In a certain state there lived King Kartaus, and he had twelve heroes in his service. And the strongest and most important of the twelve heroes was a prince named Lazar Lazarevich. And no matter how hard the other heroes tried, none of them could defeat the young Lazar Lazarevich in duels.
And now he turned twenty years old. The parents began to talk:
“The time has come for my son to start a family!”
And Lazar Lazarevich himself was not averse to getting married, but he just couldn’t choose a bride: either his father and mother didn’t like him, or the groom didn’t like him.
So time passed. And Lazar Lazarevich began to ask his parents:
- Let me go on my way. I want to look at the world and show myself.
The parents did not argue. And so the good fellow said goodbye to his father and mother and left the Kartaus kingdom. Whether the journey was long, short, close, or far, Lazar Lazarevich arrived in a foreign kingdom. And in that kingdom all the people are in great anguish and sadness: everyone, young and old, is killed and crying. He asks:
- What is your trouble? What are all the people grieving about?
“Oh, good fellow, you don’t know our grief,” they answer him. “A sea serpent got into the habit of flying into our kingdom and ordered a person to be sent to it every day to be devoured.” And if we don’t listen, he threatens to burn down all our villages and towns and destroy them with firebrands. So today they saw off one girl and took her to the seashore to be devoured by a sea monster.
The hero did not ask anything else, spurred his horse and galloped to the seashore.
Soon he saw a girl sitting on the shore, crying bitterly. Lazar Lazarevich drove up to her:
- Hello, soul girl!
The girl raised her head, looked at him and said:
- Go away, good man, from here as quickly as possible. Now a snake will come out of the sea, eat me, and you will not be alive.
“It doesn’t suit me, beautiful maiden, to run away from a snake, but I want to rest: I’m tired on the road.” I’ll take a nap, and you, as soon as the snake appears, wake me up immediately.
He got off his horse, lay down on the grass and fell into a deep, heroic sleep.
How much or how much time passed, suddenly the sea became agitated, made noise, and a large wave rose. Then the serpent stirred up the sea. And the girl began to wake up the foreign hero. But Lazar Lazarevich sleeps and does not wake up.
At that time, the snake emerged from the water and climbed ashore. The girl began to cry with burning tears, and one tear fell on the hero’s face. He woke up and saw a snake.
The serpent grins:
- Oh, what a deal they got today: instead of one person they brought two, and even a horse!
“Won’t you choke on me alone, you filthy monster?” - the hero shouted and rushed at the snake.
They began a mortal combat, a bloody battle. They fought and fought for a long time. And Lazar Lazarevich began to notice that the snake was tired and began to weaken. Then the hero got creative, rushed at the monster and hit him with a damask sword with such force that he completely cut off the snake’s head.
Then I approached the girl, and she was almost alive with fear. He called out to her. The girl was delighted:
- Oh, I didn’t expect to stay alive and see you alive and unharmed! Thank you for saving me from a cruel death, and I ask you, good fellow, I don’t know what to call me by name, let’s go to my parents. Father will reward you there!
“I don’t need any reward, but I’ll take you to your father and mother.”
First he helped the girl sit down, and then he sat on the horse himself. We arrived in the city. The father and mother saw their daughter from the window - they couldn’t believe their eyes. They ran out to meet us. They cry and laugh with joy.
“Did the fierce serpent really spare you, child?!” Or did he just let you go today to see us again and grieve?
“That’s who saved me from a dashing death,” answered the girl and pointed to Lazar Lazarevich. - He killed the damned snake.
Father and mother did not know how to thank the hero. They led him by the arms into the white stone chambers and seated him at the table in the place of honor. All sorts of foods and drinks were placed on the table. Eat, drink, whatever your heart desires.
And after the bread and salt, the father began to ask:
- Tell me, brave knight, how can I thank you?
The good fellow lowered his head, paused, then looked at his parents and the beautiful girl:
- Don't be angry with me for my words. I am a prince from the glorious Kartaus kingdom. Your beautiful daughter came to my heart, and if I love her, bless us as we go down the aisle. That would be the greatest reward for me.
The girl heard these speeches, looked down, and blushed like a poppy.
And the father said:
“You, dear Lazar Lazarevich, are to my liking, to my liking, but I will not force my daughter and will not take away her will.” As she herself says, so be it. Don't take my words as an insult. Well, what do you say, dear daughter?
The beauty blushed even more than ever and said quietly:
“Since the time has come for me to build my own nest, then, apparently, so be it.” I love Lazar Lazarevich, my savior.
“And the bride agrees, so my mother and I certainly won’t argue,” said the father. “It won’t happen with our blessing.”
And soon they began a merry feast and a wedding.
The wedding was celebrated, the feast was celebrated, and after the wedding Lazar Lazarevich took his young wife to his kingdom.
At the end of the first year their son was born. They called him Eruslan.
Eruslan grew by leaps and bounds, as if the dough was rising on dough. At three years old I was like a ten year old.
And he began to run to the royal courtyard and began to play games with the boyar children. But his strength was exorbitant, and due to his youth and lack of intelligence, he joked bad jokes with the boyars’ children: if he grabbed someone by the hand, the hand would go away; if he grabbed someone by the leg, he would tear off the leg.
The boyars came to King Kartaus and complained:
- We are very offended. The son of Lazar Lazarevich is destroying and crippling our children. In the games I'll hold you, he doesn't know whose arm or whose leg he tore off. Dry our tears, sir! Order Eruslan Lazarevich to be put in prison, or let him leave our kingdom.
King Kartaus ordered to call Lazar Lazarevich and told him:
- The boyars came to me and complained about your Yeruslan. He offends and cripples boyar children. And I command you: either imprison your son or send him away from our kingdom.
Lazar Lazarevich listened to the royal order, lowered his violent head below his mighty shoulders and went home in great sadness.
- What is it, Lazar Lazarevich, you are so cool? — his wife greeted him. - Or what kind of misfortune happened?
Lazar Lazarevich told about the royal order and said:
- Isn’t this a misfortune?
The wife cried bitterly. And Eruslan Lazarevich heard the whole conversation, went up to his parents, bowed politely and said:
“Don’t be angry with me, father and mother, I had no malicious intent when I played with the boyar’s children, and it’s not your fault.” And if King Kartaus ordered me to leave the kingdom, then, apparently, so be it. Yes, here’s another thing: if only I could get a damask sword for my hand, military armor and a horse.
- Don’t we have enough horses in the stable? - said Lazar Lazarevich. - And the armory is full of swords and military armor, know, choose!
“I’ll pick up the armor and sword in the armory,” answered Eruslan Lazarevich, “but we didn’t have a horse for me in our stable.” I tested every single one of them. When the grooms bring him out, I throw my hand at his withers and he immediately falls to his knees. I can't ride these.
- Well, then go to the reserved meadows. There Frol the shepherd guards my horses. The horses in the herds are unbroken, and there you can choose a horse of your own,” said Lazar Lazarevich.
And they began to gather and equip Eruslan Lazarevich. He picked up the heroic armor, found a damask sword and a long spear in his hand, took a Cherkassy saddle, a sweatshirt, felt, a set bridle and a belt whip. I said goodbye to my father and mother and set off on my journey.
He left the city and walked long, short, close, far, and came to reserved meadows. The road is paved through the meadows. That road is so wide that a horse cannot jump over it. “Who drives on this road?” thought Eruslan Lazarevich. “Let me sit on the side of the road and wait.”
How long or how little time did he sit and see: a herd of horses running along the road. That herd just ran by, and behind it another one, galloping more than before. And the herdsman follows. He caught up with Eruslan Lazarevich and spoke:
- Hello, Eruslan Lazarevich! Why are you sitting here? Who are you expecting?
-Who are you? And why do you know my name?
- How can I not know you! After all, I serve as a herdsman for your father Lazar Lazarevich. Eruslan Lazarevich was delighted:
“My father urged me to go to the reserved meadows to choose a horse.” All the horses in our stable are not red. To whomever I throw my hand on the withers, he will fall to his knees. Those horses can't carry me. Help me, Frolushka, get a horse, I will remember your goodness forever.
“Don’t worry, Eruslan Lazarevich, things will work out.” I have a horse in mind. Heroic horse. When he drinks water, the waves on the lake rise as if in a storm, and the leaves fall off the trees. I just don’t know if you can catch him? If you catch it and manage to hold it, the horse will obey you and sense the rider. Here he is, running ahead of the first herd from the watering hole, look!
A herd rushed past, and the herdsman said:
“Let’s go to the lake, I’ll show you where the horse drinks water, and tomorrow morning you sit in ambush there and wait.”
The next morning Eruslan Lazarevich hid and waited. He heard: the earth trembled, a horse's tramp was heard getting closer and closer... And then the first herd galloped past to the watering hole. Ahead of everyone is a horse-fire: it throws sparks with its eyes, flames come out of its nostrils, and smoke curls up from its ears. He waded knee-deep into the water and began to drink. The waves rose in the lake, and leaves fell from the trees on the shore.
The horse got drunk and just jumped ashore when Eruslan Lazarevich grabbed him by the mane with his right hand and held the bridle in his left. The horse rose up and struck with its hooves so hard that the ground shook, but it could not escape from the hands of the hero and calmed down, sensing the real owner.
- This is better, Orosh the Prophet! “He bridled him, took the reins in his hands, and led him to where the saddle and armor lay.
Eruslan saddled Orosh the Prophet and put on military armor. At this time, Frol the shepherd drove up to the watering hole:
“I see that the horse has submitted to you!” Managed to control it.
- Thank you, Frolushka! You have done me a service. I will remember forever!
With that they said goodbye. The herder saw how the good fellow mounted his horse, but before he had time to notice, he disappeared from his eyes, only the dust curled up in a column, as if he had never been there.
Eruslan Lazarevich rode for a day or two and came out into a wide field. Looks: what is it? The entire field is littered with dead bodies. A defeated army lies on that field. Eruslan Lazarevich cried out loudly:
- Is there at least one person alive?
A voice responded:
“I’m the only one left alive out of our entire army!”
Eruslan arrived and asked:
- Tell me, who beat and fought your army?
“Ivan, a Russian hero,” answers the wounded warrior.
- Where is Ivan now, the Russian hero?
- Go at noon, maybe you’ll overtake him. He left to fight with our other army.
Eruslan Lazarevich turned his horse and rode off. He rode for a long time or a short time and came out into a large field - a wide expanse. And on this field lies the beaten army-force.
Again the hero shouted in a loud voice:
- If there is anyone alive here, respond!
One person stood up:
- What do you want, knight? I am the only one alive and left of our entire army.
-Whose is this beaten army and who fought you?
“The army of Feodul Zmeulanovich lies here.” And Ivan, the Russian hero, beat us and fought us.
- Where is he now, Ivan, the Russian hero?
- Yes, you see the leaps of a heroic horse: whole hills of earth are thrown from under its hooves. Stick to this trial and, if your horse is fast, you will overtake him.
Eruslan Lazarevich thanked the warrior and drove around the field in the direction where the fossil led. He rode for a day or two, from dawn to evening, and on the third day he saw a white linen tent in a green meadow. Near the tent, a heroic horse eats wheat. Eruslan Lazarevich unsaddled, unbridled his horse and set him free. Orosho the Prophet immediately approached the wheat and also began to eat.
Eruslan Lazarevich entered the tent and saw: Ivan, the Russian hero, was sleeping soundly in the tent. Eruslan grabbed the sword, but thought: “No, it’s not honor for me, but dishonor to raise a sleepy hand, but I myself need to rest from the road.” I thought so and fell asleep myself.
Ivan, the Russian hero, woke up first. I woke up and saw an uninvited guest. I started to wake him up:
- Get up, wake up, wake up, good fellow! Eruslan Lazarevich stood up, and Ivan, the Russian hero, said:
“Even though you went to sleep in my tent uninvited, uninvited, they don’t take you with you when you stay.” According to our Russian custom, if a guest is visiting and does not cause any mischief, such a guest is always given honor and place. And you, apparently, do not harbor bad thoughts. Sit down with me to taste some bread and salt and tell me who you are? Whose clans, what cities, what is your name?
- I am from the glorious kingdom of Kartausov. My name is Eruslan Lazarevich. Ivan, the Russian hero, heard a lot about you, and I wanted to meet you. I followed your trail for many days, I saw the army of Feodul Zmeulanovich beaten by you. I imagined myself to be the strongest hero, but now I see even without a fight - you are stronger than me. Be my sworn older brother!
Ivan, the Russian hero, and Eruslan Lazarevich fraternized, drank a glass of green wine, ate travel supplies and began to continue the conversation. Eruslan Lazarevich asks:
- Tell me, named brother, why are you fighting and fighting with King Feodul Zmeulanovich? Why did you exhaust so many of his troops?
- But how, dear Eruslan Lazarevich, could I not fight, not fight? We fell in love with the red soul maiden, the daughter of Feodul Zmeulanovich, and I came to his kingdom by honor, by good deed, by matchmaking. And Feodul Zmeulanovich inflicted great destruction on his honor, began to scold, shout: “I don’t know who he is, the rogue, I don’t know, and I won’t let him see him! Soon I will go to war against your kingdom, I will conquer all of Rus', and I will take the Russian heroes to the full.” And he sent an army to meet me. An army attacked me, but it’s a well-known fact: whoever raised the sword first will die by the sword. And I beat and fought Zmeulan’s army, and he sent another after him. And you yourself know what happened to her. So I decided to tell him: “It was completely in vain, Feodul Zmeulanovich, to rely on your own strength! You boasted that if you fight Rus', you will overwhelm the Russian heroes. But it didn’t turn out your way. So wouldn’t it be better for us to make peace as quickly as possible? Give your daughter to me with your will, otherwise I’ll take it by force.” Let's go with me, Eruslan Lazarevich, my sworn brother, to the capital city of King Feodul Zmelanovich. If we start playing a wedding, then you will feast at the wedding.
The heroes got ready and set off. We drove up to the city halfway, and Ivan, the Russian hero, blew his war horn.
A leader galloped from a suburban outpost to the king:
- Ivan, the Russian hero, is only half a field away from the city. And some foreign hero came with him.
Feodul Zmeulanovich was alarmed:
- Oh, what a disaster! He alone beat two armies, and now, if there are two of them, our entire kingdom will be ruined!
Then, little by little, he came to his senses, got off the warm couch, put on his crown, and became dignified:
- Hey, servants! Call the queen quickly, let's go meet him with bread and salt, maybe we'll make peace. - He sent his princes and boyars: - Go to the outpost, lead Ivan, the Russian hero, into the city, and we will meet the queen at the gate.
The named brothers were greeted with honors and bread and salt.
“What happened between us is over, let it grow into a past,” said the king, “and the queen and I are glad to have the honor of receiving guests.”
The tables in the palace were torn apart, and the feast began. And soon they began to celebrate the wedding.
At the wedding feast, Eruslan Lazarevich took time and asked the bride of Ivan, the Russian hero:
- Beautiful princess, is there anyone in the world more beautiful than you?
The princess was embarrassed by these words:
“There is a reputation about me that I am beautiful, but, you hear, far away, in the thirtieth state, there live three sisters, so the youngest of the three sisters is more beautiful than me.”
“Haven’t you heard who, besides Ivan, the Russian hero, your husband, is stronger than me?”
- About you and about your strength and courage, Eruslan Lazarevich, fame is also rolling across the whole earth. But there is a rumor that in the glorious Indian kingdom the hero Ivashka, the White Coat, and the Saracen Cap, has been standing at the outpost for thirty years. They say he is a hero of heroes, but which of you two is stronger, I can’t say, and no one can, until you measure your strength.
He thanked the beautiful princess, and that was the end of their conversation. And when the wedding feast was celebrated, Eruslan Lazarevich began to say goodbye to his sworn brother Ivan, the Russian hero, and his young wife. They persuade him:
“I wish I could have stayed at least a few more days!”
- No, thank you! I’ve already stayed with you, my Prophetic Orosh has rested, and it’s time to continue the journey.
He saddled his horse, put on heroic armor and rode far away to the thirtieth state.
Eruslan Lazarevich travels every day from morning to evening, from sunrise to sunset. And so the journey continued for many days. I arrived in the thirtieth state, where the beautiful sisters lived. He tied the horse to a turned post, to a gilded ring, set the stern, and he climbed onto the carved porch: knock-knock-knock!
The room girl opened the door and asked:
-Who are you? For what reason did you complain? How can I talk about you?
- Say: a knight has arrived from the glorious kingdom of Kartaus. And my name is Eruslan Lazarevich. I need to see three beautiful sisters.
The hay girl ran away, and without hesitation, three sisters came out to him, one more beautiful than the other:
- You are welcome, good fellow. Welcome to your chambers!
First of all, they seated the guest at the table and set before him all sorts of food and drinks. They gave me something to drink and something to eat.
Eruslan Lazarevich stood up from the table and bowed politely to the three girls:
- Thank you for the treat! Now I see for myself: it’s not in vain that the rumor spreads all over the world that there is no one more beautiful and friendlier than you!
At these words, the sisters lowered their eyes, blushed, blushed, then looked at each other and answered the guest:
- Thank you for your kind words, dear Eruslan Lazarevich! But it is in vain that they consider us the first beauties. Here in the kingdom of Vakhramey the princess, the daughter of King Vakhramey, is that real beauty. Marfa Vakhrameevna took it for everyone. And height, and portliness, and courteousness. Her eyes are cloudy, her eyebrows are black and sable, she walks like a swan swimming! She's such a beautiful woman.
- There is also a rumor about your wisdom. And I also want to ask you, beautiful sisters, have you heard who the strongest hero in the world is?
“The earth is full of rumors,” they answer. — There is fame about Ivan, the Russian hero. They say about him that he is the strongest and bravest.
“I myself know Ivan, the Russian hero, well.” He is my older brother.
“And about your strength and courage, our dear guest,” the girls continued, “rumor reached us before you yourself came here.” Yes, they still talk a lot about the strong hero Ivashka, the White Cap, the Saracen Cap. It has stood for thirty years at an outpost in the glorious Indian kingdom. Well, we didn’t have to see him.
I talked with the beautiful sisters Eruslan Lazarevich, thanked them for the bread and salt and said goodbye.
I left the city and thought: “I’ve been traveling for a long time and don’t know what’s going on at home. I need to get home, visit my father and mother. And at the same time I’ll ask for blessings to get married. After that I’ll go to the kingdom of Vakhrameev and begin to woo Marfa Vakhrameevna.”
Orosh the Prophet turned and went to Kartau's kingdom.
Eruslan Lazarevich goes and goes: day and night - a day away. As Orosh the Prophet becomes emaciated, he unsaddles, unbridles his horse, feeds and rests himself, and then continues his journey with new strength. And then, finally, I began to approach my native place. In impatience, he urged the horse on and soon saw in the distance the capital city of the Kartaus kingdom. He drove up the hill, looked and couldn’t believe his eyes. There are no visible or invisible troops around the city. The city is surrounded on all sides by troops. Horsemen gallop on greyhounds, and foot soldiers approach the city gates. “What’s going on here?” he thought. As soon as he managed to go down the hill, he met Frol the herdsman. He is leaving the capital city.
- Hello, Frolushka!
The herder stopped his horse, recognized Eruslan Lazarevich, and said hello.
“Do you know,” asks the hero, “whose army-force is approaching our city so great?”
- Oh, Eruslan Lazarevich! I went from the reserved meadows to the city to the farmstead of your parent, Prince Lazar Lazarevich, but I almost got into trouble. Thank you, the horse helped me out, I galloped away from the enemy, and now I’m driving away from the city and back to the reserved meadows. Some kind of misfortune happened. You see, Prince Danila Bely approached our capital city with countless regiments of horse and foot troops, and our king Kartaus has no heroes in the city except Prince Lazar Lazarevich. Who went where? The king and the boyars locked themselves in, and the townspeople sat outside the city walls. There is no way into or out of the city, and Danila Bely threatens to ruin the entire kingdom.
Eruslan Lazarevich sees: there is no one to defend the kingdom. Yes, and Danila Bely’s troops are overtaken by darkness and darkness. The brave heart flared up, the hero’s shoulder became itchy: he lashed Orosh the Prophet with a whip and galloped towards the city.
The enemies saw it and the hero was galloping straight towards them. They were alarmed and began to shout:
- The hero is coming to help Kartaus! Prince Danila Bely himself led the horsemen towards him and shouted:
- Take him alive, guys!
And Eruslan Lazarevich dispersed his horse and flew into Danilin’s horsemen like a whirlwind. He chops with a sword and stabs with a spear right and left, and Orosh the Prophet brings down horses with his chest, tramples the defeated horsemen with his hooves. And soon the whole field was littered with bodies. The remaining horsemen who had time fled.
At that time, Eruslan Lazarevich saw Danilo Bely himself, caught up with him, hit him with the blunt end of a long spear and knocked him out of the saddle... Orosh the Prophet stepped on his chest. Prince Danila begged:
- Leave me alive, brave, mighty hero! I swear an oath that not a single warrior of mine will ever cross the borders of the Kartaus kingdom! I will order my children and grandchildren not to fight with your kingdom.
“Be it your way,” said Eruslan Lazarevich, “but if you ever break your oath, then there will be no mercy!”
“I will remember your generosity forever and I will not break my oath!” - said Danila Bely, rose to his feet, immediately ordered the siege to be lifted and led his troops away from the Kartaus kingdom.
In the city they saw: enemy troops were leaving. And suddenly they shouted:
- But this is Eruslan Lazarevich, the son of Prince Lazar Lazarevich!
This news soon reached Lazar Lazarevich and the king himself.
Father and mother and King Kartaus with nearby boyars came out of the main gate and greeted Eruslan Lazarevich with great honors. The mother cried with joy and hugged her son. King Karthaus shed tears and said:
“I don’t know how to thank you, Eruslan Lazarevich, for saving us all and our capital city.” And don’t hold grudges against me for the old things, for the old things. That's a thing of the past. And now the desired guest must be fed and watered!.. Roll out the barrels of wine and standing honey! - the king ordered. - Let everyone treat themselves today and glorify the strength and prowess of the glorious mighty hero Eruslan Lazarevich!
That feast continued for three days. And on the fourth day, Eruslan Lazarevich thanked King Kartaus for the treat, bowed low to his father and mother and said:
- We were apart for a long time. I have seen many different lands and cities, but I still can’t stay at home. I still want to look into the world and show myself. Let me go, dear father and mother! And if you happen to meet your betrothed, give her parental blessing.
Father and mother did not argue. They blessed their son and began to prepare for the journey.
“You can’t keep such a falcon in your parents’ house.” I was young myself, I know it from myself! - said Lazar Lazarevich. - Let him ride and have fun!
Eruslan Lazarevich saddled his Orosh the Prophet, put on heroic armor, said goodbye to his family and rode off.
I left my city and thought: “First I’ll go to the glorious Indian kingdom, I’ll see what kind of hero Ivashka is, the White cap, the Saracen cap. And from there I’ll go to the Vakhramevo kingdom. I’d like to see Marfa Vakhrameevna.”
Eruslan rode long, short, close, far, and began to approach the glorious Indian kingdom. He looks: there is an outpost ahead, and near the outpost a hero is sleeping and lying. “Apparently, this is the hero Ivashka White cap, Saracen hat,” thought Eruslan Lazarevich. He drove up very close, but the hero didn’t even move his ears, he was sleeping, snoring.
Eruslan leaned over from the saddle and lashed him firmly with a belt whip:
- Is this how they stand at the outpost, guarding the kingdom? Here, whoever wants to pass, will pass, and you are sleeping, chilling!
Ivashka White Coat, Saracen Cap jumped to his feet and shouted angrily:
-Who are you? - He grabbed the club. “It’s been almost thirty years since a beast has prowled past me, a bird hasn’t flown by, and not a single person has passed by!” And you decided to play bad jokes with me, you dared to beat me with a whip! I’ll put you in the palm of my hand, and I’ll slam the other one, and all that’s left of you is a wet spot! Let's go to the field, I'll teach you a lesson!
He saddled his horse, put on his armor, and they rode into an open field to play a mortal game and measure their strength.
And only the first time they parted ways, Eruslan Lazarevich hit the enemy with the blunt end of a spear and immediately knocked him out of the saddle. And Orosh the Prophet stepped on his chest. Ivashka the White Coat, the Saracen Cap, spoke differently:
- Do not put me to death, glorious mighty hero! Now I see for myself: my strength against yours is half and even less. And my years are passing, and you are just beginning to swear. Let's better buddy up. May you be my elder brother!
“I have no self-interest in your death,” answered Eruslan Lazarevich, “well, they spread the fame about you in vain.” You are not a hero. Get up!
And he took Orosh the Prophet away. Ivashka the White Epancha, the Saracen Cap, stood up, bowed to the named brother at the waist and said:
- Come to the glorious Indian kingdom! The path there is open for you. Stay with our king!
Eruslan Lazarevich turned his horse, rode straight to the capital city and soon rode into the royal court. He unsaddled, unbridled Orosh the Prophet, and tied him to a chiseled pillar with a gilded ring.
The king was sitting at the window and saw a foreign knight arrive in the courtyard. He went out onto the carved porch, greeted the hero warmly, kindly, and began his speech like this:
- Welcome, dear guest, don’t be harsh, I don’t know what to call you. Whose clan will you be from, from what state?
The hero politely greeted and answered:
- I am from the glorious kingdom of Kartaus, the son of Prince Lazar Lazarevich, and my name is Eruslan Lazarevich.
With these words he went up to the porch. The king took him to his chambers, fed him, gave him something to drink, asked him about the route, and then said:
- It’s so nice of you to visit me. We welcome every good guest, and such a hero as you are has honor and a place in my palace! And now I’m off the road, I guess I’d like to take a rest. Hey, who's there? - the king clapped his hands.
They came running to the servant's call.
- Take the guest to the bedchamber and prepare everything so that he does not remain offended!
Eruslan Lazarevich stayed with the Indian king, thanked him for the treat and went on his way. He rides and thinks: "I found out what the famous hero Ivashka the White Epancha, the Saracen Cap, is like, I also saw the affectionate, hospitable king of the glorious Indian kingdom, and now I will go to the Vakhrameyevna kingdom. Still, I have no peace and will not have it until I see Marfa Vakhrameyevna with my own eyes."
Eruslan travels along the road, a day, two and three. The kingdom of Vakhrameev is just a stone's throw away: just a day's drive.
At that time he met a wanderer, a Kalika walking. The wanderer took off his cap of the Greek land and bowed to the hero:
- Hello, Eruslan Lazarevich! The hero was surprised and asked:
-Who are you? Apparently you know me when you call me by name!
- I am a crossing girl. I wander through all lands, through all cities. I visited the Kartaus kingdom, visited your parents, and saw you many times. I recently passed by the kingdom of Kartaus and I bring joyless, sad news.
The hero jumped off his horse and, out of impatience, grabbed the wanderer by the shoulder:
- Tell me quickly, what’s going on in our kingdom? Have you seen the priest and mother? Are they alive and well?
- Wait, Eruslan Lazarevich, don’t shake me! You'll rip your arm off like that! There's trouble at home. Prince Danila Bely took advantage of the time and attacked by surprise with a countless army. He beat and killed a lot of people, and more than that, he drove away completely. The capital city was burned to the ground, destroyed, leaving no stone unturned. He captured King Kartaus, your parent Lazar Lazarevich, and some of the nearby boyars alive and gouged out their eyes. He took the blind people to his principality and imprisoned them. There they still languish.
Eruslan Lazarevich listened to everything that the wanderer said, lowered his head and said:
- Eh, it was completely in vain that I left Danila Bely alive then! He ate the earth, swore not to fight with the kingdom of Kartaus, and I believed it! And what has he done? Repaid my kindness. Well, just wait, I’ll settle accounts with you! There will be no mercy now!
With these words, he jumped on his horse, said goodbye to the crosswalker and rushed to the principality of Danila Bely.
He arrived and found the dungeon where his parents, King Kartaus and his fellow boyars were imprisoned. He scattered the guards, threw them around, tore off the lock and shouted right from the threshold:
- Hello, dear dear parents, mother and father! Hello, Your Majesty, King Kartaus, and you, fellow boyars!
He hears in response:
“We hear your voice, but we don’t see whoever is speaking!” We are blind, dark ones!
Then the hero’s mother spoke:
“Even though I don’t see you, I recognized you by your voice, and my heart feels it - this is our dear son, Eruslan Lazarevich!”
“But he really is,” said Lazar Lazarevich. “Behold, dear son, what a great, grievous grief has befallen us.” We’ve lost everything and can’t even see the white light. Well, that’s not what we’re talking about now. Behind the mountains, beyond the seas, whether close or far away - I haven’t been there myself, but I’ve heard from faithful people - there is a kingdom, and that kingdom is ruled by a Fiery Shield, a Fiery Spear. There is a well of living water in this kingdom. Do you serve:
go to the Fiery Shield, the Flame Copy, bring living water, sprinkle our wounds, and we will see clearly.
“I’ll go to the Fiery Shield, the Flame Replica,” answered the Bogatyr, “but first I need to find Danila Bely.”
With those words the good fellow came out of prison.
And at that time, while Eruslan Lazarevich was talking with the prisoners, a prison guard ran to Danila Bely:
- Trouble, prince! Some foreign hero beat all the guards in the prison yard! I'm the only one left alive.
“No other than this is the son of Lazar Lazarevich,” said Danila Bely. - Quickly raise the alarm, gather the troops that are in the city!
And I thought to myself: “It’s easiest to defeat him in prison.” He quickly put on his battle armor, jumped on his horse and led his army.
Meanwhile, Eruslan Lazarevich left the prison yard to the square and saw the princely army. Like a kite on chickens, he rushed at Danila Bely’s squad. Whoever he reaches with a sword, he will destroy to the saddle cushion, and someone he will knock out of the saddle with a spear. Orosh the Prophet knocks over enemy horses with his chest and tramples warriors with his hooves. And soon Yeruslan beat and fought all this army. There were very few vigilantes left alive, and they took to their heels.
It was then that Eruslan Lazarevich noticed Danilo Bely galloping away.
- It’s you that I need! - he shouted, spurred his horse and rushed after the invading prince.
And no matter how much he whipped his horse, Orosh the Prophet soon overtook him.
Eruslan Lazarevich kicked Danilo Bely out of the saddle and cut off his head.
- Get the bad grass out of the field! - He turned his horse and arrived at the dungeon. - Come out everyone, move to the palace of Danila Bely for now!..
Then he says to King Karthaus:
“The local principality will have to be assigned to our kingdom.” And you, sit on the throne of Danila Bely, and live in this city until I bring living water. Our capital city is still destroyed, when will it be built up again - and I went to the kingdom of the Otenny Shield, the Flame Spear.
Eruslan rode and rode, and a wide field spread out in front of him. And on that field lies a beaten army-force. The hero shouted in a loud voice:
- Hey, is there even one person alive in this field?
- What do you want? - one warrior responded.
- Tell me, who defeated this large army?
“Roslaney the hero defeated our entire army.”
- Where is he himself, Roslaney the hero?
- If you drive close, you will see another field with a beaten army. He lies there dead.
The hero passed the beaten army, drove not far and came to another field, which was also strewn with bodies. “This massacre is much larger than the first,” he thought and suddenly saw a large hill. He drove closer and was amazed - it turned out not to be a hill, but a huge head, like a haystack, lying there. Shouted:
- Is anyone alive?
Nobody responded. He shouted again - again there was no answer. And only when she screamed for the third time did her head open her eyes, yawn and say:
- Who are you? And what do you want?
- I am from the glorious Karta Usov kingdom. My name is Ruslan Azarevich. I want to know whose beaten army is this? And where is the mighty hero Roslanei?
“I am the hero of Roslan,” the head answers, “and the troops that lie on the first and on this field were brought by the king, the Fiery Shield, the Flaming Spear.” He led his squads against me, and I beat them, fought, and now, as you can see, I’m lying beaten.
- How did this happen? You beat and killed both armies and fell cut down yourself?
“Many years ago, when I was still very young,” the head spoke, “Tsar Fiery Shield, Flaming Spear with a large army attacked our kingdom by surprise.” And my father was our king then. He quickly gathered a small squad and went out to meet them. The battle began, a bloody battle. Fire Shield and Flame Copy had many more troops, and he won. Many of our soldiers died. My father was captured, and King Fire Shield, Flame Spear killed him.
And when I grew up and became a strong hero, I decided to take revenge on the Fiery Shield, the Flame Copy. The sorceress who lived in our kingdom found out about this, and said to me: “King Fire Shield, Flame Spear is a very strong hero, and also a wizard, and you can defeat him if you get the treasure sword. On the sea-ocean, on the island of Buyan, on a high mountain under an old oak tree, there is a cave. In that cave, a magic treasure sword was walled up in ancient times. Only with this sword can you win Fire shield, Flame copy.”
I put in a lot of work and wandered for a long time, but I took out the magic treasure sword and went to the kingdom of the Fire Shield, the Flame Spear. He sent an army-force against me. And when I beat this army and fought, he gathered another army-force, larger than the first, and he himself led it to meet me. We came together on this very field. I began to beat them, like mowing grass, and those whom the horse tramples. And soon few of them remained alive. And the Fiery Shield itself, the Flaming Spear, jumped up to me, shouting: “Now I will put you to death!” I swung, hit him with my magic sword, and he immediately fell off his horse. Then his servants cried out: “That’s how nicely Roslaney the hero treated him with his sword. Come on, give him one more time! Then we can hold a funeral for him!” I hit him another time. As soon as the sword touched him, it immediately bounced back with terrible force and cut off my head, and the Fire Shield, the Flame Spear immediately came to life as if nothing had happened. At this very time my adopted brother arrived. He grabbed the treasure sword and put it under my head. Then the Fiery Shield and the Flaming Spear sent their heroes many times and came himself, but no one managed to pull the treasure sword out from under their heads, no matter how hard they tried. He is right here below me now.
With that, Roslaney’s head finished his story and asked:
- What business did you come here for and where are you going?
Eruslan Lazarevich told why he was going to the kingdom of the Fire Shield, the Flame Spear.
“It’s commendable, Eruslan Lazarevich, that you didn’t abandon your loved ones in grief and trouble, you helped them out, and now you’ve gone to get living water for them.” But I’ll tell you: it’s in vain that you’ll go there. You don’t yet know what this villain, Fire Shield, Flame Spear, is. You can’t ask him kindly for ice in winter. Will he give living water? And you won’t get anything from him by force either, because neither an arrow, nor a spear, nor a sword will take him. He will have time to kill you ten times while you are swinging. But it’s better to listen to what I’m going to tell you, remember it well, and if you listen, you will defeat him.
Eruslan Lazarevich listened to everything that Roslaneev’s head punished him, thanked him and said goodbye:
- As soon as I get living water, I will come to you and attach my head to my body...
After that, he sat on his Orosh the Prophetic and hurried to the kingdom of the Fire Shield, the Flame Spear. I began to approach the city. The fiery shield and fiery spear saw the hero, rode out to meet him and began throwing fiery arrows from afar.
- Turn back, otherwise I’ll burn you! - he shouted. Eruslan Lazarevich took off his helmet, waved and shouted:
“I came to you not to fight, not to fight, but for a good cause!”
- Who are you? And what do you want? Speak!
- I am from the glorious kingdom of Kartaus. My name is Eruslan Lazarevich. Rumors spread throughout the entire earth about your strength and glory, and I want to enter your service!
Fire Shield, Flame Spear answers:
“If you and my twelve heroes manage to get the sword from under Roslaneev’s head, then I’ll take you into service, but if you don’t get it, blame yourself!” You won't be alive!
- Listen, Fire Shield, Flame Spear, I can do without your heroes! I can handle it alone, I’ll get my sword!
The Fire Shield and the Flame Spear came closer and said:
- Go quickly, bring a sword, then you will be my eldest over the heroes!
Eruslan Lazarevich turned his horse. When he arrived on the battlefield, Roslaney’s head saw him from afar:
- Well, how? Have you seen the Fire Shield, the Flame copy?
- I did everything as you said. I came for a treasure sword.
The head rolled to the side:
- Take it, but remember: hit only once!
Eruslan Lazarevich raised his sword, sat on Orosh the Prophetic and rode away.
Fire Shield, Flame Spear, as soon as the sentinel notified, rode out to meet him and asked:
— Did you get the treasure sword?
“Here he is,” Eruslan Lazarevich raised his sword, galloped up to the Fire Shield, the Flame Copy and - once! - hit him with all his might.
The fiery shield, the fiery spear fell from the horse as if knocked down:
- Hit him again! - the servants of the Fire Shield, Flame Spear shouted.
“It’s not the custom of good fellows to raise their sword twice.” Once is enough! - Yeruslan Lazarevich shouted back.
Then all twelve heroes of the Fire Shield and Flame Spear attacked Eruslan shouting:
- Hit him! Let's chop it into small pieces, get the treasure sword and revive the Fire Shield, the Flame Copy!
No such luck! Eruslan Lazarevich beat them all and fought. Then he found the treasured well and stocked up on living water. He drank a little and gave it to Orosh the Prophet. And immediately all the fatigue was lifted from them.
Before he had time to leave for the battlefield, Roslanei’s head immediately saw him and spoke:
- If he returned, he must have defeated the Fire Shield, the Flame Spear, my adversary! Did you find living water?
“I brought it,” answers Eruslan Lazarevich, “now you’ll be healthy.”
The head rolled towards the body and became as it should. Eruslan Lazarevich sprinkled it with living water, and the head grew to the body. Roslaney stood up, so big and seasoned - it was scary to look at.
- Well, Eruslan Lazarevich, you have done me a great service, I will never forget! And, if necessary, I will not regret my life for you!
“Why talk about it,” said Eruslan Lazarevich. - Without your treasure sword and wise advice, could I have defeated the Fire Shield, the Flame Spear and obtained living water? Here, take it! - and hands him a sword.
And Roslaney the hero took his hands away and said:
- No, Eruslan Lazarevich, my sworn brother, the sword will still be useful to you.
“But the sword just suited my hand,” said Eruslan Lazarevich, “thank you, dear Ros-lanei, my sworn brother.” Well, now we need to hurry to our parents.
“And I need to go look for my horse,” said Roslaney the hero. “Looks like he’s grazing somewhere not far from here.” The horse is faithful, only he can carry me.
With that, the heroes said goodbye. Roslanei went to look for his horse, and Eruslan Lazarevich went to the principality of Danila Bely. As soon as he arrived, he ran into the palace, sprinkled living water in his eyes, and immediately the father and mother and King Kartaus and the boyars saw clearly and were so happy that they even cried a little from great happiness.
King Kartaus organized a large feast in honor of Eruslan Lazarevich. At that feast, everyone drank and ate and glorified the heroism and prowess of Eruslan Lazarevich.
The feast was feasted. And the hero says to his parents:
- I need to visit the Vakhrameev kingdom. Bless you on your way!
“Well,” said Lazar Lazarevich, “even though it’s a pity to leave, but apparently there’s nothing to do.” My mother and I are now, thank God, healthy. Go if you need to!
He quickly got ready, got ready, sat on his Orosh the Prophetic, and only dust swirled behind the good fellow.
Eruslan traveled for a long time, briefly, and finally ended up in the kingdom of Vakhramevo. I drove up to the capital city and saw that the gates were tightly locked. I knocked. The guards responded to the knock:
- Who is this? And what do you want?
- My name is Eruslan Lazarevich, and I came to King Vakhramey for a good cause.
The gates opened, and as soon as the hero passed, they were firmly closed again. He thought: “Why is the city locked up?”
King Vakhramey greeted him kindly:
- You are welcome, good fellow! I don’t know what to call him.
- I am from the Kartaus kingdom, the son of Prince Lazar Lazarevich, and my name is Eruslan Lazarevich. I traveled a lot around the world, visited many lands, and I wanted to visit your state.
- Oh, that's who you are! - said King Vakhramey. “The fame of your exploits and heroism, dear Eruslan Lazarevich, spreads throughout all lands, throughout all cities.” It also reached our kingdom. And I am glad to have a dear guest, but I cannot hide from you that great grief has befallen us. The three-headed sea serpent got into the habit of flying and eating people. That is why we are locked up, but city walls are no protection from a winged monster.
— Does the sea serpent come often? - asked Eruslan Lazarevich.
- Every three days. “Today he will fly in and take someone away again,” answered King Vakhramey and added: “Go, dear guest, to your chambers.” You need to eat, drink and rest from the road!
- Thank you! But first I need to visit the seashore, and then I’ll rest,” said Eruslan Lazarevich.
With these words, he left the palace, jumped on Orosh the Prophetic and rode out of the city to the seashore. He stopped his horse and blew his war horn once and twice. After the third time, a large wave rose in the sea, and after that a three-headed sea serpent appeared from the water. All three mouths are open, teeth are bared, six eyes are burning with anger.
The snake looked at the shore and spoke:
“This time King Vakhramey did not wait for me, he himself sent a man for dinner and a horse to boot!”
“And you, damned monster, stop boasting ahead of time, lest you choke!” - shouted the hero.
And as soon as the snake had time to set foot on the shore, Eruslan galloped up, waved his treasure sword and cut off two heads in one go.
The snake got scared and prayed:
- Mighty hero, do not put me to death, do not cut off my remaining head! I will never fly to the kingdom of Vahrameevo, but I will give you a rich ransom. I have a precious stone of unprecedented beauty, one that cannot be found in this world.
-Where is your precious stone?
- I’ll get it now!
With those words, the serpent rushed into the sea and soon returned, brought and gave to the hero a precious stone of unheard-of beauty.
Eruslan Lazarevich accepted the gift and jumped the snake onto his back straight from his horse.
“Take it to Vakhramey’s palace and tell him yourself that you will never attack people again!”
The sea serpent had no choice but to obey. And he took the hero to the capital city, and Orosh the Prophet ran after him.
A great commotion began in the city and in the palace when they saw how a foreign hero arrived on a sea monster.
And King Vakhramey and all the people began to ask and persuade:
- Eruslan Lazarevich, don’t leave the damned snake alive. How many tears people shed because of him, the villain. Now he’s quiet, but when you leave, he’ll get back to his old ways again. We know him!
The hero did not argue, jumped off the snake and cut off its head.
The townspeople took the snake out of the city on twelve carts and buried it in a deep ravine.
The black flags that announced misfortune were removed, and all the people cheered up.
And Vakhramey gave a feast to the whole world. He called guests from all the volosts. Next to him, in the place of honor, he seated Eruslan Lazarevich and began to treat him:
- Eat, drink, dear guest! I don’t know how to thank you.
At that time, the beautiful princess came out of her chambers to the guests. The hero looked at her and froze - Marfa Vakhrameevna was so beautiful. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life,” he thought, “I could look at her forever and admire her.”
And Marfa Vakhrameevna’s heart skipped a beat. She bowed decorously to the guests, glanced once again at Eruslan Lazarevich and lowered her eyes - good, handsome!
The feasting meal is over. The guests thanked them for the bread and the salt, said goodbye and went their separate ways. Then Eruslan Lazarevich began his speech:
“I came to you, Tsar-Sovereign, for a good deed, for matchmaking.” If you gave your blessing, and Marfa Vakhrameevna married me, I wouldn’t need a better fate!
- Dear Eruslan Lazarevich, if my daughter agrees, then I’m glad to become related to you. Now it’s up to you, Marfa Vakhrameevna,” he turned to his daughter. - Tell me, do you love your groom?
The beautiful girl blushed, lowered her clear eyes and then said:
- I am yours and your will, Father Tsar-Sovereign! And if you bless me, then I agree.
- That's good! - King Vakhramey said cheerfully. “Oh, I’ve found a son-in-law after my heart and soul.”
In royal life there is no brewing beer, no smoking wine - there is plenty of everything. Soon the wedding took place and the feast was celebrated.
And Eruslan Lazarevich began to live and live with his young wife Marfa Vakhrameevna with his father-in-law.
Day after day, week after week - almost a whole year passed unnoticed.
One day Eruslan Lazarevich says to Marfa Vakhrameevna:
“We need to go and see your parents, and show you to your father and mother.”
- Oh, I would be glad to go and see your parents and not be separated from you, but you see for yourself that I can’t go on a long journey now, and the way there is not close, not easy. Visit them this time alone, just come back quickly. And next year we will go with the whole family. And remember: as you drive past the Devil’s Kingdom, they will invite you to stay, so be sure not to stop by. If you stop by, the Tsar Maiden will bewitch you.
- Well, what are you talking about! Why should I visit the Devil's Kingdom? Then he gave her a gold ring with the precious stone that he received from the sea serpent:
- If we have a son, give it to him when he comes of age. And let him not take this ring off his hand, day or night.
Then he got ready, got ready and hit the road.
Eruslan Lazarevich is coming, yes he is coming. A day passed and another passed. On the third day he sees a garden spread out in front of him, beyond the reach of his eye. In that garden there is a magnificent palace, its golden roof glowing in the sun. The windows in the palace are crystal, the frames are decorated with intricate carvings.
As soon as I reached the garden, someone on a horse rushed out of the gate. Eruslan Lazarevich looked closely and saw: a daring woodpile was galloping towards him, sitting on a horse like a glove. The woodpile has falcon eyes, black sable eyebrows, a white, ruddy face, from under the helmet braids fall to the waist. She spoke as if a river was babbling:
“After all, I saw you, good fellow, from the window.” Why are you driving past, why don’t you stop by to drink and eat, feed your horse, and talk?
- Thank you, Tsar Maiden, I don’t have time. “I’m going to visit my father and mother,” answered Eruslan Lazarevich.
He looks at the woodpile himself - he can’t take his eyes off.
- What a waste of time! - said the Tsar Maiden. - Don’t rush to go, hurry to feed the horse, you’ll sooner get where you need to go.
And she smiled, as if warmed by the gentle summer sun.
The hero immediately forgot about his wife’s order, turned his horse and rode with the Tsar Maiden, stirrup to stirrup, into the wonderful garden.
In the Nine State, beautiful maidens are one more beautiful than the other, and the most beautiful of all is the Tsar Maiden herself, the daring woodpile.
A hot bath was immediately heated for Eruslan Lazarevich. He washed himself and steamed himself. The Tsar Maiden began to treat him with foreign wines, standing honey, and set all sorts of dishes on the table.
She gave her something to drink, fed, and began to play the lute and sing along with her thin, gentle voice.
The good fellow listens and cannot hear enough; he cannot stop looking at the Tsar Maiden. Then many girls ran into the palace and began to sing songs and dance in circles.
A year passed and another passed in songs, dances and fun. And Eruslan Lazarevich thinks: “Oh, I stayed for a long time! I stopped by for an hour, but stayed for two days.” He began to thank the Tsar Maiden:
- It's time for me to go!
And she began to persuade, cajole with gentle words:
- Light Eruslan Lazarevich! Don't leave me, don't go, stay!
- No, I need to see my parents!
- You will have time to meet your father and mother! Stay at least a week, comfort me!
The good fellow gave in to persuasion and affection. The nimble legs seemed rooted to the spot. Remained in the Nine Kingdom. It seems to him that a week has passed, and the eighth year is coming to an end.
Soon after Eruslan Lazarevich left, Marfa Vakhrameevna gave birth to a son. They gave him the name Eruslan Eruslanovich. Eruslan Eruslanovich was born strong and strong, and from the very first days he began to grow and mature so quickly that in his second year he seemed like a twelve-year-old teenager. And when he was seven years old, he became a mighty hero. There was no one equal to him in strength and dexterity in fights throughout the entire state. He defeated everyone.
One day Eruslan Eruslanovich asks his mother:
- Tell me, madam mother, where is my father Eruslan Lazarevich? They said that he had gone to the kingdom of Kartaus to visit his grandparents. Did anything happen to him on the way? Bless me, I’ll go look for my father.
Marfa Vakhrameevna began to cry:
- Well, where are you going, since you’ve never been anywhere in your kingdom, you haven’t seen anything. The father left and ended up in the Devil’s Kingdom. They bewitched him, enchanted him there, and there is no return from there. And you will completely die!
Eruslan Eruslanovich doesn’t delve into this, but he stands his ground.
“I’ll go anyway, I’ll find Father Eruslan Lazarevich and bring him home.”
Marfa Vakhrameevna saw that she couldn’t persuade her son, and said:
“Well, have it your way, go, just take this ring and don’t take it off your hand day or night.”
And she put a gold ring with a precious stone on Eruslan Eruslanovich’s finger, a gift from the sea serpent.
King Vakhramey also tried to dissuade his grandson for a long time, and in the end he waved his hand:
- Go!
Soon Eruslan Eruslanovich got ready and began to say goodbye. Tsar Vakhramey, Marfa Vakhrameyevna and all the nannies, mothers, and hay girls came out to see him off. They saw him get on his horse, but didn’t see him ride off. Only the dust swirled behind the good fellow.
Whether he rode long or short, the miles were immeasurable, and on the third day in the morning a huge wonderful garden spread out in front of him, and in the garden there was a palace with a gilded roof and crystal windows. “This is the Devil’s Kingdom,” thought the young hero. He drove up to the gate and cried out in a loud voice:
- Send a fighter, otherwise I’ll destroy the gate! The Tsar Maiden heard and asked:
-Who is this guy who breaks through the gate and demands a fighter?
“Some foreign knight has arrived, apparently still quite young,” answers the hero who is standing as a guard at the gate.
“Go without delay and teach him a good lesson, you ignoramus!” - ordered the Tsar Maiden.
The hero rode out of the gate and shouted:
-Who are you, young ignoramus? You’re breaking into the gate and even demanding a fighter!
“When we get together, you’ll find out what an ignoramus I am!” - the young rider shouted back.
They came together, and Eruslan Eruslanovich knocked the hero out of the saddle with a light blow the first time.
- I won’t put you to death! Go tell the Tsar Maiden: let him send a fighter. It doesn’t suit me to measure my strength with someone like you!
The beaten hero returned and told about the mighty knight. The Tsar Maiden went to wake up Eruslan Lazarevich:
- Get up, wake up, dear dear friend! Some foreign young hero has arrived and demands a fighter. It’s a pity to wake you up, but there’s nothing to do. After all, all hope lies only in you!
Eruslan Lazarevich got up, put on his battle armor, saddled Orosh the Prophetic and rode out into an open field, into a wide expanse.
They came together and collided so badly that the horses sat on their hind legs, but the heroes did not injure either one. They turned their horses, parted ways and began to come together again.
“He still looks like a young man, but he won’t yield to anyone in strength and combat skill,” thought Eruslan Lazarevich.
When they came together for the second time, they again clashed with swords, Eruslan Lazarevich struck with such force that the fighter could not stay in the saddle and fell from his horse on the damp ground. And Orosh the Prophet immediately stepped on his chest. Eruslan Lazarevich looked at the hero and noticed that something flashed on the young man’s hand. He looked again, recognized his ring, and it came to his mind: “Isn’t this my son?” Asks:
- Tell me, what kind of tribe are you, what is your name, what is your patronymic?
“If my horse had stepped on your chest, I would not have asked or inquired about your family, or tribe, or about your father or mother, but I would have cut off your head completely!”
“I don’t want to ruin your young life,” said Eruslan Lazarevich. - Just tell me, who are your parents and what is your name?
“My mother is Marfa Vakhrameevna, and my father is the glorious mighty hero Eruslan Lazarevich. My name is Eruslan Eruslanovich.
Eruslan Lazarevich immediately jumped from his horse to the ground, picked up the young knight, hugged him tightly and said:
“That’s how we met, my dear son!” How old are you?
“I turned seven years old, I’m on my eighth year.” I wanted to find you. And this is how we happened to meet.
“How can this be?” thought Eruslan Lazarevich. “I stayed in the Nine Kingdom for just over a week, and my son is now eight years old?”
Then he said:
“Let’s go as soon as possible, dear son, to the kingdom of Vahrameevo.”
We got on our horses and rode home.
There was a lot of joy when Marfa Vakhrameyevna and Tsar Vakhramey met the heroes. King Vakhramey arranged a feast for the whole world. And when they feasted, he said:
“Listen, Eruslan Lazarevich, my dear son-in-law, I have become old, I am completely overcome by illnesses and infirmities. Take the throne and rule the kingdom, and I will live out my life in peace!
“That’s how it is,” answered Eruslan Lazarevich, “I’ve ridden all over the world, I’ve had my fun with a long spear and a treasure sword, and I agree to rule the kingdom.” The only concern I have is that I don’t know anything about my father and mother. I'd like to see each other, but I don't have time to go there because of royal affairs.
“There’s no point in grieving and grieving about that,” Vakhramey says, “you now have a replacement.” Eruslan Eruslanovich will go to Kartau’s kingdom, take them to the kingdom and invite them to visit us.
And so Eruslan Lazarevich took the throne, and Eruslan Eruslanovich left for the kingdom of Kartau.
How much or how much time has passed, Eruslan Eruslanovich returned home, and Eruslan Lazarevich’s parents came with him.
To rejoice, they started a feast for the whole world. I was at that feast, drank honey and beer, learned about all this, and told him about it.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru