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Maria Morevna Russian folk tale, translated by Nina Yugina, kindly aided by Chris LaRosa  In some kingdom, under someone's reign there was a man named Tzarevich Ivan, who had three sisters: Tzarevna Maria, Tzarevna Olga, and Tzarevna Anna. Their mother and father passed away a while ago. But before dying they told their son: "Let your sisters marry the first man to ask for marriage with one of them!" Tzarevich buried his parents and, overwhelmed by grief, decided to take a walk with his sisters through a green garden. Suddenly, a dark cloud covered the sky, and a fearful thunderstom began. "Let's go home, dear sisters", said Tzarevich Ivan. As soon as they entered the palace, there was a clap of thunder, and a serene falcon flew into the room through a bifurcated ceiling. )
The falcon struck himself against the floor and turned into an attractive young man, saying:
"Hello, Tzarevich Ivan! Previously I was around your places as a guest, but now I came here
as a wooer: I want to propose to your dear sister Tzarevna Maria."
"If you are dear to my sister, I am not going to keep her here - let her go with you", Tzarevna Maria agreed. The falcon married her and carried her away to his kingdom. Days went by. The hours passed, one by one. The whole year passed by. Tzarevich Ivan and his sisters went for a walk in a green garden, and a cloud with a whirlwind and lighting rose again. As soon as they entered the palace, the roof flew apart, the ceiling became split into two halves, and an eagle flew in. The eagle struck himself against the floor and turned into an attractive young man. "Hello, Tzarevich Ivan! Previously I was around your places as a guest, but now I came here as a wooer." And so he asked for permission to marry Tzarevna Olga. Tzarevich Ivan replied, "If you are dear to Tzarevna Olga, then I will let her marry you - I would not deprive her of her will." Tzarevna Olga agreed and married the eagle, who carried her away to his kingdom. Another year went by. Tzarevich Ivan said to his sister, "Let's go for a stroll in the garden." After a while a cloud with a whirlwind and lighting rose again. "Let's go home, dear sister!" They came back home and barely had time to sit down, as a bolt of lightning struck with the ceiling being split apart, and a raven flew in. The raven struck himself against the floor and turned into an attractive young man. The previous wooers were quite attractive ones, but this one was even more attractive. "Well, Tzarevich Ivan, previously I was around your places as a guest, but now I came here as a wooer." "I don't deprive my sister of free will. If she is in love with you, I'll let her marry you." And so Tzarevna Anna married the raven, who carried her away to his kingdom. Tzarevich Ivan was now alone. During the whole year he lived without his sisters and started finding his life boring and tedious. "I should go", he said, "and look for my sisters." )
So, he prepared for a journey, left his kingdom and after some travelling he saw in a field
a slaughtered army. Tzarevich Ivan asked:
"If there is a single man still alive here, tell me: who won over such a great army?" The only man alive replied to him, "All of this army was conquered by Maria Morevna, the incredibly beautiful queen." Tzarevich Ivan continued his travelling and soon stumbled upon white tents, out of which exited Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen. "Hello, Tzarevich. To what places does god direct you? With your will or without it?" Tzarevich Ivan answered her, "Fine men do not travel without a will." "Then, if you are not in a hurry, be a guest in my tents." )
Tzarevich Ivan was glad to accept her offer. He stayed in the tents for two nights. Maria Morevna
fell in love with him, and they got married. Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen, took him into her kingdom.
After they lived together for quite a while, the queen decided to go to war. So, she left
Tzarevich Ivan with all of her household and ordered him, "Go everywhere you wish to, look after everything,
but don't enter this store-room."
Of course, Tzarevich Ivan did not endure the patience. As soon as Maria Morevna left, he rushed to the store-room opened the room, looked inside and saw there Koschei The Deathless hanging on twelve chains. Koschei The Deathless begged Tzarevich Ivan, "Have mercy for me, give me some water! I have been tortured here for ten years with no food and no drink -- my throat has dried out completely." Tzarevich gave him a bucket full of water. Koschei drank all of it and started asking for more, "I can't quench my thirst with only one bucket of water. Give me more!" Tzarevich gave him another bucket. Koschei drank it and asked for a third one; and as soon as he drank the water out of the third bucket, he put together all of his strength and broke all of the twelve chains apart. "Thank you, Tzarevich Ivan", said Koschei The Deathless, "from now on you will never see Maria Morevna again." And Koschei flew out of the window like a terrible whirlwind, caught up with Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen, grabbed her and carried her away. Tzarevich Ivan broke into bitter tears, prepared himself for a journey and took off. "No matter what might happen, I shall find Maria Morevna." One day went by; another one went by, and at dawn of the third day he saw a marvellous palace. Near the palace grew an oak, and on the oak there was a falcon. The falcon flew off the oak, struck himself against the floor, turned into an attractive young man and cried out, "Ah, my dear brother-in-law!" Tzarevna Maria ran out of the palace, embraced joyfully Tzarevich Ivan asking him about his health and recounted her life. Tzarevich stayed with his sister for three days and then said, "I can't stay here with you any longer. I have to look for my wife, Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen." "It will not be easy to find her", the falcon replied. "Leave your silver spoon here just in case. We are going to look at it once in a while and think of you." Tzarevich Ivan gave his silver spoon to the falcon and departed. One day went by; another one went by, and at dawn of the third day he saw a palace even more beautiful than the previous one. Near the palace grew an oak, and on the oak there was an eagle. The eagle flew off the oak, struck himself against the floor, turned into an attractive young man and cried out, "Get up, Tzarevna Olga, our dear brother is coming!" Tzarevna Olga ran out right away, started showering her brother with kisses and hugs, asking about his health and sharing the events of her life. Tzarevich Ivan stayed with them for three days and then said afterwards, "I can't stay here with you any longer. I have to look for my wife, Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen." The eagle responded, "It will not be easy to find her. Leave your silver fork here just in case. We are going to look at it once in a while and think of you." Tzarevich Ivan gave his silver fork to the falcon and set off. One day went by, another one went by, and at dawn of the third day he saw a palace even more beautiful than the previous two. Near the palace grew an oak, and on the oak there was a raven. The raven flew off the oak, struck himself against the floor, turned into an attractive young man and cried out, "Tzarevna Olga, come out quickly, our dear brother is coming!" Tzarevna Anna ran out, happily met her brother, and started kissing and hugging him, asking about his health and sharing the events of her life. Tzarevich Ivan stayed with them for three days and then said afterwards, "Good bye. I have to look for my wife, Maria Morevna, the beautiful queen." The raven responded, "It will not be easy to find her. Leave your silver snuff-box here just in case. We are going to look at it once in a while and think of you." Tzarevich Ivan gave his silver snuff-box to the raven and set off. One day went by; another day went by, and on the third one he finally found Maria Morevna. As soon as she saw her beloved one, she through her arms around his neck, burst into tears and uttered, "Ah, Tzrevich Ivan, why didn't you listen to me? Why did you open the store-room and let Kaschei The Deathless out?" "Forgive me, Maria Morevna, bear no ill will. It is best for us to go now; Koschei is not here yet. Perhaps, he will not catch up with us!" )
So, they prepared for the journey and set off. And Koschei was on a hunt at that time. By the evening he went back home,
and his faithful horse began to stumble.
"Why are you, unfed nag, stumbling? Or are you sensing a misfortune?" The horse replied, "Tzarevich Ivan came over and took Maria Morevna with him." "Can we catch up with them?" "Even if we sowed wheat, waited until it ripened, griped and threshed it, turned it into flour, baked five ovens of bread out of it, ate all of the bread and only then went after them, we would still catch up." Koschei then rushed the horse and caught up with Tzarevich Ivan. "Well", he said, "For the first time I am going to forgive you, because you were kind and gave water to me. For the second time I am going to forgive you as well. But for the third one be cautious -- I am going to cut you up into pieces." Koschei took Maria Morevna and drove her away. And Ivan Tzarevich sat down on a stone and began to cry. After crying all the tears out, he returned to Maria Morevna. And at that moment Koschei did not happen to be at home again. "Let's go, Maria Morevna!" "Ah, Tzarevich Ivan, he will catch up with us!" "Let it be. At least, we will spend an hour or two with each other." So, they prepared for the journey and set off. And when Koschei returned home, his faithful horse began to stumble. "Why are you, unfed nag, stumbling? Or are you sensing a misfortune?" "Tzarevich Ivan came over and took Maria Morevna with him." "Can we catch up with them?" "Even if we sowed barley, waited until it ripened, griped and threshed it, boiled beer out of it, drank all of it, ate and slept for some time and only then went after them, we would still catch up." Koschei then rushed the horse and caught up with Tzarevich Ivan. "I've told you, you would never see Maria Morevna again!" Koschei took Maria Morevna and drove her away. Tzarevich Ivan, after being left alone again, wept for a while and returned to Maria Morevna. At that moment Koschei did not happen to be at home again. "Let's go, Maria Morevna!" "Ah, Tzarevich Ivan, he will catch up with us and cut you up into pieces!" "Let it be! I can't live without you!" So, they prepared for the journey and set off. And when Koschei returned home, his faithful horse began to stumble. "Why are you stumbling? Or are you sensing a misfortune?" "Tzarevich Ivan came over and took Maria Morevna with him." )
Koschei rushed the horse, caught up with Tzarevich Ivan, cut him into small pieces, and put the pieces into a pitched barrel.
He then took the barrel, fastened it with iron hoops and threw it into the blue sea, taking Maria Morevna away with him.
At that very time the silver that previously belonged to Tzarevich Ivan blackened in the hands of his brothers-in-law. "Ah", they said, "it is clear, a misfortune happened!" The eagle plunged into the blue sea, grabbed the barrel and brought it to the shore. The falcon departed to obtain the live water, and the raven to obtain the dead water. Then, all three of them flew to the same spot, choped up the barrel, took out the pieces of Tzarevich Ivan's body, cleaned them and put them together in the right order. The raven sprinkled the dead water, and all the pieces grew together. The falcon sprinkled the live water. Tzarevich Ivan flinched, stood up and said, "Ah, I slept for such a long time!" "Of course! You would sleep even longer, if we never helped you", the brothers-in-law replied. "Now, let's go to our home." "No, dear brothers, I have to look for Maria Morevna." So, he went, found Maria Morevna and started asking her, "Find out from Koschei where he obtained such a good horse." Maria Morevna waited for the right moment, approached Koschei and tried to find out what Tzarevich Ivan had asked her for. Koschei answered to Maria Morevna, "In a faraway kingdom, in a remote country beyond the fire river lives Baba Yaga. She possesses such a mare, which can fly around the world in one day. She has many other glorious mares as well. I served as shepherd for Baba Yaga for three days, did not let a single mare run away, and Baba Yaga thanked me for a good job with a colt." "And how did you cross the fire river?" "I have a handkerchief, such that when I wave it to the right three times, it creates a very tall bridge, so that even fire cannot reach it." Maria Morevna listened to everything and retold it to Tzarevich Ivan. She also took the handkerchief secretly from Koschei and gave it to Tzarevich Ivan. Tzarevich Ivan found the fire river, crossed it, and went in the direction of where Baba Yaga lived. He was walking for a long time with no food or drink. After awhile, he came across an overseas bird with little offsprings. "So", Tzarevich Ivan said, "I would love to eat one of these poults!" "Do not eat them, Tzarevich Ivan!", begged the overseas bird. "I am going to be of use to you in some time." He walked further and in a little while saw a beehive. "I'd rather take", he exclaimed, "some honey." The queen bee answered, "Don't touch my honey, Tzarevich Ivan. I am going to be useful to you in some time." So, he did not touch any of the honey and advanced further. After some period of time he met a lioness with a lion cub. "I should at least eat this lion cub. The sensation of hunger is so great, I am starting to be ill." "Don't touch him, Tzarevich Ivan!", begged the lioness. "In some time I am going to be useful to you." "Alright, let it be your way." And so he kept walking, tortured by hunger. After some travelling a sudden view was opened to him -- the house of Baba Yaga. Around the house were twelve poles. Eleven of the poles had human heads residing on top, and only one pole was not occupied. "Hello, grandma!" "Hello, Tzarevich Ivan. Why have you arrived -- out of your own will or by force?" "I came here to deserve a powerful horse from you." "As you wish, tzarevich, especially since you must serve only for three days instead of one year. If you tend my horses well, I shall give you a powerful horse. If not, don't be angry with me -- your head will reside on the last pole. Tzarevich Ivan agreed with Baba Yaga's conditions. So, Baba Yaga fed him, gave him drink and ordered him to begin the work. As soon as Tzarevich Ivan turned the cattle out to graze, all of the mares lifted up their tails and dispersed all over the field. Tzarevich barely had a second to blink, and they already managed to disappear. Here, he burst into tears, became very saddened, sat down on a stone and fell asleep. )
The sun was setting already, and the overseas bird suddenly came flying and woke up Tzarevich Ivan,
"Get up, Tzarevich! All of the mares are already at home."
Tzarevich got up and went home. And Baba Yaga was making a fuss, yelling at the mares, "Why did you go back home?" "How could we not go home?! Birds flew from all over the world and almost pecked our eyes out." "Well, tomorrow you should run not around the fields, but through primeval forest." Tzarevich Ivan slept through one night. In the morning Baba Yaga addressed him, "Look out, tzarevich! If you don't take good care of my mares and loose at least one of them, the right place for your madcap will be on the pole!" Tzarevich took the mares out into the field, and they immediately lifted their tails up and scattered through the forest. Again tzarevich sat down on a stone, wept for a while and fell asleep. The sun had already set beyond the forest. The lioness ran to tzarevich, "Wake up, Tzarevich Ivan! All of the mares are taken care of." Tzarevich Ivan got up and went home. Baba Yaga was making an even greater fuss and yelling at the mares, "Why did you go back home?" "How could we not go home?! Wild animals ran from all over the world and almost tore us apart." "Well, tomorrow you should run into the blue sea." Agan Tzarevich Ivan slept through one night. In the morning Baba Yaga sent him away to shepherd the mares. "If you don't take a good care of them, the right place for your madcap will be on the pole!" So, he took the horses out into the field. The mares, again, lifted their tails up, passed out of sight and ran into the blue sea, staying in it with water being up to their necks. Tzarevich Ivan sat down on a stone, wept for a while and fell asleep. The sun set beyond the forest, and a little bee came flying, saying to tzarevich, "Wake up, tzarevich! All of the mares are taken care of. But when you return home, don't show yourself to Baba Yaga. Go to the stable and hide behind the crib. There will be a scabby colt lying in manure. Take him, and in the dead of night take him away." Tzarevich Ivan stole into the stable and hid himsef behind the crib. Baba Yaga was making a fuss and yelling at the mares again, "Why did you go back home?" "How could we not go home?! Bees flew from all over the world and began to sting us till we bled." Baba Yaga fell asleep, and at that very midnight Tzarevich Ivan took her scabby colt, saddled him and hopped to the fire river. He approached the river, waved three times with the handkerchief to the right, and suddenly, out of nowhere a tall beautiful bridge poised in mid-air above the river. Tzarevich crossed the river over the bridge and waved with the handkerchief to the left only twice, and the bridge remained to hang over the river, but a very thin one. )
In the morning when Baba Yaga woke up, the scabby colt was nowhere to be seen.
So she rushed into a chase. With all her might she rode on a mortar, drove with a
pestle, and wiped out tracks with a broom. Coming to the fire river, she casted a glance and
thought, "This is a good stable bridge."
So she stepped on the bridge and, as soon as she reached the middle of it, the bridge broke down, and Baba Yaga fell into the river. Here, ferocious death got her. And Tzarevich Ivan fed his colt in the green fields, and turned the colt into a marvellous horse. Tzarevich arrived to Maria Morevna. She ran out and threw her arms around his neck, "How did you manage to avoid death?" "So and so", he said, "Come with me." "I am afraid, Tzarevich Ivan, of Koschei catching up with us and cutting you into pieces again!" "No, he will not catch up with us! Now I have a wonderful powerful horse, who flies as a bird." So they saddled the horse and set off. And when Kaschei The Deathless came back home, his horse started to stumble. "Why are you, unfed nag, stumbling? Or are you sensing a misfortune?" "Tzarevich Ivan came over and took Maria Morevna with him." "Can we catch up with them?" "I am not sure of it. Now, Tzarevich Ivan has a powerful horse, who runs better than I do." "No, I shall not tolerate it!", said Koschei The Deathless, "I still desire to chase them!" In a while, he caught up with Tzarevich Ivan, jumped down on the ground and prepared to slash tzarevich to pieces with a sharp sabre. But at that time the horse of Tzarevich Ivan hit Kaschei The Deathless with all of his might and shattered his head, and tzarevich finished Koschei off with a cudgel. After such action tzarevich gathered together a pile of wooden sticks, started a fire, scorched Kaschei The Deathless on the bonfire and dispeled the ashes with the wind. Maria Morevna saddled Kaschei's horse and Tzarevich Ivan saddled his horse, and so they decided to visit at first the raven, then the eagle, and, in the end, the falcon. And each one of his brothers-in-law met him with joyful words, "Ah, Tzarevich Ivan, we stopped hoping to see you again! Well, you did not take trouble for nothing -- such a beauty as Maria Morevna would not be found anywhere else!" So, they stayed for a little while with the brothers-in-law, celebrated with feasting and went back to their kingdom. And they returned and started to live well and made a fortune.  The original version in Russian language: http://www.skazki.org.ru/view.php?id=1628 |
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