A long time ago there lived a man, neither rich nor poor. He had three sons. All three beautiful, like a moon, learned to read and write, gained intelligence, bad people did not know.

The elder Tonguch-batyr was twenty-one years old, the middle Ortancha-batyr was eighteen years old, and the younger Kenja-batyr was sixteen.

One day, the father called his sons to him, sat him down, caressed each, stroked his head and said:
- My sons, I am not rich, the property that remains after me will not be enough for you for a long time. Do not expect more from me and do not hope. I brought up three qualities in you: firstly, I raised you healthy - you became strong; secondly, I gave you weapons in your hands - you became skillful shocks; thirdly, he taught you not to be afraid of anything - you became brave. I also give you three covenants. Listen and do not forget them: be honest - and you will live in peace, do not brag - and you will not have to blush with shame; don't be lazy and you will be happy. And take care of everything else yourself. I have prepared for you three horses: black, brown and gray. I filled your bags with provisions for a week. Happiness is ahead of you. Go on your way, go see the light. Without knowing the light, you will not be able to go out into the people. Go catch the bird of happiness. Farewell, my sons!

So saying, the father got up and left.

The brothers began to gather on the road. Early in the morning we mounted our horses and set off. The brothers rode all day and drove far, far away. In the evening we decided to rest. They got off their horses, ate, but before going to bed, they agreed as follows:

The place here is deserted, it is not good if we all fall asleep. Let us divide the night into three guards, and let us take turns guarding the rest of the sleepers.

No sooner said than done.

First, the elder brother Tongu-ch began to watch, and the others went to bed. For a long time Tonguch-batyr sat, playing with his sword and looking at moonlight in all directions ... There was silence. Everything was like a dream. Suddenly, a noise was heard from the direction of the forest. Tonguch drew his sword and prepared.

Not far from where the brothers were staying was a lion's lair. Smelling the smell of people, the lion got up and went out into the steppe.

Tonguch-batyr was sure that he could cope with the lion, and, not wanting to disturb his brothers, he ran to the side. The beast chased after him.

Tonguch-batyr turned around and, hitting the lion with his sword on the left paw, inflicted a wound on him. The wounded lion rushed at Tonguch-batyr, but he again jumped back and hit the beast on the head with all his might. The lion fell dead.

Tonguch-batyr sat astride a lion, cut out a narrow strip from his skin, girded it under his shirt and, as if nothing had happened, returned to his sleeping brothers.

Then, in turn, the middle brother Ortancha-batyr stood guard.

Nothing happened while he was on duty. Behind him stood the third brother Kenja-batyr and guarded the rest of his brothers until dawn. Thus passed the first night.

In the morning the brothers set off again. We drove for a long time, drove a lot, and in the evening stopped at big mountain. At its foot stood a lone spreading poplar, under the poplar a spring made its way out of the ground. There was a cave near the spring, and behind it lived the king of snakes, Ajdar Sultan.

The heroes did not know about the king of snakes. They calmly tied the horses, cleaned them with a comb, gave them food, and sat down to supper. Before going to bed, they decided to keep watch, as on the first night. First, the elder brother Tonguch-batyr went on duty, followed by the turn of the middle brother Ortancha-batyr.

The night was moonlit, silence reigned. But then there was a noise. A little later, Azhdar Sultan crawled out of the cave with a head like a trough, with a long body like a log, and crawled to the spring.

Ortancha-batyr did not want to disturb the sleep of the brothers and ran to the steppe, away from the spring.

Sensing a man, Ajdar Sultan chased him. Ortancha-batyr jumped aside and hit the king of snakes with a sword on the tail. Ajdar Sultan spun in place. And the hero contrived and hit him on the back. The seriously wounded king of snakes rushed to Ortanch-batyr. Then the bogatyr finished him off with the last blow.

Then he cut a narrow strip from his skin, girded it under his shirt, and, as if nothing had happened, returned to his brothers and sat down in his place. It's your turn to be on duty younger brother Kenja-batyr. In the morning the brothers set off again.

They traveled for a long time through the steppes. At sunset we drove up to a lonely hill, dismounted from the horses and settled down to rest. They kindled a fire, had dinner, and again began to take turns on duty: first the elder, then the middle, and finally the turn came to the younger brother.

Kenja-batyr sits, guarding the sleep of his brothers. He did not notice that the fire in the fire had gone out.

It is not good for us to remain without fire, Kendja-batyr thought.

He climbed to the top of the hill and began to look around. In the distance, a light flickered from time to time.

Kendzha-batyr got on his horse and rode in that direction.

He drove for a long time and finally reached a lonely house.

Kenja-batyr dismounted from his horse, quietly tiptoed to the window and looked inside.

The room was light, and stew was boiling in a cauldron on the hearth. About twenty people sat around the hearth. They all had grim faces, bulging eyes. Clearly, these people were up to something bad.

Kenja thought:

Wow, there's a band of robbers here. Leaving them and leaving is not the case, it is not appropriate to do so honest man. I’ll try to cheat: I’ll take a closer look, I’ll enter into their confidence, and then I’ll do my job.

He opened the door and entered. The robbers grabbed their weapons.

Sir, - said Kenja-batyr, addressing the ataman of the robbers, I am your insignificant slave, originally from a distant city. So far, I've been doing small things. For a long time I have wanted to stick to some gang like yours. I heard that your grace is here, and hastened to you. Don't look that I'm young. Your only hope is that you will accept me. I know a lot of different tricks. I know how to dig tunnels, I know how to look out and scout. I'll be good in your business.

So skillfully led the conversation Kendzha-batyr.

The ataman of the gang answered:
- You did well to come.

Putting his hands to his chest, Kenja-batyr bowed and sat down near the fire.

The soup is ripe. Ate.

That night the robbers decided to rob the shah's treasury. After dinner, everyone got on their horses and rode off.

Kenja-batyr also went with them. After a little while, they rode up to the palace garden, dismounted from their horses and began to consult on how to get into the palace.

Finally, they agreed as follows: first, Kendzha-batyr will climb over the wall and find out if the guards are sleeping. Then the rest, one at a time, will climb over the wall, go down into the garden and gather there in order to immediately break into the palace.

The robbers helped Kenja-batyr to climb the wall. Batyr jumped down, walked around the garden and, finding that the guards were sleeping, found a cart and rolled it up to the wall.

Then Kenja-batyr climbed onto the cart and, sticking his head out from behind the wall, said: The most convenient time.

The ataman ordered the robbers to climb over the wall one by one.

As soon as the first robber lay down with his stomach on the fence and, bending his head, prepared to get down onto the cart, Kendzha-batyr swung his sword around his neck, and the head of the thief rolled.

Get down, - ordered Kendzha-batyr, stretched out the body of the thief and threw it down.

In short, Kenja-batyr chopped off the heads of all the robbers, and then went to the palace.

Quietly passed Kenja-batyr past the sleeping guards into the hall with three doors. Ten servant girls were on duty here, but they, too, were asleep.

Unnoticed by anyone, Kenja-batyr entered the first door and found himself in a richly decorated room. Silk curtains embroidered with crimson flowers hung on the walls.

In the room, on a silver bed wrapped in white cloth, slept a beauty, more beautiful than all the flowers on earth. Quietly approached her Kendzha-batyr, removed from her right hand gold ring and put it in his pocket. Then he came back and went out into the hall.

Well, let's look at the second room, what secrets are there? - Kenja-batyr said to himself.

Opening the second door, he found himself in a luxuriously furnished room, decorated with silks embroidered with images of birds. In the middle, on a silver bed, surrounded by a dozen servant girls, lay beautiful girl. Because of her, the moon and the sun argued: from which of them did she take her beauty.

Kenja-batyr quietly removed the bracelet from the girl's hand and put it in his pocket. Then he came back and went out to the same ail.

Now we need to go to the third room, he thought.

There were even more decorations here. The walls were covered with crimson silk.

On a silver bed, surrounded by sixteen beautiful maids, a beauty slept. The girl was so charming that even the queen of aiszd herself, beautiful morning Star ready to serve her.

Kenja-batyr quietly took a hollowed earring out of the girl's right ear and put it in his pocket.

Kenja-batyr left the palace, climbed over the fence, mounted his horse and rode to his brothers.

The brothers haven't woken up yet. So Kenja-batyr sat up to shri, playing with his sword.

It's dawn. The heroes had breakfast, saddled their horses, sat on horseback and set off.

A little later they entered the city and stopped at a caravanserai. Having tied their horses under a shed, they went to a teahouse and sat there to rest over a kettle of tea.

Suddenly a herald came out into the street and announced:
Those who have ears, let them listen! Tonight, in the palace garden, someone cut off the heads of twenty robbers, and the Shah's daughters lost one piece of gold. Our shah wished that all the people, young and old, would help explain to him an incomprehensible event and indicate who the hero who committed such a heroic act was. If anyone in the house has visitors from other cities and countries, you must immediately bring them to the palace.

The owner of the caravanserai invited his guests to come to the shah.

The brothers got up and slowly went to the palace.

Shah, learning that they were strangers, ordered them to be taken to a special room with rich decoration, and instructed the vizier to find out the secret from them.

Vizier said:
- If you ask directly, they may not tell.

We'd better leave them alone and listen to what they're talking about.

In the room where the brothers were sitting, there was no one except them. Here a tablecloth was spread out in front of them, various dishes were brought. The brothers began to eat.

And in the adjoining room, the Shah and the Vizier sat in silence and eavesdropped.

We were given the meat of a young lamb, - said Tonguch-batyr, - but, it turns out, he was fed by a dog. Shahs do not disdain a dog. And here’s what I’m surprised at: the human spirit comes from bekmes.
- That's right, - said Kendzha-batyr. - All shahs are bloodsuckers. There is nothing incredible if human blood is mixed into the bekmes. One thing surprises me too: the cakes on the tray are stacked in a way that only a good baker can stack.

Tonguch Batyr said:
- It must be so. Here's what: we were called here to find out what happened in the Shah's palace. Of course, we will be asked. What do we say?
- We will not lie, - said Ortancha-batyr. We will tell the truth.
- Yes, the time has come to tell about everything that we saw during the three days on the road, - answered Kendzha-batyr.

Tonguch-batyr began to tell how he fought with the lion on the first night. Then he took off the braid of the lion's skin and threw it in front of his brothers. Following him, Ortancha-batyr also told about what had happened on the second night and, having removed the braid from the skin of the king of snakes, showed it to the brothers. Then Kenja-batyr spoke. Having told what happened on the third night, he showed the brothers the golden things he had taken.

Then the shah and the vizier learned the secret, but they could not understand what the brothers said about meat, bekmes and cakes. So they first sent for the shepherd. The shepherd came.

Tell the truth! - said the shah. - Did the dog feed the lamb that you sent yesterday?
“O sovereign!” the shepherd pleaded. If you save my life, I'll tell you.
“I beg you, tell the truth,” said the shah.

The shepherd said:
- A sheep died in my winter. I felt sorry for the lamb, and I gave it to the dog. She fed him. Yesterday I sent just this lamb, because I didn’t have any others besides him, your servants have already taken all of them.

Then the shah ordered the gardener to be called.

Tell the truth, - the shah told him, - unless in bekmes

mixed with human blood?

Oh my lord, - the gardener answered, - there was one event, if you save my life, I will tell you the whole truth.
“Speak, I will spare you,” said the shah.

Then the gardener said:
- Last summer, someone got into the habit of stealing every night the most best grapes.

I lay down in the vineyard and began to guard. I see someone is coming. I hit him hard on the head with a baton. Then he dug a deep hole under the vine and buried the body. The next year the vine grew and gave such a harvest that there were more grapes than leaves. Only the taste of the grapes turned out to be a little different. I did not send you fresh grapes, but boiled bekmes.

As for the cakes, they were laid on a tray by the shah himself. It turns out that the Shah's father was a baker.

The shah entered the room to the heroes, greeted them and said:
- Everything you said turned out to be true, and therefore I liked you even more. I have a request to you, dear guests-heroes, listen to it.
- Speak, - said Tonguch-batyr, - if it suits

us your request, we will fulfill it.

I have three daughters, but no sons. Stay here. I would give you my daughters for you, arrange a wedding, convene the whole city and treat everyone with pilaf for forty days.
- You speak very well, - answered Tonguch-batyr, - but how can we marry your daughters when we are not Shah's children, and our father is not at all rich.

Your wealth is obtained by kingship, and we are brought up in labor.

Shah insisted:
- I am the ruler of the country, and your father brought you up with the labor of his own hands, but since he is the father of such heroes as you, then why is he worse than me? In fact, he is richer than me.

And now I, the father of the girls, before whom the amorous shahs, the powerful rulers of the world, cried, stand before you and weeping, begging, I offer you my daughters as a wife.

The brothers agreed. The Shah arranged a feast. They feasted for forty days, and the young heroes began to live in the Shah's palace. The Shah fell in love with the younger son-in-law of Kendja-batyr most of all.

Once the shah lay down to rest in the cold. Suddenly, a poisonous snake crawled out of the ditch and was about to bite the shah. But Kenja-batyr arrived in time. He drew his sword from its scabbard, cut the snake in half and threw it aside.

No sooner had Kenja-batyr put his sword back into its scabbard than the Shah woke up. Doubt entered his soul. He is already dissatisfied with the fact that I married my daughter to him, - thought the shah, - everything is not enough for him, it turns out that he is plotting to kill me and wants to become shah himself.

The Shah went to his vizier and told him what had happened. The vizier had long harbored enmity towards the heroes and was only waiting for an opportunity. He began to slander the Shah.

Without asking me for advice, you passed off as some

rascals beloved daughters. And now your favorite son-in-law wanted to kill you. Look, with the help of cunning, he will still destroy you.

The Shah believed the words of the vizier and ordered:
- Put Kendzha-batyr in jail.

Kendja-batyr was imprisoned. Saddened, saddened the young princess, the wife of Kendzha-batyr. For days on end she cried, and her ruddy cheeks faded. One day she threw herself at her father's feet and begged him to release his son-in-law.

Then the Shah ordered that Kendzha Batyr be brought from prison.

Here you are, it turns out, how insidious, - said the shah. How did you decide to kill me?

In response, Kenja-batyr told the Shah the story of the parrot.

parrot history

Once there was a Shah. He had a favorite parrot. The Shah loved his parrot so much that he could not live without it even for a single hour.

The parrot spoke pleasant words to the shah, entertained him. Once a parrot asked:

o In my homeland, in India, I have a father and mother, brothers and sisters. I have lived in captivity for a long time. Now I ask you to release me for twenty days. I'm flying to my homeland, six days there, six days back, I'll stay at home for eight days, look at my mother and father, at my brothers and sisters.

No, the shah replied, if I let you go, you will not return, and I will be bored.

The parrot began to assure:
“Sir, I give my word and I will keep it.
- Well, if so, I will let you go, but only for two weeks, - said the Shah.
- Farewell, somehow I will turn around, - the parrot was delighted.

He flew from the cage to the fence, said goodbye to everyone and flew south. The Shah stood and looked after him. He did not believe that the parrot would return.

In six days, the parrot flew to its homeland - India and found its parents. The poor thing rejoiced, fluttered, frolicked, flew from hill to hill, from branch to branch, from tree to tree, swimming in the greenery of the forests, visited relatives and friends and did not even notice how two days had passed. The time has come to fly back into captivity, into a cage. It was hard for the parrot to part with his father and mother, brothers and sisters.

Minutes of joy gave way to hours of sadness. Wings hung. Perhaps it will be possible to fly again, but perhaps not.

Relatives and friends gathered. Everyone felt sorry for the parrot and advised not to return to the Shah. But the parrot said:
- No, I made a promise. Can I break my word?
- Eh, - said one parrot, - when did you see

for kings to keep their promises? If your shah were just, would he have kept you fourteen years in prison and released you only for fourteen days. Were you born to live in captivity? Do not let go of freedom in order to bring someone entertainment! The shah has more ferocity than mercy. It is unwise and dangerous to be close to the king and the tiger.

But the parrot did not listen to the advice and was about to fly away. Then the parrot's mother spoke:
In that case, I will give you advice. The fruits of life grow in our places. Whoever eats at least one fruit immediately turns into a young man, an old man becomes a young man again, and an old woman becomes a young girl. Take the precious fruits to the shah and ask him to let you go free. Perhaps a sense of justice will awaken in him and he will give you freedom.

Everyone approved of the advice. Immediately they brought forth the three fruits of life. The parrot said goodbye to relatives and friends and flew north. Everyone looked after him, holding in his heart big hopes.

The parrot flew to the place in six days, presented the shah with a gift and told what property the fruits have. The shah was delighted, promised to release the parrot, gave one fruit to his wife, and put the rest in a bowl.

The vizier shook with envy and anger and decided to turn things around in a different way.

Until you eat the fruit brought by the bird, let's try it first. If they turn out to be good, it is never too late to eat them,” said the vizier.

The Shah approved the advice. And the vizier, having improved the moment, let a strong poison into the fruits of life. Then the vizier said:
Well, now let's try it.
- They brought two peacocks and let them peck at the fruit. Both peacocks immediately died.
- What would happen if you ate them? - said the vizier.
“I would have died too!” exclaimed the shah. He dragged the poor parrot out of its cage and tore off its head. So the poor parrot received a reward from the Shah.

Soon the shah became angry with one old man and decided to execute him. The Shah told him to eat the remaining fruit. As soon as the old man ate it, black hair immediately grew, new teeth erupted, his eyes shone with a youthful brilliance, and he took on the appearance of a twenty-year-old youth.

The king realized that he had killed the parrot in vain, but it was too late.

And now I'll tell you what happened while you

slept, - Kendzha-batyr said in conclusion.

He went into the garden, brought from there the body of a snake cut in half. The shah began to apologize to Kendzha-batyr. Kenja-batyr said to him:
- Sir, allow me and my brothers to go home to their country. With checks it is impossible to live in goodness and peace.

No matter how much the shah begged or begged, the heroes did not agree.

We cannot be court people and live in the Shah's palace. We will live by our work, they said.
“Well, then let my daughters stay at home,” said the shah.

But the daughters spoke with each other:
- We will not leave our husbands.

Young heroes returned to their father with their wives and healed happy life in happiness and work.

The squad of the Rostov Prince Yaroslav survived the recent battle with the Varangians, but suffered significant losses and needed to be replenished. It must be so, decided the boy named Alyosha, nicknamed Popovich. And with the blessing of his father, the priest, Leonty went to the princely court.

There also came many others, like him, well done. Everyone wanted to protect the Russian land from a fierce enemy. Only not everyone was taken into the princely squad. They needed tall, strong guys. strong in spirit but the weak in body were left aside.

After careful selection, Alyosha was among the top ten recruits. Still would! Tall, heroically built, horseshoe oppression with ease - who better than him to be a princely grid.

The first ten, the second, the third ... All this fledgling army was gathered under his command by a centurion - a gloomy bearded man with a bearish article. It was he who led the recruits to the weapons cages.

Alyosha was impatient to quickly try on chain mail, a helmet, to feel the weight of the sword in his hand. He received weapons and armor. But he did not experience much joy.

The chain mail and helmet looked deplorable. The iron was soaked with the smell of mold, as if it had lain in a swamp for a hundred years. And the sword looked no better. Notches, gouges, a thick coating of rust on the blade and handle. It looks like they haven't been cut since the time of King Peas. There was no scabbard at all.

All the rest of the day and all night long Alyosha and all his new brothers in rusty weapons cleaned, scraped, sharpened, rubbed the iron that had fallen on their heads. By morning, his chain mail shone with joy, his helmet shone, his blade gleamed menacingly. But still - and this I had to admit with regret - the sword and armor were far from perfect.

- Something you, well done, are not cheerful. What was sad? the tenth asked him.

“Yes, well…” Alyosha shrugged his shoulders.

- Isn't the chain mail like that? And the sword isn't? Nothing, serve with mine, you will be renewed ...

It's easy for him to speak. At the most all in in perfect order. A copper helmet with a narrow crown, brand new chain mail with steel chest plates, a double-edged sword in a scabbard - in a word, no comparison with what Alyosha possessed.

How long have you been serving? - he asked.

- Already three years...

- For a long time ... I say that I won’t wait like that for a long time. I will have all this much sooner.

If you believe folk wisdom, then the word is not a sparrow, it will fly out - you won’t catch it. Therefore, in order not to be considered a windbag, Alyosha had to acquire a worthwhile weapon as soon as possible. But how to do that?

In his purse there were ten nogatas - Arab silver coins worth one dichrem. For some it was a lot. Not enough for a gun shop. However, Alyosha did not lose heart. As if he knew that chance would help him keep his word.

Each of the newly minted warriors received a horse. But what were these horses? Unsightly shaggy horses, on which the steppe nomads once pranced. Battle trophy after a long-standing battle with the Pechenegs in the Wild Field.

Riding on steppe horses, unsuccessfully hiding behind the beaten shields the unsightly appearance of their armor, the young Gridni warriors set off for the city. To the shores of Nero Lake, where they were to become a camp.

Day after day, in tension and almost without rest, the warriors learned to chop with a sword, stab with a spear, shoot arrows from a bow. To strengthen the body, heavy stones were thrown from place to place, for greater endurance they ran in launches, for the sake of dexterity they maneuvered between swinging logs.

Military science was easy for Alyosha. Because he trained in martial arts from an early age. At least now he could plug anyone into the belt. But the young man did not flaunt himself, patiently waited in the wings.

And the hour has passed. It happened exactly one month later. Prince Yaroslav himself came to see the young combatants. He was accompanied by two dozen selected warriors.

Among the prince's bodyguards, a dapper young man of about thirty years of age stood out in particular. He led the top ten. His armor was forged by the best Rostov gunsmiths - it was hard to doubt this. A damask sword with gemstones interspersed in the hilt, a scarlet silk cloak with gold embroidery - one could only dream of this. And the horse under him is just a miracle. If Alyosha had half his kingdom, he would certainly give it for this bay stallion.

Only, strangely, instead of morocco boots, the dandy's feet were adorned with the most ordinary bast shoes. But Alyosha had boots - the only thing he could be proud of.

The prince hid in the centurion's tent. The security remained. The dandy in bast shoes looked at the recruits with a casual smile. Until I noticed Alyosha, or rather, his boots. Like a fox discovering a hole in a chicken coop, a twinkle of greed flared in his eyes. He jumped off his horse - as if blown away by the wind. But he approached Alyosha with a leisurely step. And with seeming carelessness he asked:

“Friend, are you by any chance the son of the merchant Doroniy?”

Everyone knew the name of this merchant, the richest in Rostov.

No, friend, you are wrong. My father is a priest. His name is Leonty. Alyosha has already guessed what the dandy is driving at.

- So, I made a fool of myself ... Wait, do priests really wear such noble boots?

This is a gift from my brother. And I see that you just need such a benefactor, ”Alyosha remarked, not without a grin.

- Look, what a big-eyed! .. I want to bargain with you. You give me boots, and I give you ... What do you want in return?

– What can you give? Alyosha accepted the proposed game.

“Here, you can take my bow,” the warrior showed his quiver, painted bright colors.

- Just!

What, you don't agree?

– I do not agree... But if you would give me your horse...

– A horse for boots?! Well, you, friend, turned down! .. Listen, maybe you will take a saddle?

Better a horse without a saddle than a saddle without a horse.

So you have a horse! - the dandy grinned in his mustache. - Good horse. And under my saddle it will be even better...

- Okay, let's do it! I'm your boots. With a horse to boot. And you give me a saddle and your horse to him! Alyosha smiled mischievously.

“And with you, friend, you can’t agree,” the warrior grimaced with displeasure.

"Sorry, it didn't work out...

“What if we roll the dice?”

- Whose what?

- Whose bones? Alyosha retorted again.

- Not whose, but what! Dice!

- Ah, come on!

Alyosha easily succumbed to the temptation of easy money - so great was his desire to leave the dandy with his nose. His father would not have approved of such a decision - because it was in gambling something from the evil one. But our hero had his own opinion on this matter. He did not deceive anyone - and this justified himself in his own eyes.

- What do we put on the line to begin with?

I can offer my boots. Although... Although if you like my chain mail, helmet and sword... - Alyosha deliberately paused.

“Well, no,” the dandy hastened to disown. – Some other time... Against your boots I put my sword... Overseas masters forged. And how many enemies he chopped down, do not count ...

- I would put two pairs of boots, but I have only one.

- I don't need any more!

The dandy threw the dice first. Behind him is Alyosha. He was luckier. One-two - and he became the owner of an excellent sword!

- Against boots and a sword - chain mail, a shield and a helmet! - Failure only inflamed the prince's bodyguard.

Bones fell to the ground again. And this time Alyosha was lucky. In such games, beginners are lucky.

- Against chain mail, helmet and shield - my horse! - The dandy was soared as if he himself rode under the saddle for more than a dozen miles.

An experienced warrior made a move. Three out of twelve possible. Too few. Alyosha already had a presentiment of complete victory. With a haughty sneer, he tossed the dice. But...

Two against three! Alyosha spread his hands in bewilderment. The next move took the sword from him. It remains to lose the boots.

But luck again turned to face him. Alyosha won back the sword, then the armor. But fickle luck again showed his back. And then she smiled again.

A long time ago there lived a man, neither rich nor poor. He had three sons. All three beautiful, like a moon, learned to read and write, gained intelligence, did not know bad people.
The elder Tonguch-batyr was twenty-one years old, the middle Ortancha-batyr was eighteen years old, and the younger Kenja-batyr was sixteen.
One day, the father called his sons to him, sat him down, caressed each, stroked his head and said:
- My sons, I am not rich, the property that remains after me will not be enough for you for a long time. Do not expect more from me and do not hope. I brought up three qualities in you: firstly, I raised you healthy - you became strong; secondly, I gave you weapons in your hands - you became skillful shocks; thirdly, he taught you not to be afraid of anything - you became brave. I also give you three covenants. Listen and do not forget them: be honest - and you will live in peace, do not brag - and you will not have to blush with shame; don't be lazy and you will be happy. And take care of everything else yourself. I have prepared for you three horses: black, brown and gray. I filled your bags with provisions for a week. Happiness is ahead of you. Go on your way, go see the light. Without knowing the light, you will not be able to go out into the people. Go catch the bird of happiness. Farewell, my sons!
So saying, the father got up and left.
The brothers began to gather on the road. Early in the morning we mounted our horses and set off. The brothers rode all day and drove far, far away. In the evening we decided to rest. They got off their horses, ate, but before going to bed, they agreed as follows:
The place here is deserted, it is not good if we all fall asleep. Let us divide the night into three guards, and let us take turns guarding the rest of the sleepers.
No sooner said than done.
First, the elder brother Tongu-ch began to watch, and the others went to bed. Tonguch-batyr sat for a long time, playing with his sword and looking in all directions in the moonlight... There was silence. Everything was like a dream. Suddenly, a noise was heard from the direction of the forest. Tonguch drew his sword and prepared.
Not far from where the brothers were staying was a lion's lair. Smelling the smell of people, the lion got up and went out into the steppe.
Tonguch-batyr was sure that he could cope with the lion, and, not wanting to disturb his brothers, he ran to the side. The beast chased after him.
Tonguch-batyr turned around and, hitting the lion with his sword on the left paw, inflicted a wound on him. The wounded lion rushed at Tonguch-batyr, but he again jumped back and hit the beast on the head with all his might. The lion fell dead.
Tonguch-batyr sat astride a lion, cut out a narrow strip from his skin, girded it under his shirt and, as if nothing had happened, returned to his sleeping brothers.
Then, in turn, the middle brother Ortancha-batyr stood guard.
Nothing happened while he was on duty. Behind him stood the third brother Kenja-batyr and guarded the rest of his brothers until dawn. Thus passed the first night.
In the morning the brothers set off again. We drove for a long time, drove a lot, and in the evening we stopped at a big mountain. At its foot stood a lone spreading poplar, under the poplar a spring made its way out of the ground. There was a cave near the spring, and behind it lived the king of snakes, Ajdar Sultan.
The heroes did not know about the king of snakes. They calmly tied the horses, cleaned them with a comb, gave them food, and sat down to supper. Before going to bed, they decided to keep watch, as on the first night. First, the elder brother Tonguch-batyr went on duty, followed by the turn of the middle brother Ortancha-batyr.
The night was moonlit, silence reigned. But then there was a noise. A little later, Azhdar Sultan crawled out of the cave with a head like a trough, with a long body like a log, and crawled to the spring.
Ortancha-batyr did not want to disturb the sleep of the brothers and ran to the steppe, away from the spring.
Sensing a man, Ajdar Sultan chased him. Ortancha-batyr jumped aside and hit the king of snakes with a sword on the tail. Ajdar Sultan spun in place. And the hero contrived and hit him on the back. The seriously wounded king of snakes rushed to Ortanch-batyr. Then the bogatyr finished him off with the last blow.
Then he cut a narrow strip from his skin, girded it under his shirt, and, as if nothing had happened, returned to his brothers and sat down in his place. It was the turn of the younger brother Kendzha-batyr to be on duty. In the morning the brothers set off again.
They traveled for a long time through the steppes. At sunset we drove up to a lonely hill, dismounted from the horses and settled down to rest. They kindled a fire, had dinner, and again began to take turns on duty: first the elder, then the middle, and finally the turn came to the younger brother.
Kenja-batyr sits, guarding the sleep of his brothers. He did not notice that the fire in the fire had gone out.
It is not good for us to remain without fire, Kendja-batyr thought.
He climbed to the top of the hill and began to look around. In the distance, a light flickered from time to time.
Kendzha-batyr got on his horse and rode in that direction.
He drove for a long time and finally reached a lonely house.
Kenja-batyr dismounted from his horse, quietly tiptoed to the window and looked inside.
The room was light, and stew was boiling in a cauldron on the hearth. About twenty people sat around the hearth. They all had grim faces, bulging eyes. Clearly, these people were up to something bad.
Kenja thought:
Wow, there's a band of robbers here. To leave them and go away is not the case; it is not befitting to do so to an honest person. I’ll try to cheat: I’ll take a closer look, I’ll enter into their confidence, and then I’ll do my job.
He opened the door and entered. The robbers grabbed their weapons.
- Sir, - said Kendzha-batyr, addressing the ataman of the robbers, I am your insignificant slave, originally from a distant city. So far, I've been doing small things. For a long time I have wanted to stick to some gang like yours. I heard that your grace is here, and hastened to you. Don't look that I'm young. Your only hope is that you will accept me. I know a lot of different tricks. I know how to dig tunnels, I know how to look out and scout. I'll be good in your business.
So skillfully led the conversation Kendzha-batyr.
The ataman of the gang answered:
- You did well to come.
Putting his hands to his chest, Kenja-batyr bowed and sat down near the fire.
The soup is ripe. Ate.
That night the robbers decided to rob the shah's treasury. After dinner, everyone got on their horses and rode off.
Kenja-batyr also went with them. After a little while, they rode up to the palace garden, dismounted from their horses and began to consult on how to get into the palace.
Finally, they agreed as follows: first, Kendzha-batyr will climb over the wall and find out if the guards are sleeping. Then the rest, one at a time, will climb over the wall, go down into the garden and gather there in order to immediately break into the palace.
The robbers helped Kenja-batyr to climb the wall. Batyr jumped down, walked around the garden and, finding that the guards were sleeping, found a cart and rolled it up to the wall.
Then Kenja-batyr climbed onto the cart and, sticking his head out from behind the wall, said: The most convenient time.
The ataman ordered the robbers to climb over the wall one by one.
As soon as the first robber lay down with his stomach on the fence and, bending his head, prepared to get down onto the cart, Kendzha-batyr swung his sword around his neck, and the head of the thief rolled.
- Get off, - ordered Kendja-batyr, stretched out the body of the thief and threw it down.
In short, Kenja-batyr chopped off the heads of all the robbers, and then went to the palace.
Quietly passed Kenja-batyr past the sleeping guards into the hall with three doors. Ten servant girls were on duty here, but they, too, were asleep.
Unnoticed by anyone, Kenja-batyr entered the first door and found himself in a richly decorated room. Silk curtains embroidered with crimson flowers hung on the walls.
In the room, on a silver bed wrapped in white cloth, slept a beauty, more beautiful than all the flowers on earth. Quietly approached her Kendzha-batyr, removed a golden ring from her right hand and put it in his pocket. Then he came back and went out into the hall.
Well, let's look at the second room, what secrets are there? - Kenja-batyr said to himself.
Opening the second door, he found himself in a luxuriously furnished room, decorated with silks embroidered with images of birds. In the middle, on a silver bed, surrounded by a dozen servant girls, lay a beautiful girl. Because of her, the moon and the sun argued: from which of them did she take her beauty.
Kenja-batyr quietly removed the bracelet from the girl's hand and put it in his pocket. Then he came back and went out to the same ail.
Now you need to go to the third room, he thought.
There were even more decorations here. The walls were covered with crimson silk.
On a silver bed, surrounded by sixteen beautiful maids, a beauty slept. The girl was so charming that even the queen of aiszd herself, the beautiful morning star, was ready to serve her.
Kenja-batyr quietly took a hollowed earring out of the girl's right ear and put it in his pocket.
Kenja-batyr left the palace, climbed over the fence, mounted his horse and rode to his brothers.
The brothers haven't woken up yet. So Kenja-batyr sat up to shri, playing with his sword.
It's dawn. The heroes had breakfast, saddled their horses, sat on horseback and set off.
A little later they entered the city and stopped at a caravanserai. Having tied their horses under a shed, they went to a teahouse and sat there to rest over a kettle of tea.
Suddenly a herald came out into the street and announced:
Those who have ears, let them listen! Tonight, in the palace garden, someone cut off the heads of twenty robbers, and the Shah's daughters lost one piece of gold. Our shah wished that all the people, young and old, would help explain to him an incomprehensible event and indicate who the hero who committed such a heroic act was. If anyone in the house has visitors from other cities and countries, you must immediately bring them to the palace.
The owner of the caravanserai invited his guests to come to the shah.
The brothers got up and slowly went to the palace.
Shah, learning that they were strangers, ordered them to be taken to a special room with rich decoration, and instructed the vizier to find out the secret from them.
Vizier said:
- If you ask directly, they may not tell.
We'd better leave them alone and listen to what they're talking about.
In the room where the brothers were sitting, there was no one except them. Here a tablecloth was spread out in front of them, various dishes were brought. The brothers began to eat.
And in the adjoining room, the Shah and the Vizier sat in silence and eavesdropped.
- They gave us the meat of a young lamb, - said Tonguch-batyr, - but it turns out that he was fed by a dog. Shahs do not disdain a dog. And here’s what I’m surprised at: the human spirit comes from bekmes.
- That's right, - said Kendzha-batyr. - All shahs are bloodsuckers. There is nothing incredible if human blood is mixed into the bekmes. One thing surprises me too: the cakes on the tray are stacked in a way that only a good baker can stack.
Tonguch Batyr said:
- It must be so. Here's what: we were called here to find out what happened in the Shah's palace. Of course, we will be asked. What do we say?
- We will not lie, - said Ortancha-batyr. We will tell the truth.
- Yes, the time has come to tell about everything that we saw during the three days on the road, - answered Kendzha-batyr.
Tonguch-batyr began to tell how he fought with the lion on the first night. Then he took off the braid of the lion's skin and threw it in front of his brothers. Following him, Ortancha-batyr also told about what had happened on the second night and, having removed the braid from the skin of the king of snakes, showed it to the brothers. Then Kenja-batyr spoke. Having told what happened on the third night, he showed the brothers the golden things he had taken.
Then the shah and the vizier learned the secret, but they could not understand what the brothers said about meat, bekmes and cakes. So they first sent for the shepherd. The shepherd came.
“Tell the truth!” said the Shah. “Did the dog feed the lamb that you sent yesterday?”
- O sovereign! - the shepherd pleaded. - If you save my life, I will tell.
“I beg you, tell the truth,” said the Shah.
The shepherd said:
- A sheep died in my winter. I felt sorry for the lamb, and I gave it to the dog. She fed him. Yesterday I sent just this lamb, because I didn’t have any others besides him, your servants have already taken all of them.
Then the shah ordered the gardener to be called.
“Tell the truth,” the shah told him, “unless in bekmes
mixed with human blood?
- Oh, my lord, - the gardener answered, - there was one event, if you save my life, I will tell you the whole truth.
“Speak, I will spare you,” said the Shah.
Then the gardener said:
- Last summer, someone got into the habit of stealing the best grapes left for you every night.
I lay down in the vineyard and began to guard. I see someone is coming. I hit him hard on the head with a baton. Then he dug a deep hole under the vine and buried the body. The next year the vine grew and gave such a harvest that there were more grapes than leaves. Only the taste of the grapes turned out to be a little different. I did not send you fresh grapes, but boiled bekmes.
As for the cakes, they were laid on a tray by the shah himself. It turns out that the Shah's father was a baker.
The shah entered the room to the heroes, greeted them and said:
- Everything you said turned out to be true, and therefore I liked you even more. I have a request to you, dear guests-heroes, listen to it.
- Speak, - said Tonguch-batyr, - if it suits
us your request, we will fulfill it.
I have three daughters, but no sons. Stay here. I would give you my daughters for you, arrange a wedding, convene the whole city and treat everyone with pilaf for forty days.
- You speak very well, - answered Tonguch-batyr, - but how can we marry your daughters when we are not Shah's children, and our father is not at all rich.
Your wealth is obtained by kingship, and we are brought up in labor.
Shah insisted:
- I am the ruler of the country, and your father brought you up with the labor of his own hands, but since he is the father of such heroes as you, then why is he worse than me? In fact, he is richer than me.
And now I, the father of the girls, before whom the amorous shahs, the powerful rulers of the world, cried, stand before you and weeping, begging, I offer you my daughters as a wife.
The brothers agreed. The Shah arranged a feast. They feasted for forty days, and the young heroes began to live in the Shah's palace. The Shah fell in love with the younger son-in-law of Kendja-batyr most of all.
Once the shah lay down to rest in the cold. Suddenly, a poisonous snake crawled out of the ditch and was about to bite the shah. But Kenja-batyr arrived in time. He drew his sword from its scabbard, cut the snake in half and threw it aside.
No sooner had Kenja-batyr put his sword back into its scabbard than the Shah woke up. Doubt entered his soul. He is already dissatisfied with the fact that I married my daughter to him, - thought the shah, - everything is not enough for him, it turns out that he is plotting to kill me and wants to become shah himself.
The Shah went to his vizier and told him what had happened. The vizier had long harbored enmity towards the heroes and was only waiting for an opportunity. He began to slander the Shah.
- Without asking me for advice, you passed off as some
rascals beloved daughters. And now your favorite son-in-law wanted to kill you. Look, with the help of cunning, he will still destroy you.
The Shah believed the words of the vizier and ordered:
- Put Kendzha-batyr in jail.
Kendja-batyr was imprisoned. Saddened, saddened the young princess, the wife of Kendzha-batyr. For days on end she cried, and her ruddy cheeks faded. One day she threw herself at her father's feet and begged him to release his son-in-law.
Then the Shah ordered that Kendzha Batyr be brought from prison.
- Here you are, it turns out, how insidious, - said the shah. - How did you decide to kill me?
In response, Kenja-batyr told the Shah the story of the parrot.
parrot history
Once there was a Shah. He had a favorite parrot. The Shah loved his parrot so much that he could not live without it even for a single hour.
The parrot spoke pleasant words to the shah, entertained him. Once a parrot asked:
o In my homeland, in India, I have a father and mother, brothers and sisters. I have lived in captivity for a long time. Now I ask you to release me for twenty days. I'm flying to my homeland, six days there, six days back, I'll stay at home for eight days, look at my mother and father, at my brothers and sisters.
- No, - answered the shah, - if I let you go, you will not return, and I will be bored.
The parrot began to assure:
“Sir, I give my word and I will keep it.
- Well, if so, I let you go, but only for two weeks, - said the shah.
- Goodbye, I'll turn around somehow, - the parrot was delighted.
He flew from the cage to the fence, said goodbye to everyone and flew south. The Shah stood and looked after him. He did not believe that the parrot would return.
In six days, the parrot flew to its homeland - India and found its parents. The poor thing rejoiced, fluttered, frolicked, flew from hill to hill, from branch to branch, from tree to tree, swimming in the greenery of the forests, visited relatives and friends and did not even notice how two days had passed. The time has come to fly back into captivity, into a cage. It was hard for the parrot to part with his father and mother, brothers and sisters.
Minutes of joy gave way to hours of sadness. Wings hung. Perhaps it will be possible to fly again, but perhaps not.
Relatives and friends gathered. Everyone felt sorry for the parrot and advised not to return to the Shah. But the parrot said:
- No, I made a promise. Can I break my word?
- Eh, - said one parrot, - when did you see
for kings to keep their promises? If your shah were just, would he have kept you fourteen years in prison and released you only for fourteen days. Were you born to live in captivity? Do not let go of freedom in order to bring someone entertainment! The shah has more ferocity than mercy. It is unwise and dangerous to be close to the king and the tiger.
But the parrot did not listen to the advice and was about to fly away. Then the parrot's mother spoke:
In that case, I will give you advice. The fruits of life grow in our places. Whoever eats at least one fruit immediately turns into a young man, an old man becomes a young man again, and an old woman becomes a young girl. Take the precious fruits to the shah and ask him to let you go free. Perhaps a sense of justice will awaken in him and he will give you freedom.
Everyone approved of the advice. Immediately they brought forth the three fruits of life. The parrot said goodbye to relatives and friends and flew north. Everyone looked after him with high hopes in their hearts.
The parrot flew to the place in six days, presented the shah with a gift and told what property the fruits have. The shah was delighted, promised to release the parrot, gave one fruit to his wife, and put the rest in a bowl.
The vizier shook with envy and anger and decided to turn things around in a different way.
- While you do not eat the fruits brought by the bird, let's try them first. If they turn out to be good, it is never too late to eat them,” said the vizier.
The Shah approved the advice. And the vizier, having improved the moment, let a strong poison into the fruits of life. Then the vizier said:
Well, now let's try it.
- They brought two peacocks and let them peck at the fruit. Both peacocks immediately died.
- What would happen if you ate them? - said the vizier.
“I would have died too!” exclaimed the shah. He dragged the poor parrot out of its cage and tore off its head. So the poor parrot received a reward from the Shah.
Soon the shah became angry with one old man and decided to execute him. The Shah told him to eat the remaining fruit. As soon as the old man ate it, black hair immediately grew, new teeth erupted, his eyes shone with a youthful brilliance, and he took on the appearance of a twenty-year-old youth.
The king realized that he had killed the parrot in vain, but it was too late.
"Now I'll tell you what happened while you
slept, - Kendzha-batyr said in conclusion.
He went into the garden, brought from there the body of a snake cut in half. The shah began to apologize to Kendzha-batyr. Kenja-batyr said to him:
- Sir, allow me and my brothers to go home to their country. With checks it is impossible to live in goodness and peace.
No matter how much the shah begged or begged, the heroes did not agree.
- We cannot be court people and live in the Shah's palace. We will live by our labor, they said.
“Well, then let my daughters stay at home,” said the Shah.
But the daughters spoke with each other:
- We will not leave our husbands.
The young heroes returned to their father along with their wives and lived a happy life in contentment and work.

» Three heroes

Well, so... A long time ago there lived one man, not rich, not poor. He had three sons. All three beautiful, like a moon, learned to read and write, gained intelligence, did not know bad people.
The elder Tonguch-batyr was twenty-one years old, the middle Ortancha-batyr was eighteen years old, and the younger Kenja-batyr was sixteen.
One day, the father called his sons to him, sat him down, caressed each, stroked his head and said:
- My sons, I am not rich, the property that remains after me will not be enough for you for a long time. Do not expect more from me and do not hope. I raised three qualities in you: firstly, I raised you healthy - you became strong; secondly, - I gave you a weapon in your hands - you became skillful warriors; thirdly, he taught you not to be afraid of anything - you became brave. I also give you three covenants. Listen and do not forget them: be honest - and you will live in peace; do not boast - and you will not have to blush with shame; don't be lazy and you will be happy. And take care of everything else yourself. I have prepared for you three horses: black, brown and gray. I filled your bags with provisions for a week. Happiness is ahead of you. Go on your way, go see the light. Without knowing the light, you will not be able to go out into the people. Go catch the bird of happiness. Farewell, my sons! So saying, the father got up and left.
The brothers began to gather on the road. Early in the morning we mounted our horses and set off. The brothers rode all day and drove far, far away. By evening they decided to rest. They got off their horses, ate, but before going to bed, they agreed as follows:
“The place is deserted, it’s not good if we all fall asleep. Let us divide the night into three guards, and let us take turns guarding the rest of the sleepers.”
No sooner said than done.
First, the elder brother Tonguch began to watch, while the others went to bed. Tonguch-batyr sat for a long time, playing with his sword and looking in all directions in the moonlight ...
There was silence. Everything was covered in sleep.
Suddenly, a noise was heard from the direction of the forest. Tonguch drew his sword and prepared.
Not far from where the brothers were staying was a lion's lair. Smelling the smell of people, the lion got up and went out into the steppe.
Tonguch-batyr was sure that he would cope with the lion and, not wanting to disturb the brothers, ran to the side. The beast chased after him.
Tonguch-batyr turned around and, hitting the lion with his sword on the left paw, inflicted a wound on him. The wounded lion rushed at Tonguch-batyr, but he again jumped back and hit the beast on the head with all his might.
Tonguch-batyr sat astride a lion, cut out a narrow strip from his skin, girded it under his shirt and, as if nothing had happened, returned to his sleeping brothers.
Then, in turn, the middle brother Ortancha-batyr stood guard.
Nothing happened while he was on duty.
Behind him stood the third brother Kenja-batyr and guarded the rest of his brothers until dawn.
Thus passed the first night.
In the morning the brothers set off again. We drove for a long time, drove a lot, and in the evening we stopped at a big mountain. At its foot stood a lone spreading poplar, under the poplar a spring made its way out of the ground. There was a cave near the spring, and behind it lived the king of snakes, Ajdar Sultan.
The heroes did not know about the king of snakes. They calmly tied the horses, cleaned them
with a scraper, they gave them the stern, and they themselves sat down to supper. Before going to bed, they
We decided to keep watch, as on the first night. First, the eldest brother Tonguch-batyr went on duty, and after him came the turn of the middle brother Ortancha-batyr.
The night was moonlit, silence reigned. But then there was a noise. A little later, Azhdar Sultan crawled out of the cave with a head like a trough, with a long body like a log, and crawled to the spring.
Ortancha-batyr did not want to disturb the sleep of the brothers and ran to the steppe, away from the spring.
Sensing a man, Ajdar Sultan chased him. Ortancha-batyr jumped aside and hit the king of snakes with a sword on the tail. Ajdar Sultan spun in place. And the hero contrived and hit him on the back. The seriously wounded king of snakes rushed to Ortanch-batyr. Then the bogatyr finished him off with the last blow.
Then he cut a narrow strip from his skin, girded it under his shirt, and, as if nothing had happened, returned to his brothers and sat down in his place. It was the turn of the younger brother Kendzha-batyr to be on duty. In the morning the brothers set off again.
They traveled for a long time through the steppes. At sunset we drove up to a lonely hill, dismounted from the horses and settled down to rest. They kindled a fire, had supper, and again began to take turns on duty: first the elder, then the middle, and finally, the turn came to the younger brother.
Kenja-batyr sits, guarding the sleep of his brothers. He did not notice that the fire in the fire had gone out.
“It is not good for us to remain without fire,” thought Kendzha-batyr.
He climbed to the top of the hill and began to look around. In the distance, a light flickered from time to time.
Kendzha-batyr got on his horse and rode in that direction. He drove for a long time and finally reached a lonely house.
Kenja-batyr dismounted from his horse, quietly tiptoed to the window and looked inside.
The room was light, and stew was boiling in a cauldron on the hearth. Twenty people sat around the hearth. All of them had gloomy, bulging eyes. Clearly, these people were up to something bad.
Kenja thought:
“Wow, a band of robbers has gathered here. To leave them and go away is not the case; it is not befitting to do so to an honest person. I’ll try to cheat, I’ll take a closer look, I’ll enter into their confidence, and then I’ll do my job. He opened the door and entered. The robbers grabbed their weapons.

As Ilya grabbed the horse with a whip, Burushka-Kosmatushka soared, slipped a mile and a half. Where the horse's hooves struck, there the spring of living water clogged. At the key, Ilyusha cut down a damp oak tree, put a log house over the key, wrote these words on the log house ...

In the city of Murom, the village of Karacharovo, there lived two brothers. The older brother had a tarovat wife, she was not tall, not small, but she gave birth to a son for herself, she called Ilya, and people - Ilya Muromets. Ilya Muromets did not walk with his feet for thirty-three years, he sat in a seat. One hot summer, my parents went to the field to farm, grass ...

Ilya traveled across an open field, defending Rus' from enemies from a young age to old age. The good old horse was good, his Burushka-Kosmatushka. The tail of Burushka is three seedlings, the mane is to the knees, and the wool is three spans ...

Evil envious people told Prince Vladimir about the old hero Ilya of Muromets, as if Ilya boasted of surviving the prince from Kyiv and sitting in his place. Vladimir got angry and ordered Ilya to be imprisoned in an underground prison, in deep cellars. Ilya did not argue with the prince. He said goodbye to his beloved horse, shaggy Burushka, and let himself be led into the damp, cold, dark dungeon.

IN ancient times the princes of Kyiv ruled the Russian land. They collected tribute from the people: they took furs, and canvases, and fish, and money, and honey. They sent their trusted servants to the villages for all this. And one day the young Volga Svyatoslavovich went for tribute on the order of the prince with his army-retinue. They are driving through open fields. They see: a peasant plows the land ...

The red sun set dark woods, rose clear stars in the sky. And at that time the young hero Volkh Vseslavevich was born in Rus'. Volkh's strength was exorbitant: he walked along the earth - the earth shook under him. Mind was great: he knew the languages ​​​​of birds and animals. Here he grew up a little, gained himself a squad of comrades of thirty people. And he says: - My team is brave! ...

From afar, from a clean field, two good fellows, two heroes, ride on good horses. They are going to Kyiv-grad: they heard that not everything is fine in Kyiv - a filthy miracle, a villain, has taken possession of it Tugarin Zmeyevich. And not to cope with him to Prince Vladimir. Wealthy help needed!

The hero Svyatogor dressed up in the open field for a walk. He saddled a horse, rides across the field. No one with him, no one to meet him. Empty in the field, in expanse. There is no one with whom Svyatogor can measure himself with strength. And the power of Svyatogor is huge, exorbitant. The hero sighs. - Oh, if only a pillar stood on the ground, it would be as high as the sky ...

Prince Vladimir once gathered the heroes of Stolnokiev for a feast. And at the end of the feast he gave instructions to everyone: he sent Ilya Muromets into the field to fight with the enemies; Dobrynya Nikitich - conquer foreigners overseas; and sent Mikhail Potyk to Tsar Vakhramei Vakhrameevich - to collect tribute from him, which that Rus' had to pay ...

From afar, the hero Ilya Muromets rode out of a clean field. He rides across the field, sees: in front of him in the distance is a giant-hero on a mighty horse. The horse steps across the field, and the hero in the saddle fell asleep in a sound sleep. Ilya caught up with him: - Are you really sleeping or are you pretending? The rich man is silent. Rides, sleeps. Ilya got angry. He grabbed his damask club, hit the hero. And he didn't open his eyes...

On the other side, on Ulenov, there lived two brothers, two princes, two royal nephews. They wanted to take a walk around Rus', burn towns and villages, leave their mothers, orphan their children. They went to the uncle king...

From that city, from Murom, From that village and Karacharov, A remote, burly, kind fellow was leaving. He stood at matins in Murom, And he wanted to be in time for dinner in the capital city of Kiev. Yes, and he drove up to the glorious ...

Ilya traveled in an open field for a long time, grew old, overgrown with a beard. The colored dress on him was worn out, he had no gold treasury left, Ilya wanted to rest, live in Kyiv. - I have visited all Lithuanias, I have visited all the Hordes, I have not been in Kyiv alone for a long time ...

In the old days, a terrible snake appeared not far from Kyiv. He dragged a lot of people from Kyiv into his lair, dragged him and ate. He dragged the snakes and the royal daughter, but did not eat her, but locked her tightly in his lair ...

Lived in glorious city in Murom, a peasant Ivan Timofeevich. He lived well, there was plenty of everything in the house. Yes, one grief tormented him: his beloved son, Ileyushko, could not walk: from childhood, frisky legs did not serve him. Ilya sat on the stove in his parent's hut for exactly thirty years ...

Near the city of Kiev, in the wide steppe of Tsitsarskaya, there was a heroic outpost. Ataman at the outpost old Ilya Muromets, podataman Dobrynya Nikitich, captain Alyosha Popovich. And their combatants are brave: Grishka is a boyar's son, Vasily Dolgopoly, and everyone is good ...

From under an old high elm, from under a willow bush, from under a white pebble, the Dnieper River flowed. It filled with streams, rivers, flowed through Russian land, carried thirty ships to Kyiv. Well, all the ships are decorated, and one ship is the best ...