Once a Cossack was driving along a road and drove into a dense forest; in that forest on a thawed patch there is a haystack. The Cossack stopped to rest a little, lay down beside him and lit his pipe; smoked and smoked and did not see how he planted a spark in the hay. The Cossack mounted his horse and set off; before he had time to take ten steps, a flame flared up and lit up the whole forest. The Cossack looked around, looked - a haystack was on fire, and a red maiden stood in the fire and said in a loud voice:
— Cossack, a kind person! Deliver me from death.
- How can I save you? All around the flame, there is no approach to you.
“Put your lance into the fire, I’ll get out on it.”
The Cossack thrust his lance into the fire, and turned away from the great heat.
Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slipped onto the Cossack's neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took the tail in her teeth.
The Cossack was frightened; does not figure out what to do and how to be.
- Don't be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and when you arrive in that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. Serve this service, you will be happy!
The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom. A lot of time has passed, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, at the end of the seventh year I reached a steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall.
The Cossack galloped up the mountain, the wall parted in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At that very moment, a snake broke from his neck, hit the damp earth, turned into a girl-soul and disappeared from his eyes - as if she were not there.
The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to inspect the rooms. There are mirrors everywhere, silver and velvet, and nowhere to be seen a single human soul.
“Oh,” the Cossack thinks, “where did I go? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, we will have to die of starvation!”
Just thought, lo and behold - the table is set in front of him, on the table and drink and eat - just enough; he ate and drank and decided to go and see the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse stands in the stall and eats oats.
- Well, this is a good thing: it means that you can live without need.
For a long, long time the Cossack remained in the tin castle, and mortal boredom took him: is it a joke - always alone! There is no one to throw a word with. It occurred to him to go to the free world; only wherever he rushes - everywhere the walls are high, there is no entrance or exit. For annoyance, it seemed to him, the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the Palace and let's break mirrors and glass, tear velvet, break chairs, throw silver: “Maybe the master will come out and set him free!” No, no one is.
The Cossack lay down to sleep. The next day I woke up, took a walk, walked around and took it into my head to have a bite to eat; looks back and forth - there is nothing for him!
“Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself, if she reaps uncleanly! You messed up yesterday, and now starve!”
As soon as he repented, as now both food and drink - everything is ready!
Three days have passed; the Cossack woke up in the morning, looked out the window - his good horse, saddled, was standing at the porch. What would that mean? He washed, dressed, took his long lance and went out into the wide yard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red maiden appeared:
— Hello, good fellow! Seven years have ended - you delivered me from the final death. Know that I am a royal daughter. Koschei the Deathless took me away from my father, from my mother, he wanted to marry me, but I laughed at him; so he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; he will reward you with a golden treasury and semi-precious stones, you do not take anything, but ask for a barrel that is in the cellar.
- And what is the profit in it?
- Roll the barrel in right side- immediately the palace will appear, roll to the left - the palace will disappear.
"Good," said the Cossack. He mounted a horse, put him with him and beautiful princess; the high walls themselves parted in front of them, and they set off on their way.
How long, how short - the Cossack arrives with the queen to the king.
The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank and gives the Cossack sacks full of gold and pearls.
Good fellow says:
“I don’t need neither gold nor pearls; give me that barrel that is in the basement as a keepsake.
- You want a lot, brother! Well, yes, there is nothing to do: my daughter is dearest to me! For her, and the keg is not a pity. Take it.
The Cossack took the royal gift and set off to wander around the world.
He was driving, he came across an ancient old man. The old man asks:
- Feed me, good fellow!
The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment the wonderful palace appeared. They both went up to the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table.
“Hey, my faithful servants! shouted the Cossack. - Feed and drink my guest.
I didn’t have time to say it - the servants are carrying a whole bull and three cauldrons of drink. The old man began to eat and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three cauldrons, grunted and said:
- Not enough, but there is nothing to do! Thanks for the bread and salt.
They left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left, and the palace was gone.
“Let’s change,” the old man says to the Cossack, “I’ll give you the sword, and you give me a barrel.”
"What's the use of a sword?"
- Why, this is a self-cutting sword: you just have to wave it - no matter how innumerable force, it will beat everything! You see, the forest is growing; do you want me to try it?
Then the old man drew his sword, waved it and said:
- Go, self-cutting sword, cut down the dense forest!
The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in sazhens; chopped and returned to the owner. The Cossack did not hesitate for a long time, gave the old man a barrel, and took a self-cutting sword for himself, mounted a horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; the Cossack saw an uncountable army, waved his sword at her:
- Self-cutting sword! Do some service: cut down the enemy army.
Heads flew... And an hour did not pass, as the enemy force was gone. The king rode out to meet the Cossack, hugged him, kissed him, and immediately decided to marry the beautiful princess to him.
The wedding was rich; I was at that wedding too, I drank honey, it flowed down my mustache, it was not in my mouth.
Alternative text:
- Russian folk tale in the processing of Afanasyev A.N.
Dear friend, we want to believe that reading the fairy tale "The Snake Princess" will be interesting and exciting for you. The dialogues of the characters often evoke tenderness, they are full of kindness, kindness, directness, and with their help a different picture of reality emerges. How clearly superiority is depicted goodies over the negative, how lively and bright we see the first and petty - the second. Probably because of the inviolability human qualities in time, all morality, morality and issues remain relevant at all times and epochs. With the virtuosity of a genius, portraits of heroes are depicted, their appearance, rich inner world, they "breathe life" into creation and the events taking place in it. How charmingly and penetratingly the description of nature was conveyed, mythical creatures and life of the people from generation to generation. All images are simple, ordinary and do not cause youthful misunderstanding, because we encounter them daily in our everyday life. The fairy tale "The Snake Princess" to read for free online is certainly necessary not for children on their own, but in the presence or under the guidance of their parents.
Once a Cossack came along the way and drove into a dense forest; in that forest on a thawed patch there is a haystack. The Cossack stopped to rest a little, lay down beside him and lit his pipe; smoked and smoked and did not see how he planted a spark in the hay. The Cossack mounted his horse and set off; before he had time to take ten steps, a flame flared up and lit up the whole forest. The Cossack looked around, looked - a haystack was on fire, and a red maiden stood in the fire and said in a loud voice:
- Cossack, good man! Deliver me from death.
- How can I save you? All around the flame, there is no approach to you.
“Put your lance into the fire, I’ll get out on it.”
The Cossack thrust his lance into the fire, and turned away from the great heat.
Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slipped onto the Cossack's neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took the tail in her teeth.
The Cossack was frightened; does not figure out what to do and how to be.
- Do not be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and when you arrive in that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. Serve this service, you will be happy!
The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom. A lot of time has passed, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, at the end of the seventh year I reached a steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall.
The Cossack galloped up the mountain, the wall parted in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At that very moment, a snake broke from his neck, hit the damp earth, turned into a girl-soul and disappeared from his eyes - as if she were not there.
The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to inspect the rooms. There are mirrors everywhere, silver and velvet, and nowhere to be seen a single human soul.
“Oh,” the Cossack thinks, “where did I go? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, we will have to die of starvation!”
Just thought, lo and behold - the table is set in front of him, on the table and drink and eat - just enough; he ate and drank and decided to go and see the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse stands in the stall and eats oats.
- Well, this is a good thing: it means that you can live without need.
For a long, long time the Cossack remained in the tin castle, and mortal boredom took him: is it a joke - always alone! There is no one to throw a word with. It occurred to him to go to the free world; only wherever he rushes - everywhere the walls are high, there is no entrance or exit. For annoyance, it seemed to him, the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the Palace and let's break mirrors and glass, tear velvet, break chairs, throw silver: “Maybe the master will come out and set him free!” No, no one is.
The Cossack lay down to sleep. The next day I woke up, took a walk, walked around and took it into my head to have a bite to eat; looks back and forth - there is nothing for him!
“Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself, if she reaps uncleanly! You messed up yesterday, and now starve!”
As soon as he repented, as now both food and drink - everything is ready!
Three days have passed; the Cossack woke up in the morning, looked out the window - his good horse, saddled, was standing at the porch. What would that mean? He washed, dressed, took his long lance and went out into the wide yard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red maiden appeared:
— Hello, good fellow! Seven years have ended - you delivered me from the final death. Know that I am a royal daughter. Koschei the Deathless took me away from my father, from my mother, he wanted to marry me, but I laughed at him; so he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; he will reward you with a golden treasury and semi-precious stones, you do not take anything, but ask for a barrel that is in the cellar.
- And what is the profit in it?
“If you roll the barrel to the right, the palace will immediately appear; if you roll it to the left, the palace will disappear.”
"Good," said the Cossack. He mounted his horse and took the beautiful princess with him; the high walls themselves parted in front of them, and they set off on their way.
How long, how short - the Cossack arrives with the queen to the king.
The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank and gives the Cossack sacks full of gold and pearls.
Good fellow says:
“I don’t need neither gold nor pearls; give me that barrel that is in the basement as a keepsake.
- You want a lot, brother! Well, yes, there is nothing to do: my daughter is dearest to me! For her, and the keg is not a pity. Take it.
The Cossack took the royal gift and set off to wander around the world.
He was driving, he came across an ancient old man. The old man asks:
- Feed me, good fellow!
The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment the wonderful palace appeared. They both went up to the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table.
“Hey, my faithful servants! shouted the Cossack. - Feed and drink my guest.
I didn’t have time to say it - the servants are carrying a whole bull and three cauldrons of drink. The old man began to eat and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three cauldrons, grunted and said:
- Not enough, but there is nothing to do! Thanks for the bread and salt.
They left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left, and the palace was gone.
“Let’s change,” the old man says to the Cossack, “I’ll give you the sword, and you give me a barrel.”
"What's the use of a sword?"
- Why, this is a self-cutting sword: you just have to wave it - no matter how innumerable force, it will beat everything! You see, the forest is growing; do you want me to try it?
Then the old man drew his sword, waved it and said:
- Go, self-cutting sword, cut down the dense forest!
The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in sazhens; chopped and returned to the owner. The Cossack did not hesitate for a long time, gave the old man a barrel, and took a self-cutting sword for himself, mounted a horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; the Cossack saw an uncountable army, waved his sword at her.
The Cossack rode along the road and drove into a dense forest; in that forest on a glade there is a haystack. The Cossack stopped to rest a little, lay down near the stack and lit his pipe; smoked and smoked and did not see how he planted a spark in the hay. The Cossack mounted his horse and set off; before he had time to take ten steps, a flame flared up and lit up the whole forest. The Cossack looked around, looked - a haystack was on fire, and a red maiden stood in the fire and said in a loud voice:
Cossack, good man! Deliver me from death.
How can I save you? All around the flame, there is no approach to you.
Put your pike in the fire, I'll get out on it.
The Cossack thrust his pike into the fire, and turned away from the great heat.
Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slipped onto the Cossack's neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took her tail in her teeth. The Cossack was frightened; does not figure out what to do and how to be.
Don't be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and when you arrive in that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. Serve this service, you will be happy!
The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom.
A lot of time has passed, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, at the end of the seventh year I reached a steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall.
The Cossack galloped up the mountain, the wall parted in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At the same moment, a snake broke from his neck, hit the damp earth, turned into a girl-soul and disappeared from his eyes - as if she were not there.
The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to inspect the rooms. Everywhere there are mirrors, silver and velvet, and nowhere to see a single human soul. “Oh,” the Cossack thinks, “where did I go? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, we will have to die of starvation!”
Just thought, lo and behold - the table is set in front of him, on the table and drink and eat - just enough; he ate and drank, and decided to go and see the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse stands in the stall and eats oats.
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Well, this is a good thing: you can, therefore, live without need.
For a long, long time the Cossack remained in the tin castle, and mortal boredom took him: is it a joke - always alone! There is no one to throw a word with. It occurred to him to go to the free world; only wherever high walls rush everywhere, there is no entrance or exit. For annoyance, it seemed to him that the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the palace and let's beat mirrors and glass, tear velvet, break chairs, throw silver: “Maybe the master will come out and set him free!” No, no one is.
The Cossack lay down to sleep. The next day I woke up, took a walk, walked around and took it into my head to have a bite to eat; looks back and forth - there is nothing for him! “Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself, if she reaps uncleanly! You messed up yesterday, and now starve!” Just repented, as now and food and drink - everything is ready!
Three days have passed; the Cossack woke up in the morning, looked out the window - his good horse saddled was standing at the porch. What would that mean? He washed, dressed, took his long lance and went out into the wide yard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red maiden appeared:
Hello, good fellow! Seven years are over - you delivered me from the final death. Know that I am a royal daughter. Koschey the Deathless took me away from my father, from my mother, he wanted to marry me, but I laughed at him; so he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; he will reward you with a golden treasury and semi-precious stones, you do not take anything, but ask for a barrel that is in the cellar.
And what is the profit in it?
If you roll the barrel to the right, the palace will immediately appear, if you roll it to the left, the palace will disappear.
Good, said the Cossack.
He mounted his horse and took the beautiful princess with him; the high walls themselves parted in front of them, and they set off on their way.
How long, how short - the Cossack comes with the queen to the king. The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank and gives the Cossack full bags gold and pearls.
Good fellow says:
I don't need gold or pearls; give me that barrel that is in the basement as a keepsake.
You want a lot, brother! Well, yes, there is nothing to do: my daughter is dearest to me! For her, and the keg is not a pity. Take it.
The Cossack took the royal gift and will travel around the world.
He rode, rode, he came across an ancient old man. The old man asks:
Feed me, good fellow!
The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment the wonderful palace appeared.
They both went up to the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table.
Hey, my faithful servants! shouted the Cossack. - Feed-drink my guest.
I didn’t have time to say - the servants are carrying a whole bull and three cauldrons of beer. The old man began to eat and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three cauldrons of beer, grunted and said:
Not enough, but there is nothing to do! Thanks for the bread and salt.
They left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left, and the palace was gone.
Let's change, - the old man says to the Cossack, - I'll give you a sword, and you give me a barrel.
What's the use of a sword?
Why, this is a self-cutting sword; you just have to wave it - even if there is an innumerable force, it will beat everything! You see - the forest is growing; do you want me to try it?
Then the old man drew his sword, waved it and said:
Go, self-cutting sword, cut down the dense forest!
The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in sazhens; chopped and returned to the owner.
The Cossack did not hesitate for a long time, gave the old man a barrel, and took a self-cutting sword for himself, mounted a horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; the Cossack saw an uncountable army, waved his sword at her:
Self-cutting sword! Do some service; cut down the enemy army!
Heads flew... And an hour did not pass, as the enemy force was gone.
The king rode out to meet the Cossack, hugged him, kissed him, and immediately decided to marry the beautiful princess to him.
The wedding was rich; I was at that wedding too, I drank honey-wine, it flowed down my mustache, it wasn’t in my mouth.
An interesting fairy tale “The Snake Princess” is a Russian folk tale, about how Kazachok accidentally set a fire in the forest and saved the princess snake from the fire. Then he lives in the tin kingdom for seven years, frees the princess from the spell and takes her to her father-king, protects the kingdom and marries the princess. The princess turned out to be not a snake at all.
"The Snake Princess" Russian folk tale
Once a Cossack was driving along a road and drove into a dense forest; in that forest on a thawed patch there is a haystack. The Cossack stopped to rest a little, lay down beside him and lit his pipe; smoked and smoked and did not see how he planted a spark in the hay. The Cossack mounted his horse and set off; before he had time to take ten steps, a flame flared up and lit up the whole forest. The Cossack looked around, looked - a haystack was on fire, and a red maiden stood in the fire and said in a loud voice:
Cossack, good man! Deliver me from death.
How can I save you? All around the flame, there is no approach to you.
Put your pike in the fire, I'll get out on it.
The Cossack thrust his lance into the fire, and turned away from the great heat.
Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slipped onto the Cossack's neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took the tail in her teeth.
The Cossack was frightened; does not figure out what to do and how to be.
Don't be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and when you arrive in that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years without a way out. Serve this service, you will be happy!
The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom. A lot of time has passed, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, at the end of the seventh year I reached a steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall.
The Cossack galloped up the mountain, the wall parted in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At that very moment, a snake broke from his neck, hit the damp earth, turned into a girl-soul and disappeared from his eyes - as if she were not there.
The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to inspect the rooms. There are mirrors everywhere, silver and velvet, and nowhere to be seen a single human soul.
"Oh," the Cossack thinks, "where have I gone? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, I will have to die of starvation!"
Just thought, lo and behold - the table is set in front of him, on the table and drink and eat - just enough; he ate and drank and decided to go and see the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse stands in the stall and eats oats.
Well, this is a good thing: you can, therefore, live without need.
For a long, long time the Cossack remained in the tin castle, and mortal boredom took him: is it a joke - always alone! There is no one to throw a word with. It occurred to him to go to the free world; only wherever he rushes - everywhere the walls are high, there is no entrance or exit. It seemed to him out of annoyance that the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the Palace and let's beat mirrors and glass, tear velvet, break chairs, throw silver: "Maybe the master will come out and set him free!" No, no one is.
The Cossack lay down to sleep. The next day I woke up, took a walk, walked around and took it into my head to have a bite to eat; looks back and forth - there is nothing for him!
“Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself, if she reaps uncleanly! Here she messed up yesterday, and now starve!”
Just repented, as now and food and drink - everything is ready!
Three days have passed; the Cossack woke up in the morning, looked out the window - his good horse saddled was standing at the porch. What would that mean? He washed, dressed, took his long lance and went out into the wide yard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red maiden appeared:
Hello, good fellow! Seven years have ended - you delivered me from the final death. Know that I am a royal daughter. Koschei the Deathless took me away from my father, from my mother, he wanted to marry me, but I laughed at him; so he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; he will reward you with a golden treasury and semi-precious stones, you do not take anything, but ask for a barrel that is in the cellar.
And what is the profit in it?
If you roll the barrel to the right, the palace will immediately appear, if you roll it to the left, the palace will disappear.
Good, said the Cossack. He mounted his horse and took the beautiful princess with him; the high walls themselves parted in front of them, and they set off on their way.
How long, how short - the Cossack comes with the queen to the king.
The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank and gives the Cossack sacks full of gold and pearls.
Good fellow says:
I don't need gold or pearls; give me that barrel that is in the basement as a keepsake.
You want a lot, brother! Well, yes, there is nothing to do: my daughter is dearest to me! For her, and the keg is not a pity. Take it.
The Cossack took the royal gift and set off to wander around the world.
He was driving, he came across an ancient old man. The old man asks:
Feed me, good fellow!
The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment the wonderful palace appeared. They both went up to the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table.
Hey, my faithful servants! shouted the Cossack. - Feed-drink my guest.
I didn’t have time to say - the servants are carrying a whole bull and three cauldrons of drinking. The old man began to eat and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three cauldrons, grunted and said:
Not enough, but there is nothing to do! Thanks for the bread and salt.
They left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left, and the palace was gone.
Let's change, - the old man says to the Cossack, - I'll give you a sword, and you give me a barrel.
What's the use of a sword?
Why, this is a self-cutting sword: just wave it - no matter how innumerable strength, it will beat everything! You see - the forest is growing; do you want me to try it?
Then the old man drew his sword, waved it and said:
Go, self-cutting sword, cut down the dense forest!
The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in sazhens; chopped and returned to the owner. The Cossack did not hesitate for a long time, gave the old man a barrel, and took a self-cutting sword for himself, mounted a horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; the Cossack saw an uncountable army, waved his sword at her:
Self-cutting sword! Do some service: cut down the enemy army.
Heads flew... And an hour did not pass, as the enemy force was gone. The king rode out to meet the Cossack, hugged him, kissed him, and immediately decided to marry the beautiful princess to him.
The wedding was rich; I was at that wedding too, I drank honey, it flowed down my mustache, it was not in my mouth.
The Cossack rode along the road and drove into a dense forest; in that forest on a glade there is a haystack. The Cossack stopped to rest a little, lay down near the stack and lit his pipe; smoked and smoked and did not see how he planted a spark in the hay. After a rest, he mounted his horse and set off; before he had time to take ten steps, a flame flared up and lit up the whole forest. The Cossack looked around, looked: a haystack was on fire, and a red maiden stood in the fire and said in a loud voice: "Cossack, good man! Deliver me from death." - "How can I save you? There are flames all around, there is no approach to you." - "Put your pike into the fire; I'll get out on it." The Cossack thrust his pike into the fire, and turned away from the great heat.
Immediately the red maiden turned into a snake, climbed onto a pike, slipped onto the Cossack's neck, wrapped herself around the neck three times and took her tail in her teeth. The Cossack was frightened, he would not figure out what to do and how to be. The snake prophesied human voice: "Do not be afraid, good fellow! Carry me around your neck for seven years and look for the tin kingdom, and when you arrive in that kingdom, stay and live there for another seven years hopelessly. If you serve this service, you will be happy!"
The Cossack went to look for the tin kingdom, it took a lot of time, a lot of water flowed under the bridge, at the end of the seventh year he reached a steep mountain; on that mountain there is a tin castle, around the castle there is a high white stone wall. He galloped up the mountain, the wall parted in front of him, and he rode into a wide courtyard. At that very moment, a snake broke off his neck, hit the damp earth, turned into a girl-soul and disappeared from his eyes - as if she were not there. The Cossack put his good horse in the stable, entered the palace and began to inspect the rooms. Everywhere there are mirrors, silver and velvet, and nowhere to see a single human soul. "Oh," the Cossack thinks, "where have I gone? Who will feed and water me? Apparently, I had to die of starvation!"
Just thought, lo and behold - the table is set in front of him, on the table and drink and eat - just enough; he ate and drank, strengthened his strength and thought of going to see the horse. He comes to the stable - the horse is standing in the stall and eating oats. "Well, this is a good thing: you can, therefore, live without need."
For a long, long time the Cossack remained in the tin castle, and mortal boredom took him: is it a joke - always alone! There is no one to throw a word with. From grief he got drunk drunk, and he decided to go to the free world; only wherever he rushes - everywhere the walls are high, there is no entrance or exit. For annoyance, it seemed to him, the good fellow grabbed a stick, entered the palace and let's break mirrors and glass, tear velvet, break chairs, throw silver: "Maybe the master will come out and set him free!" No, no one is. The Cossack lay down to sleep; the next day he woke up, took a walk, walked around and took it into his head to have a bite to eat; looks back and forth - there is nothing for him! “Oh,” he thinks, “the slave beats herself, if she reaps uncleanly! Here she messed up yesterday, and now starve!” Just repented, as now and food and drink - everything is ready!
Three days passed; waking up in the morning, the Cossack looks out the window - his good horse is saddled by the porch. What would that mean? He washed, dressed, prayed to God, took his long lance and went out into the wide courtyard. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a red maiden appeared: “Hello, good fellow! Seven years have ended - you saved me from final death. "Yes, I laughed at him; so he became embittered and turned me into a fierce snake. Thank you for your long service! Now let's go to my father; he will reward you with a gold treasury and semi-precious stones, you don't take anything, but ask yourself a keg, which is in is in the basement." - "And what is the self-interest in it?" “If you roll the barrel to the right, the palace will immediately appear, if you roll it to the left, the palace will disappear.” - "Good," - said the Cossack, mounted his horse, put the beautiful princess with him; the high walls themselves parted in front of him, and he set off on his way.
Whether long, whether short - comes to the said kingdom. The king saw his daughter, rejoiced, began to thank and gives the Cossack sacks full of gold and pearls. The good fellow answers: “I don’t need neither gold nor pearls; give me that keg that is in the basement as a keepsake.” “You want a lot, brother! Well, there’s nothing to do: my daughter is dearest of all to me! The Cossack took the royal gift and set off to wander around the world.
He rode, rode, he came across an ancient old man. The old man asks: "Feed me, good fellow!" The Cossack jumped off his horse, untied the barrel, rolled it to the right - at that very moment the wonderful palace appeared. They both went up to the painted chambers and sat down at the laid table. "Hey, my faithful servants!" shouted the Cossack. "Feed and drink my guest." I didn’t have time to say - the servants are carrying a whole bull and three cauldrons of beer. The old man began to write and praise; ate a whole bull, drank three pots of beer, grunted and said: "It's not enough, but there's nothing to do! Thanks for the bread and the salt."
They left the palace; the Cossack rolled his barrel to the left, and the palace was gone. "Let's change, - the old man says to the Cossack, - I'll give you the sword, and you give me a barrel." - "What's the use of the sword?" - "Why, this is a self-cutting sword; just wave it - at least some kind of innumerable force will beat everything! You see - the forest is growing; if you want - I'll make a test?" Then the old man took out his sword, waved it and said: "Go, self-cutting sword, cut down the dense forest!" The sword flew and, well, cut down trees and put them in sazhens; chopped and returned to the owner. The Cossack did not hesitate for a long time, gave the old man a barrel, and took a self-cutting sword for himself; brandished his sword and killed the old man to death. After he tied the barrel to the saddle, mounted his horse and decided to return to the king. And a strong enemy approached the capital city of that king; the Cossack saw an uncountable army, waved his sword at her: "Sword-self-cutter! Do a service, chop down the enemy army." Heads flew, blood flowed, and in less than an hour the whole field was covered with corpses.
The king rode out to meet the Cossack, hugged him, kissed him, and immediately decided to marry the beautiful princess to him. The wedding was rich; I was at that wedding too, I drank honey-wine, it flowed down my mustache, it wasn’t in my mouth.
