Ivan the Cow's Son
In a certain kingdom, there lived a king and queen, and they had no children. No matter how much they grieved or how many healers they called, they still had no children.One day, an old woman from the outskirts came to them.
"Cast your nets into the sea," she said, "and catch a fish with a golden fin. Boil it in seven waters, let the queen eat it, and then she will conceive."
The king ordered nets to be woven and cast into the sea to catch the fish with the golden fin. The fishermen cast the nets into the blue sea—the first time, they caught nothing; the second time, again nothing; but the third time, they caught the fish with the golden fin.
They took it and brought it to the king. He rewarded the fishermen and ordered the fish to be taken to the kitchen, boiled in seven waters, and served to the queen. The cooks cleaned the fish, washed it, boiled it, and threw the waste water into the yard. A cow passed by and licked the waste water. A servant girl placed the fish on a platter to bring to the queen, but on the way, she plucked a golden fin and tasted it. The queen ate the fish.
And all three conceived on the same day, at the same hour: the cow, the servant girl, and the queen. They all gave birth at the same time to three sons: the queen bore Ivan the Tsarevich, the servant girl bore Ivan the Servant's Son, and the cow bore a human child, who was named Ivan the Cow's Son.
The boys looked exactly alike, with the same voice and hair. They grew not by the day but by the hour, like dough rising with yeast.
Time passed, and they reached the age of ten. They began to play with other children, but their jokes were cruel. If they grabbed a boy's hand, the hand would come off; if they grabbed his head, the head would come off. The good people began to complain about them.
Then Ivan the Cow's Son said to his brothers:
"Why should we live here with our father the king, disturbing the people? Let us go to foreign lands instead."
Ivan the Tsarevich, Ivan the Servant's Son, and Ivan the Cow's Son went to the king and asked him to have three iron clubs forged for them and to give them his blessing to travel to foreign lands and seek worthy opponents.
The king ordered three iron clubs to be forged. The blacksmiths worked for a week and made three clubs; no one could lift even one end of them, but Ivan the Tsarevich, Ivan the Servant's Son, and Ivan the Cow's Son twirled them between their fingers as if they were goose feathers.
The brothers went out into the wide courtyard.
"Well, brothers," said Ivan the Tsarevich, "let's test our strength to see who will be the eldest. Whoever throws his club the highest will be the eldest brother."
"Alright, you throw first."
Ivan the Tsarevich threw his club, and it flew so high it was barely visible; it only fell back after an hour. Then Ivan the Servant's Son threw his club, and it flew even higher, completely out of sight, and fell back after two hours. Finally, Ivan the Cow's Son threw his club, and it flew beyond the clouds, falling back after three hours.
"Well, Ivan the Cow's Son, you shall be the eldest brother."
The brothers saddled their horses, asked for their father's blessing, and rode off into the open field—wherever their eyes led them.
They traveled over mountains, through valleys, across green meadows. Whether it was a long or short journey, the tale is told quickly, but the deed is done slowly—they approached the Smorodina River. Across the river stood a viburnum bridge, and on the banks lay human bones piled knee-high.
The brothers saw a hut, entered it—it was empty—and decided to stay there. They unsaddled their horses, ate, and drank. As evening approached, Ivan the Cow's Son said to his brothers:
"Let's take turns each night keeping watch, to see if anyone crosses this bridge."
They drew lots; the first night, Ivan the Tsarevich was to keep watch, the second night Ivan the Servant's Son, and the third night Ivan the Cow's Son.
Ivan the Tsarevich put on his boots, dressed, and went to keep watch by the Smorodina River, on the viburnum bridge. He walked around, walked around, and then fell asleep. But Ivan the Cow's Son couldn't sleep in the hut; his pillow kept turning in his head. He got up, put on his boots, dressed, took his club, and went to the bridge. There, he found Ivan the Tsarevich asleep. Ivan the Cow's Son picked him up by the shoulders and carried him under the bridge, then took up the watch himself.
Suddenly, the waters of the river stirred, the eagles in the oaks cried out, and the bridge hummed—a six-headed serpent monster appeared; its horse stumbled, a black raven on its shoulder fluttered, and a hound behind it bristled.
The monster said to them:
"Why do you stumble, wolf's food? Why do you tremble, raven's feather? And you, dog's fur, why do you bristle? Do you hear friend or foe?"
"We hear a foe."
"You lie! There is no rival or challenger for me in all the world, except for Ivan the Cow's Son. But even his bones have not been brought here by ravens, let alone him himself."
Then Ivan the Cow's Son jumped out from under the bridge:
"I am here!"
The monster asked him:
"Why have you come, Ivan the Cow's Son? To woo my sisters or daughters?"
"Oh, you six-headed serpent monster, in the field we meet—kinship doesn't count. Let's settle this!"
They clashed, struck fiercely, and the monster was unlucky: Ivan the Cow's Son, with one swing, cut off three of its heads.
"Wait, Ivan the Cow's Son, give me a break."
"No break for you, monster! Our way is: strike and slash, don't spare yourself."
They clashed again. The monster struck, driving Ivan the Cow's Son knee-deep into the damp earth, but Ivan the Cow's Son struck back, cutting off the remaining three heads; he chopped the body into pieces and threw them into the river, then stacked the six heads under the viburnum bridge. He returned to the hut and went to sleep.
In the morning, Ivan the Tsarevich returns.
"Brother, did you see anyone passing or riding over the Kalinov Bridge?" his brothers ask.
"No one passed or rode by, brothers. Not even a fly flew past me. On the second night, Ivan, the shepherd's son, went on watch. He walked around, walked around, climbed into the bushes, and fell asleep."
But Ivan, the cowherd's son, couldn't sleep; the pillow under his head kept turning. When midnight had passed, he put on his shoes, dressed, took his club, went out, and stood under the Kalinov Bridge.
The waters of the river stirred, the eagles in the oaks cried out, the bridge rumbled—and out came the nine-headed monster, Chudo-Yudo. Smoke billowed from the horse's ears, and flames shot from its nostrils.
Suddenly, the horse stumbled, the black raven on its shoulder fluttered, and the hound behind bristled.
"Why do you stumble, wolf's spawn? Why do you tremble, raven's feather? And you, dog's fur, why do you bristle? Do you sense friend or foe?"
"We sense a foe. Could it be Ivan, the cowherd's son?"
"Not even a raven has carried his bones here, let alone him being here himself."
At that moment, Ivan, the cowherd's son, leaped out from under the bridge:
"You lie! I am here."
Chudo-Yudo said to him:
"Why have you come? To woo my sisters or daughters?"
"Ah, you nine-headed monster, in the field we meet as equals, not as kin. Let us fight!"
They clashed, struck fiercely, and the earth groaned around them. Ivan, the cowherd's son, swung his club and knocked off three of Chudo-Yudo's heads like clumps of dirt. He swung again and took off three more. But Chudo-Yudo struck back and drove Ivan waist-deep into the damp earth.
Ivan, the cowherd's son, grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into Chudo-Yudo's eyes. The monster clutched at its eyes, and Ivan knocked off the remaining heads, sliced the body into pieces, threw them into the Smorodina River, and stacked the nine heads under the Kalinov Bridge. Then he went back to the hut and lay down to sleep.
In the morning, Ivan, the shepherd's son, returns.
"Brother, did you see anyone passing or riding over the Kalinov Bridge?"
"No, brothers, not even a fly or a mosquito flew past me." Ivan, the cowherd's son, led his brothers under the Kalinov Bridge, showed them the serpent's heads, and began to shame them:
"Ah, you heroes! You should stay home and lie on the stove, not go to war!"
On the third night, Ivan, the cowherd's son, prepared to go on watch. He stuck a knife into the wall, hung a white towel on it, and placed a bowl beneath it.
"I am going to a terrible battle. You, brothers, must not sleep all night. Watch the towel: if half the bowl fills with blood, all is well; if the bowl fills completely, it's still fine; but if it overflows, then hurry to my aid."
Ivan, the cowherd's son, stood under the Kalinov Bridge; midnight had passed. The waters of the river stirred, the eagles in the oaks cried out, the bridge rumbled—and out came the twelve-headed monster, Chudo-Yudo. Smoke billowed from the horse's ears, flames shot from its nostrils, and sparks flew from its hooves like sheaves.
Suddenly, the horse stumbled, the raven on its shoulder fluttered, and the hound behind bristled.
"Why do you stumble, wolf's spawn? Why do you tremble, raven's feather? And you, dog's fur, why do you bristle? Do you sense friend or foe?"
"We sense a foe: Ivan, the cowherd's son, is here."
"You lie! Not even a raven has carried his bones here."
"Ah, you twelve-headed monster!" Ivan, the cowherd's son, called out, leaping from under the bridge. "No raven has carried my bones here; I am here myself."
"Why have you come?"
"I have come to see you, unclean force, and test your strength."
"So you killed my brothers? And you think you can defeat me? I only need to blow, and not even your ashes will remain."
"I did not come to tell fairy tales with you; let us fight to the death!"
Ivan, the cowherd's son, swung his club and knocked off three of Chudo-Yudo's heads. Chudo-Yudo picked up the heads, ran a fiery finger over them—and the heads grew back as if they had never fallen. Then it struck Ivan, the cowherd's son, and drove him knee-deep into the damp earth.
Things looked bad for him.
"Wait, unclean force, give me a moment to rest!"
Chudo-Yudo gave him a moment. Ivan, the cowherd's son, took off his right glove and threw it toward the hut. The glove smashed through the doors and windows, but his brothers slept on, hearing nothing.
Ivan, the Cow's Son, swung his weapon once more, this time with even greater force, and struck off six of Chudo-Yudo's heads. Chudo-Yudo caught them, struck them with his fiery finger, and the heads grew back in place. In turn, he struck Ivan, the Cow's Son, and drove him waist-deep into the damp earth.
"Stop, you unclean force, give me a break!" Ivan cried.
Ivan, the Cow's Son, took off his left glove and threw it—the glove tore off the roof of the hut, but his brothers slept on, hearing nothing.
He swung his club a third time, with even greater strength, and knocked off nine of Chudo-Yudo's heads. Chudo-Yudo caught them, struck them with his fiery finger, and the heads grew back again. This time, he drove Ivan, the Cow's Son, shoulder-deep into the damp earth.
"Stop, you unclean force, give me a third break!" Ivan shouted.
Ivan, the Cow's Son, took off his hat and threw it at the hut. The force of the blow shattered the hut, scattering it into logs.
At last, his brothers woke up. They looked around—everything was soaked in blood, and blood was overflowing from the bowl.
Terrified, they grabbed their clubs and rushed to help their older brother. Meanwhile, Ivan had managed to cut off Chudo-Yudo's fiery finger. Together with his brothers, he began striking off Chudo-Yudo's heads... They fought from day until evening and finally defeated the twelve-headed serpent Chudo-Yudo, cutting off all his heads, chopping his body into pieces, and throwing them into the Smorodina River.
Early the next morning, the brothers saddled their horses and set off on their journey. Suddenly, Ivan, the Cow's Son, said:
"Wait, I forgot my gloves! Go ahead, brothers, at a slow pace. I'll catch up soon."
He rode away from them, dismounted, let his horse graze in the green meadows, turned himself into a sparrow, and flew across the Kalinov Bridge, over the Smorodina River, to the white-stone palace. He perched by an open window and listened.
Inside the white-stone palace sat an old serpentess and her three daughters-in-law, Chudo-Yudo's wives, discussing how to destroy Ivan, the Cow's Son, and his brothers.
"I will summon hunger upon them," said the youngest daughter-in-law. "I will turn into an apple tree with juicy apples. If they eat an apple, it will tear them apart."
The middle daughter-in-law said, "I will summon thirst upon them and turn into a well. Let them try to drink from me."
The eldest daughter-in-law said, "I will summon sleep upon them and turn into a soft bed. Whoever lies on me will burn to ashes."
The old serpentess, Chudo-Yudo's mother, said, "I will turn into a pig, open my mouth from earth to sky, and devour all three of them."
Ivan, the Cow's Son, listened to their plans, flew back to the green meadows, struck the ground, and became a fine young man again. He caught up with his brothers, and they continued their journey. They traveled for a long time, and hunger began to torment them. They saw an apple tree by the roadside, its branches heavy with juicy apples. Ivan the Prince and Ivan the Maiden's Son rushed to pick the apples, but Ivan, the Cow's Son, galloped ahead and began hacking the tree crosswise. Blood spurted from it.
"See, brothers, what kind of apple tree this is!" he said.
They rode on through the steppes and meadows, and the day grew hotter. Thirst began to torment them. Suddenly, they saw a well with cold water. The younger brothers rushed toward it, but Ivan, the Cow's Son, jumped off his horse and began hacking the well. Blood spurted from it.
"See, brothers, what kind of well this is!" he said.
Suddenly, the day grew dim, the heat subsided, and they no longer felt thirsty. They rode on. As night fell, sleep began to overpower them. They saw a small hut with a light in the window. Inside stood a wooden bed with a soft mattress.
"Ivan, the Cow's Son, let's spend the night here," they said.
He rushed ahead of his brothers and began hacking the bed lengthwise and crosswise. Blood spurted from it.
"See, brothers, what kind of soft bed this is!" he said.
Their sleep vanished. They rode on and heard a pursuit behind them. The old serpentess flew after them, her mouth gaping from earth to sky. Ivan, the Cow's Son, knew they were in trouble. How could they escape? He threw three pounds of salt into her mouth. The serpentess swallowed it, became thirsty, and ran to the blue sea to drink.
While she drank, the brothers rode far away. The serpentess finished drinking and chased after them again. They spurred their horses and came upon a blacksmith's forge in the forest. Ivan, the Cow's Son, and his brothers entered.
"Blacksmiths, blacksmiths, forge twelve iron rods and heat the tongs until they glow red. A large pig will come and say, 'Hand over the guilty one.' You must reply, 'Lick twelve iron doors with your tongue, then take him yourself.'"
Suddenly, the old serpentess arrived, turned into a large pig, and shouted, "Blacksmiths, blacksmiths, hand over the guilty one!"
The blacksmiths replied as Ivan, the Cow's Son, had instructed: "Lick twelve iron doors with your tongue, then take him yourself."
The serpentess began licking the iron doors. She licked all twelve and stuck out her tongue. Ivan, the Cow's Son, grabbed her tongue with the red-hot tongs, and his brothers began beating her with the iron rods, breaking her skin down to the bones. They killed the serpentess, burned her, and scattered her ashes to the wind.
Ivan, the Cow's Son, Ivan the Maiden's Son, and Ivan the Prince rode home. They lived happily, feasting and celebrating. At that feast, I was there too. I drank mead and beer, but it ran down my mustache and didn't reach my mouth. They treated me: they took a trough from a bull and filled it with milk. I didn't drink or eat, I resisted, and they began to fight me. I put on a cap, and they started pushing me by the neck...
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