One day Prince Ivan and his two sisters went out to stroll in the garden green.
The Baba Yaga went to sleep. If Koshchei catches us you will be cut in pieces again.'
'Forgive me, Marya Morevna! But when the sun had set behind the forest, up came flying a bee, and said:`Arise, Prince! Prince Ivan replied, 'Not against their will do brave youths ride!' After a time he came up with Prince Ivan, lighted on the ground, and was going to chop him up with his sharp sword. And he came up with the fair Princess Marya Morevna as she was going her way, laid hold of her and carried her off home with him. 'I will pursue.' The Prince spent three days with them; then he said:`I cannot abide with you; I must go in search of my wife, the fair Princess Marya Morevna.’`Hard will it be for you to find her,’ answered the Falcon.
He cried aloud, `If there be a living man there, let him make answer! Do you steal it, and at the dead of night ride away from the house.’Prince Ivan arose, slipped into the stable, and lay down behind the mangers, while the Baba Yaga was storming away at her mares and shrieking:`How could we help coming back? Prince Ivan was left alone. She has so good a mare that she flies right round the world on it every day. But Prince Ivan wept full sore, and he arrayed himself and set out a- wandering, saying to himself, `Whatever happens, I will go and look for Marya Morevna!’One day passed, another day passed; at the dawn of the third day he saw a wondrous palace, and by the side of the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat a falcon bright. The Falcon sprinkled it with the Water of Life–Prince Ivan shuddered, stood up, and said:`You’d have gone on sleeping a good deal longer if it hadn’t been for us,’ replied his brothers-in-law.
Prince Ivan was left there alone. 'Well, well! Hardly had they got into the palace, when the thunder pealed, the ceiling split open, and into the room where they were came flying a falcon bright.
I wish to propose for your sister, the Princess Marya.’`If you find favour in the eyes of my sister, I will not interfere with her wishes. The Falcon smote upon the ground, became a brave youth, and said:`Hail, Prince Ivan! 'I won't interfere with my sister's freedom. cried Koshchei the Deathless, 'now you will sooner see your own ears than Marya Morevna!'
Out ran the Princess Anna, greeted him joyfully, and began kissing and embracing him, asking after his health and telling him all about herself. Prince Ivan has a horse now which is better than I.’`Well, I can’t stand it,’ says Koshchei the Deathless. 'If you don't take good care of them,' says she, 'your bold head will be stuck on that pole!' He drove the mares afield. 'So be it, Prince! Prince Ivan arose, slipped into the stable, and lay down behind the mangers, while the Baba Yaga was storming away at her mares and shrieking:
The mares are all collected.
So she handed over all the house-keeping affairs to Prince Ivan, and gave him these instructions: how deals the Lord with you?’Out came running the Princess Marya, joyfully greeted her brother Ivan, and began inquiring after his health, and telling him all about herself. I have a splendid heroic steed now; it flies just like a bird.' Prince Ivan said to his youngest sister:They strolled about for a time. Thereupon he began to weep and to disquiet himself, and then he sat down upon a stone and went to sleep. Afterwards the Prince heaped up a pile of wood, set fire to it, burnt Koshchei the Deathless on the pyre, and scattered his ashes to the wind.
The sun went down behind the forest. Then he took Marya Morevna from him, and carried her off.
The former youths had been handsome, but this one was handsomer still.
At all events we shall have spent an hour or two together.’So they got ready and fled. Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer!' In a certain kingdom there lived a Prince Ivan. 'Thanks, Prince Ivan!'
said they. If the duck was killed, the rabbit would try to run.
But at that moment Prince Ivan’s horse smote Koshchei the Deathless full swing with its hoof, and cracked his skull, and the Prince made an end of him with a club. She dashed up to the fiery river, gave a glance, and said, `A capital bridge!’ She drove on to the bridge, but had only got half-way when the bridge broke in two, and the Baba Yaga went flop into the river. Prince Ivan stayed with them three days; then he said:`Farewell! He travelled one day, he travelled two days; at daybreak on the third day he saw a palace grander than the first two, and near the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat a raven. Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer! We will look at it and remember you.’The Prince handed over his silver snuff-box, took his leave, and went his way. 'Beyond thrice nine lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, on the other side of the fiery river, there lives a Baba Yaga.
And she has many other splendid mares.
In the dead of the night Prince Ivan stole the sorry colt, saddled it, jumped on its back, and galloped away to the fiery river.
Scarcely had they entered the palace when the thunder crashed, the roof burst into a blaze, the ceiling split in twain, and in flew an eagle. Such a beauty as Marya Morevna one might search for all the world over–and never find one like her!’And so they visited, and they feasted; and afterwards they went off to their own realm.Padraic Colum was a prolific author and playwright who wrote several collections of stories for...This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.This website uses cookies so we can provide you with the best user experience.
'God knows!
The Raven sprinkled them with the Water of Death—the pieces joined together, the body became whole. He had three sisters. Is it of your own accord, or on compulsion?’`So be it, Prince!