Whether it really happened or it didn’t happen at all, they say that there was one king in the world. This king was a powerful ruler and he also loved to hunt. So, one day, while hunting in the forest, he saw an unusual Beast, from which light emanated, like from the sun. The delighted king said to his advisor: “Such a handsome man cannot be killed.” Let's try to catch the Beast alive. They set a trap, caught the Beast and took him to the king's castle. “Make a glass cage so that people can come and admire the Beast,” the king ordered.
Everyone who had a chance to see the Beast was shocked and delighted, because such a miracle never happened in the entire kingdom.
That king had one and only son, who was barely thirteen years old. One day, while practicing archery, a young man accidentally shot through a wall in a glass cage. The prince asked the Beast to return the arrow to him, but he refused: “I will not give you the arrow until you let me go,” said the Beast. - Bring the key that your father hides under the pillow and open the cage. If you let me go free, I will never forget your kindness.
The young man felt sorry for the Beast, shining like the sun. He brought the key and opened the glass cage. “If you ever get into trouble, you can always turn to me for help.” “Look for me in the forest, near a large spring,” said the Beast and ran away. The king flew into a frenzy when he learned that his own son had released the miracle Beast from a glass cage with his own hands. Being in a fierce rage, he ordered the executioners to cut off the prince’s head. The adviser cried out in fear: “This is your only son!” How can you execute him over such nonsense? Just expel him from the kingdom, such punishment will be quite enough for him.
The king called the adviser's son, handed him money for travel expenses and said: “Take my son out of my country.” I don't care what happens to him in the future. For me, he is no longer a son and I don’t want him to ever set foot on the land of my kingdom. So, the two young men set off on their journey. When they entered a dense forest, the adviser’s son said to the prince: “Give me your royal regalia or I will kill you!” “Take it, I don’t need them,” the prince answered and handed the royal regalia to the adviser’s son. He took them and said: “From now on, the royal son is me, and you are my servant.” Look, don’t even think about telling anyone that this is not so.
After this, the adviser’s son lay down on the soft grass under a shady tree and dozed off, and the prince, meanwhile, decided to wander around. While making his way through the forest, he saw a light. He looks, and this is the same Beast that he freed, standing and drinking water from a large spring. Crying with joy, the prince told the Beast about all the misfortunes that had befallen him. “It’s not a problem,” the Beast answered, “you’d better drink the water from this spring.” You will feel better. The young man drank water and the Beast said: “Now shake this tree.” The prince shook the tree and pulled it out by the roots. “Drink more!” The young man drank more water. “Now shake this tree.” The prince shook it and also pulled it out of the ground with its roots. “Is it enough for you to be so strong, or do you want to become even stronger?” “I would like to become even stronger,” answered the young man. “Then drink more.” water. The prince drank more water from the large spring and, like grass, tore several huge trees out of the ground with their roots. “Well, are you satisfied now?” “Oh, yes!” Thank you.
The prince returned to the adviser’s son, who had woken up by that time, and they set off on their further journey. It is difficult to say how long they wandered until they came to the capital of another kingdom. The adviser's son sent a messenger to the king to inform him that the son of a neighboring king had arrived in the city with his servant.
The king greeted the guests at his castle with ceremonies appropriate for the occasion. Both young men made a favorable impression on him and he said to the adviser’s son: “I will give my eldest daughter in marriage to you.” From now on you will become my son-in-law. As for your servant, he can continue his service further. What job would you like to assign him to? - Yes, I don’t care. Wherever you send him, let him go, so decide for yourself. - Do you want to become my swineherd? - the king turned to the prince. “I don’t mind,” he answered.
Thus, the prince became the royal swineherd. In the mornings, he had to drive the pigs out to pasture, graze them there, and at sunset, return them back to the pen. They gave him a tiny shack as a place to live, next to a pigsty. Time passed. So, one day, waking up early in the morning, the prince picked up a log that was lying nearby and went to the royal palace, wielding the log like a staff. Everyone in the city woke up from such noise. “What do you want?” - the king’s servants asked the young man. “Give me a copper, I want to go buy myself some nuts,” he answered. The king came out onto the balcony and said: “Hey, guy, here’s a silver coin for you, go buy yourself as many nuts as you want.” “I don’t need a silver coin.” where can I exchange it? Give me a copper. Having received the copper coin, the prince went to the market and began to choose nuts in the shop. Having bought them for himself for a whole copper, he went to graze pigs in the royal meadows. In the evening, having driven the pigs into the pen, he again went to the king: “Listen, king, order a steel staff for me!” “What, this log is not enough for you?” “No.” This twig can only drive away flies. Order for me a staff made of good steel, weighing a thousand pounds. The king promised him to order such a staff.
The next morning, the prince again woke up the whole city. He approached the royal palace, loudly knocking the log and knocking it on the balcony. Having received a coin this time, the young man went to the market, walked around ten shops, and chose the best nuts for himself. After this, he began the duties of a swineherd: he went to herd pigs.
The next day, a steel staff for the prince was already made. The young man weighed it in his hand, turned it back and forth and said: “Excellent!” It will be just right! This is exactly the thing that I needed. After that, shouldering the staff, he drove the pigs straight into the lands of the Black Dev. The gates of the Dev's estate were locked. But is this an obstacle? Having struck the castle a couple of times with his steel staff, the prince split it in half. Half of the castle flew to the west, and the other half to the east. The young man let the pigs into the estate, and they scattered around the mansion, in the garden. The prince himself ate the melon and lay down under a shady fruit tree to take a nap.
Black Dev came home for lunch and what does he see? Someone's pigs are running around the garden and grunting! The Black Dev’s blood boiled with rage: “Who dared?” - he yelled and rushed into the garden to look for the intruder. He found the prince sleeping under a tree. - Hey, you shepherd, wake up! - The young man did not move. He decided to pretend that he didn’t hear anything. “No snake crawled here on its belly, no bird flew on its wings, and then some swineherd with his pigs broke into my garden.” Who are you? – Black Dev continued to shout.
The Tsarevich politely muttered, as if in a dream: “Could you be a little quieter?” Let me sleep, and then we will fight. - Ha, you are brave! I'll make mincemeat out of you. The largest pieces that will remain of you will be your ears. The Tsarevich jumped to his feet: “Well, stand up and get ready for the fight!” “And who will hit first?” – asked Dev. “You will be the first.” I'm your guest.
The Black Dev grabbed his mace and started swinging it back and forth, raising a whole cloud of dust. “Even if my arm breaks,” said Dev, “but I will achieve my goal.” Although, probably not anymore, - there are no ears left of you, guy! “Hey, wait, now it’s my turn,” the prince responded. When the cloud of dust cleared, he stood to himself, safe and unharmed. “I’m not dead yet,” the young man shouted and hit the Black Dev on the neck with his staff. Yes, he hit him so well that his head still flies in the sky to this day.
After this, the prince decided to go and inspect the Black Dev’s estate. In the stable he saw ten armed knights, dressed in black armor and on black horses. “Who are you?” – the young man asked them. “We are the prisoners of the Black Dev,” was the answer. - If you free us, then we swear to you that we will always come to your aid, whenever you call us. - Agreed. Only I will have one condition: the war horse of the Black Dev is mine,” said the prince.
He tied a bag of black armor, clothes and weapons to the horse's saddle, thinking that the day would come when he would need all this. Then he pulled a hair from each horse's mane and told the knights that they were free and could go wherever they wanted. The knights thanked the young man and rushed away, taking with them the black horse of the Black Dev.
In the evening the prince returned home and drove the pigs into a pen. He hears orchestras playing in the city, music can be heard from everywhere - there is a holiday in the city. - What is happening here? The young man began to ask the townspeople. “The eldest daughter of our king is marrying a prince who recently arrived to us from another country,” they answered him.
Having found out the reason for the celebration, the young man went to his shack. Before he could get home, there was a knock on the door. The king’s youngest daughter stood on the threshold. “What do you want here?” – the prince asked. “Nothing special, I just came to talk to you.” “I’m just a swineherd.” Why did the princess feel the urge to talk to the swineherd? Maybe you wanted to look at the piglets? Me too, a spectacle. Get out of here. After crying, the princess left. But she soon returned with a tray filled to the brim with fruit and knocked on the door again. The young man opened: “Well, what else?” — I brought you fruits and nuts. Let’s have a snack together.” “I asked you not to bother me anymore,” said the prince, and he took the tray from the princess’s hands and closed the door in her face. Sobbing, the girl walked away.
The next morning, the prince took his steel staff and went to the balcony of the royal palace. “Do you need something again, swineherd?” “Tsar, give me another copper.” I'll go buy myself some nuts. Having received the coin, the young man went to the market and, after making a purchase, went to the pasture. There he spent the whole day, looking after the pigs and cracking nuts. When he returned home, he saw that there was panic throughout the city. “What, what happened?” – he began to question the townspeople. “The army of devas is approaching the city.” They demand that the king give them his eldest daughter. We are gathering a militia to repulse the forces of the devas. There was a knock on the swineherd's hut again. The youngest princess stood on the threshold and cried bitterly. “Why are there so many tears?” – asked the prince. “The Devas want to take my sister.” “Well, tell me further, how can I help?” “You can save her.” “Look at me.” I am a simple swineherd, I work from dawn to dusk, running after the royal pigs. Why don't you ask her husband to save your sister? After all, he is the king's son. - He doesn't know how to fight. - Well, that doesn't concern me. Get out of here, don't bother me anymore about this. The devas have come to you, so you deal with them yourself. Sobbing more than ever, the princess wandered away.
In the morning, the prince again came to the balcony of the royal palace. He looks, everyone around is sobbing and crying loudly: “The devas are already near the city, what should we do?!” “I’m in a hurry now,” the young man said to the king’s servants, “give me a copper as soon as possible and I’ll go.” Having received the coin and bought nuts with it, the prince then drove the pigs out to pasture, took out of his pocket a tuft of hair pulled out from the manes of black horses and burned them. Ten armed knights, dressed in black armor, riding black horses, immediately appeared in front of him. The Black Dev's horse was also with them. Black armor and weapons were in a bag tied to the horse's saddle.
The prince took off his shepherd's rags and put on black armor and a black cloak. He began to look the same as the ten black knights. Then the young man jumped on a black horse and led his squad into battle. Meanwhile, the king's army lined up opposite the army of the devas. There were so many enemies that no one doubted the outcome of the battle. But then the prince’s detachment rushed at the monsters like black lightning. After a fierce battle, only one deva remained alive. The young man cut off his ears and said: “Now get away from here and tell all your monsters about how hospitably you are greeted here.”
The king wanted to thank the brave warriors, but they had already turned their horses and disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. And the prince, meanwhile, changed into his clothes and released the knights. He himself collected the pigs and drove them to the pigsty.
The whole city celebrated the glorious victory, cheerful music and singing were heard from everywhere. People rejoiced and danced right in the streets. The prince decided to stay in his shack, next to the pigsty. There was a knock on the door. It was the younger princess who came again. With her was a tray filled with various dishes and drinks. “Oh my God, you again?” – the young man sighed. “I miss you.” See, I brought you dinner. Let’s have dinner together.” “Princess, didn’t I tell you not to bother me about such issues anymore?” So come on, goodbye. And he took the tray and closed the door in front of the girl. Crying from resentment, the princess returned to the palace all in tears.
In the morning, having received another copper and bought a whole bag of nuts with it, the young man drove the pigs to pasture. This time he decided to graze them not in the royal meadows, but in the lands of the Red Dev. To open the gates of the estate in which the monster lived, the prince had to hit the lock a couple of times with his steel staff. He knocked so hard that one piece of the broken lock flew to Aleppo, and the other must be looked for in Chin-ma-Chin.
Going inside, he let the pigs graze in the garden of the Red Dev, and he himself chose a shady place and lay down there to take a nap. Meanwhile, the Red Dev himself came to his home for lunch. He looked at the piglets frolicking in his garden and his blood began to boil. He rushed to look for the culprit, looked: the swineherd was lying under the apple tree and sleeping for his own pleasure. “Hey, you mortal, come on, get up!” The young man opened his eyes, looked: the Red Dev was towering over him. “You are so big and so stupid.” Why are you so noisy? Don’t you see: a man is lying down, resting? And here you are yelling like a herd of bulls. “How dare you be rude to me after what you did here?” – the enraged Red Dev was indignant. “It’s been a while since I’ve had to feast on human flesh.” Well, I won't have any shortage of human meat today.
The young man jumped to his feet. He clutched his steel staff in his hands: “What are you looking at?” Let's fight! - he said. The Red Dev took out his mace and let’s wave it, like a windmill with its wings in a good storm. The prince was swallowed up by a cloud of dust. - Damn it! – the Red Dev growled. “It’s not my destiny to feast on meat, it seems that all that’s left of the guy are his ears.” When the cloud of dust cleared, the Red Dev saw that the swineherd was standing, alive and unharmed. “What’s not destiny is not destiny,” the prince agreed. “And now it’s my turn!” He waved his steel staff and brought it down on the Red Dev’s neck. Yes, he lowered it so much that his head flew all the way to Mount Ararat with such speed that the roar shook the entire area.
The prince went to inspect the possessions of the Red Dev and in the stable he found twenty armed knights, dressed in red armor and riding red horses. - Who are you? - We are prisoners of the Red Dev. Set us free. If you do this, then we will always be ready to serve you whenever you want.
And this time the prince announced that he was keeping the Red Dev war horse for himself. The young man tied a bag with red armor, a cloak and weapons to his saddle. Then he pulled out a hair from the mane of each horse and released the knights. By sunset the prince had already driven the pigs into the pigsty. He looks: the whole city is celebrating the wedding of the king’s middle daughter.
Meanwhile, the youngest princess came to the swineherd’s hut and said: “Come with me to the palace.” Today we are all feasting, dancing and having fun. Why are you going to sit here alone? - Leave. What do you want from me, after all? I'm just a swineherd. I am in no way suitable for the royal family, even as a guest. “For me, you are a king!” I love you. - No. I've already said everything. “I’m staying at home,” the young man answered, pushed the princess out of the shack and closed the door. “After a while, the princess, without even knocking, came in with a tray full of food and drink. “Come on, get up.” You and I will celebrate well together! The young man took the tray and again pushed the girl out the door: “Go away!” This is no place for a princess!
In the morning, the prince again came to the palace balcony and began knocking with his steel staff, demanding a copper coin. Having bought nuts with it, he drove the pigs out to pasture. In the evening, having driven his charges into the pigsty, the prince saw that there was panic in the city again. - What is happening? - Tomorrow morning there will be an army of devas here. “They will come and take the king’s middle daughter with them,” the townspeople answered.
The youngest princess ran to the swineherd's hut with tears in her eyes: “I rely only on God in heaven and on you on earth,” she said. “I know that it was you who saved my older sister from the devas.” Now you must save my middle sister from them! - Go back where you came from! Does the king have no sons-in-law? I'm just a swineherd. Leave me alone. - The king's sons-in-law?! Yes, they are good for nothing. You are the only one who can save my sister. The prince pushed the girl out the door and she ran home, crying more than ever.
The next morning, leaving the pigs to graze in the meadow, the young man took out a tuft of hair that he had previously torn from the manes of the red horses and burned them. Twenty armed knights, dressed in red armor and riding red horses, immediately appeared before him. The Red Dev's war horse was also with them.
Dressed in red clothes, the prince jumped on his horse and led his squad into battle. The king, who was expecting an attack by the army of devas with his army, when he saw an approaching detachment of knights with red lightning, exclaimed: “Above your head, guys, we are saved!” God himself sent these brave warriors to us! Having rushed like a whirlwind along the royal army, showering them with sheaves of sparks struck by the hooves of horses, the knights cut into the ranks of the devas. Unable to withstand the onslaught, the enemies wavered and ran. When it was all over, the prince cut off the ears of the last surviving monster and said: “Take this to your king and tell him about what happens to uninvited guests who come with war.”
A detachment of red knights rushed past the king's army in the direction from which they had appeared. The king only managed to open his mouth: “I would like to know who these heroes are...” he said. On the evening of the same day, when the young man had already driven the pigs into the pigsty, a feast began in the city. They celebrated the victory over the army of devas. The younger princess reappeared in the swineherd’s hut and said: “Listen, don’t be stubborn.” Come with me to the palace, there is a feast there now. And you and I will eat, drink and be merry. The whole city is feasting, and what about you? - No, no, I know my place. I'm just a swineherd. Don't even try to take me to the palace, I won't go anywhere. I'll stay here. - I love you with all my heart, why do you want to stay so stubbornly in this miserable shack? - Leave me alone. I told you: a swineherd is no match for you.
The princess went to the palace alone, shedding bitter tears. But, some time later, she returned with a tray in her hands. The tray was full of food. “If you don’t want to come to visit me, then I will come to visit you.” We'll celebrate the holiday in the shack too. - Go away, they tell you. How are you going to eat here? It stinks of pigs in here! - I don’t care, as long as I’m next to you.
The prince, without hesitation, put the girl outside and closed the door. The princess left all in tears. The next day the young man drove the pigs to graze in the lands of the White Dev. With two blows of his thousand-pound staff, the prince smashed the lock on the gate of the estate and allowed the pigs to graze in the White Dev's vegetable garden. The young man himself lay down by the spring, quenched his thirst and lay down to rest under a shady fruit tree.
Meanwhile, the White Dev himself came to his home for lunch. He looked at the piglets frolicking in his garden, and his brain immediately began to boil with rage. He rushed to look for the culprit and found him sleeping under an apple tree: “Hey, swineherd, get up!” Come on, get up! – the ground shook when the monster stomped its foot. “Listen, could you be a little more polite and not make so much noise?” “I completely dispelled my sleep,” responded the prince. “And why are you so angry, did a pig bite you?” “I haven’t eaten human flesh for seven years.” Until today. “Come on, get up,” yelled the White Dev. The Tsarevich jumped to his feet. In his hands he clutched his steel staff: “Stand up, let’s fight,” he said.
The White Dev took a few steps back and pulled out his mace. Then the monster rushed forward and began to swing it from right to left and from left to right, from top to bottom and from bottom to top. A dusty cloud rose and swallowed up the prince. “Ha-ha-ha!” – the White Dev cheered up. “Now this poor guy will have to be scraped off the ground for a long time.” It's a pity that there won't be a dinner made of human flesh. - That's for sure, there won't be. “And stop bragging,” said the prince. The dust cleared, and the young man stood opposite the White Dev, safe and sound. “Now it’s my turn,” the prince exclaimed and waved his staff.
He brought it down on the White Dev's neck with such force that the monster's head instantly flew off his shoulders and rolled away. She's probably still rolling to this day. The prince went to inspect the possessions of the White Dev. In the stable he saw thirty armed knights, clad in white armor, riding white horses. White cloaks hung from their shoulders. “Who are you?” – the prince asked them. “We are prisoners of the White Dev.” Set us free. For this, we will always come to your rescue as soon as you call us.
The prince tied a bag to the saddle of the White Dev's war horse, in which he put white armor, a white cloak and weapons. Then he pulled out a hair from each horse's mane and released the white knights. By evening everything was as usual: the swineherd was in his hut, and the pigs were in the pigsty. The younger princess ran into the swineherd’s house and, shedding tears, said: “Please, let’s go to my palace!” “Well, how many times do you have to repeat the same thing?” I said: a swineherd is no match for a princess! - Oh, my beloved, you are closer to me than my father and mother. I am ready to give my life for you. I love you as if you are the whole world to me. - Go, go home. You’re already giving me a headache. The prince threw the girl out the door and she ran away, all in tears.
Soon she returned with a large tray filled with various dishes. “Leave the tray with food, and go yourself,” said the prince. “I’m not going anywhere.” For the life of me, I won’t go! The prince thought that words couldn’t help matters, so he took it and threw the girl out the door. When the next day he returned from the pasture, he saw that the whole city was again in panic. The youngest princess, all in tears, reappeared on the threshold. Seeing the prince, she threw herself at his feet: “You saved my two sisters, save me from the devas!” – the girl cried. “What do I care?” The devas have returned, well, to hell with them. They didn’t come for me. - Only you can save me! - Why me? What are you asking of me? You have brothers, let them protect you.” “These princes are of no use.” And you have a steel staff worth a thousand pounds. I know you can fight. But my brothers are not. Thinking of them as protectors is like wasting time and then being cruelly deceived.
The prince took it and once again threw the girl out the door. Soon the princess appeared with a tray in her hands. He was bursting with various dishes. “Listen, you have no more pride than a gypsy,” said the young man. “You eat, eat.” And I’ll keep you company. In the end, the prince agreed with the girl and left her in his shack. The princess, suppressing her pride, ate with tears in her eyes. “Well, why are you crying now?” “But I already told you!” Tomorrow the devas will come for me. They came before for my sisters. And you don’t even have a thought to save me. “I will, of course, save you, but all this must remain a secret.” Only you and I will know about this.
The princess returned to her palace. The queen, her mother, was surprised that her daughter was in a joyful and cheerful mood. “What is it?” – she asked. “Tomorrow the devas will come for you, and suddenly you cannot find a place for yourself with joy.” “Mom, I’m no longer worried about this.” I'm saved! He promised to save me! - He? Who is He? Who promised?—The one who already saved my sisters!—Who is it?—And you won’t tell anyone?—I won’t tell anyone.—Our swineherd.—What? What are you saying, daughter? - God knows, mom. I'm telling the truth. It was our swineherd who saved them. - Now I’ll go to the pigsty and talk to him. - No, no. What you! If he finds out that I told you everything, he will kill me. And it will probably kill you too. Let it remain a secret.
At dawn, the king led his army out to battle the devas. When the troops lined up opposite each other, the king began to peer anxiously into the mountains: were the knights rushing to his aid this time too? There was no time to wait, the battle was about to begin, and the devas had the advantage. Suddenly a white knight appeared on the top of the hill, followed by a detachment of thirty knights. “Guys, hold your banners above your heads!” Make way for these brave knights! – the king shouted joyfully.
The knight's cavalry rushed through the royal army like white lightning and fell on the enemy. What a battle it was! Only one deva survived. The white knight, who commanded the detachment, cut off the monster’s ears and said: “Tell all the devas to forget the way here forever!”
The knights turned around and galloped off in the direction from which they had appeared even before the king had time to stop them. Only the commander of the detachment rode slowly and the king managed to catch up with him. To celebrate, the king affectionately patted the muzzle of the white horse, then pulled the knight towards him, kissed him on the helmet, and then on the forehead. “My kingdom is yours!” - the king exclaimed. And he himself looked - the knight’s hand was wounded, blood was flowing. The king took his handkerchief and bandaged the wound with it. The prince spurred his horse and was off. The king never recognized him. Having released the white knights and the White Dev's horse, the young man gathered the pigs into a pile and drove them into the pen. Meanwhile, in the city, a great celebration was being held: orchestras were playing, and when it got dark, the sky above the city was lit up with colorful fireworks. People sang and danced right in the streets and squares.
The youngest princess with a tray filled with delicious dishes came to the prince’s hut. They began to treat each other, they felt good and carefree together, and joy settled in their hearts. Meanwhile, the king told the queen about the brave knight who, together with his comrades, defeated entire hordes of devas. He also told how he bandaged the knight's wounded hand. The king regretted that he never knew the name of the hero. The queen smiled and laughed. “Why are you laughing?” “I’m laughing because your brave knight is our swineherd.” “It can’t be!” Really?! - Well, of course! Go to him in the morning and ask him.
The king immediately sent for the swineherd. When the young man was brought in, the king saw that the wound on his hand was bandaged with a royal scarf. “What is this?” “I don’t understand anything,” the king was confused. “When the king’s son is made a swineherd, and the adviser’s son is elevated and made a prince, this irritates the real prince.” That's why I behaved the way you saw. If you still doubt that I am a real prince, then call your son-in-law, the husband of your eldest daughter, who arrived in your country with me. See if he's wearing my regalia.
The king summoned his son-in-law, the husband of his eldest daughter. He looks: indeed, it is not he who should have the regalia, but the swineherd. The king raised his hand: “Executioner!” The executioners entered and bowed. The king took off the regalia from his son-in-law and handed them over to the swineherd: “My youngest daughter is also yours,” he said. “As far as I know, she herself is not indifferent to you.” The wedding feast lasted seven days and seven nights. Five days after the end of the wedding celebrations, the prince took his wife and went with her to his own country. By that time, his father had already died, so the prince ascended the throne as the new king, the heir of the previous king. Their dreams came true, so may your dreams come true.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru