In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, Ivan Tsarevich lived; he had three sisters: one was Marya the princess, the other was Olga the princess, the third was Anna the princess. Their father and mother died; dying, they punished their son:
Whoever will be the first to marry your sisters, give it to him - don’t keep it with you for a long time!
The prince buried his parents and, out of grief, went with his sisters to the green garden for a walk. Suddenly a black cloud appears in the sky, a terrible thunderstorm arises.
Come, sisters, go home! - says Ivan Tsarevich.
They had just arrived at the palace - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two, and a clear falcon flew into the upper room, the falcon hit the floor, became a good fellow and said:
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker; I want to woo your sister Marya the princess.
If you love her, I do not appease her - let her go!
Princess Marya agreed, the falcon married and took her to his kingdom.
Days go by days, hours run by hours - the whole year is as if it had not happened; Ivan Tsarevich went with his two sisters to the green garden for a walk. Again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
Come, sisters, go home! - says the prince.
They had just arrived at the palace - when thunder struck, the roof fell apart, the ceiling split in two, and an eagle flew in, hit the floor and became a good fellow:
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker. And he betrothed Princess Olga. Ivan Tsarevich answers:
If you are loved by Princess Olga, then let him go for you; I do not take away her will.
Princess Olga agreed and married an eagle; the eagle picked her up and carried her to his kingdom.
Passed, another year; Ivan Tsarevich says to his younger sister:
Let's go for a walk in the green garden! We walked a little; again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
Let's go home sister!
They returned home, did not have time to sit down - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two and a raven flew in; the raven hit the floor and became a good fellow; the former were good-looking, but this one is even better.
Well, Ivan Tsarevich, before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker; give Anna the princess for me.
I do not remove my will from my sister; if she fell in love with you, let her go for you.
Princess Anna married the crow, and he took her to his state.
Ivan Tsarevich was left alone; he lived for a whole year without his sisters, and he became bored.
I'll go, - he says, - to look for sisters. Gathered on the road, goes and sees - the army lies in the field - the strength is beaten.
Ivan Tsarevich asks:
If there is a person alive here - respond! Who defeated this great army?
A living man answered him:
All this great army was beaten by Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, came out to meet him:
Hello, prince, where is God taking you - by will or by captivity?
Ivan Tsarevich answered her:
Good fellows in captivity do not go!
Well, if it's not in a hurry, stay in my tents.
Ivan Tsarevich is glad of this, spent two nights in tents, fell in love with Marya Morevna and married her.
Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, took him with her to her state; they lived together for some time, and the princess took it into her head to gather for war; she leaves the whole household for Ivan Tsarevich and orders:
Go everywhere, look after everything; Just don't look into this closet!
He couldn't bear it; as soon as Marya Morevna left, he immediately rushed into the closet, opened the door, looked - and there was Koschey the Deathless hanging, chained on twelve chains.
Asks Koschei from Ivan Tsarevich:
Have pity on me, give me a drink! For ten years I have been suffering here, I have not eaten, I have not drunk - my throat is completely dry!
The prince gave him a bucket of water, he drank it and asked again:
I can’t fill my thirst with one bucket, give me more!
The prince gave another bucket; Koschey drank and asked for a third, and when he drank the third bucket, he took his former strength, shook his chains and immediately broke all twelve.
Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich! - said Koschei the Deathless. “Now you will never see Marya Morevna like your own ears!” - And with a terrible whirlwind he flew out the window, overtook Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, on the road, picked her up and carried her to him.
And Ivan Tsarevich wept bitterly, bitterly, got ready and went on his way:
Whatever happens, I'll look for Marya Morevna!
A day goes by, another goes by, at the dawn of the third he sees a wonderful palace, an oak tree stands by the palace, a falcon sits on a clear oak tree. The falcon flew down from the oak, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Ah, my dear brother-in-law! How is the Lord favoring you?
Marya Tsarevna ran out, met Ivan Tsarevich joyfully, began to ask about his health, to tell about her life and being.
The prince stayed with them for three days and said:
I can't stay with you for a long time; I am going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
It's hard for you to find her, - the falcon answers. - Leave your silver spoon here just in case: we will look at it, remember about you.
Ivan Tsarevich left his silver spoon by the falcon and went on his way.
He walked a day, walked another, at the dawn of the third he sees a palace even better than the first, an oak stands near the palace, an eagle sits on the oak. The eagle flew down from the tree, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Get up, Princess Olga! Our dear brother is coming!
Olga Tsarevna immediately ran out to meet him, began kissing and hugging him, asking about his health, telling about her life and being. Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and says:
I have no time to stay longer: I am going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
The eagle answers:
It's hard for you to find her; leave the silver fork with us: we will look at it, remember you.
He left the silver fork and went on the road.
A day passed, another passed, at the dawn of the third he sees the palace better than the first two, an oak stands near the palace, a raven sits on the oak.
A raven flew down from an oak, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Princess Anna! Hurry up, our brother is coming.
Princess Anna ran out, greeted him joyfully, began to kiss and hug, ask about his health, tell about his life and being.
Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and says:
Farewell! I'm going to look for my wife - Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess. Raven answers:
It's hard for you to find her; leave the silver snuffbox with us: we will look at it, remember you.
The prince gave him a silver snuffbox, said goodbye and went on his way.
A day went on, another went on, and on the third I got to Marya Morevna.
She saw her beloved, threw herself on his neck, burst into tears and said:
Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! Why didn't you listen to me - looked into the closet and released Koshchei the Deathless.
Forgive me, Marya Morevna! Don't remember the old, it's better to go with me until you see Koshchei the Deathless, maybe he won't catch up!
They packed up and left. And Koschey was on the hunt; in the evening he turns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
The horse answers:
Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna away.
Is it possible to overtake them?
You can sow wheat, wait until it grows, squeeze it, grind it, turn it into flour, cook five ovens of bread, eat that bread, and then go after it - and then we’ll be in time!
Koschey galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich.
Well, - he says, - the first time I forgive you, for your kindness that you gave me water to drink, and the next time I will forgive, and the third time beware - I will chop it into pieces!
He took away Marya Morevna from him and took him away; and Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone and wept.
Wept, wept, and again returned back for Marya Morevna, Koshchei the Immortal did not happen at home.
Let's go, Marya Morevna!
Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! He will overtake us.
Let him catch up, we'll spend at least an hour or two together.
They packed up and left. Koschey the Deathless returns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
What are you, insatiable nag, stumbling about? Ali, do you feel any misfortune?
Is it possible to overtake them?
You can sow barley, wait until it grows, squeeze, grind, brew beer, get drunk, get enough sleep, and then go after it - and then we'll be in time!
Koschei galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich:
After all, I told you that you would not see Marya Morevna as your own ears!
He took her and took her away.
Ivan Tsarevich was left alone, wept, wept, and again returned for Marya Morevna; at that time, Koshchei did not happen at home.
Let's go, Marya Morevna!
Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! After all, he will catch up, cut you into pieces.
Let it cut! I can not live without you. We packed up and left. Koschey the Deathless returns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
What are you tripping on? Ali, do you feel any misfortune?
Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna with him.
Koschey galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich; chopped it into small pieces and put it in a tar barrel; he took this barrel, fastened it with iron hoops and threw it into the blue sea, and took Marya Morevna to him.
At that very time, the silver of the sons-in-law of Ivan Tsarevich turned black.
Ah, - they say, - apparently, trouble has happened!
The eagle rushed to the blue sea, grabbed and pulled the barrel to the shore, the falcon flew for the living water, and the raven for the dead. All three flocked to one place, broke the barrel, took out the pieces of Ivan Tsarevich, washed them and folded them as needed.
The raven splashed with dead water - the body grew together, connected; the falcon splashed living water - Ivan Tsarevich shuddered, stood up and said:
Ah, how long I slept!
I would have slept even longer if not for us! sons-in-law answered. - Come visit us now.
No, brothers! I'll go look for Marya Morevna! Comes to her and asks:
Find out from Koshchei the Deathless where he got himself such a good horse.
Here Marya Morevna seized a good moment and began to question Koshchei.
Koschei said:
Beyond the distant lands, in the distant kingdom, beyond the fiery river, the Baba Yaga lives; she has such a mare, on which she flies around the world every day. She also has many other glorious mares; I was her shepherd for three days, I didn’t miss a single mare, and for that Baba Yaga gave me one foal.
How did you cross the fiery river?
And I have such a handkerchief - if I wave it to the right side three times, a high, high bridge will become, and the fire will not reach it!
Marya Morevna listened, told everything to Ivan Tsarevich, and took away the handkerchief and gave it to him.
Ivan Tsarevich crossed the fiery river and went to Baba Yaga. He walked for a long time without drinking or eating. He came across an overseas bird with small children.
Ivan Tsarevich says:
I'll eat one chicken.
Do not eat, Ivan Tsarevich! - asks the overseas bird. - I'll be nice to you sometime. He went further, he sees a hive of bees in the forest.
I’ll take, - he says, - some honey. The queen bee responds:
Don't touch my honey, Ivan Tsarevich! Someday I'll be nice to you.
I will eat at least this lion cub; I want to eat so much, I feel sick!
Do not touch, Ivan Tsarevich, - the lioness asks. - I'll be nice to you sometime.
Okay, have it your way!
Wandered hungry, walked, walked - there is the house of the Baba Yaga, around the house there are twelve poles, on eleven poles on a human head, only one is unoccupied.
Hello grandma!
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Why did you come - of your own free will or out of need?
I came to earn your heroic horse.
Come on, prince! After all, I don’t have a year to serve, but only three days; if you save my mares, I will give you a heroic horse, and if not, then do not be angry - stick your head on the last pole.
Ivan Tsarevich agreed, the Baba Yaga gave him food and drink and ordered him to get down to business. He had just driven the mares out into the field, the mares lifted their tails, and all scattered across the meadows; before the prince had time to raise his eyes, they completely disappeared. Then he wept and mourned, sat down on a stone and fell asleep.
The sun is already at sunset, an overseas bird has flown in and wakes him up:
Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are now at home. The prince got up and returned home; and Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at her mares:
Why did you return home?
How could we not return? Birds from all over the world flew in, almost pecked out our eyes.
Well, tomorrow you don’t run through the meadows, but scatter through the dense forests.
Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night, the next morning Baba Yaga says to him:
Look, prince, if you do not save the mares, if you lose at least one - be your wild little head on a pole.
He drove the mares into the field, they immediately lifted their tails and fled through the dense forests. Again the prince sat down on the stone, wept, wept, and fell asleep.
The sun set behind the forest, a lioness came running:
Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are all collected. Ivan Tsarevich got up and went home; Baba Yaga makes more noise than before and shouts at her mares:
Why did you return home?
How could we not return? Fierce beasts from all over the world came running, almost tore us apart.
Well, tomorrow you will run into the blue sea. Again, Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night, and in the morning Baba Yaga sends him to feed the mares:
If you don't save - be your wild little head on a pole.
He drove the mares into the field; they immediately lifted their tails, disappeared from sight and ran into the blue sea; stand up to their necks in water. Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone, wept and fell asleep.
The sun has set behind the forest, a bee has flown in and says:
Get up, prince! The mares are all collected; Yes, as soon as you return home, don’t show your face to Baba Yaga, go to the stable and hide behind the manger. There is a lousy foal - lying in the dung, you steal it and leave the house at the dead of midnight.
Ivan Tsarevich got up, made his way into the stable and lay down behind the manger; Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at her mares:
Why did you return?
How could we not return? Bees swooped in, apparently invisible from all over the world, and let's sting us from all sides until we bleed!
Baba Yaga fell asleep, and at midnight Ivan Tsarevich stole her lousy colt from her, saddled it, sat down and galloped to the fiery river. I reached that river, waved my handkerchief three times to the right - and suddenly, out of nowhere, a high bridge hung across the river. The prince crossed the bridge and waved his handkerchief to the left side only twice - there was a thin, thin bridge across the river! In the morning the Baba Yaga woke up - you can’t see the lousy foal! Rushed in pursuit; he jumps at full speed on an iron mortar, drives with a pestle, sweeps the trail with a broom.
I galloped to the fiery river, looked and thought: “Good bridge!”
I went over the bridge, only got to the middle - the bridge broke off, and the Baba Yaga chubura into the river; and then a cruel death happened to her! Ivan Tsarevich fattened the foal in the green meadows, he became a wonderful horse. The prince comes to Marya Morevna; she ran out, threw herself on his neck:
How are you alive again?
So and so, he says. - Come with me.
I'm afraid, Ivan Tsarevich! If Koschei catches up, you will be chopped up again.
No, it won't catch up! Now I have a glorious heroic horse, like a bird flies.
They got on the horse and rode off.
Koschey the Immortal turns back home, under him the horse stumbles.
What are you, insatiable nag, stumbling about? Ali, do you feel any misfortune?
Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna away.
Is it possible to overtake them?
God knows! Now Ivan Tsarevich has a heroic horse better than me.
No, I can’t stand it, says Koschei the Deathless, I’ll go in pursuit.
How long, how short - he overtook Ivan Tsarevich, jumped off to the ground and was about to cut him with a sharp saber; at that time, the horse of Ivan Tsarevich struck Koshchei the Immortal with his hoof with all his might and crushed his head, and the prince finished him off with a club. After that, the prince laid a pile of firewood, kindled a fire, burned Koshchei the Immortal on a fire and let his very ashes fly into the wind.
Marya Morevna mounted Koshcheev's horse, and Ivan Tsarevich mounted his own, and they went to visit first the raven, then the eagle, and then the falcon.
Wherever they come, everywhere they meet them with joy:
Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, and we did not expect to see you. Well, it’s not for nothing that you bothered: to look for such a beauty as Marya Morevna all over the world - you won’t find another!
They stayed, feasted and went to their kingdom. We arrived and began to live, live, make good and drink honey.
There lived a king. The tsar had a son, named Ivan Tsarevich, and three daughters: Marfa the Tsarevna, Olga the Tsarevna and Anna the Tsarevna.
The tsar lived, he lived, and when he grew old and ill, he called Ivan Tsarevich to him and said:
I feel, my dear son, I am no longer a tenant in the world. And here is my order to you: stand on the kingdom. Princesses, your sisters, all of marriageable age. Whoever will be the first to marry, give it to him.
The old king lived for another day or two, and then he died.
Ivan Tsarevich grieved, grieve, but what are you going to do! Stepped into the kingdom. Began to rule.
And the sisters are still crying for their father, all in tears and in sadness.
Here once Ivan Tsarevich says:
And what, sisters, should we not go to the reserved garden for a walk, listen to the bayun cat, open up sadness and melancholy?
Let's go brother, let's go!
As soon as they arrived in the reserved garden, a black cloud with the wind came running, thunder boomed, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a Raven flew in. Raven hit the ground and became a handsome fellow.
Ivan Tsarevich, give Martha the princess in marriage to me!
Ivan Tsarevich remembered the parental mandate and says:
If you love your sister, let him go.
Martha the princess was well done to her heart. And in royal life, neither brew beer nor smoke wine - there is plenty of everything.
They began to play a wedding, a feast to feast.
And as soon as the guests left the table, everything around darkened: a black cloud ran up, thunder boomed, and Martha the princess with Voron Voronovich was carried away from the upper room, no one knows where.
Day after day, week after week - and the year is running out, but there is no news about Martha the princess.
Olga Tsarevna and Anna Tsarevna yearned for their sister and asked:
Let's go, brother, to the reserved garden, let's take a walk!
As soon as they arrived in the garden, a black cloud came running again, a storm arose and thunder struck. Like a stone, a clear Falcon fell under his feet. The falcon hit the ground and turned into a good fellow.
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! I came to you for a good deed: I came to marry. Give Olga Tsarevna for me.
Thank you for the honor, but I don’t remove my sister’s will. Will go for you - I will not argue.
Princess Olga bowed to her brother and said:
You won’t get around your betrothed, you won’t go round!
And on the same day they played a wedding.
Before they had time to dope, the weather began to rustle, thunder struck, and Olga Tsarevna and Sokol Sokolovich were carried away from the room, as if they had never happened.
Day after day - as if it rains, and week after week - like a river runs. A year has passed, but there is no rumor about Martha the princess and Olga the princess.
Tsarevna Anna yearned alone, sits in the tower, does not go anywhere.
Ivan Tsarevich is sorry for his sister:
Let's go, Princess Anna, to the reserved garden, let's take a walk. Let go of the sadness.
As soon as they came into the garden, a black cloud came running with thunder, with lightning, a great storm arose, and an Eagle flew right out from under the cloud. The Eagle fell to the ground and turned into such a beautiful young man - neither in a fairy tale to tell, nor to describe with a pen.
Well, Ivan Tsarevich, receive a guest! I want to be related to you; give Anna the princess for me.
I will not force Anna the princess, but thanks for the honor. He decides to go - advice and love.
It can be seen, brother, and the time has come for me to build my own nest, start my own house, - said Princess Anna.
They began to play a wedding.
The dining room was still half drunk, and the guests were still half drunk, when a strong thunder struck and such a whirlwind arose that the doors were torn off their hinges. That whirlwind picked up Anna the princess with Orel Orlovich, and carried them away to no one knows where.
It is boring for Ivan Tsarevich to live alone. A year has passed, and the sisters seem to have sunk into the water - not a word or a breath.
He began to think: “Why am I still living all alone! The time has come for me to look at the white light. Maybe I’ll tell you something about the sisters.”
He ordered the ministers to rule the kingdom, and he himself mounted a horse - and only a column of dust curled behind the good fellow.
How long, how short was the journey, on the road, drove into another kingdom and sees: the beaten army lies.
If there is anyone alive, tell me: who beat this army?
One person responded:
I only remained alive, but Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, beat everyone.
Ivan Tsarevich thought: “These are the miracles in the world: one girl beats an army! At least look at her!” - and asked:
Which way did she go?
Turned back at noon.
The good fellow did not hesitate, turned his horse to noon.
Goes a day or two. At the end of the third day, I again ran into a massacre: there are many beaten troops.
Hey, is there even one living soul? Respond, tell me: who beat this army?
Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, beat our army, - he heard the answer.
Ivan Tsarevich was amazed.
He can’t wait: he urges the horse, the path continues, in a hurry to catch up with the woodpile.
How close, how far did he go - he ran into the third massacre: apparently, invisibly, the troops were beaten.
If there is a person alive here, tell me; whose army is this? Who beat such an army-power?
One warrior rose from under the willow bush:
All three beaten ratis are from the kingdom of Koshcheev. We went to war against Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, to rescue Koshchei the Immortal from captivity. But she didn’t let her into her kingdom, she met everyone along the way, fought everyone, left no one alive.
Ivan Tsarevich traveled around the battlefield and saw: a tent was standing in an open field. At the tent the horse eats the wheat.
He rode up to the tent, unsaddled, unbridled the horse, set it free, and he himself looks to see what will happen.
The horse went straight to the wheat, the other horse stood aside, and they began to eat the wheat together.
“There was a place for my horse at the feed, and there will be a place for me in the hero’s tent.”
He entered the tent, looked around and did not believe his eyes: he thought he would see the hero, and there a girl of such prettiness was sleeping that he was so dead. Never seen such beauty!
Ivan Tsarevich himself wanted to rest from the road. He did not wake up the beauty, but lay down next to her and fell asleep soundly.
Some time passed like this, the girl woke up, looked around and jumped to her feet:
What kind of ignoramus is sleeping here uninvited, uninvited in my tent, chilling? Yes, and let his horse to my wheat!
She grabbed the sword, swung it, but thought about it; the sword hand went down.
“After all, he could have killed me sleepy, but he didn’t. Sleepy and recumbent to beat - that is not daring, not honor, but dishonor.
And she began to wake the uninvited guest:
Wake up, wake up, wake up, good fellow!
She woke up Ivan Tsarevich, began to blame him, pronounce:
Who are you, what kind of tribe? What country did you come here from? Why are you feeding my wheat for your horse? And he himself, without asking, went into someone else's tent and fell down to sleep!
I come from a royal family, and my name is simple and light: Ivan Tsarevich. I don’t know what your name is called, how they call you after a father. Are you Marya Morevna, beautiful princess?
I am Marya Morevna.
So, Marya Morevna, beautiful princess, I wanted to rest from the road, but you are sleeping! It was a pity to wake you up, to disturb you. Don't be angry with me, the road man.
On that, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, reconciled with Ivan Tsarevich.
Tell me, Ivan Tsarevich, are you going of your own free will, or is captivity driving you away?
Good fellows always ride of their own free will.
Well, if so, it's not in a hurry - stay, stay in my kingdom.
Ivan Tsarevich happily agreed, and they went to Marya Morevna in the kingdom.
Ivan Tsarevich stayed there for a week and fell in love with the beautiful princess Marya Morevna. And she fell in love with him from the first day. And soon they played a wedding.
How many, how few lived, lived, Marya Morevna needed to leave for another state: to visit her sister. She began to get ready for the journey, punishing Ivan Tsarevich:
Rule the kingdom, look after everything. In the palace, go to all the chambers, only do not look into that closet that is under the kitchen, where the door is tied with a bast, sealed with resin. Don't go there for anything, but if you go, it will be bad for us.
She handed him a bunch of keys, said goodbye and left Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
Ivan Tsarevich was left to while away the time, to wait for his young wife. He lived for a day or two, and such boredom fell upon him that it became unbearable.
He does not know what to do, where to go from longing. A thought struck him. “How long have I been living here, but I don’t know any wards or facilities. What a master I am after that!”
He took the keys and began to walk around the chambers, through the upper rooms. I went around all the wards, examined all the services. Neither wealth, nor foreign curiosities do not please, do not entertain: he is still oppressed by mortal boredom. He counts the days when Marya Morevna returns, and then he remembered: “What did she tell me about some closet, didn’t she tell me to go?”
As soon as I remembered this, all the boredom vanished as if by magic. He can't think of anything else but this closet.
“What is stored there? And how is it: the wife knows, but she does not tell her husband to know! Where has it been seen, where has it been heard!
So he can't wait to find out that he ran to the kitchen at a run. I saw in the passage a mossy staircase to the underground. He went down the stairs, and there the door: overgrown with moss, tied with a bast, sealed with resin.
“The very closet is where I was not ordered to go!”
And he was so unbearable that he did not begin to untie the basts, did not begin to look for the key, but strained, leaned on his shoulder and kicked the door together with the curb. He stepped over the threshold, looked around - he saw nothing in that nook except a cobweb.
"It looks like I'm in the wrong closet."
And suddenly he hears somewhere below, on the side, a muffled groan:
Give me a drink, give me a drink! Give me a drink, give me a drink!
He went in the direction from where the groan is heard, saw a cast-iron door in the wall, put his ear to it and hears again:
Give me a drink, give me a drink!
Ivan Tsarevich did not hesitate for a long time, he broke down this door as well. Behind the door is another staircase. Went down that ladder in the dungeon, and there's a fire burning. An iron cauldron hangs over the fire on twelve chains. In the cauldron, chained by the hands, by the legs, the old man sits, scary, green.
Good fellow, give me a drink, give me a drink! I've been without water for three years.
Ivan Tsarevich took pity on him and gave him a bucket of water. The old man drank and asked for more. He gave him another bucket of water, and he drank and asked for more to drink. Ivan Tsarevich brought the third bucket.
And as soon as the old man drank the third bucket of water, he shook the chains, and immediately the chains on his arms and legs broke like rotten threads. A green old man jumped out of the boiler:
Well, Ivan Tsarevich, you will not see Marya Morevna as your own ears! And because you gave me, Koshchei, water to drink, turned back my strength, I will have mercy on you twice, and don’t catch my eye for the third time!
There was a noise, a rumble, and Koschei the Deathless flew out of the dungeon.
Marya Morevna returned home at that time. Koshchei the Deathless picked her up at the porch and took her to his Koshcheevo kingdom.
She just had time to shout:
Ivan Tsarevich did not listen to me, he caused trouble! We will not see you now forever!
Ivan Tsarevich mourned, mourned, got ready for the journey.
“Though I will go around the whole wide world, but I will find my Marya Morevna!”
Whether he rode for a long time, whether it was short, whether it was close, whether it was far - soon the fairy tale is told, the deed is not done soon, - he saw the palace. At the palace there is an oak, on the oak the Raven sits.
Raven flew off the oak, hit the ground - became a good fellow:
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich, hello, dear brother!
Then Princess Marfa ran out, met the guest, and took her to the palace.
They began to treat him, to tell him about his life and being, and to ask the guest.
Ivan Tsarevich stayed for three days, began to say goodbye:
I can't stay longer. I must go, Marya Morevna, to look for the beautiful princess!
Eh, brother, you got it with reason, but you lost Marya Morevna without reason! - said Voron Voronovich. - It will be difficult for you to compete with Koshchei the Deathless!
Princess Martha wept:
Where are you, brother, going to certain death! Koschei the Deathless will kill you!
Well, sister, seven deaths cannot happen, one cannot be avoided, but a good fellow must think about life.
And began to say goodbye.
My brother-in-law and sister came out to see him off. Voron Voronovich says:
Well, go ahead. If trouble befalls you, I will help you in any way I can.
And gave him a raven's feather:
Now I'll know if something bad happens.
Ivan Tsarevich jumped on his horse - and only a column of dust curled after him.
I drove for a day, two and a week and sees that the palace is more beautiful than before. The palace has three oaks, and the Falcon sits on the oaks.
As soon as Ivan Tsarevich began to drive up to the palace, the Falcon flew to the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Princess Olga, come out to meet our dear guest.
The middle sister ran out onto the porch, said hello, for joy she does not know where to seat Ivan Tsarevich, what to feed him. Fed, watered, put to bed.
The next day, Ivan Tsarevich got up early, washed his face white:
Well, thanks for the bread, for the salt! I need to go.
What are you, what are you, brother! Stay with us for at least a week, where are you in a hurry!
No, I can’t stay: I have to go, find Koshchei the Deathless, rescue Marya Morevna.
Princess Olga began to cry, and Sokol Sokolovich said:
It will be difficult for you, but there is nothing to do - you yourself are to blame for everything. Go.
And he gave him a farewell falcon feather:
Now I will know if any misfortune will happen to you.
They embraced for the last time, and Ivan Tsarevich went on his way.
I drove, I drove - I drove into a deaf, dark forest, there is no housing. The horse got tired, and he wanted to drink and eat. And then he went to the clearing, looks - it is more beautiful than the previous two palaces.
Near the palace there are nine tall oaks, and on those nine oaks sits an Eagle. Eagle saw Ivan Tsarevich, flew to the ground and turned into a good fellow:
I have been waiting for you for a long time, dear brother! He took me to the palace.
Princess Anna, what is in the oven, all the swords on the table!
Princess Anna laid the table, instructed all kinds of dishes, wines and meads.
The son-in-law and sister are treating the dear guest. Fed, watered, began to question.
Ivan Tsarevich began to tell about his life and being: how he went to visit his sisters, how he met Marya Morevna, the beautiful queen, and how he gave Koshchei the Immortal water to drink, and he kidnapped Marya Morevna.
And now I have to hurry - to rescue my wife.
That's all we know, dear brother, - says Orel Orlovich. - You got married with reason, but you lost your wife without reason. It's hard for you to rescue Marya Morevna, to fight Koshchei the Deathless!
I am not afraid of work. All the same, seven deaths will not happen, but one cannot be avoided. Better not to be alive than to live a century without Marya Morevna!
Ivan Tsarevich rested and began to get ready for the journey. Orel Orlovich gives him an eagle feather:
Keep it always with you. If trouble befalls you, I will know and help you in any way I can.
Ivan Tsarevich thanked his son-in-law and his sister, jumped on his horse and set off for the Koshcheevo kingdom.
How long, how short, did the good fellow ride, drove up to the high palace and saw: Marya Morevna was sitting at the window, so twisted that looking at her takes pity.
She saw Ivan Tsarevich and wept bitterly:
Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, my bright falcon, why did you come here? You will not save me, but you will destroy yourself. Koschei will come back and kill you. He married me with reason, but lost me without reason!
Don't be angry, Marya Morevna! Forgive me my fault, I will not go ahead. Now I've come to rescue you. It's better to die with you than to spend a century alone. Hurry, let's get out of here!
As soon as they left, Koshcheev’s servant turned into a hawk and flew into the kingdom of the Serpent Gorynych. There Koschey the Immortal walked at the wedding.
What are you drinking here, walking around, completely forgot about your lands! After all, Ivan Tsarevich Marya Morevna took away!
Koschei rushed to his horse:
Well, horse, help me out! While we were here, Ivan Tsarevich took Marya Morevna away! Can we catch up with the fugitives?
The horse answers:
There is nowhere to hurry. Drink, walk for another three days, and then go to bed. When you get enough sleep, we'll bake pies, eat pies, then we'll go.
Here Koschei feasted for three more days, slept for three days, baked pies, ate and went in pursuit. Before Koschei the Deathless had time to mount his horse, he had already caught up with Ivan Tsarevich and Marya Morevna:
Well, Ivan Tsarevich, for the first time I left you alive, and now I will also have mercy on you for giving me water to drink, turning back my strength! And no longer hope for mercy - you will not be alive if you catch your eye again!
Ivan Tsarevich rushed at him with a sword. The sword does not cut, but Koschey laughs:
You are stupid, Ivan Tsarevich, if you rely on your strength and on a sharp sword! The sword does not cut me and no force takes.
He grabbed Marya Morevna, turned the horse around - only they were seen by the good fellow.
He twists and thinks: “How can I be, how can I help Marya Morevna out? It is better to accept death in battle than to leave her in captivity.
And he went again to Koshcheevo's kingdom. Koshcheev's horse has three gallops, and Ivan Tsarevich has three weeks to go. While he was on the road, on the road, Koschey was going to far away lands, to the farthest kingdom, he punished his werewolf servant:
I will go to Zmey Gorynych for christening. You keep an eye on the house, and what happens - give the news!
Ivan Tsarevich reached the kingdom of Koshcheev, drove up to the palace, looked - Marya Morevna was sitting at the window, weeping, looking at her side. When she saw him, she cried even more bitterly:
Why did you come back here? We still can't leave. Koschey will catch up on his horse and kill you.
You have to die sometime anyway. It is better to die than to live apart from you!
Marya Morevna was consoled by these words. She didn't argue. Ivan Tsarevich fed, watered, gave the horse time to rest - and left.
And the servant turned into a hawk and flew to the Zmeegorynychevo kingdom, right into the cave where the feast was going on.
Here you drink, walk, amuse yourself, but in our kingdom trouble has befallen: again Ivan Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna away!
When did you leave our kingdom?
Yes perishing with week time will.
Koschei went to the stable and said to his horse:
While they were feasting here, Ivan Tsarevich came to our kingdom and took Marya Morevna away. It's been a week since then. Can we catch up?
The horse answers:
Feast, walk quietly for another three days, then rest for three days, and then let the dough be put and pies baked. When we have enough pies, then we will catch up with them.
After that, Koschei feasted for three more days, then fell asleep for three days, and then ordered the dough to be put and the pies to be baked. They ate hot pies, sat Koschey on his horse and after three gallops overtook Ivan Tsarevich with Marya Morevna:
Well, now you will have no mercy!
He cut Ivan Tsarevich into small pieces with his enchanted sword: “Let the magpies and the crows peck!” - and took Marya Morevna to his kingdom.
Did you see what you did with your Ivan Tsarevich? The same will happen to you if you don't marry me!
And at this time, when Koschey the Immortal cut Ivan Tsarevich, Voron Voronovich, Sokol Sokolovich and Orel Orlovich had blood on their feathers.
Apparently, trouble happened to our brother! And all three flocked to the place where Ivan Tsarevich was lying. Orel Orlovich says:
You, Voron Voronovich, fly for dead water, Sokol Sokolovich, get living water, and I will stay here to guard the body.
Raven Voronovich and Sokol Sokolovich flew away, and Orel Orlovich washed each piece with spring water and put all the pieces into one body, as it should be.
Meanwhile, Raven and Falcon returned, splashed with dead water - the body grew together; splashed with living water - Ivan Tsarevich stretched, opened his eyes and said:
Ah, how long I slept!
For centuries you would sleep here, if not for us, - answered the sons-in-law. - Get up, let's go visit us!
No, dear brothers, I can’t go to visit: I have to rescue Marya Morevna. When I get her out of Koshchei, then we will stay with you.
Ivan Tsarevich said goodbye, thanked his sons-in-law and went to the Koshcheevo kingdom.
Marya Morevna saw him, crying and laughing for joy:
Is it you, my beloved Ivan Tsarevich?
I am the most.
And he told how Voron Voronovich, Sokol Sokolovich and Orel Orlovich rescued him from trouble.
It can be seen that Koshchei cannot be defeated by force alone and with a sword. He is a cunning wiser - you need to outwit him. You ask where he got such a horse for himself, and find out somehow where Koshcheev’s death is, and then it’s my business to reckon with him.
Marya Morevna was alone in the palace at that time. She brought Ivan Tsarevich to the upper room, fed him, gave him drink, and opened the cellar:
Bury underground for the time being.
As soon as the cellar was closed, there was a noise, a roar - Koschei the Deathless flew in.
Fu-fu-fu, what a miracle, what a miracle? It smells of Russian spirit in my room!
Marya Morevna says:
What are you, dear, where does the Russian spirit come from? You flew around the wide world, there you gathered the Russian spirit. Sit down, have lunch and lie down to rest.
Koshchei fell in love with affectionate speeches. He sat down at the table, ate bread in the oven, ate half a fried bull, drank half a forty-bucket barrel of wine and fell down on a bench to rest.
Marya Morevna sat down beside him and spoke:
I was so bored without you, but when I returned home, all boredom was removed as if by a hand, as if warmed by the summer sun!
It's a pleasure for Koshchei to listen to such words - he lies grinning.
Your speeches are sweet, Marya Morevna, and if you told the truth, then let's have a merry feast and for the wedding! Ivan Tsarevich will not come now, he will not come: magpies and crows have pecked him long ago.
I know that Ivan Tsarevich is no longer alive, I know that there is no match for my groom, except for you. I will marry you, as after the death of Ivanushka, a year blows.
Koschey is glad-radёhonek: a year is not a century, not long to wait.
Marya Morevna asks:
Where did you get such a horse?
I got my horse for distant lands, in the distant kingdom. There, beyond the fiery river, lives my aunt, Yaga Yagishna. She has a mare, in three days she flies around the whole wide world, at the age of thirty she foals once. Whoever grazes twelve mares at his aunt’s for three days, doesn’t miss a single one - she gives him a foal from that mare, and whoever doesn’t manage it - off his head. Many good fellows used to go there, but I was the only one who came back. To fall the yagish mares is grief and trouble, and there is no crossing at all across the fiery river!
And how did you save yourself - did you cross the fiery river?
Showed Koschey fly (towel):
You wave this fly three times to the right - the bridge will become high across the river, the fire will not reach; wave three times to the left - the bridge is gone!
And threw the fly into the styling.
Marya Morevna caresses Koshchei:
Do not hide, open up to me: where is your death?
You will know a lot - you will grow old soon!
If I knew and knew where your death is, I would protect you from any misfortune.
I heard from my mother that my death is in the golik (broom), and the golik is lying under the stove.
Marya Morevna jumped up, pulled out a golik from under the stove, wrapped it in a silk scarf and put it in a red corner.
Koschey laughed:
A woman has long hair, but her mind is short! Is it conceivable that my death should be in a hole? My death is in an egg, an egg is in a duck, a duck is in a hare, a hare is sitting in an iron chest, the chest is locked and buried under the largest oak tree on Buyan Island, in the middle of the sea-ocean. This is where my death is! Even if someone got to that island, my death would still not fall into their hands.
Overnight stay. In the morning, Koschei ate half a roasted bull, drank three buckets of wine, and began to equip himself on the way:
I'm going to visit my friend, Zmey Gorynych. I'll stay with him, and when I return, so that everything is ready for the wedding!
As soon as Koshchei went out of the gate, Marya Morevna told Ivan Tsarevich everything, gave a wonderful fly, baked plantains, and Ivan Tsarevich set off for distant lands, to the Thirtieth Kingdom, to Yaga Yagishna to get a horse or lay down a violent head.
He walked, walked, whether long, short, close, far ... He ate all the plantains that Marya Morevna had baked, and from fatigue and hunger he was completely exhausted.
I sat down on a roadside stone to rest. A she-bear with cubs runs past. He pulls on a tight bow, puts a red-hot arrow, gets on with shooting a bear.
Do not shoot me, good fellow, - says the bear, - do not orphans of my cubs! I'll be nice to you.
Ivan Tsarevich obeyed, endured hunger, rested and went on.
Walked, walked, got tired again; and he is hungry, and he is thirsty. I saw a large beehive: “Let me eat honey!”
And the queen bee to him:
Do not touch, Ivan Tsarevich, my honey, do not dawn on our hive! I will serve you.
Well, what to do with you! Apparently, you'll have to be patient.
And set off on the road. And hunger is not an aunt: he is so emaciated that he moves his legs by force.
How much time passed there, went out to the sea; he sees, near the water, on the sand, a large pike lies, his mouth opens.
“Well, now I have found something to satisfy my hunger!”
She only extended her hand - to take a pike, she pleaded:
Good fellow, let me into the sea! I will serve you faithfully.
Ivan Tsarevich thought: “He let the bear go, he didn’t offend the bees, but what’s the fault of the pike? I’ll wait another hour - maybe housing is not far away. ”
He threw the pike into the sea, pulled the sash tighter, and continued on his way.
Not far from the sea I saw a hut. I went in that direction, and the hut is behind the river. It is not water that runs in the river, but fire burns, blazes with flame.
He pulled out Koshcheev's fly from his bosom, waved his fly to the right once, twice and a third - a humpbacked bridge was thrown over the river above the fire. Ivan Tsarevich crossed to the other side, waved his fly to the left three times - there was no bridge.
He climbed the hillock - in front of him was a hut on a chicken foot, on a spindle heel. It is surrounded by a high fence, a human head is impaled on each stake, only one stake is empty.
Ivan Tsarevich thought: “Is this stake waiting for my head?”
Hut, hut, turn your back to the forest, front to me! I do not age forever, only spend the night at night.
The hut turned its back to the forest, to the good fellow in front. Ivan Tsarevich climbed onto the porch, flung open the door, and in the hut sits a Baba Yaga, a bone leg, her nose has grown into the ceiling, her hands are like hooks.
Yaga Yagishna is sitting, twisting threads, knocking with his bone foot. She saw Ivan Tsarevich, stretched her mouth to her ears:
Oh, I haven’t heard the Russian spirit for a long time, but now the Russian fellow is given into his own hands!
Wait, old hag, open your mouth! First, give a drink, feed a road person, heat a bathhouse, let me wash, take a steam bath, and then we will talk with you.
The old woman opened the underground, got down on her knees, took out the loaf, rushed to the stove, rattled the damper, splashed cabbage soup, fed, watered, heated the bathhouse.
Ivan Tsarevich got steamed, washed himself, came - fell on the bench.
Yaga Yagishna began to ask:
From the case, good fellow, are you lying or are you trying to do it?
I heard, grandmother, you have a running horse. I just need a horse.
Yes, I have a running horse, but I won’t give it to you, you have to earn it. Well, yes, I have not three years, not a year to serve, only three days to graze mares. Save the mares - get a runner, if you don't save - blame yourself. I saw, gosh, how many heads are on stakes in the tynu? Only one head is still missing.
We got up in the morning; fed Yaga Yagishna Ivan Tsarevich, drives out twelve mares, all of the same color, hair to hair. The mares lifted their tails, rushed into the forest to run whichever way. Only they were seen by Ivan Tsarevich.
He wandered into the forest, sat on a stump, and became sad. Out of nowhere, a bear runs up;
Do not grieve, Ivan Tsarevich, the whole thing will work out. Break a strong rod for yourself and lie down and rest calmly. In the evening I will gather all the mares. You know them on the sides with that rod, and they will not go anywhere, all, as one, will run home.
The bear ran away, and Ivan Tsarevich broke off the rowan rod, leaned against the stump and fell into a sound sleep.
The sun was at sunset, a horse's top went through the forest, all twelve mares jumped out from different sides, trembling, their manes stand like a stake.
Ivan Tsarevich began to whip them with a rowan rod on the sides. Rowan is not an alder - it bends, does not break, wraps around the ridge. So taught that all the mares in the soap came running home.
Yaga Yagishna opened the gate, locked the mares in the stable:
Oh, the villain, not only fed, watered, but drove and tormented!
Gathered on the table, fed Ivan Tsarevich:
Go to bed, tomorrow I'll suddenly wake you up with the light!
Ivan Tsarevich does not sleep, he hears - Yagishna grabbed an iron rod, ran to the stable:
Ah, so-and-so, what did I tell you? They couldn't run and hide!
And until then she beat them, whipped them, until she broke off the iron rod.
But where could we hide, mother? How bears fled into our forest from all over the world! You wouldn't see us if we didn't run away home! The bears would eat us.
The next day, neither light nor dawn, Yaga Yagishna woke Ivan Tsarevich, thrust him a loaf of bread:
Come on, do the service.
As soon as Ivan Tsarevich drove the mares out of the gate, as they tail with a pipe - and fled in different directions. Ivan Tsarevich was left alone, wandered into the forest, sat down on a stump, mourned: “How to gather a herd and drive everyone home?”
And at this time a bee flew in:
Well, don't grieve, Ivan Tsarevich, go to bed, and in the evening things will work out! Know them with a whip, and every one of them will be at home.
The bee flew away, and Ivan Tsarevich twisted his whip and fell to sleep.
As soon as the sun began to set, a noise went through the forest, and one after another twelve mares jumped out from different directions, all in foam, moving their sides, spinning with their ears. Ivan Tsarevich whistled, shouted, waved his whip - and they ran home.
Yaga Yagishna is standing at the gate, cursing:
Here is the villain, here is the murderer! All he knew was that he drove all day long, but did not give water, did not feed!
She came from the yard, splashed cabbage soup into a cup, threw a stale crust on the table:
Ivan Tsarevich drank soup, lay down on a bench, covered himself with a caftan, but he himself does not sleep - he listens to what will happen.
Yaga Yagishna grabbed a copper rod, ran to the stable, began to beat the mares with a copper rod and say:
I taught you badly yesterday: again they could not hide!
Century would not be found, not collected, if not for the bees. The bees swooped in, apparently-invisibly - and they stung us, drove us so hard that they couldn’t endure it!
They couldn't hide on land - bury yourself in the water tomorrow!
In the morning, all the mares scattered along the seashore and rushed into the sea. Only circles and bubbles went through the water. Then everything went quiet. Ivan Tsarevich sits on a stone by the very water, thinking: “How will you look for them at the bottom of the sea?”
And at this time, a pike popped out of the water:
Do not grieve, Ivan Tsarevich, I will bring everyone to you! I will serve you today and I will not forget your goodness ahead, just remember me when you need me.
The pike disappeared, and Ivan Tsarevich began to while away the day until evening. And as the sun became at sunset, the sea stirred, all the mares jumped ashore one after another, trembling, murmuring, their manes stand with a stake.
Baba Yaga saw that Ivan Tsarevich had brought the mares, stood up, threw up her hands:
Ox, so-and-so, they couldn’t have buried themselves! Well, I won’t let you out alive anyway!
Ran out onto the porch
Well done, well done! Go now to the last stable, where your runner is standing.
Ivan Tsarevich went to the stable, and there stood a frozen horse.
On such a bed, only carry water, and not ride a hero!
Here the horse spoke:
Do not hurry, Ivan Tsarevich, to blaspheme me, but listen. For three nights, Yaga Yagishna transferred my strength into mares so that they could hide from you, and on this night, if you sleep, she will take all the strength out of you, and then you will not be alive. You and I need to cross the fiery river tonight. A gap-grass grows behind the river. I will ride on the morning dew in that meadow - and all my strength will return. When you have dinner, do not go to bed, but come to me.
Baba Yaga affectionately met Ivan Tsarevich, instructed various foods and drinks:
Eat, good fellow! You were in my service, but you became a dear guest. Eat - eat up, drink - get drunk, sleep, rest as much as you want: I won't wake you up at dawn.
And he whispers to himself: “You will sleep so soundly that you won’t get up for a century.”
After dinner, Yaga Yagishna fell asleep, and Ivan Tsarevich slowly made his way to the stable, released his horse and led him to the fiery river. He waved his fly to the right once, twice and a third - a high bridge stood over the river. He crossed to the other side and waved his fly to the left - not three, but twice - the bridge remained, only a little holding on.
The horse found a meadow where a gap-grass grew, and as soon as dawn broke, he rode through the dew, got up, shook himself:
Well, Ivan Tsarevich, now I've done it! Let's go where you want.
I need to get to Buyan Island, which lies in the middle of the sea-ocean.
Sit down, let's go.
In the meantime, Baba Yaga woke up, got down from the stove, looks - there is no Ivan Tsarevich. I rushed to the stable - and there was no one there.
He left and took the horse away! Well, wait, Ivan Tsarevich, I will laugh too when your head is on my pole!
She jumped into a stone mortar and rushed in pursuit. He pushes the mortar with a pestle, sweeps up his tracks with a broom. He sees that a bridge has been thrown across the fiery river. She began to cross the bridge, but the bridge held on a little, in the middle of the river it broke off. Yaga Yagishna fell into the fiery river and burned down.
Ivan Tsarevich came to the sea-ocean, waved his fly three times - the bridge stretched to Buyana Island.
He moved across the sea and began to dig a hole on Buyan Island under the highest oak tree. Dug, dug - dug out an iron chest. As soon as the lock was beaten off, the lid was slightly opened, as the hare jumped out of the chest and ran into the forest. Ivan Tsarevich rushed into the forest, and a bear with a hare came out to meet him.
Ivan Tsarevich tore the hare, a duck flew out of the hare, soared into the sky. The good fellow grabbed a bow, shot a duck; the duck fell into the sea. So what's now? And I remembered the pike. At that very moment, out of nowhere, a pike appeared; the pike grabbed the duck and swam to the shore:
Take it, good fellow! I will never forget your kindness.
Ivan Tsarevich tore the duck, wrapped the egg in a scarf and put it in a saddle bag.
Jumped on a horse:
Hurry to Koshcheevo kingdom!
Came to Koshcheev's house. Marya Morevna ran out onto the porch all in tears:
Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, now Koschey is coming back, he will put you to death again!
Well, now Koshchei and I will compete! Who will betray whom to death - the case will show. Get on your horse!
He picked up Marya Morevna, sat her down behind him, and drove away.
At that time, Koschey returned, climbed onto the porch, shouting:
Is Marya Morevna ready to go down the aisle?
Servants run out
Ivan Tsarevich came here and took away Marya Morevna.
Koschei got angry:
Why were they released?
Kashchei rushed at the servants: he tore off someone’s arm, someone’s leg, and completely deprived others of their lives.
He ran to the stable and said to his horse:
You do not know my grief: Ivan Tsarevich was revived by his sons-in-law, and he again took away Marya Morevna!
The horse answers:
Now there is no time to linger: Ivan Tsarevich has a horse - my younger brother. Sit down soon.
Koschei rushed in pursuit, was about to overtake Ivan Tsarevich with Marya Morevna ... Under him, the prophetic horse began to stumble.
Koschei scolded, made a noise:
What are you, wolf's satiety, grass bag, stumbling?
I feel misfortune over you.
Not over me, but over Ivan Tsarevich adversity!
And he hit the horse with a whip so hard that he cut the meat to the bone. The horse soared above the forest, a little below the clouds.
At that time, Ivanov's horse spoke:
My elder brother would not catch up with me, but Koschei is alone, and there are two of you. Get it, Ivan Tsarevich, an egg from the bag. Koschey will catch up with us soon.
At that time, Koschey shouted:
Stop, Ivan Tsarevich, you won't run away from me anyway!
The good fellow swung, threw the egg on the ground. At that very moment, thunder boomed and a stench spread over the earth, and Koschey fell from his horse.
Ivan Tsarevich unloaded Marya Morevna from his horse, and he himself galloped up to Koshchei and beat him into small pieces.
Then he collected firewood, put it in a fire, burned the remains of Koshchei on that fire and scattered the ashes in the wind, and he sat on Koshcheev's horse, and they rode without need, without interference.
They feasted at Raven Voronovich, at Sokol Sokolovich and at Orel Orlovich, and then Ivan Tsarevich and his young wife returned to their kingdom.
Here, in joy, they set a feast for the whole world. They feasted for three days, and then they began to get down to business.
IN in a certain kingdom, in a certain state, Ivan Tsarevich lived; he had three sisters: one was Marya the princess, the other was Olga the princess, the third was Anna the princess. Their father and mother died; dying, they punished their son:
- Whoever will be the first to marry your sisters, give him away - do not keep with you for a long time!
The prince buried his parents and, out of grief, went with his sisters to the green garden for a walk. Suddenly a black cloud appears in the sky, a terrible thunderstorm arises.
"Come, sisters, go home!" - says Ivan Tsarevich.
They had just arrived at the palace - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two, and a clear falcon flew into their upper room, the falcon hit the floor, became a good fellow and said:
- Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker; I want to woo your sister Marya the princess.
- If you love your sister, I don’t keep her, - let her go!
Princess Marya agreed, the falcon married and took her to his kingdom.
Days pass after days, hours run after hours - the whole year is as if it had not happened; Ivan Tsarevich went with his two sisters to the green garden for a walk. Again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
"Come on, sisters, let's go home!" - says the prince.
As soon as they arrived at the palace, thunder struck, the roof fell apart, the ceiling split in two, and an eagle flew in, hit the floor and became a good fellow:
- Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker. And he betrothed Princess Olga. Ivan Tsarevich answers:
- If you are loved by Princess Olga, then let him go for you; I do not take away her will.
Princess Olga agreed and married an eagle; the eagle picked her up and carried her to his kingdom.
Passed, another year; Ivan Tsarevich says to his younger sister:
Let's go for a walk in the green garden! We walked a little; again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
Let's go home sister!
They returned home, did not have time to sit down - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two and a raven flew in; the raven hit the floor and became a good fellow; the former were good-looking, but this one is even better.
- Well, Ivan Tsarevich, before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker; give Anna the princess for me.
- I don’t take my sister’s will; if she fell in love with you, let her go for you.
Princess Anna married the crow, and he took her to his state. Ivan Tsarevich was left alone; he lived for a whole year without his sisters, and he became bored.
“I’ll go,” he says, “to look for my sisters.” He got ready for the road, he goes and sees - the beaten army lies in the field.
Ivan Tsarevich asks:
- If there is a person alive here - respond! Who defeated this great army?
A living man answered him:
- All this great army was beaten by Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, came out to meet him:
"Hello, prince, where is God taking you - by will or by captivity?"
Ivan Tsarevich answered her:
- Good fellows do not go in captivity!
- Well, if it's not in a hurry, stay in my tents.
Ivan Tsarevich is glad of this, spent two nights in tents, fell in love with Marya Morevna and married her.
Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, took him with her to her state; they lived together for some time, and the princess took it into her head to gather for war; she leaves the whole household for Ivan Tsarevich and orders:
- Go everywhere, look after everything; Just don't look into this closet!
He couldn't bear it; as soon as Marya Morevna left, he immediately rushed into the closet, opened the door, looked - and there was Koschei the Deathless hanging, chained on twelve chains.
Asks Koschei from Ivan Tsarevich:
Have pity on me, give me a drink! For ten years I have been suffering here, I have not eaten, I have not drunk - my throat is completely dry! The prince gave him a bucket of water, he drank it and asked again:
- I can’t fill my thirst with one bucket, give me more!
The prince gave another bucket; Koschei drank and asked for a third, and when he drank the third bucket, he took his former strength, shook his chains and immediately broke all twelve.
Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich! said Koschei the Deathless. “Now you will never see Marya Morevna like your own ears!” - And in a terrible whirlwind he flew out the window, overtook Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, on the road, picked her up and carried her to him.
And Ivan Tsarevich wept bitterly, bitterly, got ready and went on his way:
“Whatever happens, I’ll look for Marya Morevna!”
A day goes by, another goes by, at the dawn of the third he sees a wonderful palace, an oak tree stands by the palace, a falcon sits on a clear oak tree. The falcon flew down from the oak, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
“Ah, my dear brother-in-law! How is the Lord favoring you?
Marya Tsarevna ran out, met Ivan Tsarevich joyfully, began to ask about his health, to tell about her life and being.
The prince stayed with them for three days and said:
“I can’t stay with you for a long time; I am going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
“It’s hard for you to find her,” replies the falcon. “Leave your silver spoon here just in case: we will look at it, remember you.”
Ivan Tsarevich left his silver spoon by the falcon and went on his way.
He walked a day, walked another, at the dawn of the third he sees a palace even better than the first, an oak stands near the palace, an eagle sits on the oak. The eagle flew down from the tree, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
"Get up, Princess Olga!" Our dear brother is coming!
Olga Tsarevna immediately ran out to meet him, began kissing and hugging him, asking about his health, telling about her life and being. Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and says:
- I have no time to stay longer: I'm going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
The eagle answers:
"It's hard for you to find her; leave the silver fork with us: we will look at it, remember you.
He left the silver fork and went on the road.
A day passed, another passed, at the dawn of the third he sees the palace better than the first two, an oak stands near the palace, a raven sits on the oak.
A raven flew down from an oak, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
- Princess Anna! Hurry up, our brother is coming.
Princess Anna ran out, greeted him joyfully, began to kiss and hug, ask about his health, tell about his life and being.
Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and says:
— Farewell! I'm going to look for my wife - Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess. Raven answers:
- It's hard for you to find her; leave the silver snuffbox with us: we will look at it, remember you.
The prince gave him a silver snuffbox, said goodbye and went on his way.
A day went on, another went on, and on the third I got to Marya Morevna.
She saw her beloved, threw herself on his neck, burst into tears and said:
“Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! Why didn't you listen to me - you looked into the closet and released Koshchei the Deathless.
- Forgive me, Marya Morevna! Don't remember the old, it's better to go with me until you see Koshchei the Deathless, maybe he won't catch up!
They packed up and left. And Koschey was on the hunt; in the evening he turns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
The horse answers:
- Ivan Tsarevich came, Marya Morevna was taken away.
- Is it possible to catch up with them?
- You can sow wheat, wait until it grows, squeeze it, grind it, turn it into flour, cook five ovens of bread, eat that bread, and then go after it - and then we'll be in time!
Koschey galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich.
“Well,” he says, “for the first time I forgive you, for your kindness that you gave me water to drink, and the next time I’ll forgive you, and the third time beware - I’ll chop you into pieces!”
He took away Marya Morevna from him and took him away; and Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone and wept.
Wept, wept, and again returned back for Marya Morevna, Koshchei the Immortal did not happen at home.
"Let's go, Marya Morevna!"
“Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! He will overtake us.
“Let him catch up, we’ll spend at least an hour or two together.”
They packed up and left. Koschey the Deathless returns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
- What are you, insatiable nag, stumbling about? Ali, do you feel any misfortune?
- Is it possible to catch up with them?
- You can sow barley, wait until it grows, squeeze, grind, brew beer, get drunk, get enough sleep, and then go after it - and then we'll be in time!
Koschei galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich:
“After all, I told you that you would never see Marya Morevna like your own ears!”
He took her and took her away.
Ivan Tsarevich was left alone, wept, wept, and again returned for Marya Morevna; at that time, Koshchei did not happen at home.
"Let's go, Marya Morevna!"
“Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! After all, he will catch up, cut you into pieces.
- Let him cut it! I can not live without you. We packed up and left. Koschey the Deathless returns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
— What are you tripping on? Ali, do you feel any misfortune?
- Ivan Tsarevich came, Marya Morevna took with him.
Koschey galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich; chopped it into small pieces and put it in a tar barrel; he took this barrel, fastened it with iron hoops and threw it into the blue sea, and took Marya Morevna to him.
At that very time, the silver of the sons-in-law of Ivan Tsarevich turned black.
“Ah,” they say, “it seems that trouble has happened!”
The eagle rushed to the blue sea, grabbed and pulled the barrel to the shore, the falcon flew for the living water, and the raven for the dead. All three flocked to one place, broke the barrel, took out the pieces of Ivan Tsarevich, washed them and folded them as needed.
The raven splashed dead water - the body grew together, united; the falcon splashed with living water - Ivan Tsarevich shuddered, stood up and said:
Oh, how long I slept!
“I would have slept even longer if it weren’t for us!” sons-in-law replied. - Come visit us now.
— No, brothers! I'll go look for Marya Morevna! Comes to her and asks:
- Find out from Koshchei the Deathless where he got himself such a good horse.
Here Marya Morevna seized a good moment and began to question Koshchei.
Koschei said:
- Far away lands, in the farthest kingdom, behind the fiery river lives a baba-yaga; she has such a mare, on which she flies around the world every day. She also has many other glorious mares; I was her shepherd for three days, I didn’t miss a single mare, and for that Baba Yaga gave me one foal.
How did you get across the fiery river?
- And I have such a handkerchief - if I wave to the right side three times, a high, high bridge will become, and the fire will not reach it!
Marya Morevna listened, told everything to Ivan Tsarevich, and took away the handkerchief and gave it to him.
Ivan Tsarevich crossed the fiery river and went to Baba Yaga. He walked for a long time without drinking or eating. He came across an overseas bird with small children.
Ivan Tsarevich says:
- I'll take one chicken.
- Do not eat, Ivan Tsarevich! asks the overseas bird. "I'll be nice to you sometime." He went further, he sees a hive of bees in the forest.
“Let me take some honey,” he says. The queen bee responds:
- Don't touch my honey, Ivan Tsarevich! Someday I'll be nice to you.
- I'll eat at least this lion cub; I want to eat so much, I feel sick!
“Do not touch, Ivan Tsarevich,” the lioness asks. "I'll be nice to you sometime."
- Well, let it be your way!
Wandered hungry, walked, walked - there is the house of the Baba Yaga, around the house there are twelve poles, on eleven poles on a human head, only one is unoccupied.
- Hello, grandma!
- Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Why did he come - of his own free will or out of need?
- I came to earn a heroic horse from you.
— Excuse me, prince! After all, I don’t have a year to serve, but only three days; if you save my mares, I will give you a heroic horse, and if not, then do not be angry - stick your head on the last pole.
Ivan Tsarevich agreed, the Baba Yaga gave him food and drink and ordered him to get down to business. He had just driven the mares out into the field, the mares lifted their tails, and all scattered across the meadows; before the prince had time to raise his eyes, they completely disappeared. Then he wept and mourned, sat down on a stone and fell asleep.
The sun is already at sunset, an overseas bird has flown in and wakes him up:
- Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are now at home. The prince got up and returned home; and Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at her mares:
- Why did you come back home?
How could we not come back? Birds from all over the world flew in, almost pecked out our eyes.
- Well, tomorrow you don’t run through the meadows, but scatter through the dense forests.
Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night, the next morning Baba Yaga says to him:
“Look, prince, if you don’t save the mares, if you lose at least one, be your wild little head on a pole.
He drove the mares into the field, they immediately lifted their tails and fled through the dense forests. Again the prince sat down on the stone, wept, wept, and fell asleep.
The sun set behind the forest, a lioness came running:
- Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are all collected. Ivan Tsarevich got up and went home; Baba Yaga makes more noise than before and shouts at her mares:
- Why did you come back home?
How could we not come back? Fierce beasts from all over the world came running, almost tore us apart.
- Well, tomorrow you will run into the blue sea. Again, Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night, and in the morning Baba Yaga sends him to feed the mares:
- If you don’t save, be your wild little head on a pole.
He drove the mares into the field; they immediately lifted their tails, disappeared from sight and ran into the blue sea; stand up to their necks in water. Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone, wept and fell asleep.
The sun has set behind the forest, a bee has flown in and says:
- Get up, prince! The mares are all collected; Yes, as soon as you return home, don’t show your face to Baba Yaga, go to the stable and hide behind the manger. There is a lousy foal there - lying in the dung, you steal it and leave the house at dead midnight.
Ivan Tsarevich got up, made his way into the stable and lay down behind the manger; Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at her mares:
- Why did you come back?
How could we not come back? Bees swooped in, apparently invisible from all over the world, and let's sting us from all sides until we bleed!
Baba Yaga fell asleep, and at midnight Ivan Tsarevich stole her lousy colt from her, saddled it, sat down and galloped to the fiery river. I reached that river, waved my handkerchief three times to the right, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a high bridge hung across the river. The prince crossed the bridge and waved his handkerchief to the left side only twice - there was a thin, thin bridge across the river! In the morning the Baba Yaga woke up - a mangy foal was not to be seen! Rushed in pursuit; he jumps at full speed on an iron mortar, drives with a pestle, sweeps the trail with a broom.
I galloped to the fiery river, looked and thought: “Good bridge!”
I went over the bridge, only got to the middle - the bridge broke off, and the Baba Yaga fell into the river; and then a cruel death happened to her! Ivan Tsarevich fattened the foal in the green meadows, he became a wonderful horse. The prince comes to Marya Morevna; she ran out, threw herself on his neck:
How are you alive again?
“So and so,” he says. - Come with me.
- I'm afraid, Ivan Tsarevich! If Koschey catches up, you will be chopped up again.
- No, it won't catch up! Now I have a glorious heroic horse, like a bird flies.
They got on the horse and rode off.
Koschey the Immortal turns back home, under him the horse stumbles.
- What are you, insatiable nag, stumbling about? Ali, do you feel any misfortune?
- Ivan Tsarevich came, Marya Morevna was taken away.
- Is it possible to catch up with them?
- God knows! Now Ivan Tsarevich has a heroic horse better than me.
“No, I can’t stand it,” says Koschei the Deathless, “I’ll go in pursuit.
How long, how short - he caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, jumped off to the ground and was about to cut him with a sharp saber; at that time, the horse of Ivan Tsarevich struck Koshchei the Immortal with his hoof with all his might and crushed his head, and the prince finished him off with a club. After that, the prince laid a pile of firewood, lit a fire, burned Koshchei the Immortal on a fire and let his ashes fly to the wind.
Marya Morevna mounted Koshcheev's horse, and Ivan Tsarevich mounted his own, and they went to visit first the raven, then the eagle, and then the falcon.
Wherever they come, everywhere they meet them with joy:
“Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, and we did not look forward to seeing you. Well, it’s not for nothing that you bothered: to look for such a beauty as Marya Morevna all over the world - you won’t find another! They stayed, feasted and went to their kingdom. We arrived and began to live, live, make good and drink honey.
Russian fairy tale
MARYA MOREVNA
In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, Ivan Tsarevich lived; he had three sisters: one was Marya the princess, the other Olga the princess, the third Anna the princess. Their father and mother died; dying, they punished their son:
Whoever will be the first to marry your sisters, don’t keep him for a long time!
The prince buried his parents and, out of grief, went with his sisters to the green garden for a walk.
Suddenly a black cloud appears in the sky, a terrible thunderstorm arises.
Come, sisters, go home! - says Ivan Tsarevich.
They had just arrived at the palace - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two, and a clear falcon flew into their chamber, the falcon hit the floor, became a good fellow and said:
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker; I want to woo your sister Marya the princess.
If you love my sister, I do not appease her - let her go with God!
Princess Mary agreed; the falcon married and took her to his kingdom.
Days go by days, hours run by hours - the whole year is as if it had not happened; Ivan Tsarevich went with his two sisters to the green garden for a walk. Again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
Come, sisters, go home! - says the prince. They had just arrived at the palace - when thunder struck, the roof fell apart, the ceiling split in two, and an eagle flew in; hit the floor and became a good fellow:
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker.
And he betrothed Princess Olga. Ivan Tsarevich answers:
If you are loved by Princess Olga, then let him go for you; I do not take away her will.
Princess Olga agreed and married an eagle; the eagle picked her up and carried her to his kingdom.
Another year has passed; Ivan Tsarevich says to his younger sister:
Let's go for a walk in the green garden!
We walked a little; again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
Let's go home sister!
They returned home, did not have time to sit down - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two and a raven flew in; the raven hit the floor and became a good fellow: the former were good-looking, but this one is even better.
Well, Ivan Tsarevich, before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker: give Anna the princess for me.
I do not remove my will from my sister; if she fell in love with you, let her go for you.
Princess Anna married the crow, and he took her to his state.
Ivan Tsarevich was left alone; he lived for a whole year without his sisters, and he became bored. "I'll go, he says, to look for my sisters." He got ready for the road, walked, walked and sees - the army lies in the field - the strength is beaten. Ivan Tsarevich asks:
If there is a person alive here - respond! Who defeated this great army?
A living man answered him:
All this great army was beaten by Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
Hello, prince, where is God taking you - by will or by captivity?
Ivan Tsarevich answered her:
Good fellows in captivity do not go!
Well, if it's not in a hurry, stay in my tents.
Ivan Tsarevich is glad of this, spent two nights in tents, fell in love with Marya Morevna and married her.
Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, took him with her to her state; they lived together for some time, and the princess took it into her head to gather for war; she leaves the whole household for Ivan Tsarevich and orders:
Go everywhere, look after everything, but you can’t look into this closet!
He could not stand it as soon as Marya Morevna left, immediately rushed into the closet, opened the door, looked - and there was Koschey the Deathless hanging, chained on twelve chains. Asks Koschei from Ivan Tsarevich:
Have pity on me, give me a drink! For ten years I have been suffering here, I have not eaten, I have not drunk - my throat is completely dry!
The prince gave him a whole bucket of water; he drank and asked again:
I can’t fill my thirst with one bucket; Give more!
The prince gave another bucket; Koschey drank and asked for a third, and when he drank the third bucket, he took his former strength, shook his chains and immediately broke all twelve.
Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich! - said Koschei the Deathless. “Now you will never see Marya Morevna like your own ears!” - and in a terrible whirlwind flew out the window, overtook Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, on the road, picked her up and carried her to him. And Ivan Tsarevich wept bitterly, bitterly, got ready and went on his way:
Whatever happens, I'll look for Marya Morevna!
A day goes by, another goes by, at the dawn of the third he sees a wonderful palace, an oak tree stands by the palace, a falcon sits on a clear oak tree. The falcon flew down from the oak, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Ah, my dear brother-in-law! How does the Lord favor you?
Tsarevna Marya ran out, Ivan Tsarevich's windmill joyfully began to ask about his health, tell about her life. The prince stayed with them for three days and said:
I can't stay with you for a long time; I am going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
It's hard for you to find her, - the falcon answers. - Leave your silver spoon here just in case: we will look at it, remember about you.
Ivan Tsarevich left his silver spoon by the falcon and went on his way.
He walked a day, walked another, at the dawn of the third he sees a palace even better than the first, an oak stands near the palace, an eagle sits on the oak. The eagle flew down from the tree, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Get up, Princess Olga! Our dear brother is coming.
Olga Tsarevna immediately ran to meet him, began to kiss and hug him, to ask about his health, to tell him about her life and being. Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and says:
I have no time to stay longer; I am going to look for my wife Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
The eagle answers:
It's hard for you to find her; leave the silver fork with us: we will look at it, remember you.
He left the silver fork and went on the road.
A day passed, another passed, at the dawn of the third he sees the palace better than the first two, an oak stands near the palace, a raven sits on the oak. A raven flew down from an oak tree, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Princess Anna! Hurry out, our brother is coming.
In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, Ivan Tsarevich lived. He had three sisters: one was Marya the princess, another Olga the princess, and the third Anna the princess.
Their father and mother died. Dying, they punished their son:
Whoever is the first to marry the sisters, give it to him - do not keep it with you for a long time.
The prince buried his parents and, out of grief, went with his sisters to the green garden for a walk.
Suddenly a black cloud appears in the sky, a terrible thunderstorm arises.
Let's go home, sisters, - says Ivan Tsarevich.
They had just arrived at the palace - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two, and a clear falcon flew into their room. The falcon hit the floor, became a good fellow and said:
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before, I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker: I want to woo your sister Marya the princess.
If you love my sister, I don’t keep her - let her go.
Princess Mary agreed. The falcon married and took her to his kingdom.
Days go by days, hours run by hours - the whole year is as if it had not happened. Ivan Tsarevich went with his two sisters to the green garden for a walk. Again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
Let's go home, sisters, - says the prince. They had just arrived at the palace - when thunder struck, the roof fell apart, the ceiling split in two, and an eagle flew in. The eagle hit the floor and became a good fellow.
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! I used to go as a guest, but now I came as a matchmaker.
And he betrothed Princess Olga. Ivan Tsarevich answers:
If you love Princess Olga, then let her go for you, I do not remove her will.
Princess Olga agreed and married the eagle. The eagle picked her up and carried her to his kingdom. Another year has passed. Ivan Tsarevich says to his younger sister:
Let's go for a walk in the green garden. We walked a little. Again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning.
Let's go home sister!
They returned home, did not have time to sit down - when thunder struck, the ceiling split in two, and a raven flew in. The raven hit the floor and became a good fellow. The former were good, but this one is even better.
Well, Ivan Tsarevich, before I went as a guest, but now I have come as a matchmaker: give Anna the princess for me.
I do not remove my will from my sister. If she fell in love with you, let her go for you.
Princess Anna married the crow, and he took her to his state. Ivan Tsarevich was left alone. For a whole year he lived without his sisters, and he became bored.
I'll go, - he says, - to look for sisters. Gathered on the road, walked, walked and sees: the army lies in the field, the strength is beaten. Ivan Tsarevich asks:
If there is a man alive here, respond: who beat this great army?
A living man answered him:
All this great army was beaten by Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
Hello, prince. Where is God taking you - by will or by captivity?
Ivan Tsarevich answers her:
Good fellows in captivity do not go.
Well, if it's not in a hurry, stay in my tents.
Ivan Tsarevich is glad of this: he spent the night in tents for two nights. He fell in love with Marya Morevna and married her. Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, took him with her to her state. They lived together for so long, and the princess took it into her head to gather for the war. She leaves the whole household for Ivan Tsarevich and orders:
Go everywhere, look after everything, just don't look into this closet.
He could not stand it: as soon as Marya Morevna left, he immediately rushed into the closet, opened the door, looked - and there Koschey the Deathless was hanging, chained on twelve chains.
Asks Koschei from Ivan Tsarevich:
Have pity on me, give me a drink! For ten years I have been suffering here, I have not eaten, I have not drunk - my throat is completely dry.
The prince gave him a whole bucket of water; he drank and asked again:
I can't fill my thirst with one bucket. Give more!
The prince gave another bucket. Koschei drank and asked for a third; and as he drank the third bucket, he took his former strength, shook the chains and immediately broke all twelve.
Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich, - said Koschey the Immortal, - now you will never see Marya Morevna, like your own ears.
And in a terrible whirlwind he flew out the window, overtook Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, on the road, picked her up and carried her to him.
And Ivan Tsarevich wept bitterly, got ready and went on his way: "Whatever happens, I'll look for Marya Morevna."
A day goes by, another goes by, at the dawn of the third he sees a wonderful palace. At the palace stands an oak tree, a clear falcon sits on an oak tree.
The falcon flew down from the oak, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Ah, my dear brother-in-law!
Marya Tsarevna ran out, met Ivan Tsarevich joyfully, began to ask about his health, to tell about her life and being. The prince stayed with them for three days and said:
I can’t stay with you for a long time: I’m going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
It's hard for you to find her, - the falcon answers. - Leave your silver spoon here just in case: we will look at it, remember about you. Ivan Tsarevich left his silver spoon by the falcon and went on his way.
He walked a day, walked another, at the dawn of the third he sees the palace even better than the first. An oak stands near the palace, an eagle sits on the oak.
The eagle flew down from the tree, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Get up, Princess Olga, our dear brother is coming!
Olga Tsarevna immediately ran in, began kissing him, hugging him, asking him questions about his health, and telling him about her life.
I have no time to stay longer: I am going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess. The eagle answers:
It's hard for you to find her. Leave the silver fork with us: we will look at it, remember you. He left the silver fork and went on the road. The day went on, another went on, at the dawn of the third he sees the palace better than the first two. An oak stands near the palace, a raven sits on the oak. A raven flew down from an oak tree, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted:
Princess Anna, come out quickly, our brother is coming!
Princess Anna ran out, greeted him joyfully, began to kiss and hug him, to ask about his health, to tell about his life and being.
Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and says:
Farewell. I'm going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
Raven answers:
It's hard for you to find her. Leave the silver snuffbox with us: we will look at it, remember you.
The prince gave him a silver snuffbox, said goodbye and went on his way.
A day went on, another went on, and on the third I got to Marya Morevna.
She saw her beloved, threw herself on his neck, burst into tears and said:
Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, why didn't you listen to me - looked into the closet and released Koshchei the Immortal?
Forgive me, Marya Morevna, do not remember the old. Better come with me; until you see Koshchei the Deathless. Maybe it won't catch up!
They packed up and left. And Koschey was on the hunt. In the evening he turns back home, under him the good horse stumbles.
The horse answers:
Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna away.
Is it possible to overtake them?
You can sow wheat, wait until it grows, squeeze it, grind it, turn it into flour, cook five ovens of bread, eat that bread, and then go after it - and then we will be in time.
Koschey galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich.
Well, - he says, - for the first time I forgive you for your kindness that you gave me water to drink; and next time I will forgive, and on the third time beware - I will chop it into pieces. He took away Marya Morevna from him and took him away. And Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone and wept.
Wept, wept, and again returned back for Marya Morevna. Koshchei the Immortal did not happen at home.
Let's go, Marya Morevna!
Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, he will catch up with us!
Let it catch up. We'll go together for at least an hour or two.
They packed up and left. Koschey the Deathless returns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
What are you, insatiable nag, stumbling about? Al you hear what adversity?
Is it possible to overtake them?
You can sow barley, wait until it grows, squeeze it, grind it, brew beer, drink plenty, eat to satiety, sleep, and then go after it - and then we'll be in time.
Koschei galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich:
After all, I told you that you will not see Marya Morena as your own ears!
He picked her up and carried her away. Ivan Tsarevich was left alone, wept, wept, and again returned for Marya Morevna. At that time, Koshchei did not happen at home.
Let's go, Marya Morevna!
Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, he will overtake you, he will chop you to pieces!
Let him chop, I can't live without you!
We packed up and left. Koschey the Deathless returns home, under him the good horse stumbles.
What are you tripping on? Al you hear what adversity?
Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna with him.
Koschei galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, chopped him into small pieces and put him in a tar barrel; he took this barrel, fastened it with iron hoops and threw it into the blue sea, and took Marya Morevna to him. At that very time, the silver of the sons-in-law of Ivan Tsarevich turned black.
Ah, - they say, - apparently, trouble has happened!
The eagle rushed to the blue sea, grabbed and pulled the barrel ashore. The falcon flew for living water, and the raven for dead water.
All three flocked to one place, cut the barrel, took out the pieces of Ivan Tsarevich, washed them and folded them as necessary.
The raven splashed with dead water - the body grew together, connected. The falcon splashed with living water - Ivan Tsarevich shuddered, stood up and said:
Ah, how long I slept!
I would have slept even longer if it weren’t for us, the sons-in-law answered. - Come visit us now.
No, brothers, I'll go look for Marya Morevna. Comes to her and asks:
Find out from Koshchei the Deathless where he got himself such a good horse.
Here Marya Morevna seized a good moment and began to question Koshchei.
Koschei said:
Beyond the distant lands, in the distant kingdom, beyond the fiery river, the Baba Yaga lives. She has such a mare, on which she flies around the world every day. She also has many other glorious mares. I was her shepherd for three days, I didn’t miss a single mare, and for that Baba Yaga gave me one foal.
How did you cross the fiery river?
And I have such a handkerchief - if I wave to the right side three times, a high, high bridge will become, and the fire will not reach it.
Marya Morevna listened, told everything to Ivan Tsarevich. And she took away the handkerchief and gave it to him. Ivan Tsarevich crossed the fiery river and went to Baba Yaga.
He walked for a long time without drinking or eating. He came across an overseas bird with small children. Ivantsarevich says:
I'll eat one chicken!
Do not eat, Ivan Tsarevich, - the overseas bird asks. - I'll be nice to you sometime. He went further. He sees a beehive in the forest.
I’ll take, - he says, - some honey. The queen bee responds:
Don't touch my honey, Ivan Tsarevich. Someday I'll be nice to you.
I'll eat at least this lion cub. I want to eat so much, it became sickening.
Do not touch, Ivan Tsarevich, - the lioness asks. - I'll be nice to you sometime.
Okay, let it be your way. Wandered hungry. Walked, walked - there is the house of the Baba Yaga, around the house there are twelve poles, on eleven poles on a human head, only one is unoccupied.
Hello grandma!
Hello, Ivan Tsarevich. Why did you come - of your own free will or out of need?
I came to earn your heroic horse.
If you please, prince, I don’t have a year to serve, but only three days. If you save my mares, I will give you a heroic horse, but if not, then do not be angry: stick your head on the last pole.
Ivan Tsarevich agreed. Baba Yaga fed him, gave him drink and ordered him to get down to business.
He had just driven the mares into the field, the mares lifted their tails and all scattered across the meadows. Before the prince had time to raise his eyes, they completely disappeared. Then he wept and mourned, sat down on a stone and fell asleep.
The sun is already at sunset, an overseas bird has flown in and wakes him up:
Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are now at home. The prince got up and went home. And the Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at the mares:
Why did you return home?
How could we not return! Birds from all over the world flew in, almost pecked out our eyes.
Well, tomorrow you don’t run through the meadows, but scatter through the dense forests.
Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night. In the morning Baba Yaga says to him:
Look, prince, if you do not save the mares, if you lose at least one - be your wild little head on a pole!
He drove the mares into the field. They immediately lifted their tails and fled through the dense forests.
Again the prince sat down on the stone, wept, wept, and fell asleep. The sun has set behind the forest.
The lioness came running
Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are all collected. Ivan Tsarevich got up and went home. Baba Yaga is louder than ever and makes noise and shouts at her mares:
Why did you return home?
How could we not go back! Fierce beasts from all over the world came running, almost tore us apart.
Well, tomorrow you will run into the blue sea. Again, Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night. In the morning Baba Yaga sends him to feed the mares:
If you don't save - be your wild little head on a pole.
He drove the mares into the field. They immediately lifted their tails, disappeared from sight and ran into the blue sea, standing in the water up to their necks. Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone, wept and fell asleep.
The sun has set behind the forest, a bee has flown in and says:
Get up, prince! The mares are all collected. Yes, as soon as you return home, do not show your eyes to Baba Yaga, go to the stable and hide behind the manger. There is a lousy foal - lying in the manure. You take it and at the dead of midnight leave the house.
Ivan Tsarevich made his way into the stable, lay down behind the manger. Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at her mares:
Why did you return?
How could we not go back! Bees swooped in, apparently, invisible, from all over the world, and let's sting us from all sides until we bleed.
Baba Yaga fell asleep, and at midnight Ivan Tsarevich took the mangy colt from her, saddled it, sat down and galloped to the fiery river. I reached that river, waved my handkerchief three times to the right, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a high, glorious bridge hung across the river. The prince crossed the bridge and waved his handkerchief to the left side only twice - there was a thin, thin bridge across the river.
In the morning the Baba Yaga woke up - a mangy foal was not to be seen. She gave chase. He jumps at full speed on an iron mortar, drives with a pestle, sweeps the trail with a broom. I galloped to the fiery river, looked and thought: "The bridge is good."
I went over the bridge, only got to the middle - the bridge broke off, and the Baba Yaga fell into the river. And then a cruel death befell her.
Ivan Tsarevich fattened the colt in the green meadows; he became a wonderful horse.
The prince comes to Marya Morevna. She ran out, threw herself on his neck:
How did you get rid of death?
So and so, - he says, - let's go with me.
I'm afraid, Ivan Tsarevich! If Koschei catches up, you will be chopped up again.
No, it won't catch up! Now I have a glorious heroic horse, like a bird flies.
They got on the horse and rode off. Koschey the Immortal turns back home, under him the horse stumbles.
What are you, insatiable nag, stumbling about? Al you hear what adversity?
Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna away.
Is it possible to overtake them?
Don't know. Now Ivan Tsarevich has a heroic horse better than me.
No, I can't stand it, - says Koschei the Deathless, - I'll go in pursuit!
How long, how short - he overtook Ivan Tsarevich, jumped off to the ground and wanted to cut him with a sharp saber. At that time, the horse of Ivan Tsarevich struck Koschey the Immortal with his hoof with all his might and crushed his head, and the prince finished him off with a club.
After that, the prince threw a pile of firewood, lit a fire, burned Koshchei the Immortal on a fire and let his very ashes fly into the wind.
Marya Morevna mounted Koshcheev's horse, and Ivan Tsarevich mounted his own, and they went to visit first the raven, then the eagle, and then the falcon. Wherever they come, everywhere they meet them with joy:
Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, and we did not expect to see you! Well, it’s not for nothing that you bothered: such a beauty as Marya Morevna cannot be found in the whole world to look for another.
They stayed, feasted and went to their kingdom. We arrived and began to live, live, make good and feast on honey
