In a far-off land, in a far-off kingdom, lived Ivan Tsarevich. He had three sisters,

Mary Tsarevna, Olga Tsarevna and Anna Tsarevna.

In time their father and mother both died. On their deathbed they said to

their son:

“You must give your sisters to the first men who ask for their hands. Don’t

keep them at home.”

Ivan buried his parents. Then he and his sisters went out for a walk in the

garden.

Suddenly a black cloud appeared over their heads. A terrible storm came up.

“Quick, sisters! We must get back inside!” said Ivan Tsarevich.

As soon as they were back in the palace, there was a clap of thunder, the ceiling split open, and a bright falcon swooped into the room. It flew straight to the floor, turned into a handsome young warrior and said:

“Good day, Ivan Tsarevich. I came before as a guest. Now I’ve come as a suitor. I want the hand of your sister, Mary Tsarevna.”

“If my sister’s willing, I’m not going to stand in the way. God bless you.”

Mary Tsarevna agreed. The falcon married her and carried her off to his kingdom. Hours followed hours. Days followed days. A whole year went by so quickly that you could hardly notice it.

Ivan and his sisters went out for a walk in the garden. A black cloud appeared. A whirlwind. Then lightning.

“Quick, sisters! We must get back inside!” said Ivan Tsarevich.

As soon as they were in the palace again, there was a clap of thunder, the roof fell apart, the ceiling split open and an eagle flew in. It flew straight to the floor and turned into a handsome young warrior.

“Good day, Ivan Tsarevich, I came before as a guest. Now I’ve come as a suitor. I want the hand of your sister, Olga Tsarevna.”

“If my sister’s willing, I’m not going to stand in the way. God bless you.”

Olga Tsarevna agreed and was given in marriage to the eagle. The eagle snatched her up and carried her off to his kingdom.

A third year went by. Ivan Tsarevich said to his youngest sister:

“Come on. Let’s go for a walk in the garden.”

They walked about for awhile. A storm cloud appeared. A terrible wind. Then lightning.

“Quick, Anna! We must get back inside.”

They rushed back. Before they had time to sit down, a clap of thunder rang out, the ceiling split open, and in flew a raven. It flew straight to the floor and turned into a handsome young warrior. The first two had been handsome enough, but they were nothing beside him.

“Ivan Tsarevich. I came before as a guest. Now I’ve come as a suitor. Give me the hand of Anna Tsarevna.”

“My sister’s a free woman. If she loves you, then marry her.”

Anna Tsarevna married the raven, and he carried her off to his kingdom.

Ivan Tsarevich lived alone for a whole year. He felt sad. One day he decided to go and look for his sisters.

He got everything ready and set off. He rode a long way. One day he came to a field covered by a whole army of corpses.

He shouted out: “If there’s one of you left alive, answer me! Who was it defeated this great army?”

One man there was still alive, and he replied: “We were defeated by Marya Morevna, the beautiful Tsarevna.”

Ivan Tsarevich journeyed on until he came to a splendid camp. Marya Morevna walked out to meet him.

“Good day, Ivan Tsarevich! Where are you going? Do you travel from choice or from need?”

“I’m a free man,” answered Ivan Tsarevich. “I do what I choose to do.”

“Well then,” said Marya Morevna, “Why don’t you come and stay with me for awhile?”

Ivan Tsarevich was only too glad to agree. He stayed two nights, and Marya Morevna fell in love with him. They married.

Marya Morevna took him with her to her kingdom. For a while they lived happily together, but then Marya took it into her head to go to war. She left everything in the hands of Ivan Tsarevich. All she said to him was:

“Go wherever you like. Look at whatever you like. But the one thing you must never do is to open the door of this storeroom.”

Ivan Tsarevich was just like the rest of us. As soon as Marya Morevna was gone, he rushed straight into the storeroom, opened the door, and looked in. There hung Koshchey the Deathless. He was bound by twelve iron chains.

“Have pity on me!” said Koshchey. “Give me something to drink. I’ve been hanging here for ten years without food or water. My throat feels like sandpaper.”

Ivan Tsarevich brought him a bucket of water, and Koshchey drank it in one gulp.

“I need more than one bucket. Bring me another.”

Ivan brought him a second bucket. Koshchey drank it down and asked for a third. As he swallowed the last drop, all his old strength came back to him. With one shake of his body he snapped the twelve chains.

“You're very kind,” said Koshchey. “But I’m afraid you won’t see any more of Marya Morevna. No, you’re no more likely to see her again than you are to catch sight of your own ears.”

He turned into a terrible whirlwind and flew out of the window. He found Marya Morevna, snatched her up and carried her back to his home.

Ivan Tsarevich cried and cried. Then he dried his eyes and got ready to go on a journey.

He set off. He walked for a day. He walked for a second day. On the dawn of the third day he came to a wonderful palace. Beside it stood an oak tree, and on the oak tree perched a bright falcon. The falcon swooped down, flew straight to the ground and turned into a handsome young warrior

“My brother-in-law! How are you then? What’s new in the world?”

Princess Mary ran out, embraced Ivan Tsarevich and began asking him to tell her everything that had happened to him. Then she told him how things had been with her. Ivan stayed as her guest for three days and then said:

“I’m sorry. I can’t stay any longer. I must search for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful tsarevna.”

“You won’t find that easy,” said the falcon. “Leave us your silver spoon at least. Then we’ll have something to remember you by."

Ivan set off. He walked for a day. He walked for a second day. On the dawn of the third day he came to a second palace. It was even more beautiful than the first one. Nearby stood an oak tree. On the oak tree perched an eagle.

The eagle swooped down, flew straight to the ground, turned into a handsome young warrior and called out:

“Olga Tsarevna! Quick! It’s our brother!”

Olga Tsarevna ran out to meet him. She began hugging and kissing him and asking him to tell her everything that had happened. Then she told him how things had been with her. Ivan stayed as her guest for three days and then said:

“I can’t stay with you any longer. I must search for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful tsarevna.”

“You won’t find that easy,” said the eagle. "Leave us your silver fork, just in case. Then we’ll have something to remember you by.”

Ivan gave them his silver fork and set off. He walked for a day. He walked for a second day. On the dawn of the third day he came to a third palace. It was even more splendid than the second one. Beside it stood an oak tree. On the oak tree perched a raven.

The raven swooped down, flew straight to the ground, turned into a handsome young warrior, and shouted out:

“Anna Tsarevna! Come here! It’s your brother!”

Anna Tsarevna ran out. She hugged and kissed Ivan and told him to tell her everything that had happened to him. Then she told him how things had been with her. Ivan stayed as her guest for three days and then said:

“God be with you, brother and sister! I must search for my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful tsarevna.”

“You won’t find that easy,” answered the raven. "Leave us your silver snuff box at least. Then we'll have something to remember you by."

Ivan gave them his silver snuff box, said good-bye again and set off.

He walked for a day. He walked for a second day. On the morning of the third day he found Marya Morevna. As soon as she caught sight of him, she threw herself into his arms, burst out sobbing and said:

“Ivan Tsarevich! Why, why didn’t you listen to me? Why did you look into the store room and let out Koshchey the Deathless?”

“Forgive me, Marya Morevna. But let us not cry over spilt milk. You must come with me! Quick! Before Koshchey comes back!”

They got ready and set off. Koshchey had been out hunting that day. As he was returning in the evening, his horse stumbled.

“What's up with you, you old nag? Is something the matter at home?”

“Ivan Tsarevich has come and taken Marya Morevna away with him,” answered the horse.

“Can you catch up with them?”

“If you were to sow a field of wheat, wait for it to grow, reap it and thresh it, winnow it, grind it into flour, bake five ovenfuls of bread, eat the bread, and only then set out—even then we could catch up with them.”

Koshchey galloped off. It wasn’t long before he caught up with Ivan Tsarevich.

“Well,” he said. “I'll pardon you once for the water you gave me. I’ll even pardon you a second time. But after that I’ll cut you to pieces.”

He took Marya Morevna and carried her back. Ivan Tsarevich sat on a stone and began to cry.

He cried and cried. Then he went back again for Marya Morevna. Koshchey the Deathless was out.

“Let’s go, Marya Morevna!”

“But Ivan Tsarevich, he’ll catch up with us in no time.”

“Let him. At least we’ll be able to spend an hour or two together.”

As Koshchey made his way back in the evening, his horse stumbled.

“What’s up with you, you old nag? Is something the matter at home?”

“Ivan Tsarevich has come and taken Marya Morevna away with him.”

“Can you catch up with them?”

“If you were to sow a field of barley, wait for it to grow, reap it and thresh it, winnow it, make beer out of it, get yourself drunk, sleep off the hangover, and only then set out—even then we could catch up with them.”

Koshchey galloped off. He caught up with Ivan Tsarevich in no time.

“I've warned you, Ivan. It’ll be as hard for you to see Marya Morevna again as to catch sight of your own ears.”

Ivan Tsarevich was left on his own again. He cried and cried. Once more he went back for Marya Morevna. Once more Koshchey was out hunting.

“Let’s go, Marya Morevna!”

“But Ivan Tsarevich, this time he’ll cut you to pieces.”

“Tet him. I can’t live without you.”

They got ready and set off. That evening Koshchey’s horse stumbled again.

“What’s up with you, you old nag? Is something the matter at home?”

“Ivan Tsarevich has come and taken Marya Morevna away with him again.”

Koshchey galloped off, caught up with Ivan Tsarevich, cut him into tiny pieces, stuffed the pieces into a barrel, sealed the barrel with pitch, bound it with iron hoops, threw it into the blue sea and took Marya Morevna back home with him.

Just then the pieces of silver Ivan had left with his three brothers-in-law grew dark and tarnished.

“Ay! Ay! Ay!” they cried. “Something terrible must have happened.”

The eagle flew straight to the blue sea, snatched up the barrel and carried it back to the shore. The falcon flew off to fetch the water of life. The raven flew off to fetch the water of death.

The three birds-met together, smashed open the barrel, took out all the pieces of Ivan Tsarevich, gave them a good wash and put them together again in the right order.

The raven sprinkled the pieces with the water of death, and they all joined together. The falcon sprinkled the body with the water of life—Ivan Tsarevich gasped, got to his feet and said:

“Goodness me! I must have been sleeping for days!”

“You'd have slept even longer if it weren’t for us,” answered the brothers. “Now you must come and stay with us for awhile.”

“No. I’m sorry, brothers. I must go and find Marya Morevna.”

When he found Marya Morevna, he said simply:

“Get Koshchey the Deathless to tell you where he found such a fine horse.”

Marya waited for the right moment and began questioning Koshchey. He answered:

“Beyond the thrice-ninth land, in the thrice-tenth kingdom, on the other side of a river of fire, lives Baba-Yaga. She has a mare who carries her once round the world every day. And she has many other fine horses. I worked for her for three days as a herdsman. I didn’t lose a single horse so she paid me with one of her foals.”

“How did you get across the river of fire?”

“I've got a magic handkerchief. I only have to wave it three times over my right shoulder, and it becomes a tall bridge. It’s too high for the flames to reach.”

Marya Morevna remembered every word he said, repeated them to Ivan Tsarevich, and stole the handkerchief.

Ivan Tsarevich crossed the river of fire and set off to find Baba- Yaga. He travelled a long way with no food or drink. Then he saw a strange bird from over the sea. With it was a family of chicks.

“ll have one of those chicks to eat,” he said.

“No, Ivan Tsarevich. Don’t. One day I’ll be able to help you.”

He went further on. Deep in a forest he found a hive of bees.

“Well,” he said, “I think I’ll help myself to a little honey.”

The Queen Bee sang out in answer:

“No, Ivan Tsarevich. Don’t you touch my honey. One day I’ll be able to help you.”

He left; the honey alone. Further on he found a lioness playing with her cubs.

“Well,” he said, “I’ll help myself to one of those cubs. Otherwise I'll die of hunger.’

“Don’t, Ivan Tsarevich. One day I’ll be able to help you.”

“All right then. But don’t forget!”

He wandered hungrily on. After a long time he reached Baba-Yaga’s house. Outside it stood a circle of twelve poles. All of them except one were crowned with a human head.

“Good day, grandmother.”

“Good day, Ivan Tsarevich. What are you doing here? Have you come from choice or from need?”

“I’ve come to work for you. I want one of your foals.”

“As you wish, Ivan Tsarevich. You won’t have to work long, only three days. If you look after my a mares well, you can have one to keep. But if you lose one, then I’ll chop off your head and stick it up on that last pole. Agreed?”

Ivan Tsarevich nodded his head. Baba-Yaga gave him some food and drink and set him to work.

Ivan let the mares out of the stable. They flicked up their tails and ran far away over the meadows. They were out of sight before he could even look round.

He sat down on a stone and began to cry. After awhile he fell asleep.

The sun was already setting when the strange bird from over the sea flew up to Ivan Tsarevich and woke him.

“Get up, Ivan Tsarevich. The horses are all back in their stalls.”

Ivan Tsarevich got to his feet and walked back. Baba- Yaga was cursing and shouting at her mares.

“Why did you all come back?”

“What else could we do? Flocks of birds flew down from all over the world. They nearly pecked out our eyes.”

“All right then. Tomorrow you must go to the forest instead.”

Ivan Tsarevich had a good night’s sleep. In the morning Baba-Yaga said to him:

“You'd better look out for yourself, Ivan Tsarevich. If one mare doesn’t come home tonight, then tomorrow your handsome head will be sticking up on that pole over there.”

Ivan let the mares out of the stables. They flicked up their tails and ran deep into the forest. Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone, began to cry and fell asleep. He slept all day. At sunset the lion came up and said:

“Get up, Ivan Tsarevich. The horses are all safe in their stalls.”

Ivan Tsarevich got to his feet and walked back. Baba-Yaga was screaming and swearing at her mares. She was even angrier than the day before.

“Why did you all come home?”

“What else could we do? Wild beasts came after us from all over the world. They nearly tore us to pieces.”

“All right. Tomorrow you must go to the blue sea.”

Ivan Tsarevich slept all night. In the morning Baba-Yaga sent him out again with her horses.

“Take care, Ivan Tsarevich. If you lose one mare, then tomorrow your handsome head will be sticking up on that pole over there.”

Ivan let the horses out of the stables. They flicked up their tails, ran out of sight and disappeared into the blue sea. Ivan Tsarevich sat down on a stone, began to cry and fell asleep. The sun set behind the forest. A bee flew up to him and said:

“Get up, Ivan Tsarevich. We’ve rounded up your horses for you. Go back now but don’t let Baba-Yaga see you. Hide in the stables behind the manger. There’s one filthy, scabby foal that lies about all day in the dung. That’s the one you must steal. But wait until midnight.”

Ivan Tsarevich got up, made his way to the stables and hid behind the manger. Baba-Yaga was cursing and swearing at her mares again.

“Why did you have to come back again?”

“We couldn’t help it. There were more bees than you’ve ever seen in your life. They must have come from all over the world. They flew at us from all sides and began stinging us right to the bone.”

Baba-Yaga went to bed. At midnight Ivan Tsarevich took the scabby foal, saddled it and galloped off towards the river of fire. He waved his handkerchief three times in the air over his right shoulder. There stood a tall, splendid bridge.

Ivan Tsarevich crossed the bridge and waved his handkerchief two times over his left shoulder. The bridge was still there, but it was much thinner.

Next morning Baba-Yaga found that her foal was missing. She galloped off furiously on her iron mortar, spurring it on with her pestle, sweeping up the tracks with a broom.

She came to the river of fire, looked up and thought to herself:

“What a splendid bridge!”

The bridge collapsed when she was halfway across. Baba-Yaga was flung headfirst into the river and died a painful death.

Ivan Tsarevich fattened up his foal in some lush meadows. In a few days it grew into a fine stallion.

Ivan rode once more to Marya Morevna. She ran out and threw herself into his arms.

“You're still alive!” she cried out.

He told her all that had happened, kissed her and said, “Come on then, let’s go!”

“But Ivan Tsarevich, I’m frightened. What if Koshchey catches up with us and hacks you to pieces again?”

“He won’t catch up with us this time. My horse can fly like the wind.”

They mounted and set off.

As Koshchey rode back in the evening, his horse nearly fell.

“What’s up with you, you old nag? Is something the matter at home?”

“Ivan Tsarevich has come and taken Marya Morevna away with him.”

“Can you catch up with them?”

“I don’t know. Ivan Tsarevich has a new horse that’s even faster than I am.”

“No,” said Koshchey the Deathless. “I won’t stand for it!”

I don’t know how many hours or how many days he rode but in the end he caught up with Ivan Tsarevich. He leapt to the ground. He was just about to slash at him with his sword when Ivan’s horse gave him a good hard kick and smashed his skull into splinters.

Ivan Tsarevich finished him off with his cudgel.

After that Ivan Tsarevich lit a huge bonfire, burnt Koshchey’s body to ashes and scattered them to the four winds.

Marya Morevna mounted Koshchey’s horse, Ivan Tsarevich sat on his own, and they rode off. They went first to the raven, then to the eagle, and then to the falcon. In each palace they were greeted with great joy.

“Ivan Tsarevich! We thought we’d never set eyes on you again. Well, now we know why you had to go on all those journeys. There can’t be another such beauty as your wife in the whole world.”

They stayed for a while in each palace, were toasted at many feasts and finally set off for their own kingdom. They lived happily together, grew rich and drank lots of mead.

Illustrations by:

I. Bilibin, 1900