke up, hearing a noise outside the city and a horse neighing. And Bova went to the back mansion to the beautiful princess Druzhnevna. And he entered the ward and asked Bov: "Madam, the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna! What is this noise and horse neighing outside the city?" And the beautiful princess Druzhnevna said: “Sire Bova! You sleep long, you don’t know anything. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich and his son Lukomor, a glorious hero, came from the Rokhlen kingdom. There is no such hero in the universe: his head is like a beer cauldron, and between - a span, and between the ears a red-hot arrow will fall, and between the shoulders - a measured sazhen. And he has no enemy in the whole sunflower. And he laid siege to our kingdom, and wrote to my father King Zenzevei Adarovich with great threats, and he wooed me. And my father with King Markobrun were captured by him, he sent them to the marina to his father, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich.
And Bova said: “Madam, the beautiful princess Druzhnevna! I have nothing to ride against the strong hero Lukomor. I have neither a good heroic horse, nor strong armor, nor a treasure sword, nor a sharp spear.” And the beautiful princess Druzhnevna said: “Sir Bova! You are still a small child and you cannot sit on a good horse and gallop at full speed. And I can’t help my father! ruler of the kingdom and protector from all countries." And Bova said: "It happens that the master buys a good slave, and the slave wants to earn his freedom. Yes, there is nothing for me to ride against the strong hero Lukomor: I have neither a good heroic horse, nor a fighting harness." And the beautiful princess Druzhnevna said: “My sovereign father has a good heroic horse: it stands on 12 chains, dug into the ground knee-deep, and behind 12 doors. And my father has in the treasury 30 armor of old heroes and a treasure sword.”
And Bova was delighted, and went to the stable, and the good heroic horse with 12 chains lost his way and is already breaking through the last doors. And Druzhnevna ran after Bova to the stable, and said: "Are there brave knights in the Armenian kingdom? Follow me to the stable!" And the good heroic horse hugged Bova with his front legs, and began to kiss him on the mouth, like a man. Bova began to stroke the good horse of the heroic coat and soon calmed him down. And Druzhnevna sent to the treasury for heroic armor and a sword-treasury: 12 people carried it on a stretcher. And Bova was delighted, and wants to sit on a good heroic horse and go to the cause of war and death. And the beautiful princess Druzhnevna said: "My lord, Bova! You are going to the cause of war and death, either you will be alive or not, but you did not pray to God and did not say goodbye to me." And Bove liked those words, and he went to Druzhnevna's ward and prayed to God. And he said goodbye to Druzhnevna, and went to the cause of war and death.
And Druzhnevna saw Bova off. And she girded Bova with a treasure-sword with her own hands. And Bova sat on a good heroic horse, but he could not get into the stirrup with his foot. And the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna took Bovina's leg, and put it in the stirrup with her hands, and took Bova by the exuberant head, and kissed him on the mouth, and on the eyes, and on the ears. And the beautiful princess Druzhnevna said: “My lord, Bova! You are going to the cause of war and death, either you will be alive or not. And I don’t believe that you are a sexton. Tell me true truth your own, are you royal or royal?" And Bova said to the beautiful princess: "I'm going to the cause of war and death, either I will live or not. I will tell you the real truth. I’m not a noble family, I’m a son of the royal, glorious King Gvidon, but my mother, the beautiful Queen Militris, the daughter of the good and glorious King Kirbit.
And that king Zenzevey Adarovich had a butler. And he began to dishonor his empress: “Madam, beautiful princess Druzhnevna! Is it proper for you to gird your slave with your hands with a sword-treasury, and put your slave’s legs in a stirrup with your hands, and kiss your slave on the mouth, eyes and ears, and see off for the cause of war and death?" And Bova hit the butler with a blunt end of the spear, and the butler fell dead on the ground, and lay there for three hours, barely getting up.
And Bova went to the cause of war and death. And Bova jumped right over the city wall, and the glorious hero Lukomor saw that a brave knight jumped out of the Armenian kingdom through the city wall. And two strong heroes began to gather on the field. And Lukomor pointed a spear at Bova with a sharp end, and Bova at Lukomor with a sharp end. And two strong heroes struck among themselves with sharp spears, as if a strong thunder struck before a cloud. And Lukomor could not break through the armor of Bova, and Bova pierced the armor of Lukomor on both sides, and Lukomor fell off his horse dead.
And Bova began to beat the Lukomor army, and Bova fought for 5 days and 5 nights without a break. And he beat the troops of 100,000, only a few went to the sea pier to Tsar Saltan Saltanovich. And they said: "Sovereign, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich! A brave knight left the Armenian kingdom, and jumped on his horse right over the city wall, and killed your son Lukomor, and beat 100,000 troops. Soon he will be at the sea pier." And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich did not have time to take down the royal tents, jumped with a few people on the ship and fled to the Rokhlen kingdom.
And Bova came to the marina, and went into the tent, where two kings lay bound under a bench, King Zenzevei Adarovich and King Markobrun. And Bova unleashed both kings and put them on horses. And we went to the Armenian kingdom, and went to the Armenian kingdom for 3 days and 3 nights over human corpses, as soon as a good horse galloped in blood up to its knees.
And Bova said to his sovereign Zenzevei Adarovich and King Markobrun: "It happens that the sovereign buys a good slave, and the slave from his master earns his freedom." And King Markobrun said to King Zenzevei Adarovich: "I heard from old people, if the sovereign buys a good slave, and the slave from his sovereign serves free, that slave is rewarded and released." And King Zenzevey Adarovich said: "I heard from old people that such a slave should be rewarded and kept for himself." And two kings arrived in the Armenian kingdom, and went to the royal chambers, began to feast and have fun. And Bova went to the stable, and went to bed, and slept for 9 days and 9 nights.
And at that time, two kings, King Zenzevey Adarovich and King Markobrun went falconry. Then the butler called 30 brave knights to him and said: "Go, kill Bova in the sleepy stable, and I will give you a lot of gold and silver." Everyone wants profit. And 30 knights rushed to Bova at the stable, and Bova was fast asleep. And among those 30 there was one reasonable. And he said: “But we can’t kill Bova without waking up. And Bova wakes up, what will happen to us? Bova is a brave knight, he killed Bova the strong and glorious hero Lukomor and beat 100,000 troops. Let's go to the butler! The butler is like our sovereign king Zenzeveya Adarovich, will write a letter from royal name and send Bova to the kingdom of Rokhlenskoe, Bova awake and not notice the catch. "The butler liked this idea. And the butler went to the royal chamber, and wrote a letter on behalf of King Zenzeveya to Tsar Saltan Saltanovich, so that Saltan Saltanovich" would not be offended by me, it was not I who killed Lukomor, your son, and beat 100,000 troops. His name is Bova, and I sent him to you with my head to die."
And the butler sealed the letter, lay down himself on the king's bed, and covered himself with the king's blanket, and sent for Bova to the stable. And Bova came to the royal chamber, and did not recognize the butler. And the butler said on behalf of the royal: "Bova, serve me faithfully. Go to the Rokhlen kingdom, take my greetings to Tsar Saltan Saltanovich." And Bova accepted the letter, bowed, and went to the stable. And he did not saddle the good heroic horse, saddled Bov the pacer and went to the Rokhlen kingdom.

And Bova rides for 9 days and 9 nights, and does not come across a river or stream in his way, but Bova is very thirsty. And he saw Bova: from the road a verst away stands an oak, and under the oak stands a monk in a black cassock. Bova drove up to him and asked: "What is your name?" "My name is Pilgrim." And Bova said: "Give me what you drink yourself." And the old man gave him something to drink, and sprinkled him with a soporific potion. And Bova drank, and fell from his horse to the ground, and slept for 9 days and 9 nights. And the elder Pilgrim took away the treasure-sword from Bova, and took away the pacer horse. And when Bova woke up, he no longer had a pacer horse or a treasurer sword. And Bova shed tears: "Lord! The old man offended me, took from me a good horse-pacer and a sword-treasurer, and the sovereign sent me to death." And Bova went where his eyes look. And the Lord directed the way to Bove.
And Bova came to the kingdom of Rokhlen, and entered the royal chambers, and laid the letter on the table. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich accepted the letter, printed it out and read it. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich shouted: “Oh, the villain Bova, you killed my son Lukomor and beat 100,000 troops. And now you yourself have come to my death, I can hang you! Do I have young men, brave knights? Take Bova and lead for hanging." And soon they set up the gallows, prepared the cauldrons, and 60 young men stood up, took Bova 30 young men under the right hand, and the other 30 young men under the left hand, and led him to be hanged, and led him out into the field. And Bov saw the gallows and shed a tear: "Lord! Is it my fault, is it my untruth, why am I dying?" And God put Bova into the mind that Bova is a strong hero. And shook Bova right hand, and bruised 30 youths, and shook Bov with his left hand, and killed 30 other youths. And Bova fled from the kingdom of Rokhlen.
Tsar Saltan Saltanovich saw this and ordered to blow the horn, and gathered his court and 5 thousand, and chased Bova. And they caught up, and caught him, and brought him to Tsar Saltan Saltanovich. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich said as he blew a trumpet: "You, villain Bova, want to escape death. I can hang you!"
And that king Saltan had a daughter, the beautiful princess Minchitriya. And she put on precious dresses, and went to her father’s ward, and said: “My lord, father, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich! And you, sovereign father, give him to me, I will convert him to my Latin faith and to our god Akhmet, and he will take me as his wife, and he will be the ruler of our kingdom and protector from all countries. And Tsar Saltana loved his daughter, the beautiful Princess Minchitriya. And Tsar Saltan said: "My dear child, the beautiful princess Minchitriya, be at your will."
And Princess Minchitriya bowed to her father, took Bova to her mansions, fed and watered him and said: “Bova, forget your Orthodox Christian faith and believe in our god Akhmet, and take me as your wife, you will be the ruler of our kingdom and from all countries protector. And if you don’t believe in our faith, and don’t take me as your wife, my father can hang you or impale you.” And Bova said: "Even though I may be hanged or impaled, I do not believe in your faith, and I cannot forget my true faith." And Princess Minchitriya ordered to put Bova in a dungeon firmly, and to draw up an iron board, and cover it with sand, and did not allow Bova to drink and eat for 5 days and 5 nights.
And the beautiful princess Minchitriya put on a precious dress, and went to Bova in the dungeon, and ordered the sand to be removed and the iron board to be opened. And she went to Bova in the dungeon, and could not see enough of Bova's beauty for three hours, and said: "Bova! Is it better for you to die of starvation, or be hanged, or be impaled? Believe in our faith, and forget your Christian faith and take me as your wife." - "Already starvation is approaching me already. And even if I am to be hanged, or to be impaled, I do not believe in your faith and cannot forget the Orthodox Christian faith."
And Princess Minchitriya did not allow Bova to drink or eat, and went to her father in the ward, and said: "My lord, my father, Tsar Saltan Saltanovich! I could not seduce Bova. At least hang him, at least put him on a stake." And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich said: "Will I have 30 young men? Go to the dungeon, and take Bova, and bring him to me, I can hang Bova." And 30 young men stood up and went to Bove in the dungeon, and began to break the roof. And Bova twirled: "I don't have a treasure-sword, I have nothing to resist against 30 young men." And he saw Bov in the corner in the dungeon, the sword-hoarder, and took it, and rejoiced. And the young men began to go down to Beauvais in twos, and threes, and fives, and sixes. And Bova flogs them, and lays a ladder. And he cut all 30 young men, and laid them down with a ladder. And Tsar Saltan got angry with those young men: "They came in, damn ... we children, but they are talking with Bova." And he sent another 30 young men, and ordered Bova to bring him immediately. And 30 young men went and began to descend into the dungeon to Bova. And Bova flogs, but lays a ladder. And Bova came out of the dungeon, and fled from the kingdom of Rokhlen. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich ordered to blow the horn, and gathered an army of 30,000 and chased Bova.
And Bova ran to the sea pier, and saw Bova the ship, and jumped on the ship, rolled away from the shore. And Tsar Saltan Saltanovich shouted in a loud voice: “Guest shipbuilders, hand over from the ship my traitor, who left my dungeon, his name is Bova. my kingdom do not trade." And the shipbuilders want to get Bova off the ship. Bova took out a treasure sword from his bosom and beat the peasants, but threw them into the sea. And those who remained on the ship said: "Sire, brave knight, you cannot destroy us, we will take you, sovereign, where you need to go."

And they raised the sails, and sailed on the sea for a year and three months, and came under the Zadonsk kingdom, and saw three golden-domed towers, and they were carried away by a storm from the path for 100 miles. And Bova ordered the sails to be lowered and anchors to be thrown. And Bova began to walk around the ship and look in all directions. And I saw a fisherman on the edge of the sea. And Bova shouted in a loud voice: "Please, fisherman, do not disobey, drive up to the ship!" And the fisherman did not disobey, he came, and Bova began to ask the fisherman: "Please, fisherman, tell me, is the kingdom here or the horde, or does the king live?" And the fisherman said: "Sire shipbuilder, this is our kingdom of Zadonsk, and our sovereign king Markobrun lives here." And he remembered Bova, and said: "Isn't this the same king Markobrun, who in the Armenian kingdom was wooed by King Zenzevey Adarovich to the beautiful princess Druzhnevna?" And the fisherman said: “Sir, the shipbuilder, that one. And Princess Druzhnevna begged for a year of respite from our sovereign, King Markobrun. And the fisherman Beauvais sprinkled sand to his heart.
And Bova said to the fisherman: "Please, fisherman, sell the fish." And the fisherman threw five sturgeons onto the ship: "Here, sir, you have fish without sale." And Bova took gold and silver, and covered silk and velvet, and threw it into the boat to the fisherman. And the fisherman said to Bove: "Sir shipbuilder, you gave me a lot of good, not to drink, not to eat either my children or grandchildren." And Bova said, "Please, fisherman, take me ashore." And the fisherman did not disobey, took Bova into the boat and brought him to the shore. And Bova punished the shipbuilders: "Take the whole ship with good. Divide it in half, and don't swear and don't fight."
And Bova went to the kingdom of Zadonsk, and Bova went 5 days and 5 nights, and found the old man Pilgrim, who robbed him, and took from him a treasure-sword and a good pacer horse. And Bov Pilgrim began to beat. And the Pilgrim begged: "Don't kill me, brave knight Bova the prince! I will give you a good horse-pacer and a sword-treasurer and I will give you three potions: a sleep potion, a white potion, and a black potion." And Bova took three potions, and a sword-treasurer, and went.
Bova goes 6 days to the Zadonsk kingdom. And I saw Bova the old man - he collects chips on the street. And Bova said to the old man: "Give me black dress and take my bright one." And the elder said: "Sir, brave knight, my dress will not be useful to you, but I do not need yours: they will not give alms." And he put on Bova a black dress, and went to the royal court, and came to the kitchen, and the cooks are preparing food.
And Bova began to ask: "Sires of the royal cooks, drink and feed the passerby old man for the sake of Christ and for the sake of the brave knight Bova the prince." And the cooks shouted: "Oh, old villain, why are you asking for alms for Bova? Our sovereign has commanded: whoever remembers Bova, be executed without the king's knowledge." And the cook rushed, snatched a brand from under the cauldron and hit the old man, but the elder did not move on the spot, but grabbed the same brand, hit the cook and bruised him to death.
And the cooks ran to the butler: "Butler, go to the kitchen. The old man came to the kitchen and killed the best cook." And the butler came to the kitchen, and began to ask the cooks: "What happened to the old man with the cook?" - "The old man came to the kitchen, asked for food for the sake of Christ and for the sake of the brave knight Bova the prince." And the butler said: "What do you, old man, remember about Bova? Our sovereign has a strong commandment: whoever remembers about Bova, he orders to kill him without his knowledge." And Bova said: "Sir butler, do not tell me, an old man, to kill, I am a passerby old man, and I have not heard your commandments." And the butler said: “Go, old man, to the backyard, where Princess Druzhnevna endows the poor with gold. Tomorrow our sovereign will have joy: our sovereign, King Markobrun, will marry the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna.”
And the old man went to the backyard, and in the backyard there were a great many beggars. And the old man began to crowd between the poor, and the poor did not give the old man a way, and began to beat the old man with sticks. And the old man began to push the poor on both sides, and behind the old man many dead lay. And the beggars began to let the old man in. And the elder reached the beautiful princess Druzhnevna, and the elder shouted in a loud voice: “Madam beautiful princess Druzhnevna! Give me, the elder, alms for the sake of Christ and for the sake of the brave knight Bova the prince.” Druzhnevna's cup of gold fell out of her hands. And the good heroic horse heard the rider of his brave knight Bova the prince, and began to neigh in the stable, and the city trembled from the horse neighing.
And Princess Druzhnevna said: "Come, nannies, give gold to the poor." And she herself took the elder and went to the back mansions and began to ask: "Elder, why are you asking for alms for Bova? Where did you hear about the sovereign of my brave knight Bova Prince?" And the old man said: “Madam princess! I sat in the same dungeon with Bova in the Rokhlen kingdom, Bova and I walked the same road. Bova went to the left, and I went to the right.” And the old man said: "Madam Princess Druzhnevna, and if Bova comes today, what will you do with him?" And the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna shed a tear. “If,” he says, “I found out that Emperor Bova in distant kingdom in the thirtieth land, I would go there to him!
And at that time King Markobrun came to the beautiful princess Druzhnevna, he saw that the old man was sitting, and Druzhnevna was standing in front of the old man. And King Markobrun said: "What are you, Druzhnevna, standing in front of the old man, and tears are dripping down your face?" And Princess Druzhnevna said: "My lord, King Markobrun, how can I not cry? This old man from our Armenian kingdom came and said: my father and mother are dead. And I cry for them." And King Markobrun said: “Madam, the beautiful princess Druzhnevna! You can’t help your father and your mother already. And you grieve, you only break your life. strikes, there will be many dead in the city." And the old man said: "Sir King Markobrun! I will calm the good horse, so that a three-year-old baby can ride on it." And King Markobrun said to the old man: "If you, old man, calm the horse, I will take pity on you, I will give you a lot of gold."
And the elder went to the stable, and Druzhnevna followed the elder. And the good heroic horse heard its rider, and broke through the last doors, and stood on its hind legs, and embraced the old man with its front legs, began to kiss him on the mouth like a man. And King Markobrun saw this, went into the chamber and locked himself: if the horse broke through the last doors and crushed the old man, then there will be many victims in the city.
And the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna said: "How did you quickly calm him down, old man?" And the elder said: “Madam, the beautiful princess Druzhnevna! And I myself am surprised that the good horse soon recognized me, and you will not recognize me for a long time. And I am the real Prince Bova himself.” And Druzhnevna said to the elder: "Why are you embarrassing me, old man? Sovereign Bova was very handsome, Bova's beauty would have illuminated the whole stable." And the old man took out a treasurer’s sword from his bosom, and Druzhnevna pressed the sword to her heart: “Indeed, this is the sword of my sovereign Bova the prince! And you, old man, are black and stupid. sword. If my sovereign Bova the prince had this sword, he would know how to use it. And my sovereign Bova also had a wound on his head, the size of a finger. When he served in the Armenian kingdom with the sovereign of my father Zenzevey Adarovich, came out of the ward and slammed the doors, and a brick fell from above, and bruised his head. I treated Bova with my own hands and I know this wound.". And the elder removed the cap from his head and showed the wound. And Druzhnevna examined the wound and kissed it: "The real wound of my sovereign Bova, and you are an old man, bad and black." And the elder said: "I am the real Prince Bova. And you, Druzhnevna, tell me to bring water, I will wash myself with a white potion."
And Druzhnevna herself ran for the water, and brought water in a silver washstand. And Bova washed himself with a white potion, and lit up the whole stable. And Druzhnevna fell at the feet of Bova and said: "My lord, the brave knight Bova the prince! Do not leave me, we are fleeing together from King Markobrun." And Bova said: "And you, Druzhnevna, go to King Markobrun, give him a drink, and pour a sleeping potion into a goblet. He will sleep for 9 days and 9 nights, and in the meantime we will run away." And Bova gave a sleeping potion, and Druzhnevna took the potion, and wrapped it by the sleeve, and went to her mansions, and put on a precious dress, and went to the royal chamber, and said: “My lord King Markobrun! Tomorrow we have with you there will be joy: you, sovereign, take me as your wife. Come on, my sovereign, let's drink a goblet of honey with you so that I don’t grieve for my father and mother.
And King Markobrun loved Druzhnevna. And ordered to bring quickly strong honey and the young men soon brought it. And Druzhnevna secretly poured a sleeping potion from her sleeve and brought it to King Markobrun. And the king, in his kindness, offered her the first drink. And Druzhnevna began to humble herself before him: “My lord, King Markobrun! And King Markobrun drank the goblet of mead and fell asleep. And Princess Druzhnevna ran to Bova at the stable and said: "My lord, the brave knight Bova the prince, King Markobrun is fast asleep."
And Bova saddled for himself a good heroic horse, and for Druzhnevna a pacer. And Druzhnevna took 2 camp tents from the treasury, and Bova fastened them. And they went from the Zadonsk kingdom. And Bova rode with Druzhnevna for 9 days and 9 nights. Bov set up white tents in the field and hobbled his horses. And he went with Druzhnevna to the tent and copulated with her. And King Markobrun woke up and saw that he no longer had either the beautiful princess Druzhnevna or the good heroic horse. And King Markobrun said: "It was not an old man-villain, but it was Bova the prince himself. The villain stole the beautiful princess Druzhnevna and the good heroic horse from me." And he ordered to blow the horn, and gathered troops of 30,000, and sent for Bova and Druzhnevna.
And Bova went out of the tent to cool off. And ... as Bova heard the horse top and people's talk, and went into the tent, and said: "Lady beautiful princess Druzhnevna! There are few people with us: to be chased by King Markobrun." And the beautiful princess Druzhnevna said: "My sovereign, gentle, brave knight Bova the prince! And if they catch us, we will already die from King Markobrun." And Bova said: "Lady, the beautiful Princess Druzhnevna! Pray to God, God is with us."
And Bova took the sword-treasurer, and sat on a good horse without a saddle, and rode towards the pursuit, and beat the pursuit of 30,000, only left three people, punished, and let him go to King Markobrun: “What King Markobrun sends for me, only the army loses "But does he know that I am a strong bogatyr, the brave knight Bova Prince? I killed the strong bogatyr Lukomor and defeated 100,000 troops." And three people came to King Markobrun and said: "Sovereign King Markobrun! Bova beat the whole army, but let the three of us go and did not order to chase him."
And King Markobrun ordered to blow the horn, and gathered an army of 40,000, and sent for Bova and Druzhnevna. And those young men said: “Our sovereign, King Markobrun! Why should we go after Bova? We can’t take him, just lay our heads down. a common person, and he jumps seven miles. He can catch up with Bova and catch him. And he sits in your dungeon behind 30 locks and 30 bolts. "And King Markobrun ordered Polkan to be released from the dungeon, and sent for Bova. And Polkan began to gallop seven miles.
And Bova came out of the tent. And Bova heard that Polkan the hero was galloping. And Bova took the sword, and sat on a good horse without a saddle, and rode towards the strong hero Polkan. And as two strong heroes gathered, and Bova waved his sword at Polkan, Bova's sword escaped from his hands and went halfway into the ground. And Polkan hit Bova with his club, and Bova fell from his horse to the ground, dead. And Polkan jumped on Bovin's horse, and the good horse Bovin sensed Polkan, and bit the mouthpiece, and began to carry him through the forests and ravines, and through the bushes, and skinned his legs to the waist, and the meat to the bones.
And Bova lay unconscious for three hours, and got up as if nothing had happened, and came to Druzhnevna, and lay down on the bed. And the good horse tormented Polkan, and rushed to the tent. And Polkan fell to the ground. Druzhnevna came out of the tent and said: "Brother Polkan, make peace with Bova, and you will have no opponent in this world." And Bova said: "I am glad to make peace with Polkan, and if Polkan does not make peace, I will kill him." And Bova reconciled with Polkan. Polkan Bovu took his white hands and kissed him on the mouth, and called him his elder brother.

And Bova sat on a good horse, and Druzhnevna on a pacer, and Polkan galloped after them. And they arrived in the city of Kostel, and in that city there was neither a king nor a king, only a townsman peasant, and his name was Orel. And Bova the prince and Polkan stayed with him, and Bova and Druznevna went to bed. In the meantime, King Markobrun came near the city of Kostel and 50,000 troops with him, and besieged Kostel-grad, and began to write letters to Orel, asking him to give Bova and Polkan to him: “And if you don’t extradite my traitors from the city, I will burn your city of Kostel with fire and I'll shake my head!" And the townsman peasant ordered the peasants to gather in the Zemstvo hut. And the peasants gathered, and the posadnik Orel came to the zemstvo hut and said to the peasants: "We will go against King Markobrun! And I will go myself, and I will take my two sons with me." And the peasants gathered, and rode out against King Markobrun. And King Markobrun took the peasant with the children prisoner, released Orel, and left his sons hostage, ordered to extradite Bova, and Polkan, and the beautiful princess Druzhnevna from the city.
And the peasant came to the city, and ordered the peasants to gather in the Zemstvo hut. And soon the peasants gathered in the zemstvo hut, the peasant-posadnik stood in front of them and asked: "Shall we extradite visitors from the city or not?" And Orel's wife came forward and said: "We can't extradite people from the city, and we can't help our children." And the peasant Eagle said: "Women have long hair, but the mind is short." And the men decided to give Bova out of the city.
And Polkan went to Bova: "Brother Bova, you sleep for a long time, you don't know anything: the peasants want to extradite us from the city." And Bova said: "Villainous men, what a bad idea! It will be bad for them too!" And Bova jumped off the bed and threw a fur coat over his shoulders. And he took a treasure sword under his bosom, and went to the zemstvo hut, and began to chop down the peasants from the door to the red corner. He chopped up the peasants and threw them away, and Orlov's wife ran from the stove and said: "Sir, brave knight, do not ruin my bitter widow!" And Bova said: "Mother Empress, do not be afraid. Give me a deadline until the morning, I will free your children." And Bova and Polkan rode out against King Markobrun, and Bova rode on the right, and Polkan on the left. And they began to beat the Markobrunovo army, as the cattle were driven away and the Orlov children were released.
And King Markobrun went to the Zadonsk kingdom with a few people. And he took an oath to himself, they say, not to chase after Bova neither his children, nor grandchildren, nor great-grandchildren. And Bova came to the city of Kostel to Orlov's wife: "Here, Empress Mother, your children." And he began to kiss the cross of the peasants, and he went from the city of Kostel with the beautiful Queen Druzhnevna, and Polkan galloped after them on foot.
And on the way, Druzhnevna said: "My lord, the brave knight Bova the prince! The time is already coming for me, as good wives give birth to children." And Bova set up tents, and Bova said to Polkan: "Brother Polkan, stay away. Druznevna is not feeling well with me." And Polkan moved away, and stood under the oak. And Druzhnevna gave birth to two sons, and Bova named them one Simbalt, and the other Richard. And Polkan woke up and heard a horse top and people's talk. And Polkan came to Bovin's tent, and Polkan said: "Brother Bova! A great army is coming, I don't know, the king or the king. Will you go to scout yourself or will you send me?" And Bova said: "Come on, but I can't do it now: Druzhnevna gave birth to two sons - Simbalt and Richard." And Polkan galloped, and he grabbed a lot of people, and tied them in a bunch, and led them to Bove.
And Bova began to ask tongues: "Tell me, good people, which kingdom is the army? Is the king coming or is the king coming?" And the tongues began to say: "Sir, brave knight! Go, sovereign, governors from our sovereign, Tsar Dodon, to the Armenian kingdom. They say that in the Armenian kingdom, King Zenzevey Adarovich is under the care of Prince Bova. And Tsar Dodon ordered him, Bov, to take him and bring him to his kingdom. "And Bova's heroic heart flared up, and could not stand Bov, and put them to death. And he saddled his good heroic horse, and took with him a treasure sword , and Bova began to punish his brother Polkan: "My brother, Polkan! Do not leave my Druzhnevna and my two children. And I will go to the Armenian kingdom for military work, but you yourself, brother, do not go near the forest. ”And Bova said goodbye to Polkan, and to Druzhnevna, and with his children, and Bova went to military work.
And after that Polkan went to the forest to sleep, and at the same time the lions came to the sleepy Polkan, and the hero of that Polkan ate everything, only the soles of his feet were left. And when Druzhnevna came out of her tent and looked under the oak, and there only her feet lay. And Druzhnevna was very sad about him, and took her children by the bosom, sat on the pacer, and rode aimlessly.
And Druzhnevna arrived near the Armenian kingdom, and took only one whip with her, and let her good horse-pacer into the open field and said: "Go, my good horse-pacer, look for an affectionate owner." And Druzhnevna came to the river, and washed herself with a black potion, and became black as coal. And Druzhnevna came to the Rokhlen kingdom, and settled with the widow. And in the Rokhlen kingdom - Princess Minchitriya. And Druzhnevna began to sew shirts for good wives, and that was how she fed herself with her children.
And Bova the prince beat the enemy force, and came to the tent, but there was neither Princess Druzhnevna nor his children in the tent. And Bova looked under the oak, only Polkan's feet lay there. And Bova began to grieve: "If the lions ate such a strong hero, then both Druzhnevna and my children." And he buried Bova Polkanov's feet, and he himself wept bitterly: "Lord! You gave me a wife after my heart, and did not let me live with her from youth to old age." And Bova went to the creek to hunt, and shot geese and swans, and cooked Bova food and was satisfied. Yes, and Bova went to the Armenian kingdom to kill the butler, who once sent him to his death.
And Bova arrived in the Armenian kingdom on Sunday, and King Zenzevei Adarovich was standing in the church. And when the king left the church, Bova bowed to him. And King Zenzevei Adarovich asked: "What is your name, and what city are you from, and where are you going?" And Bova said: "My name is August, I am looking for a gentle sovereign, so that I can take a nap." And the king said: "I need such people. Please, Augustus, serve me." And Augustus bowed, and went to the king's court, and killed the butler.
And ambassadors from the Rokhlen kingdom arrived. And August turned up to the ambassadors, and began to ask: "What country did the ambassadors come to and why?" And the envoys said: “We, sovereign, have come from the kingdom of Rokhlen to visit about the brave knight Bova the prince. Princess Minchitriya sent us, but she wants to marry Bova.” And Augustus said: "Go, ambassadors, to the kingdom of Rokhlen, and Bova will be with you." And Bova went to the Rokhlen kingdom.
And Bova came to the Rokhlen kingdom, and entered the royal court without a report. And the beautiful princess Minchitriya met Bova, and took Bova to the royal chambers, and they began to drink, eat and have fun. And princess Minchitriya said: “Sovereign, brave knight Bova the prince! Baptize me, sovereign, and take me as a wife, and be our kingdom ruler and protector from all countries. And Bova Minchitriya baptized, and agreed to postpone the wedding until Sunday.
And Druzhnevna's children have already grown up. Simbalt plays the harp, and Richard plays the domra. And Druzhnevna began to send her children to the royal court: "Go, children, to the royal court, and they will take you to the royal chamber, and you play good tunes and in every song sing the good knight Bova the prince." And Bovina's children went to the royal court and to the royal chambers, and sang to Bova the prince. And Bova said: "Why are you singing like that about Bova the prince? I have been living for many years, but I have not heard of Bova the prince." And Bovina's children said: "We sing about our sovereign father Bova the king, and our sovereign mother, the beautiful princess Druzhnevna, ordered us." And Bova ordered them to drink and feed, and gave them a lot of gold and silver, one can hardly convey, and he himself went after them, not taking his eyes off. And Bovina's children came to the yard, and their mother meets them: "Come, children!", And takes them by the white hands, and kisses them on the mouth. Bova saw that a bad and black woman was meeting them, spat, and went away: “Bless ... we are de-children, they said that their mother was Druzhnevna, and this woman is bad and black as coal.”
And when the night passed and the day came, Druzhnevna again sent the children to the royal court. And Bovina's children came to the royal chambers, and began to play good melodies and sang of Bova the prince. And Bova ordered them to drink and feed, and gave them a lot of gold, and more silver, and went after them. And Princess Druzhnevna washed herself with a white potion and went out to meet her children. And Bova saw Druzhnevna and ran into the yard. And he grabs Druzhnevna by her white hands and kisses her on her sugary lips. And Druzhnevna fell at his feet: "My lord, the brave knight Bova prince! Do not leave me and your children!"
And Bova took Druzhnevna and his children, and went to the stable, and chose good pacers for Druzhnevna and his children. And princess Minchitriya fell at Bova's feet and said: "Sovereign brave knight Bova prince! If you did not take me for yourself, I will be your hostage." And Bova said: "Well, if you become my hostage, neither the king nor the king will offend you, hearing my threat, the brave knight Bova the prince." And Bova went with Druzhnevna and with his children to the city of Sumin to uncle Simbalt.

And uncle Simbalt met the visiting man Augustus, and took him the yard. And the next day, uncle Simbalt arranged a feast in honor of the visiting man Augustus. And Augustus came to the feast, and uncle Simbalt ordered to give him a place. And when everyone rejoiced, Augustus said: "Sir, uncle Simbalt! Who lives next to you, and is there any offense?" And uncle Simbalt said: “Yes, sir! The villain Tsar Dodon lives near me. He, the villain, killed my sovereign, the good and glorious King Gvidon, and all the years drives away the cattle from the city, I can’t stand against him.” And Augustus said: "I can avenge this offense. Gather an army as much as you can." And uncle Simbalt ordered to blow a horn, and gathered troops of 15,000. And Augustus went as governor, and took with him uncle's son named Dmitry. And Anton came near the city, and drove away the cattle, and set fire to the settlements. And where King Guidon lies, and there is a pillar over the grave, Augustus went to say goodbye for three days, and he himself wept bitterly. And King Dodon saw that few people came under the city and drove away the cattle, and set fire to the settlements. And he ordered the horn to be blown, and gathered an army of 40,000, and went out against Augustus.
And Augustus, like cattle, drove the army away from the city, and struck King Dodon with a spear and wounded him in the heart. And August went to the city of Sumin, and uncle Simbalt ordered to ring the bells for joy and serve prayers, and took August to him. And uncle's son Dmitry told his father that Augustus went to the grave for three days to say goodbye and weep bitterly: "Isn't it our sovereign, our brave knight Bova Prince?" And uncle Simbalt said: "Our sovereign Bova the prince was very handsome, and it was impossible to sit still because of his beauty." And Bova heard those speeches, and went out onto the porch, and washed himself with a white potion, and entered the ward. And he lit up the whole chamber of Bov with his beauty. And uncle Simbalt fell at his feet: "My lord, the brave knight Bova prince! Avenge the death of your father!"
And the ambassador came from the city of Anton to the city of Sumin, to ask the doctor. Bova washed himself with a black potion and called himself a doctor: "I can cure your king Dodon from a heart wound." And he took Bova with him uncle's son Dmitry, and went to the city of Anton to treat Dodon. And the ambassador came and informed Tsar Dodon: "Sir Tsar Dodon, I brought you a doctor from Sumina-grad." And Tsar Dodon ordered the doctor to go into the ward, where there were many princes and boyars. And the doctor said: "Sovereign Tsar Dodon! This is a difficult matter; so that there was no one in the ward!"
And Tsar Dodon sent everyone from the chamber, and Bova locked the chamber, and put uncle's son at the hook. And Bova took out a treasure sword from his bosom, and said to King Dodon: “I wouldn’t cut off your head for that, because you killed my good and glorious father, King Gvidon. And I’ll cut off your head for obeying the female mind” . And Bova cut off the head of King Dodon, and put it on a dish and covered it with a towel.
And Bova went to the back mansion to the beautiful princess Militrisa, and said: "Here, madam, gifts from Tsar Dodon. I cured your Tsar Dodon from a heart wound." And Princess Militrisa accepted the gifts, and opened them, and there Dodonov's head lies on a platter. And she cried out: "Oh, the villain-doctor, what are you doing? I will order you to be executed with an evil death!" And Bova said: "Stop, take your time, madam, you are my mother!" And the beautiful princess Militrisa said: "Oh, the villain-doctor! Bova the prince was very handsome, his beauty would have illuminated the whole ward, and you, the doctor, are bad and black as coal."
And Bova went out onto the porch, and washed himself with a white potion, and entered the ward, and lit up the whole ward with Bova's beauty. And the beautiful Princess Milithris fell at the feet of Bove. And Bova said: "My sovereign mother, do not humble yourself before me!" And he ordered Bova to make a coffin, put his living mother in the coffin and decorated the coffin with silk and velvet. Bova buried his mother alive and ordered everyone to commemorate.
And Bova went to the dungeon, where he had previously sat, and there that girl was sitting in the dungeon in Bova's place. And Bova broke the dungeon, and released the girl, and that girl's hair grew to her toes. And the girl said: "My lord, the brave knight Bova the prince! I have been sitting in a dungeon since I released you, sovereign, from the dungeon." And Bova said to the girl: "Madam girl, you have suffered trouble, and now rejoice." And he chose the prince, and gave the maiden to the prince in marriage. And Bova went to the Rokhlen kingdom, and married Dmitry's uncle's son to beautiful princess Minchitriya.
And Bova went to his home, and began to live with Druzhnevna, and with his children, and make good things. And the glory of Beauvais will not pass away forever.