Marya Morevna

In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, there lived Ivan Tsarevich. He had three sisters: one was Maria Tsarevna, another was Olga Tsarevna, and the third was Anna Tsarevna.

Their father and mother had passed away. On their deathbed, they instructed their son:
— Whoever comes first to court your sisters, give them away to him—do not keep them with you for long.
Ivan Tsarevich buried his parents and, grieving, went with his sisters to stroll in the green garden.

Suddenly, a black cloud appeared in the sky, and a terrible storm arose.
— Let’s go home, sisters, — said Ivan Tsarevich.
No sooner had they returned to the palace than thunder roared, the ceiling split in two, and a bright falcon flew into their chamber.

The falcon struck the floor, turned into a fine young man, and said:
— Greetings, Ivan Tsarevich! I once came as a guest, but now I come as a suitor: I wish to court your sister Maria Tsarevna.
— If my sister loves you, I will not keep her—let her go.
Maria Tsarevna agreed. The falcon married her and took her to his kingdom.

Days turned into days, hours into hours—a whole year passed as if it were nothing. Ivan Tsarevich went with his two remaining sisters to stroll in the green garden. Again, a cloud rose with a whirlwind and lightning.
— Let’s go home, sisters, — said the prince.
No sooner had they returned to the palace than thunder struck, the roof split, the ceiling cracked, and an eagle flew in.

The eagle struck the floor and turned into a fine young man.
— Greetings, Ivan Tsarevich! I once came as a guest, but now I come as a suitor.
And he courted Olga Tsarevna.
Ivan Tsarevich replied:
— If Olga Tsarevna loves you, then let her marry you—I will not stand in her way.
Olga Tsarevna agreed and married the eagle. The eagle swept her up and carried her off to his kingdom.

Another year passed. Ivan Tsarevich said to his youngest sister:
— Let’s go for a walk in the green garden.
They strolled for a while. Again, a cloud rose with a whirlwind and lightning.
— Let’s return home, sister!
They returned home, but before they could sit down, thunder struck, the ceiling split, and a raven flew in. The raven struck the floor and turned into a fine young man. The previous suitors were handsome, but this one was even more so.

— Well, Ivan Tsarevich, I once came as a guest, but now I come as a suitor: give me Anna Tsarevna in marriage.
— I will not stand in my sister’s way. If she loves you, let her marry you.
Anna Tsarevna married the raven, and he carried her off to his kingdom.

Ivan Tsarevich was left alone. He lived without his sisters for a whole year, and he grew lonely.
— I will go, — he said, — to find my sisters.
He set off on his journey, walking and walking, until he saw a slain army lying in a field. Ivan Tsarevich asked:
— If there is anyone alive here, speak up: who defeated this great army?
A living man replied:
— This great army was defeated by Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen.

Ivan Tsarevich continued on his way and came upon white tents. Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen, came out to meet him.
— Greetings, prince. Where is God taking you—by choice or by force?
Ivan Tsarevich replied:
— Fine young men do not travel by force.
— Well, if you are not in a hurry, stay as my guest in the tents.
Ivan Tsarevich was glad to do so: he stayed in the tents for two nights. Maria Morevna grew fond of him, and they married.

Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen, took him to her kingdom. They lived together for some time, and then the queen decided to go to war. She left Ivan Tsarevich in charge of everything and ordered:
— Go anywhere, oversee everything, but do not look into this storeroom.
He could not resist: as soon as Maria Morevna left, he rushed to the storeroom, opened the door, and looked inside—there hung Koschei the Deathless, chained with twelve chains.

Koschei begged Ivan Tsarevich:
— Have mercy on me, give me a drink! I have been suffering here for ten years, without food or water—my throat is parched.
The prince gave him a whole bucket of water; he drank it and asked for more:
— One bucket is not enough to quench my thirst. Give me more!
The prince gave him another bucket. Koschei drank it and asked for a third; after drinking the third bucket, he regained his former strength, shook the chains, and immediately broke all twelve.

— Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich, — said Koschei the Deathless, — now you will never see Maria Morevna again, as surely as you will never see your own ears. And with a terrible whirlwind, he flew out the window, caught up with Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen, swept her up, and carried her off to his lair.

Ivan Tsarevich wept bitterly, prepared himself, and set off on his journey: “No matter what happens, I will find Maria Morevna.” He walked for one day, then another, and at dawn on the third day, he saw a marvelous palace. Near the palace stood an oak tree, and on the oak sat a bright falcon. The falcon flew down from the oak, struck the ground, turned into a fine young man, and cried out:
— Ah, my dear brother-in-law!

Maria Tsarevna ran out, greeted Ivan Tsarevich joyfully, asked about his health, and told him about her life. The prince stayed with them for three days and then said:
— I cannot stay long: I am searching for my wife, Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen.
— It will be hard for you to find her, — replied the falcon. — Leave your silver spoon here as a keepsake: we will look at it and remember you.

Ivan Tsarevich left his silver spoon with the falcon and continued on his way.
He walked for one day, then another, and at dawn on the third day, he saw a palace even grander than the first. Near the palace stood an oak tree, and on the oak sat an eagle.
The eagle flew down from the tree, struck the ground, turned into a fine young man, and cried out:
— Rise, Olga Tsarevna, our dear brother is coming!

Olga Tsarevna immediately ran out, began to kiss and embrace him, asked about his health, and told him about her life.
Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and then said:
— I can't stay longer as a guest: I am going to search for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
The eagle replies:
— It will be hard for you to find her. Leave us your silver fork: we will look at it and remember you.

He left the silver fork and set off on his journey.
A day passed, another passed, and at dawn on the third day, he saw a palace finer than the first two. Near the palace stood an oak tree, and on the oak sat a raven. The raven flew down from the oak, struck the ground, turned into a fine young man, and shouted:
— Princess Anna, come out quickly, our brother is coming!

Princess Anna ran out, greeted him joyfully, began to kiss and hug him, asked about his health, and told him about her own life.
Ivan the Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and then said:
— Farewell. I must go and search for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
The raven replied:
— It will be hard for you to find her. Leave us your silver snuffbox: we will look at it and remember you.

The Tsarevich gave him the silver snuffbox, said his goodbyes, and set off on his journey. A day passed, another passed, and on the third day, he reached Marya Morevna. When she saw her beloved, she threw herself on his neck, burst into tears, and said:
— Oh, Ivan the Tsarevich, why didn’t you listen to me—why did you look into the storeroom and release Koschei the Deathless?
— Forgive me, Marya Morevna, do not dwell on the past. Let us leave together before Koschei the Deathless returns. Perhaps he won’t catch us!

They gathered their things and left. Koschei was out hunting. In the evening, he returned home, and his good horse stumbled beneath him.
— Why do you stumble, you insatiable nag? Do you sense some misfortune?
The horse replied:
— Ivan the Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna away.
— Can we catch them?
— We can sow wheat, wait for it to grow, harvest it, thresh it, grind it into flour, bake five ovens of bread, eat that bread, and then set off in pursuit—and even then, we will catch them.
Koschei galloped off and caught up with Ivan the Tsarevich.

— Well, he said, I will forgive you this first time for your kindness in giving me water to drink. I will forgive you a second time, but beware the third—I will chop you into pieces.
He took Marya Morevna from him and carried her away. Ivan the Tsarevich sat on a stone and wept. He wept and wept, then turned back to search for Marya Morevna again. Koschei the Deathless was not at home.
— Let us go, Marya Morevna!
— Oh, Ivan the Tsarevich, he will catch us!
— Let him catch us. At least we will spend an hour or two together.
They gathered their things and left.

Koschei the Deathless returned home, and his good horse stumbled beneath him.
— Why do you stumble, you insatiable nag? Do you sense some misfortune?
— Ivan the Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna with him.
— Can we catch them?
— We can sow barley, wait for it to grow, harvest and thresh it, brew beer, drink our fill, eat our fill, sleep soundly, and then set off in pursuit—and even then, we will catch them.
Koschei galloped off and caught up with Ivan the Tsarevich:
— Didn’t I tell you that you would never see Marya Morevna again, just as you cannot see your own ears?
He took her and carried her away.

Ivan the Tsarevich was left alone. He wept and wept, then turned back once more to search for Marya Morevna. At that time, Koschei was not at home.
— Let us go, Marya Morevna!
— Oh, Ivan the Tsarevich, he will catch us and chop you into pieces!
— Let him chop me into pieces, I cannot live without you!
They gathered their things and left. Koschei the Deathless returned home, and his good horse stumbled beneath him.
— Why do you stumble? Do you sense some misfortune?
— Ivan the Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna with him.

Koschei galloped off, caught up with Ivan the Tsarevich, chopped him into tiny pieces, placed them in a tar barrel, bound the barrel with iron hoops, and threw it into the blue sea. Then he carried Marya Morevna away.
At that very moment, the silver of Ivan the Tsarevich’s brothers-in-law turned black.
— Ah, they said, it seems a misfortune has occurred!
The eagle rushed to the blue sea, seized the barrel, and pulled it ashore. The falcon flew off to fetch the water of life, and the raven—the water of death.

The three of them gathered in one place, broke open the barrel, took out the pieces of Ivan the Tsarevich, washed them, and laid them out as they should be. The raven sprinkled the water of death—the body grew together and was whole. The falcon sprinkled the water of life—Ivan the Tsarevich shuddered, stood up, and said:
— Ah, how long I have slept!
— You would have slept even longer if not for us, replied his brothers-in-law. Now come visit us.
— No, brothers, I must go and search for Marya Morevna.

He came to her and asked:
— Find out from Koschei the Deathless where he got such a fine horse.

So Marya Morevna seized a good moment and began to question Koschei.
Koschei said:
— Beyond thrice-nine lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, beyond the fiery river, lives Baba Yaga. She has a mare that flies around the world every day. She has many other fine mares as well. I was her shepherd for three days, didn’t lose a single mare, and for that, Baba Yaga gave me one foal.
— How did you cross the fiery river?
— I have a handkerchief—if I wave it three times to the right, a tall, tall bridge appears, and the fire cannot reach it.

Marya Morevna listened, then told Ivan the Tsarevich everything. She also took the handkerchief and gave it to him.
Ivan the Tsarevich crossed the fiery river and went to Baba Yaga. He walked for a long time without eating or drinking. He encountered a foreign bird with her little chicks. Ivan the Tsarevich said:
— I’ll eat one of the chicks!
— Do not eat it, Ivan the Tsarevich, begged the foreign bird. In time, I will be of use to you.
He went on.

In the forest, he saw a beehive.

“I’ll take some honey,” he said.
The queen bee replied:
“Don’t touch my honey, Ivan Tsarevich. Someday I’ll be of use to you.”
He left the honey untouched and went on his way.

Soon he encountered a lioness with her cub.
“I’ll eat this cub. I’m so hungry I feel sick.”
“Don’t touch it, Ivan Tsarevich,” begged the lioness. “Someday I’ll be of use to you.”
“Very well, let it be as you say.”

He wandered on, hungry. He walked and walked until he came to Baba Yaga’s house. Around the house stood twelve poles, with human heads on eleven of them, and only one pole was empty.
“Hello, grandmother!”
“Hello, Ivan Tsarevich. Have you come of your own free will or out of necessity?”
“I’ve come to earn your heroic steed.”
“Very well, Tsarevich. You won’t have to serve me for a year, only three days. If you can herd my mares, I’ll give you the heroic steed. But if you fail, don’t be angry—your head will adorn the last pole.”

Ivan Tsarevich agreed. Baba Yaga fed him, gave him drink, and sent him to work. As soon as he drove the mares into the field, they raised their tails and scattered in all directions across the meadows. Before Ivan Tsarevich could blink, they were gone. He sat down on a stone, wept in sorrow, and fell asleep. As the sun was setting, a bird from overseas flew in and woke him:

“Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are back home.”
The Tsarevich got up and returned home. Baba Yaga was shouting at her mares:
“Why did you come back?”
“How could we not return? Birds from all over the world swooped down and nearly pecked our eyes out.”
“Well, tomorrow don’t run across the meadows—scatter into the dense forests.”

Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night. In the morning, Baba Yaga said to him:
“Listen, Tsarevich. If you don’t herd the mares, if you lose even one, your wild head will end up on the pole!”

He drove the mares into the field. They immediately raised their tails and ran off into the dense forests.
Again, the Tsarevich sat on a stone, wept and wept, and fell asleep. The sun set behind the forest.
The lioness came running:
“Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are all gathered.”

Ivan Tsarevich got up and went home. Baba Yaga was shouting louder than ever at her mares:
“Why did you come back?”
“How could we not return? Fierce beasts from all over the world attacked us and nearly tore us to pieces.”
“Well, tomorrow run into the blue sea.”

Again, Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night. In the morning, Baba Yaga sent him to herd the mares:
“If you don’t herd them, your wild head will end up on the pole.”

He drove the mares into the field. They immediately raised their tails, vanished from sight, and ran into the blue sea, standing in the water up to their necks. Ivan Tsarevich sat on a stone, wept, and fell asleep.

The sun set behind the forest, and a little bee flew in and said:
“Get up, Tsarevich! The mares are all gathered. When you return home, don’t show yourself to Baba Yaga. Go to the stable and hide behind the manger. There’s a mangy foal lying in the dung. Take it and leave the house at midnight.”

Ivan Tsarevich sneaked into the stable and hid behind the manger. Baba Yaga was shouting at her mares:
“Why did you come back?”
“How could we not return? Bees swarmed from all over the world and stung us until we bled.”

Baba Yaga fell asleep, and at midnight Ivan Tsarevich took the mangy foal, saddled it, mounted it, and rode off to the fiery river. When he reached the river, he waved his handkerchief three times to the right—and suddenly, out of nowhere, a tall, splendid bridge appeared across the river. The Tsarevich crossed the bridge and waved his handkerchief twice to the left—leaving only a thin, fragile bridge behind.

In the morning, Baba Yaga woke up and saw that the mangy foal was gone. She gave chase, racing in her iron mortar, driving it with a pestle and sweeping her tracks with a broom. She reached the fiery river, looked at the bridge, and thought, “What a fine bridge.” She started crossing, but when she reached the middle, the bridge broke, and Baba Yaga fell into the river. There she met her bitter end.

Ivan Tsarevich fed the foal in the green meadows, and it turned into a magnificent steed. He rode to Marya Morevna. She ran out, threw her arms around his neck, and said:
“How did you escape death?”
“This way and that,” he said. “Come with me.”
“I’m afraid, Ivan Tsarevich! If Koschei catches us, you’ll be cut to pieces again.”
“No, he won’t catch us! Now I have a heroic steed that flies like a bird.”
They mounted the horse and rode off.

Koschei the Deathless returned home, and his horse stumbled beneath him.
“Why are you stumbling, you ungrateful nag? Do you sense trouble?”
“Ivan Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna.”
“Can we catch them?”
“I don’t know. Now Ivan Tsarevich has a heroic steed that’s better than me.”
“No, I can’t let this go,” said Koschei the Deathless. “I’ll give chase!”

After a long or short time, he caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, dismounted, and was about to strike him with his sharp saber. At that moment, Ivan Tsarevich’s horse kicked Koschei with all its might, crushing his skull, and the Tsarevich finished him off with a club. Then Ivan Tsarevich gathered a pile of firewood, lit a fire, burned Koschei the Deathless, and scattered his ashes to the wind.

Marya Morevna mounted Koschei’s horse, and Ivan Tsarevich mounted his own, and they rode off to visit the raven, then the eagle, and finally the falcon. Wherever they went, they were greeted with joy:
“Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, we never thought we’d see you again! You’ve worked hard, and now you’ve found a beauty like Marya Morevna—there’s no other like her in the whole world.”

They visited, feasted, and then rode to their own kingdom. There they lived happily, prospering and enjoying their honey.

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Marya Morevna

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