A long time ago, in a small house on the outskirts of the capital, there lived an old man and an old woman. They had no children.
- Time passes... Who will take care of us when we become weak? Who will bury us when we die? We have neither children nor grandchildren...,” the old woman sighed bitterly every day. “Wife, the Lord is merciful,” the husband answered her, “he will take care of us.” So don't worry, we won't die of hunger.
The old people made a living by cutting firewood in the forest and then selling it. In the cold and cold, they went from one house to another, selling their goods so that they would have a piece of bread on their table.
One day, while hefting a bundle of freshly chopped firewood onto his shoulders, the old man noticed a wild duck fly out of the bushes.
“Let me see what’s there,” the old man said to himself.
Parting the bushes, he found three eggs there. The old man picked them up and brought them home.
“This is a gift from heaven,” he said to the old woman, “three duck eggs.” I'm very hungry, wife. Fry one egg, let's have dinner.
The next day, the old man asked his wife to cook a second egg for dinner.
“The neighbor's hen could hatch these eggs.” “We could raise ducks, and we would have fresh eggs every day,” the old woman suggested. “Cook one egg, and do with the rest as you want,” the old man answered her.
They ate the second egg, and the old woman laid the third and last egg in order to later put it under the hen. The next day, when the old man had already returned with firewood from the forest, the old woman saw that the third egg had split in half and out of it had hatched... a baby snake. The woman was so frightened that she ran to her husband screaming.
- What happened, wife? Why are you screaming like that? - From that egg that I laid to hatch, a baby snake hatched! - What kind of nonsense?! These eggs were left by the duck. How could a snake hatch from a duck egg? - Take a stick quickly and kill it. - Where is the stick?
While the old woman was looking for her husband’s staff, the Serpent crawled into the room. The old men turned pale. The snake spoke in a human voice:
- What, look for a stick or something heavy to finish me off, right? There is no such person in the whole wide world who could kill me. If instead you listen to me and do what I tell you, then you will not receive any harm from me. On the contrary, from now on your life will become easy and carefree. If you refuse, I will kill you both. You have been praying to God for so long to send you a child, well, the Lord has heard your prayers. He sent me to become your son. So, dear dad, I want you to go to the king tomorrow and tell him that you want to marry your son to his youngest daughter. “Are you out of your mind?” - answered the amazed old man. -Who am I to talk to the king like that? We are beggars. Do you want my head to be cut off there? And besides, you are a snake. Why do you need to marry a girl? - I'm not a snake, I'm a man. The day will come when I will tell you about who I really am. But keep in mind: no one should know that I am not a snake. Otherwise I will disappear and you will never see me again.
What could the poor old man do? He was already glad that the Serpent did not kill them. And besides, there is a sign: a snake in the house is good luck. In the morning he took the staff in his hands and went to the royal palace. The guards guarding the entrance drove him away from the gate. They began to laugh at the old man when they learned that he wanted to sit on the stone bench facing the palace gates. One of the warriors threw a copper coin to the old man and, smiling broadly, said:
- Listen, weirdo! This bench is displayed here for those who want to marry the king's youngest daughter. The one who sits on it thereby makes it clear to the king about his intention to become the groom of his daughter, and perhaps even his son-in-law. If you, old man, came here to complain about someone, then you came to the wrong address. Go to the judge. - For God's sake, guys, let me in. “I just need to talk to the king,” the old man began to beg.
At the noise, a royal nobleman came out of the palace:
- What's going on here? - This poor old man wants to talk to the king. - What do you want to talk to the king about? – the nobleman asked, turning to the old man. “My son wants to marry the younger princess, and that’s what I want to talk to him about.”
The nobleman returned to the palace and said to the king:
“I want to congratulate Your Majesty, a groom has appeared who offers his daughter his hand and heart.” His father wants to talk to you about this. “Well, let him come in, let’s listen to what he says,” the king answered. “I want to warn you that this man does not belong to the people of the circle from which you would like to see your son-in-law.” This is the most ordinary beggar. “Is that so?” – the king raised his eyebrows. “Already every beggar rogue considers it possible to become my son-in-law.” In my opinion, democracy in our country has gone too far... Hey, adviser! - Yes, my king. - Take this rogue to the executioner. After he has done his job, throw the corpse outside the city to be devoured by stray dogs. It will be a good lesson for others.
The royal order was carried out. The serpent knew what had happened.
“Mother,” he turned to the old man’s wife. “What do you want, son?” “The king’s people killed my father this morning.” They put his body in a bag and are now carrying it along the road to throw it to stray dogs outside the city. People carrying a bag will pass by the threshold of our house. Tell them that you are the wife of that unfortunate man and persuade them to give you the bag.
The old woman sat down at the threshold and began to sob. The people carrying the bag with the remains of the old man were glad to get rid of their terrible burden. Leaving the bag in the old woman's house, they left. The unfortunate woman fell on the sack and sobbed more than ever:
- They killed him! They killed him! “It’s all because of you,” she turned towards the Snake. “It was you who ruined our lives.” “They just quartered him, that’s all,” answered the Serpent. - Don’t kill yourself like that, he’s alive. Go prepare his bed.
The woman went to make the bed for her husband. When she returned, an incredible thing appeared before her eyes: her husband was lying on the floor, sleeping peacefully. The woman exclaimed joyfully, “her husband is really alive!” With the help of the Serpent, she carried him to the bed. When the old man woke up the next morning, he was, as they say, alive and well and felt as if he had been born again. The snake crawled up to him and said:
- Father, I sent you yesterday to the king. So what did he answer?
The old man told the Snake about everything that happened to him:
“I felt the blow of the executioner’s sword, and then I woke up in my bed. I still don’t understand how I ended up there. I told you that I have nothing to do in the palace. The king does not even want to talk to people like me. Everyone should know their place and keep - Go and ask him again. Don't be afraid. One way or another, I need to know his answer.
The old man went to the palace. In front of the gate he again sat down on the stone bench. Seeing him sitting there, the nobleman reported to the king:
- This poor old man has returned.
The king jumped to his feet:
- So you didn’t follow my order?! Ten advisers who witnessed the execution swore before the nobleman and the king that the old man was really quartered. “This time, don’t quarter him, but chop him into small pieces.” “Put the remains into a bag and throw it into the river,” the king ordered.
The royal order was immediately carried out. The snake found out everything about this and said:
- Mother, father is not in the best shape today. They really chopped him into little pieces. Soon two people with a bag will pass by our house. In it they carry their father to throw him into the river.
The sobbing old woman sat down at the threshold again. She saw two people carrying a bag.
“Sons, this is my husband,” she said. “Can anyone resist the king’s wrath?” Good people, for God's sake, give me this bag, I want to bury my husband.
The royal servants left the bag in the garden of the house and left. The old woman began to cry bitterly over the remains of her husband. The Serpent crawled up and said:
- Don't cry, mother. Better close the gate and prepare his bed.
The old woman closed the gate, and while she was preparing the bed, the Serpent bit the bag so that every piece was smeared with poison. The old woman came out into the yard and looked, and her husband was sitting on the ground, safe and sound. She rushed to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheeks. But the serpent pulled her back:
- Mother, you can kiss him later. And now he needs bed rest. I want to talk to him.
The old woman took her husband to the bedroom and put him to bed. The snake began to ask:
- What news, father? - Son, this time they didn’t even talk to me. - I need to know the king’s answer. Ask him again. He better agree, otherwise I will turn his throne upside down. “Son,” the old woman intervened, “do you really want my husband to be made into mince meat again?” They have already killed him twice. “Mother, don’t worry about it in vain.” I'm not just a Serpent. I am Prince Snake and I can always bring him back to life, even if they kill him a hundred times.
The poor old man once again went to the palace to receive the king. Just then, the king came out of the palace, accompanied by advisers and nobles. Seeing an old man sitting on a stone bench, he asked:
-Who is this man? What does he want?
The advisors and nobles froze in fear, afraid to utter a word.
“I asked you a question, why don’t you answer?” “Long live to you for many years, Tsar,” the nobleman who was responsible for carrying out the Tsar’s order began to say. “This is the same poor old man whom we have already executed twice.” “It’s all strange.” There is something behind this and we need to find out what it is. I think there was some magic involved here. Tell him to come over.
The king returned to the palace and sat on the throne. They brought the old man. He carefully made seven bows.
- What do you want, old man? - asked the king. - My son wants to marry your daughter, so the Lord brought me here to ask for her hand. - Have you come here before? - Twice. - And what answer did you receive?
The old man told the king everything and added:
“But I’m back, and now we can talk face to face.”
Turning to the nobles and advisers, the king said:
“Leave us alone, I will personally take care of this old man’s business.” “May your years last, king,” the advisers answered and left. “Come on, father, tell me what your son is doing?” – the king began to ask. “My son doesn’t work anywhere.” In my opinion, he doesn’t even know any craft. His favorite pastime is to lie curled up in the corner of the room. The fact is that he is a snake. - That's it. So, your son is not a person at all? - My son is Prince Zmey.
The king thought for a moment, and then said:
- Okay. If this prince of yours, the Serpent, as you say, wants to become the husband of my daughter, let him first build a palace for her, and such a height that his shadow completely covers my palace. Everything should be ready tomorrow morning.
When the old man heard these words, he was struck as if by thunder. At home the Snake began to question him:
“Father, you look so worried, what happened?” What news did you bring? - Son, the king wants you to build a palace for his daughter, and such a size that the shadow it will cast will completely cover the palace of the king himself. And he demands all this by tomorrow morning, otherwise he will not give his daughter for you. Why such su- Father, do you remember the place where you found three eggs? - Of course I remember where those bushes grow. - If you look there carefully, you will see a snake hole. Lean towards her and say: “Young lady, the young master wants you to send him a small palace with furnishings and twelve servants.”
The old man returned to the forest and said these words over the snake hole. A voice from underground answered him:
“We’re already sending it, grandpa!”
When the old man returned to his house, he saw with surprise and joy that in its place stood a wonderful palace seven floors high. In front of the palace is a square where colorful roses grow. Around the palace there are gardens with flowering trees. There are marble pools in the gardens. And the palace itself is decorated with carpets, paintings and sculptures. The royal palace seemed like just a hut in comparison. The old man's neighbors stood around the miracle and looked at it with their mouths open.
The servants helped the old man change into royal clothes, which were so magnificent that they cost no less than a thousand silver coins. They threw a robe of sable fur over his shoulders, worth five hundred silver coins. And finally, they handed him a staff decorated with precious stones, which also cost at least a thousand silver coins. The snake crawled out to meet the old man and said:
“Father, now you can safely go to the king and woo his daughter for me.” I'm sure everything is going towards the wedding.
The old man walked proudly to the palace, where the nobleman greeted him with a bow.
- Well, why are you standing here and staring at me? Go and report to the king that I am here.
The nobleman rushed to the king. He replied:
- Let him come in.
The old man entered the throne room and stood in front of the king. The king was embarrassed: the old man looked as if he were the king himself. Is this still the same beggar?
-Did you do what I asked you to do? – asked the king. “And you go out onto the balcony and look with your own eyes.”
The king went out onto the balcony and saw a beautiful palace, so large that his own palace was completely hidden in its shadow: seven floors high, built of gold and silver bricks and shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, thanks to decorations made of precious stones. The king’s own palace was only five floors high and was built of ordinary brick. The old man's palace reflected the sun's rays, glowed and shone so much that it illuminated the entire city.
“Well, from now on I won’t call you old man anymore.” Now I will call you my friend,” said the king. – You know, I don’t believe my eyes. How did you do it, huh? By the way, I have one more request for you. “I’ll try to fulfill it, sir.”
“This old man will take my daughter away if I flap my ears,” the king thought and said:
- Well, we'll see about that later. I want you to bring me seven camels loaded to the brim with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. Let the driver himself, who is as tall as an arshin, but with a beard seven arshins long, deliver them to my palace.
When the old man returned home, the Snake asked him:
- Father, what did the king say? - He wants seven camels loaded to the brim with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies to be delivered to his palace. And the driver of this caravan must himself be as tall as an arshin, but with a beard seven arshins long. “Well, we’ll cope with this too.” Go into the forest, to the snake’s hole, and say: “Young lady, the young master wants you to send him seven camels, loaded to the brim with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. And so that the driver himself is as tall as an arshin,
The old man did everything as the Snake told him. A voice from underground answered him:
— The caravan is already on its way.
Returning to his palace, the old man saw that there was a caravan of seven camels standing near him with a driver who was as tall as an arshin, but with a beard seven arshins long. The caravan driver's beard was neatly curled around his belt. The old man led the caravan to the royal palace and said:
- Long live you, king, I brought you the jewelry you asked for.
The king ordered all the precious stones to be transferred to his treasury. Having scooped up a handful of the first stones he came across, he showed them to his jewelers and asked:
“How much will the smallest of them cost?” “A thousand silver coins,” was the answer.
The delighted king called the old man to him:
“My dear friend, you, of course, brought what I asked you for.” That's true. There will just be another task for you. I want the road from the gates of my palace to the gates of the church, and also from the gates of the church to the gates of your palace, to be covered with one solid woven carpet
“Well, he definitely won’t be able to cope with this. So I won’t have to give my daughter to someone unknown,” thought the king.
The snake met the old man at home:
- What did the king say this time? - The king wants the road from the gates of his palace to the gates of the church, as well as from the gates of the church to the gates of my palace, to be covered with a solid carpet. In addition, plane trees should grow along the entire road of such a size that four adults, with their arms open, would— Well, that’s not a task. We can handle it, father. Go into the forest to that very snake hole and tell the young lady that I need such a carpet. Also ask that trees be planted along the road and that sweet-voiced nightingales sing songs in their crowns.
A voice from underground answered the old man:
“You just asked, and we already did it.”
Returning from the forest, the old man saw that the road was lined with a carpet, and along it there were trees growing almost to the sky.
- Father, everything is fine. Go to the king, let's see what he says this time.
The old man went to the royal palace. A nobleman met him at the gate.
- Tell the king that his friend has come and wants to see him.
The old man was led into the throne room. The king asked:
- Well, did you do what I asked you to do? - And you go out of the palace and see for yourself.
The king went out onto the balcony and realized that the old man had completed the task this time too:
- What do I hear? Are the birds singing?!—Live long, king. I thought that the singing of nightingales in the crowns of these plane trees would be a pleasant surprise for you. Let it be not for service, but for friendship. - Well, if so, then here is my last task before the wedding: bring for my daughter a wedding dress, sewn without a single stitch, and from a material that is not even known in my kingdom. I also want seven bands of pipers and drummers to play at the wedding. Let them play so that the music can be heard, but they themselves cannot be seen. If you do as I said, then you can come to me next time with your prince Snake.
The old man returned home.
- Well, what does the king want this time? - asked the Snake.
The old man told him what the king was talking about.
“Go back to the snake hole and say: “Young lady, the young master asks to send a dress for his bride, sewn without a single stitch from a material that does not exist in this kingdom. And he also requests that seven bands of pipers and drummers play at the wedding. Let them play so that the music can be heard, but they cannot be seen.
An old man came to the forest and got a walnut from a snake's hole.
- Take this nut. Inside is a dress for the bride,” said the voice. “We are also sending you seven invisible orchestras.” “We invite you to the wedding,” the old man shouted. “Oh, no, we can’t!” It's too far. Don't be upset, we will celebrate the wedding here, underground.
The old man returned to the city. And what does he hear? The sounds of music flow through the streets of the city. The snake met him at the threshold and said:
“Father, gather your neighbors and let’s go to the king.”
They invited all their neighbors to the wedding and, led by the Serpent, went to the royal palace.
The king ordered his nobles to greet the guests with honors. Accompanied by two advisers, the Serpent was brought to the king.
“My dear friend, I hear the playing of bagpipes and drums, but I don’t see the musicians. Great. But let’s now look at the wedding dress that you were supposed to bring,” the king turned to the old man.
He handed him the nut. Having split it, the king extracted a wedding dress of unprecedented beauty, made of the finest material. The king sent a servant to fetch his wife and three daughters, two of whom were already married. When they all entered the throne room, the king said:
- Take a very careful look at this wedding dress, the like of which does not exist in my kingdom. It should be sewn so that there is not a single stitch on it. If this is indeed the case, then put it on my youngest daughter and get ready for the wedding ceremony.
The queen and the two elder princesses fell to their knees before the king and prayed:
- How can you, being a king, give your daughter in marriage to the Serpent? After all, there are so many wonderful unmarried princes around us, and among them one could find a worthy groom. “I am one of the breed of people who keep their word.” “I cannot refuse what I promised,” the king answered and, stamping his foot, shouted: “Dress the bride now.”
The queen and two elder princesses, with tears in their eyes, dressed the bride, the most beautiful girl in the kingdom. When everything was ready, they returned to the throne room.
“Here is your bride,” the nobleman said to the Snake.
He stretched up on his tail and bowed seven times to the king. Then he turned towards the people gathered in the throne room and bowed to them seven times. Then, grabbing the hem of the bride’s dress with his teeth, he dragged her to the church to get married. So the king’s youngest daughter married Prince Snake. The wedding feast lasted seven days and seven nights. And all this time invisible musicians played, nightingales sang in the crowns of plane trees, and the guests had fun and danced.
At the end of the feast, the guests went home, and the bride was taken to the groom's palace. The newlyweds retired to their chambers.
“Close the door,” said the Serpent to the princess.
The girl went to the door and locked it with the key, and then returned back and sat down next to the groom.
- Tsar's daughter, do not be afraid of me. Step on my tail.
As soon as the girl stepped on the Snake's tail, he screamed, shed his snake skin and turned into a handsome young prince. The princess looked with all her eyes and could not believe what had happened. The young man took her hand and said:
- The Tsar's daughter, I am the Tsarevich. By day - a snake, by night - a man. My name is Kaspar. Please keep this a secret. The witchcraft spell will last for another forty days, after which I will be able to live with you only as a person. But during these forty days not a word, not half a word, not a hint of what is now known to you should leave your lips. Otherwise I will disappear. This palace and everything in it will disappear.
“I promise not to utter a word,” answered the joyful wife.
They hugged, kissed each other and went to bed. In the morning, Kaspar put on the snake skin again, turned into a Serpent and, curled up in coils, lay down in the corner of the room. The king called the queen and two senior princesses into the throne room:
“Go to the old man’s palace and see what’s happening to our youngest princess,” he told them.
The princess and her two eldest daughters went to visit. Passing through a wonderful garden with marble pools, they entered the richly decorated halls of the palace. The old man showed the guests where the young people's chambers were.
— They went to their rooms last night. Since then I haven’t seen or heard them,” said the old man. “And it’s not surprising.” You can’t even talk to such a spouse! – the queen declared and knocked on the door.
The smiling younger princess opened the door for her.
“How are you, daughter,” the queen smiled back at her. “Thank God, everything is fine.” “And how is your... Snake?” He lies curled up in the corner. Poor guy. - We all couldn't sleep that night. we were so worried about you. “Oh, you don’t need to worry anymore.” I'm very happy.
The princess treated her mother and her sisters to breakfast. Such delicious dishes were prepared that were not available in the royal palace even on holidays. Before leaving, the queen whispered in the princess’s ear:
- You see, the king cannot break his word. But why should you live with this monster? Take a stone and crush his head. “Mother, I want you to leave my house right now.” I don’t want to see you here as long as you hate your husband.” “So, how is my daughter?” – the king asked the queen. “She is so happy, as if she is in seventh heaven.” She even got angry when I suggested that she crush this Serpent’s head with a stone.
Ten days have passed. During this entire period, the royal family did not see their youngest daughter. The orderly life of the city was disrupted by the king's heralds. Having walked through all the streets and all the squares, they announced that the king was organizing a great holiday, the decoration of which would be a three-day knightly tournament. Any man who knows how to skillfully handle a spear and a mace, who has a good horse, can challenge and fight for the royal prize.
A thousand soldiers gathered in the royal arena in front of the palace. Many tables were set with treats for the guests. The city came to life with the sounds of bagpipes and war drums. All the most skilled warriors and representatives of famous noble families of the kingdom were present at the celebration. All conversations, one way or another, came down to the upcoming tournament.
“Let’s call our daughter and let her watch the tournament,” the king said to the queen. “This will dispel it and do her good.”
Prince Serpent said to his wife:
“Tsar’s daughter, your mother is coming here to invite you to the tournament.” I will also take part in it, dressed in white armor and riding a white horse. You will see how I will knock my opponents out of the saddle with a white mace. But remember this: no one should know about our secret! Your sisters will boast about their husbands to you. “And you are married to the Serpent!” they will tell you. Do not answer them: “My husband is not the Serpent, he is the king’s son.” Don't brag about me. If you don't listen to me, you'll never see me again. I will turn into a black cloud and disappear from this world. Everything we have will disappear: our palace, this wonderful garden and all our marble pools.
The Serpent barely had time to say the last words when the queen entered the room:
“Come on, daughter, watch the tournament with us,” she said. “How can I go alone?” I can't leave my husband alone. - Oh, you're talking about a snake! It's good for him to be alone. Just think: you won't be alone for long. What a sissy!
The snake replied:
- Mother, why don’t you want to take me with you? I would also like to watch the competition. - What will you do there? At the tournament? Maybe you want to be trampled to death by horses?
The princess and her mother went to the royal palace. She kissed the king’s hand, and he kissed her forehead and said:
“Don’t worry, daughter, you won’t have long to endure this monster next to you.”
The Tsar, Tsarina and three princesses watched the tournament from the box. The husbands of the older sisters, armed and on horseback, were also among the participants in the competition. The knights split into two armies, each with five hundred horsemen. Meanwhile, Caspar took off his snake skin, put on his royal robes, mounted a wonderful white stallion and rushed into the arena, brandishing a white mace. The horse was also a match for the rider, striking out sheaves of sparks with its hooves.
The white knight entered the battle. Having reached his brothers-in-law, the husbands of the princess’s sisters, he kicked them out of the saddle. No one knew who this mysterious knight was, fighting on a lightning-like horse. Few spectators doubted that the White Knight would become the best fighter today.
“So that he falls off his horse and breaks his arm,” one of the sisters said angrily. “Why do you say that?” This knight has the same right to participate in the tournament as your husband,” the younger princess protested. “But my husband is a man!” Who is yours? A serpent coiled against the wall! You can’t even talk to someone like that.” “If it was God’s will that I marry the Serpent, then I gladly accepted it.
The first battle of the tournament was over: the White Knight emerged victorious. He rode up to the king and received the prize.
- What's your name? – asked the king. “I will tell you my name on the last day of the tournament.” For now, farewell, my king,” and the White Knight rushed away, shrouded in clouds of sparks struck by the hooves of his horse.
The king, queen and princesses went to the palace.
“Don’t return to your Serpent,” the king began to insist, “stay with us.” “No, no, I can’t.” “I have to go,” the princess answered her father. “But how can you live with the Snake, daughter?” “What can I do?” You yourself gave me to marry him. If my destiny is to marry the Serpent, then why complain?
She got up and went home. The snake was waiting for her, curled up in the corner.
- Wife, close the door and step on my tail.
The princess stepped on the snake's tail, and it noisily threw off the snake skin. They hugged and kissed each other. The enchanted prince said:
“Tsar’s daughter, I’m glad that you were able to keep our secret.” Soon these forty days will expire and I will go with you to the palace to the king and appear before him in my true, human form, as befits me by rank.
Ten days later, the king declared another holiday. Knights began to come from all over the country to take part in the second day of the tournament.
“Let our daughter come with us, watch the tournament with her sisters, and relieve boredom,” the king said to the queen.
She went to the palace, made of gold and silver bricks, to call the princess. The serpent said:
“Wife, the king’s daughter, your mother is coming here.” She will invite you to watch the tournament. This time I will perform on a red horse, I will be dressed in all red and I will be armed with a red mace. Be careful not to give away our secret, no matter what your mother and your sisters say.
The queen entered the room and said:
- Get ready, daughter. Let’s go and watch the tournament. “Mother, let him go when he’s done.” I have neither arms nor legs. Even to cook food, I need help. “I’m helpless without my wife,” the Serpent intervened.
“If I had taken care of you, you would have long ago stretched out your tail from hunger,” the queen thought to herself. When the Red Knight appeared in the arena in a spray of sparks generated by the hooves of the Red Horse, he raised his hand, clutching a red mace, and challenged a thousand knights to a duel at once. And this time he emerged victorious and received a prize from the hands of the king. The two older princesses lamented that the Red Knight was not their husband and laughed at their younger sister and her husband, the Serpent.
Who was this Red Knight? Nobody knew. Everyone saw only clouds of sparks escaping from under the horse’s hooves when the Red Knight galloped away with the speed of lightning. The crowd of spectators went home. The princess again refused to stay with her parents and went to the palace to see her husband. The snake was waiting for her:
- Excellent, royal daughter. Otherwise I was already worried. The thought that you might give away a secret depressed me. “Never! Do you hear?” I will never reveal our secret to you.
A few days later, all the tournament participants gathered in the arena to take part in the last, third day of the competition.
“This is the last day of the tournament,” said the king, “and we will end it with dignity, with a glorious feast.”
The queen came to her youngest daughter to invite her to the spectacle. Meanwhile, Prince Serpent spoke to his wife in a sad voice:
- Your mother is coming here. She'll take you with her to watch the tournament. This time I will be riding a Black Horse, wearing black armor and armed with a black mace. Today you will see me in all my prowess. Your sisters, parents and everyone around you will be wondering who I am. There are three days left before the end of the forty-day period, after which I won’t care whether they know me or not. In three days I will cease to be a Serpent. The king will invite me to his palace, sit me down at the table and we will eat, drink and have fun together. So let me warn you one last time: don't give away our secret. Do you remember what I told you? If I disappear, the palace and everything in it and everything around it will disappear. If this happens, then to find me, you will have to put on iron sandals, take a steel staff and go to the ends of the earth. When your sandals are worn to holes, when only the hilt of your staff remains, only then will you get to the place where you can find me.
The queen entered and took her daughter away to watch the tournament.
— Today is the last day of the competition. After their completion, a noble feast will be arranged, so we will have a wonderful time,” said the queen.
To the sound of drums and bagpipes, spectators filled the stands of the arena. The younger princess watched the spectacle with her sisters from the royal box. They saw how the Black Knight, rushing like lightning across the arena, appeared before the king. The black knight bowed and said:
- Live forever, sir! There are a thousand knights here, I want to fight them all at the same time. - Very good. So be it. “Let it be a battle of one against a thousand,” the king agreed.
The eyes of all spectators and all participants in the tournament were focused on the Black Knight. The husbands of the princess's elder sisters looked at him with caution: after being knocked out of the saddle twice, all their sides ached.
The black knight rushed into battle. The ranks of warriors thinned out where he made his way on his Raven horse, tirelessly swinging his black mace. The black knight was knocked out of the saddles of one opponent after another. When the fight ended, he was the only knight left on horseback.
Kaspar's wife smiled and laughed. This angered her sisters and they reprimanded her:
- Why are you laughing? Who is your husband? Instead of fighting like a man, like our husbands did, your worm is only good for mending cracks in the walls. Baby snake! - Snake, Snake, is that all you can say? The Black Knight is my husband! – the youngest princess flushed. – The White Knight, the Red Knight and the Black Knight are all the same person. And I am married to this warrior, to Prince Serpent.
Riding up to the king on a black horse, the Black Knight said:
“Oh, my lord, I promised to tell you my name, I wanted to be your guest in three days, but you will never see me again.” Your youngest daughter will tell you why.
Then the Black Horse hit his hoof and the Black Knight disappeared. All people saw was how a black cloud rose to the sky and dissipated there. Kaspar's wife began to cry. All spectators and tournament participants began to go home. The king and queen returned to the palace along with their daughters. Crying, the youngest princess told about what Prince Serpent had told her:
“Only three days remained, and the witchcraft spell would have dissipated.” He would cease to be a Serpent forever. He always reminded me not to give away this secret. But my sisters boasted about their husbands, while laughing at me and at my husband, the Serpent. Here— Eh, young and green! - the king exclaimed bitterly. “Couldn’t you have waited three more days?”
The princess did not stay for lunch. She went to her home. Approaching the place where the palace should be, the princess looks: there is no palace, no gardens, no marble pools. Everything has disappeared. There is only a miserable shack, and an old man and an old woman are crying in it. The princess also cried. The next morning she went to the blacksmith and said:
“Master Markar, make me a pair of iron sandals and a steel staff.” I have a long journey ahead of me. And I will pay you well for the work.
The next day the order was ready. Dressed as a dervish, the princess put on iron sandals, took a steel staff in her hands, kissed the hands of the old men and said goodbye to them. Then she went to the palace, bowed to the king and said:
— I'm going in search of my husband. I will do as he once told me.
The king, queen and elder sisters of the princess began to beg her not to do this. They hoped that time would pass and the princess would forget about Prince Snake. But no matter what they said, nothing could shake the princess’s decision. She kissed the king's hand, kissed the queen's hand, shook hands with her sisters and said goodbye to them:
“Farewell, I’m leaving!” “Go, daughter, may the Lord help you,” answered the king.
Whether the princess wandered for a long time or for a short time, she knows better. Finally she reached a castle made of bricks. The princess looks: a girl with two clay jugs in her hands is going to the spring for water.
- Girl, dear, please tell me, have you seen Kaspar in this castle? – the princess asked her. “No, no.” Kaspar is not here! Look for him in the Crystal Castle,” the girl answered, filling the jugs with water.
The poor princess set off on her further journey. Her iron sandals and steel staff traveled many roads, crossed mountains and valleys before she reached the Crystal Castle. The princess looks: exactly the same girl as last time is going to the spring to get water, with two crystal jugs in her hands.
- Girl, dear, please tell me, have you seen Kaspar in this castle? - Kaspar is not here. Look for him in the Copper Castle.
The princess walked to the Copper Castle for a whole year. She looks: exactly the same girl as last time goes to the spring for water, and in her hands she has two copper jugs.
- Girl, dear, please tell me, have you seen Kaspar in this castle? - No. The person you are looking for is not here. Look for him in the Iron Castle.
The princess walked for a long time, losing track of the days. Finally, she came to the Iron Castle. The princess looks: the same girl that she met before goes to the spring for water, and in her hands she has two iron jugs.
- Girl, dear, tell me, is there Kaspar in this castle? - No, no! In this castle, Kaspar is not here. Look for him in the Steel Castle.
Making her way through forests, overcoming mountains and crossing rivers, the princess reached the Steel Castle. She looks: the same girl as last time is going to the spring for water, and in her hands she has two steel jugs.
- Girl, dear, tell me, have you seen Kaspar in this castle? - No, no, Kaspar is not here! Look for him in the Silver Castle.
The princess spent a whole year on her way to the Silver Castle. She looks: the same girl goes to the spring for water, and in her hands she has two silver jugs.
- Girl, dear, tell me, is Kaspar in this castle? - No, no. Kaspar is not here. Look for him in the Golden Castle.
The poor thing hit the road again. For a whole year she made her way through the mountains and valleys to the Golden Castle. And when she came to him, her iron sandals were worn to holes. She looks, and only one handle remains from her steel staff. The princess sat down to rest in the shade of a green pomegranate tree next to a spring that contained cold and clean water. “I can’t take another step,” thought the princess, “My husband should be here.” A thousand thoughts immediately flashed through her head when she saw the same girl going to the spring for water and now carrying two golden jugs in her hands.
- Girl, dear, tell me, have you seen Kaspar in this castle? - Yes, yes. He's here in the castle. You know, I’m already completely tired of carrying water to this Kaspar. More than three years have passed since he demanded cold water for himself so as not to die. The fact is that his heart is on fire. He screams in pain all day and night: “I am burning with love for the princess.” And we have to constantly water it with cold water. But there is still no deliverance from this scourge. Only when Kaspar’s love for the Tsar’s daughter, damn her, burns out, then only I can marry him. This royal daughter betrayed him and doomed him to live in this Golden Castle with us. “Girl, dear, I know a way that will help heal Kaspar’s illness.” Let me just drink a little water from the jug before you take it to water Caspar. He'll get better, you'll see.
The girl handed the dervish one of the golden jugs. She did not see how the princess took the wedding ring off her finger and threw it into the jug before returning it back. The girl returned to the Golden Castle.
- Why are you so late? What have you been doing all this time? - her mother, the witch, shouted at her. “I met a dervish at the spring and got into conversation with him.” He said that he knew a way to cure the prince.
As soon as the girl poured water on Kaspar, he said:
- I feel relieved. Now I feel good.
No one noticed how Kaspar caught and hid the ring that had fallen from the jug. He immediately recognized it as his wife's wedding ring.
“Bring this dervish here, I want to see him,” said the sorceress when Kaspar began to dress.
The old woman immediately suspected that Kaspar’s wife might be hiding under the guise of a dervish. The sorceress's daughter went to the spring to bring the dervish to the Golden Castle. Kaspar looked at the iron sandals shod on the dervish’s feet and saw that only the handle remained. Kaspar was so excited that he was afraid to give himself away. The sorceress turned to the dervish:
“You shameless girl, I can see right through you.” You won't fool me. For more than three years, day after day, night after night, I poured cold water on Kaspar to cool his love for you. It's all because of you! I will tear you to shreds so that he can see that you got what you deserved! “Leave us alone,” Caspar asked the witch. “I’ll send her back to where she came from.” “And maybe you got together with her, huh?” Yes, I will skin her alive if she takes you away from us! - I said: Leave us alone. - Shut up! If you want, stay alone with this rubbish.
When the sorceress and her daughter went out into the garden to collect vegetables and fruits for dinner, Kaspar was left alone with his wife. He told her:
- I'm so happy that you found me! My soul was drying up from separation from you. By evil spells I was placed in this castle, where I fell under the power of an old witch and her daughter. We need to think about how to escape from here.
Returning, the old sorceress ordered the princess to go to her sister’s house for a rolling pin.
— Tell my sister that I need a rolling pin to roll out the dough. I'm getting ready for my daughter's wedding. In the meantime, she and I will go into the forest - we need to stock up on firewood.
When the sorceress and her daughter went into the forest to get firewood, Kaspar said to his wife:
“Even if you get to her sister’s house, she will swallow you.” After all, she is also a witch. “Well, what should I do?” The old witch will kill me if I don’t go. “I’ll teach you.” On the way to the witch's sister's house you will come across a dirty, muddy ditch. Drink water from it and say: “Oh, this is water from an immortal source.” The muddy stream will disperse and allow you to pass. Then your path will lie through impassable thorny bushes and thickets of burning, prickly grass. You pick a thistle flower, smell it and say: “Oh, this is the flower of immortality!” The thorns will part and let you pass. Then you will meet a wolf and a ram. They will block your path. There will be a haystack in front of the wolf, and a fat ham in front of the ram. You will have to put a haystack in front of the ram, and a ham in front of the wolf, then they will allow you to go further. Then you have to enter the closed door and close the open door. Finally, when you enter the witch's house, you will see a rolling pin hanging on the wall by the door. Tell the witch these words: “Auntie asks for a rolling pin, she will roll out the dough for her daughter’s wedding.” The sorceress will answer: “Sit down, baby, have something to eat before heading back.” She will cook you scrambled eggs, and she will leave the house to sharpen her teeth. That's when you grab your rolling pin and run away as fast as you can. The witch will chase you, but you run forward, don’t look back and don’t be afraid.
The princess did as Kaspar advised her. The sorceress's sister treated her to fried eggs and, as soon as she left the threshold, the royal daughter grabbed a rolling pin hanging by the door and ran away as fast as she could. The sorceress, discovering that the girl had escaped, let out a long howl and shouted:
- Doors, stop the thief! - Why us? – the doors asked in surprise. “We are already tired of constantly opening and closing. Let her pass. - Ram, stop her! - Why me? – the ram was surprised. - I was starving. And now I have fragrant hay. - Wolf, stop her! - Why me? - asked the wolf. - Yes, and I don’t have time, I’m having lunch. - Thorns, thorns, stop the thief! - Why is it us? By the way, we are not thorns and thorns, but flowers of immortality,” they answered and let the girl through. “A ditch with dirty, muddy water, stop the thief!” “Why is it me?” Actually, I like being a source of immortality rather than a ditch of dirty water. “Come in, girl,” the ditch answered and let the princess through.
After this, the sorceress stopped the chase and returned home. Once again finding herself in the golden castle, the princess handed the rolling pin to Kaspar:
“You know, if you hadn’t taught me what to do, I would never have brought her here,” she said.
When the old witch saw that the princess had returned alive and well, she thought: “We will have to fry her and eat her before Kaspar has time to teach her other tricks.” The old hag and her daughter took the ropes and went into the forest to bring even more firewood.
“They will put you in the oven and bake you alive if we fail to escape from here,” said Kaspar.
He burned a hair from the mane of his White horse and the White horse immediately appeared before him. Kaspar put on white armor, picked up a white mace and said:
— We need to take with us a bag of salt, a bottle of water and several combs.
Then he put the princess on a horse next to him and, spurring him, rushed away from the castle.
The golden castle had already disappeared from view when the old witch and her daughter returned to it with two bundles of firewood.
- Go after them! - the sorceress ordered her daughter. “I’ll skin them alive!”
The sorceress's daughter rushed in pursuit like a black cloud.
“Princess,” said Kaspar to his wife, “see if anyone is chasing us?”
The princess looked around:
“I see someone rushing after us like a black tornado.” “This is the daughter of a witch,” said Kaspar. - Drop the comb!
As soon as the princess threw the comb, a tall, dense forest with thorny bushes and trees immediately grew. The sorceress's daughter was scratched until she bled as she made her way through it.
“Princess, look around, see what’s there?” She got out of the forest. “Throw in the salt.”
The thrown salt turned into a whole mountain of salt. When the sorceress's daughter overcame it, the salt fell on the open wounds and stung severely until it hurt. Despite this, she continued the chase.
- Pour water! - said Kaspar.
The water hit the ground and became a wide lake.
“Tsar’s daughter, turn around and see what’s there?” She had already crossed the lake. “Then we’d better stop.” “She will still overtake us,” said Kaspar and jumped off his horse.
He turned the White horse into black grapes, his wife into white grapes, and he turned into an old man selling grapes by the roadside.
- Hey, old man, have you seen a man and a woman riding a white horse? – asked the witch’s daughter. “How many pounds of grapes do you need?” “I don’t need grapes!” I ask you: have you seen a man and a woman on a White Horse? Are you deaf or what? Can't you hear? - The price is this: two coppers per pound.
Spitting in frustration, the sorceress’s daughter turned back. Having returned everyone to their previous appearance, Kaspar and the princess set off again. The old witch met her daughter:
- Why are you alone? What happened, why didn’t you grab them? - On the whole way I met only one old man selling grapes on the side of the road. There was no one else, so I returned. - It was Kaspar! You should have bought grapes - their magic would have been destroyed immediately. Then we could bring them back to the castle. Go now and buy some grapes.
The sorceress's daughter rushed into furious pursuit. Kaspar said to the princess:
- Turn around, wife, see if anyone is following us?
The princess turned around and said:
— I see another tornado is approaching, raising clouds of dust.
And again she threw the comb, which turned into a dense forest with thorns and thorns. Making her way through it, the sorceress’s daughter was again scratched until she bled. Then the princess threw a pinch of salt on the ground. The salt turned into a salt mountain. Then we had to spill water on the ground. The water became a huge lake. Nothing helped: the pursuer was approaching. Then Caspar turned himself into a gardener, and his horse and wife into pumpkins. Having caught up with him, the sorceress’s daughter asked:
-Have you seen a woman and a man riding a White Horse? -A copper for a pound. -Hey! I ask, have you seen a man and a woman on a White Horse? - This is the final price. I won't give you a cheaper pumpkin.
Spitting in frustration, the sorceress's daughter galloped back.
Kaspar released the tired White horse. He burned a hair from the Red Horse's mane. The red horse immediately appeared before him. Putting on red armor and a red cloak, Kaspar put the princess in the saddle and rushed forward. Meanwhile, the sorceress's daughter returned to the Golden Castle.
-Where are they? What happened this time? - the witch shouted. “I didn’t find them.” I met another old man. It was a gardener selling pumpkins on the side of the road. “You’ll get it from me now!” It was Kaspar! Why didn't you buy pumpkins? this would destroy his magic and we would return them to the castle. “Well, now they won’t trick me,” the sorceress’s daughter said decisively. “Keep in mind, they are now on the Red Horse.”
The sorceress's daughter gave chase.
- Princess, see if anyone is following us? - asked Kaspar. - I see a storm cloud coming towards us. - Throw the comb!
The princess looked: the sorceress’s daughter got out of the forest, crossed the salt mountain, swam across the lake.
“She’s catching up with us,” she shouted to her husband.
He jumped off his horse and turned him and his wife into sheep, and himself into a shepherd.
“Brother shepherd, have you ever met a man and a woman riding a Red Horse?” “I haven’t seen people for years.” Travelers do not like to travel this road.
The sorceress's daughter spat in anger and turned back.
Kaspar released the Red Horse and burned a hair from the Black Horse's mane. The black horse immediately appeared before him. Putting on black armor and a black cloak, Kaspar put his wife in the saddle and rushed forward.
-Are you completely stupid? Where are they? - the old witch attacked her daughter. “I couldn’t find them.” I only saw a shepherd with sheep. - What a fool you are! It was Kaspar! He is now rushing away from these places on a black horse. This is his fastest horse. Stay here, this time I will catch up with them myself. They won’t get away from me, I know all their tricks. I’ll catch up and skin them alive!
Kaspar said to his wife:
“Princess, look behind you, is there a chase?” I see a whole storm approaching us, lifting heavy stones into the air like specks of dust.
Kaspar also looked back and saw that behind him the earth and sky were mixed together, it was a whole chaos consisting of dusty clouds.
“This is the old witch in person, damn her.” She runs faster than my black horse.
Caspar turned his horse into a rose bush, his wife into a rose flower, and he himself turned into a snake and wrapped himself around the rose bush. As if from hell, a witch appeared from clouds of hot dust and screamed in a loud, angry voice:
- Kaspar, you ungrateful creature! We fed you, gave you water and took care of you, and you repaid our kindness with black ingratitude. I'm not like my daughter, you won't bother me! I know all your tricks. This time you can't escape, I'll break your head.
When the sorceress bent down to pick up a stone from the ground, Kaspar darted like lightning and bit her on the neck. The old witch immediately gave up her ghost. Kaspar and the princess took on their human form and sighed with relief - now no one threatened them. Returning to their hometown, they headed to a shack where childless old people lived. They became beggars again and mourned Kaspar and his wife every day.
Seeing them alive and well, they hugged, kissed each other and cried with joy. As soon as the king learned that his youngest daughter had returned with her husband, he, with tears of joy in his eyes, immediately came to congratulate them on their return. He saw that Prince Snake had become a handsome man - a warrior, the best of those that can be found in the entire kingdom. The king invited everyone to go to his palace, but Kaspar and the princess decided to stay and live with the old people.
On the very first night, Kaspar himself went to the snake hole and talked with the young mistress. The next morning, the old people's shack turned into a beautiful seven-story palace, more beautiful than before, made of gold and silver bricks and decorated with precious stones. Near the palace there are gardens with flowering trees. In the gardens there are marble pools with azure water. Everything became the same as it was before and even better.
The neighbors, and all the townspeople, were happy about what happened; they shared the happiness of Kaspar and his wife. The king arranged a new wedding feast. The guests ate, drank, danced and had fun for seven days and seven nights. The princess gave birth to Kaspar many children, and the old people who raised Kaspar lived in honor and prosperity and died in old age, maintaining a clear mind and excellent health until their last days. Their dreams came true, so may your dreams come true.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru