In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there lived Tsarevich Ivan. And he had three sisters: one was Marya the princess, the other was Olga the princess, the third was Anna the princess.
Their father and mother died. Dying, they punished their son: -?Whoever starts wooing his sisters first, give him away - don’t keep it with you for long. The prince buried his parents and, out of grief, went with his sisters for a walk in the green garden.
Suddenly a black cloud appears in the sky, a terrible thunderstorm arises. “Let’s go home, sisters,” says Ivan Tsarevich. As soon as they arrived at the palace, thunder struck, the ceiling split in two, and a clear falcon flew into their room.
The falcon hit the floor, became a good fellow and said: -? Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I went as a guest, but now I’ve come as a matchmaker: I want to woo your sister Marya the Princess. -? If you love your sister, I don’t hold her - let her go. Marya the Princess agreed. The falcon married and took her to his kingdom.
Days go by days, hours run by hours - a whole year has never happened. Ivan Tsarevich and his two sisters went for a walk in the green garden. Again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning. “Let’s go home, sisters,” says the prince. As soon as they arrived at the palace, thunder struck, the roof fell apart, the ceiling split in two, and an eagle flew in.
The eagle hit the floor and became a good fellow. —? Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Before I came as a guest, but now I came as a matchmaker. And I wooed Olga the princess. Ivan Tsarevich answers: -? If you love Olga the princess, then let him marry you, I do not take away her will. Olga the princess agreed and married the eagle. The eagle picked her up and carried her to his kingdom.
Another year has passed. Tsarevich Ivan says to his younger sister: “Let’s go for a walk in the green garden.” We walked a little. Again a cloud rises with a whirlwind, with lightning. -? Let's return home, sister! We returned home, before we had time to sit down, thunder struck, the ceiling split in two, and a raven flew in. The raven hit the floor and became a good young man. The previous ones were good-looking, but this one is even better.
-? Well, Ivan Tsarevich, before I was a guest, but now I’ve come as a matchmaker: give up Princess Anna for me. -? I’m not taking away my sister’s freedom. If she fell in love with you, let her marry you. Princess Anna married the raven, and he took her to his state.
Ivan Tsarevich was left alone. He lived without his sisters for a whole year, and he became bored. “I’ll go,” he says, “to look for the sisters.” He got ready to go on the road, walked, walked, and saw: a beaten army lying in the field. Tsarevich Ivan asks: -? If there is a man alive here, answer: who defeated this great army? A living man answered him: -? All this great army was beaten by Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.
Ivan Tsarevich set off further, ran into the white tents, and Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, came out to meet him. “Hello, Tsarevich.” Where is God taking you - willingly or unwillingly? Ivan Tsarevich answers her: -? Good fellows don’t travel in captivity. -? Well, if it’s not in a hurry, stay in my tents. Ivan Tsarevich is happy about that: he spent two nights in tents. He fell in love with Marya Morevna and married her.
Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, took him with her to her state. They lived together for some time, and the princess decided to get ready for war. She leaves the entire household to Ivan Tsarevich and orders: “Go everywhere, keep an eye on everything, just don’t look into this closet.” He couldn’t bear it: as soon as Marya Morevna left, he immediately rushed into the closet, opened the door, looked - and there was Koschey the Immortal hanging there, chained to twelve chains.
Koschey asks Ivan Tsarevich: -? Have pity on me, give me a drink! I’ve been suffering here for ten years, I haven’t eaten or drunk—my throat is completely dry. The Tsarevich handed him a whole bucket of water; he drank and asked again: “I can’t quench my thirst with just a bucket.” Give me more! The prince handed me another bucket. Koschey drank and asked for a third; and when he drank the third bucket, he took his former strength, shook the chains and immediately broke all twelve.
“Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich,” said Koschey the Immortal, “now you will never see Marya Morevna like your own ears.” And in a terrible whirlwind he flew out the window, caught up with Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess, picked her up and carried her away to him.
And Ivan Tsarevich cried bitterly, bitterly, got ready and went on the road: “No matter what happens, I will find Marya Morevna.” One day goes by, another goes, and at dawn on the third he sees a wonderful palace. There is an oak tree near the palace, and a falcon sits on a clear oak tree. A falcon flew from the oak tree, hit the ground, turned into a kind young man and shouted: “Ah, my dear brother-in-law!”
Princess Marya ran out, greeted Ivan Tsarevich joyfully, began asking about his health, and telling about her life. The prince stayed with them for three days and said: “I can’t stay with you for a long time: I’m going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess.” “It’s difficult for you to find her,” the falcon answers. “Leave your silver spoon here just in case: we’ll look at it and remember you.”
Ivan Tsarevich left his silver spoon with the falcon and went on the road. He walked one day, walked another, and at dawn on the third he saw the palace even better than the first. Near the palace there is an oak tree, an eagle sits on the oak tree. The eagle flew from the tree, hit the ground, turned around as a good fellow and shouted: “Get up, Princess Olga, our dear brother is coming!”
Olga the princess immediately ran, began to kiss him, hug him, ask him about his health, tell him about his life. Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and said: -? I don’t have time to stay longer: I’m going to look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess. The eagle answers: -? It’s difficult for you to find her. Leave a silver fork with us: we will look at it and remember you.
He left the silver fork and went on the road. One day passed, another passed, and at dawn of the third he saw the palace better than the first two. There is an oak tree near the palace, and a raven sits on the oak tree. A raven flew from the oak tree, hit the ground, turned into a good fellow and shouted: “Princess Anna, come out quickly, our brother is coming!”
Princess Anna ran out, greeted him joyfully, began kissing and hugging him, asking about his health, telling about her life. Ivan Tsarevich stayed with them for three days and said: “Farewell.” I’ll go look for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful princess. The raven answers: “It’s hard for you to find her.” Leave the silver snuff box with us: we will look at it and remember you.
The prince gave him the silver snuff box, said goodbye and went on the road. One day went by, another went, and on the third I reached Marya Morevna. She saw her beloved, threw herself on his neck, burst into tears and said: -? Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, why didn’t you listen to me - looked into the closet and released Koshchei the Immortal? -? Forgive me, Marya Morevna, don’t remember the old things. It’s better to come with me until we see Koshchei the Immortal. Maybe he won't catch up!
They packed up and left. And Koschey was hunting. In the evening he returns home, a good horse stumbles under him. —? Why are you, hungry nag, tripping? Do you sense any misfortune? The horse answers: -? Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna away. -? Is it possible to catch up with them? Ivan Tsarevich.
“Well,” he says, “the first time I forgive you for your kindness in giving me water to drink, and the next time I’ll forgive you, but the third time, beware, I’ll chop you into pieces.” He took Marya Morevna away from him and took him away. And Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone and cried. He cried and cried and went back again for Marya Morevna. Koshchei of the Immortal House did not happen.—?Let's go, Marya Morevna!—?Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, he will catch up with us!—?Let him catch up. We'll spend at least an hour or two together. We packed up and left.
Koschey the Immortal returns home, the good horse stumbles under him. —? Why are you, hungry nag, tripping? Do you sense any misfortune?—?Ivan Tsarevich came, took Marya Morevna with him.—?Is it possible to catch up with them?—?We can sow barley, wait until it grows, compress and thresh, brew beer, get drunk, eat to the full, get enough sleep, and then go after them—and then we’ll be in time. Koschey galloped, caught up Ivan Tsarevich: —? After all, I told you that you won’t see Marya Morevna like your ears! He took her away and took her to himself.
Ivan Tsarevich was left alone, cried and cried, and returned again for Marya Morevna. At that time, Koshchei was not at home.—?Let’s go, Marya Morevna!—?Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, he’ll catch up and chop you into pieces!—?Let him chop you up, I can’t live without you! We got ready and went. Koschey the Immortal returns home, the good horse stumbles under him. —? Why are you tripping? Do you sense any misfortune?—?Ivan Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna with him.
Koschey galloped, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, chopped him into small pieces and put him in a tar barrel, took this barrel, fastened it with iron hoops and threw it into the blue sea, and took Marya Morevna with him. At that same time, Ivan Tsarevich’s sons-in-law’s silver turned black. -? “Ah,” they say, “apparently, trouble has happened!” The eagle rushed to the blue sea, grabbed and pulled the barrel ashore. The falcon flew after living water, and the raven flew after dead water.
All three flew to one place, cut the barrel, took out the pieces of Ivan Tsarevich, washed them and put them together as needed. The raven splashed dead water - the body grew together and united. The falcon sprinkled living water - Ivan Tsarevich shuddered, stood up and said: “Oh, how long I slept!” “I would have slept even longer if it weren’t for us,” answered the sons-in-law. - Let's go visit us now. -? No, brothers, I'll go look for Marya Morevna.
He comes to her and asks: -? Find out from Koshchei the Immortal where he got himself such a good horse.
So Marya Morevna seized a good moment and began to question Koshchei. Koschey said: “Beyond the distant lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, beyond the fiery river lives Baba Yaga.” She has a mare on which she flies around the world every day. She also has many other nice mares. I was her shepherd for three days, I didn’t miss a single mare, and for that Baba Yaga gave me one foal. —? How did you cross the river of fire? —? And I have such a scarf - when I wave it to the right three times, a high, high bridge will be created, and the fire will not reach it.
Marya Morevna listened and told everything to Tsarevich Ivan. And she took the handkerchief and gave it to him. Ivan Tsarevich crossed the fiery river and went to Baba Yaga. He walked for a long time without drinking or eating. An overseas bird with small children came across him. Ivan Tsarevich says: “Let me eat one chicken!” “Don’t eat, Ivan Tsarevich,” asks the overseas bird. “I’ll be useful to you at some point.” He moved on.
He sees a hive of bees in the forest. “I’ll take,” he says, “some honey.” The queen bee responds: “Don’t touch my honey, Ivan Tsarevich.” In some time I will be useful to you. He did not touch me and moved on.
He comes across a lioness with a lion cub. “I’ll at least eat this lion cub.” I’m so hungry, I feel sick. “Don’t touch me, Ivan Tsarevich,” the lioness asks. - I'll be useful to you at some point. -? Okay, let it be your way.
Wandered hungry. He walked and walked - there was Baba Yaga's house, there were twelve poles around the house, on eleven poles there was a human head, only one was unoccupied. -? Hello, grandmother! -? Hello, Ivan Tsarevich. Why did you come - of your own free will or out of necessity? -? I came to earn a heroic horse from you. -? If you please, Tsarevich, I don’t have to serve for a year, but only for three days. If you keep my mares, I’ll give you a heroic horse, but if not, don’t be angry: your head will stick out on the last pole.
Ivan Tsarevich agreed. Baba Yaga fed him, gave him something to drink and told him to get down to business. He had just driven the mares out into the field, the mares lifted their tails and all ran away across the meadows. Before the prince had time to raise his eyes, they completely disappeared. Then he cried and became sad, sat down on a stone and fell asleep. The sun is already setting, an overseas bird has flown in and wakes him up:
-?Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are now at home. The prince got up and went home. And Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at her mares: -? Why did you return home? -? How could we not return! Birds from all over the world flew in and almost pecked our eyes out. “Well, tomorrow, don’t run through the meadows, but scatter through the dense forests.”
Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night. The next morning Baba Yaga says to him: “Look, Tsarevich, if you don’t take care of the mares, if you lose even one, your wild little head will be on a pole!”
He drove the mares into the field. They immediately raised their tails and scattered through the dense forests. Again the prince sat down on a stone, cried and cried, and fell asleep. The sun set behind the forest. A lioness came running: -? Get up, Ivan Tsarevich! The mares are all collected.
Ivan Tsarevich got up and went home. Baba Yaga is louder than ever and shouts at her mares: -? Why did you come home? -? How could we not return! Fierce animals came running from all over the world, almost tearing us apart. -? Well, tomorrow you will run into the blue sea.
Ivan Tsarevich slept through the night again. The next morning Baba Yaga sends him to graze the mares: -? If you don’t save him, your wild little head will be on a pole.
He drove the mares into the field. They immediately raised their tails, disappeared from view and ran into the blue sea, standing in water up to their necks. Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone, cried and fell asleep.
The sun set behind the forest, a bee flew in and said: “Get up, prince!” The mares are all collected. When you return home, don’t show yourself to Baba Yaga, go to the stable and hide behind the manger. There is a mangy foal there - lying in the dung. Take it and leave the house in the dead of midnight.
Ivan Tsarevich made his way into the stable and lay down behind the manger. Baba Yaga makes noise and shouts at her mares: -? Why did you come back? -? How could we not come back! Bees have flown in, apparently and invisibly, from all over the world, and let us sting from all sides until we bleed.
Baba Yaga fell asleep, and at midnight Ivan Tsarevich took the mangy foal from her, saddled it, sat down and galloped to the fiery river. I reached that river, waved my handkerchief three times to the right - and suddenly, out of nowhere, a tall, glorious bridge hung across the river. The prince crossed the bridge and waved his handkerchief to the left side only twice - there was only a thin, thin bridge across the river.
In the morning Baba Yaga woke up - there was no sign of the mangy foal. She gave chase. He gallops at full speed on an iron mortar, urges with a pestle, and covers his tracks with a broom. She galloped up to the fiery river, looked and thought: “The bridge is good.” I drove along the bridge, and as soon as I got to the middle, the bridge broke off and Baba Yaga fell into the river. Then a cruel death happened to her.
Ivan Tsarevich fattened the foal in the green meadows, and it became a wonderful horse. The prince arrives to Marya Morevna. She ran out and threw herself on his neck: -? How did you manage to get rid of death? -? So and so, - she says, - let's go with me. -? I'm afraid, Ivan Tsarevich! If Koschey catches up, you will be cut down again. -? No, he won’t catch up! Now I have a glorious heroic horse, like a bird flies. They got on the horse and rode off.
Koschey the Immortal is tossing and turning home, and his horse is stumbling under him. “Why are you, hungry nag, stumbling?” Do you sense any misfortune?—?Ivan Tsarevich came and took Marya Morevna away.—?Is it possible to catch up with them?—?I don’t know. Now Tsarevich Ivan has a heroic horse better than me. “No, I can’t resist,” says Koschey the Immortal, “I’ll go in pursuit!”
Whether long or short, he caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, jumped to the ground and wanted to cut him with a sharp saber. At that time, Ivan Tsarevich’s horse hit Koshchei the Immortal with all its might and crushed his head, and the Tsarevich finished him off with his club. After that, the prince threw a pile of firewood, lit a fire, burned Koshchei the Immortal on the fire and threw his very ashes into the wind.
Marya Morevna mounted Koshcheev's horse, and Ivan Tsarevich mounted his, and they went to visit first the raven, then the eagle, and then the falcon. Wherever they come, they are greeted with joy: -? Oh, Ivan Tsarevich, we really didn’t expect to see you! Well, it’s not for nothing that you bothered: to look for such a beauty as Marya Morevna in the whole world, you won’t find another.
They stayed, feasted and went to their kingdom. We arrived and began to live and live for ourselves, make good money and drink honey.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru