History and Literature

With his suite the Tsar departed.

The Tsaritsa tender-hearted

At the window sat alone,

Wishing he would hurry home.

All day every day she waited,

Gazing till her dedicated

Eyes grew weak from overstrain,

Gazing at the empty plain.

Not a sign of her beloved!

Nothing but the snowflakes hurried

Heaping drifts upon the lea.

Earth was white as white could be.

Nine long months she sat and waited,

Kept her vigil unabated.

Then from God on Christmas Eve

She a daughter did receive.

Next day early in the morning,

Love and loyalty rewarding,

Home again from travel far

Came at last the father-Tsar.

One fond glance at him she darted,

Gasped for joy with thin lips parted,

Then fell back upon her bed

And by prayer-time was dead.

Long the Tsar sat lonely, brooding.

But he, too, was only human.

Tears for one sad year he shed…

And another woman wed.

She (if one be strictly truthful)

Was a born Tsaritsa—youthful,

Slim, tall, fair to look upon,

Clever, witty—and so on.

But she was in equal measure

Stubborn, haughty, wilful, jealous.

In her dowry rich and vast

Was a little looking-glass.

It had this unique distinction:

It could speak with perfect diction.

Only with this glass would she

In a pleasant humour be.

Many times a day she’d greet it

And coquettishly entreat it:

“Tell me, pretty looking-glass,

Nothing but the truth, I ask:

Who in all the world is fairest

And has beauty of the rarest?”

And the looking-glass replied:

“You, it cannot be denied.

You in all the world are fairest

And your beauty is the rarest.”

The Tsaritsa laughed with glee,

Shrugged her shoulders merrily,

Puffed her cheeks and bat her eyelids,

Flicked her fingers coyly, slyly,

Pranced around with hand on hips,

Arrogance upon her lips.

All this time the Tsar’s own daughter

Quietly, as Nature taught her,

Grew and grew, and came quite soon

Like a flower into bloom:

Raven-browed, of fair complexion,

Breathing kindness and affection.

And the choice of fiancé

Lighted on Prince Yelisei.

Suit was made. The Tsar consented

And her dowry was indented:

Seven towns with wealthy store,

Mansion-houses — sevenscore.

On the night before the wedding

For a bridal party dressing

The Tsaritsa, time to pass,

Chatted with her looking-glass:

“Who in all the world is fairest

And has beauty of the rarest?”

Then what did the glass reply?

“You are fair, I can’t deny.

But the Princess is the fairest

And her beauty is the rarest.”

Up the proud Tsaritsa jumped.

On the table how she thumped,

Angrily the mirror slapping,

Slipper heel in fury tapping!

“O you loathsome looking-glass,

Telling lies as bold as brass!

By what right is she my rival?

Such young folly I shall bridle.

So she’s grown up—me to spite!

Little wonder she’s so white:

With her bulging mother gazing

At that snow—what’s so amazing!

Now look here, explain to me

How can she the fairer be?

Scour this realm of ours and seek well,

Nowhere shall you find my equal.

Is not that the truth?” she cried.

Still the looking-glass replied:

“But the Princess is the fairest

And her beauty is the rarest.”

The Tsaritsa burst with spite,

Hurled the mirror out of sight

Underneath the nearest cupboard,

And when breath she had recovered

Summoned Smudge, her chamber maid,

And to her instructions gave:

“Take the Princess to the forest,

Bind her hand and foot and forehead

To a tree! When wolves arrive

Let them eat the girl alive!”

Woman’s wrath would daunt the devil!

Protest was no use whatever.

Soon the Princess left with Smudge

For the woods. So far they trudged

That the Princess guessed the reason.

Scared to death by such foul treason,

Loud she pleaded: “Spare my life!

Innocent of guilt am I!

Do not kill me, I beseech you!

And when I become Tsaritsa

I shall give you rich reward.”

Smudge, who really loved her ward,

Being loth to kill or bind her,

Let her go, remarking kindly:

“God be with you! Do not moan!”

 And, this said, went back alone.

 “Well?” demanded the Tsaritsa,

 “Where’s that pretty little creature?”

 “In the forest on her own,”

 Smudge replied. “And there she’ll stay.

 To a tree I firmly lashed her.

 When a hungry beast attacks her

 She’ll have little time to cry

 And the quicker she shall die!”

 Rumour spread and caused a panic:

 “What, the Tsar’s own daughter vanished!”

 Mournful was the Tsar that day.

 But the young Prince Yelisei

 Offered God a fervent prayer

 And departed then and there

 To seek out and homeward guide

 His sweet-tempered, youthful bride.

 Meanwhile his young bride kept walking

 Through the forest until morning,

Vague as to her whereabouts.

Suddenly she spied a house.

Out a dog ran growling, yapping,

Then sat down, his tail tap-tapping.

At the gate there was no guard.

All was quiet in the yard.

Close at heel the good dog bounded

As the Princess slowly mounted

Stairs to gain the living floor,

Turned the ring upon the door.

Silently the door swung open

And before her eyes unfolded

A bright chamber: all around

Benches strewn with rugs she found,

Board of oak beneath the ikon

And a stove with tiles to lie on.

To the Princess it was clear

Kindly folk were dwelling here

Who would not deny her shelter.

No one was at home, however.

So she set to, cleaned the pans,

Made the whole house spick and span,

Lit a candle in the corner,

Fed the fire to be warmer,

Climbed onto the platform bed

There to lay her sleepy head.

Dinner time, The yard resounded,

Horses stamped and men dismounted.

Thick-moustached and ruddy-skinned,

Seven lusty Knights walked in.

Said the Eldest: “How amazing!

All so neat! The fire blazing!

Somebody’s been cleaning here

And is waiting somewhere near.

Who is there? Come out of hiding!

Be a friend in peace abiding!

If you’re someone old and hoar,

Be our uncle evermore!

If you’re young and love a scuffle,

We’ll embrace you as a brother.

If a venerable dame,

Then shall ‘mother’ be your name.

If a maiden fair, we’ll call you

Our dear sister and adore you.”

So the Princess rose, came down

To the Seven Knights and bowed,

Her good wishes emphasising,

Blushing and apologising

That to their delightful home

Uninvited she had come.

Straight they saw her speech bore witness

To the presence of a Princess.

So they cleared a corner seat,

Offered her a pie with meat,

Filled a glass with wine and served it

On a tray, as she deserved it.

But the glass of heady wine

She politely did decline

And the pie she broke with caution,

Savouring a tiny portion.

Pleading she was very tired,

Soon she gracefully retired

And the Seven Knights conveyed her

To the best and brightest chamber

And, away as they did creep,

She was falling fast asleep.

Days flew by—the Princess living

All the time without misgiving

In the forest, never bored

With the Seven Knights abroad.

Darkness would the earth still cover

When at dawn the seven brothers

Would ride out to try their luck

With a long-bow, shooting duck,

Or to ply their sword in battle

And a Saracen unsaddle,

Headlong at a Tartar go,

Chop his head off at a blow,

Or give chase to a Circassian,

From the forest send him dashing.

She, as lady of the house,

Rose much later, moved about

Dusting, polishing and cooking,

Never once the Knights rebuking.

They, too, never chided her.

Days flew by like gossamer.

And in time they grew to love her.

Thereupon all seven brothers

Shortly after dawn one day

To her chamber made their way

And the Eldest Knight addressed her:

“As you know, you are our sister.

But all seven of us here

Are in love with you, my dear,

And we all desire your favours.

But that must not be, God save us!

Find some way to give us peace!

Be a wife to one at least,

To the rest remain a sister!

But you shake your head. Is this to

Say our offer you refuse?

Nothing from our stock you’ll choose?”

“O my brave and bonny brothers,

Virtuous beyond all others!”

In reply the Princess’said,

“God in heaven strike me dead

If my answer be not honest:

I’ve no choice—my hand is promised!

You’re all equal in my eyes,

All so valiant and wise,

And I love you all, dear brothers!

But my heart is to another

Pledged for evermore. One day

I shall wed Prince Yelisei!”

Hushed, the brothers kept their station,

Scratched their foreheads in frustration.

“As you wish! So now we know,”

Said the Eldest with a bow.

“Pray forgive us—and I promise

You’ll hear nothing further from us!”

“I’m not angry,” she replied.

“By my pledge I must abide.”

Bowing low, the seven suitors

Left her room with passions muted.

So in harmony again

Did they live and friendship reign.

The Tsaritsa was still livid

Every time she saw in vivid

Memory the Princess fair.

Long the mirror, lying there,

Was the object of her hatred;

But at last her wrath abated.

So one day it came to pass

That she took the looking-glass

Up again and sat before it,

Smiled and, as before, implored it:

“Greetings, pretty looking-glass!

Tell me all the truth, I ask:

Who in all the world is fairest

And has beauty of the rarest?”

Said the mirror in reply: 

“You are fair, I can’t deny.

But where Seven Knights go riding

In a green oak-grove residing

Humbly lives a person who

Is more beautiful than you.”

The Tsaritsa’s wrath descended

On her maid: “What folly tempted

You to lie? You disobeyed!”

Smudge a full confession made…

Uttering a threat of torture,

The Tsaritsa grimly swore to

Send the Princess to her death

Or not draw another breath.

One day by her window waiting

For her brothers homeward hasting

Sat the young Princess and span.

Suddenly the dog began

Barking. Through the courtyard scurried

A poor beggar-woman, worried

By the dog she kept at bay

With her stick. “Don’t go away!

Stay there, stay!” the Princess shouted,

From the window leaning outward.

“Let me call the dog to heel

And I’ll offer you a meal.”

And the beggar-woman answered:

“Pretty child, you take my fancy!

For that dog of yours, you see,

Could well be the death of me.

See him snarling, bristling yonder!

Come here, child!” The Princess wanted

To go out, and took a loaf.

But the dog its body wove

Round her feet, refused to let her

Step towards the woman-beggar.

When the woman, too, drew near,

Wilder than an angry bear

It attacked her. How perplexing!

“Had a bad night’s sleep, I reckon!”

Said the Princess. “Catch it! There!”

And the bread flew through the air.

The poor beggar-woman caught it.

“I most humbly thank you, daughter,

God be merciful!” said she.

“In return take this from me!”

The bright apple she was holding,

Newly picked, fresh, ripe and golden,

Straight towards the Princess flew…

How the dog leapt in pursuit!

But the Princess neatly trapped it

In her palms. “Enjoy the apple

At you leisure, little pet!

Thank you for the loaf of bread…”

Said the beggar-woman, brandished

In the air her stick and vanished…

Up the stairs the Princess ran

With the dog, which then began

Pitifully staring, whining

Just as if its heart were pining

For the gift of speech to say:

“Throw that apple far away!”

Hastily his neck she patted:

“Hey, Sokolko, what’s the matter?

Lie down!” Entering once more

Her own room, she shut the door,

Sat there with her spindle humming,

Waiting for her brothers’ coming.

But she could not take her gaze

From the apple where it lay

Full of fragrance, rosy, glowing,

Fresh and juicy, ripe and golden,

Sweet as honey to the lips!

She could even see the pips…

First the Princess thought of waiting

Until dinner. But temptation

Proved too strong. She grasped the bright

Apple, took a stealthy bite

And with fair cheek sweetly hollowed

A delicious morsel swallowed.

All at once her breathing stopped,

Listlessly her white arms dropped.

From her lap the rosy apple

Tumbled to the floor. The hapless

Maiden closed her swooning eyes,

Reeled and fell without a cry,

On the bench her forehead striking,

Then lay still beneath the ikon …

Now the brothers, as it chanced,

Were returning in a band

From another warlike foray.

Out to meet them in the forest

Went the dog and, running hard,

Led them straight into the yard.

Said the Knights: “An evil omen’

Grief in store!” The door they opened,

Walked into the room and gasped.

But the dog like lightning dashed

For the apple and devoured it.

Death that instant overpowered it.

For the apple was, they saw,

Filled with poison to the core.

By the dead Princess the brothers

Bent their heads in tears and uttered

Holy prayer to save her soul;

Nothing could their grief console.

From the bench they raised her, dressed her,

Wished within a grave to rest her,

Then had second thoughts. For she

Was as rosy as if sleep

Garlands of repose were wreathing

Round her—though she was not breathing.

Three whole days they waited, but

Still her eyes were tightly shut.

So that night with solemn ritual

In a coffin made of crystal

They laid out the body fair

Of the Princess and from there

To a hollow mountain bore her,

Where a tomb they fashioned for her:

Iron chains they used to fix

Her glass case to pillars six

With due caution, and erected

Iron railings to protect it.

Then the Eldest smote his breast

And the dead Princess addressed:

“Ever peaceful be your slumber!

Though your days were few in number

On this earth—spite took its toll— Yet shall heaven have your soul.

With pure love did we regard you,

For your loved one did we guard you,

But you came not to the groom,

Only to a chill dark tomb.”

That same day the bad Tsaritsa,

Waiting for good news to reach her,

Secretly the mirror took

And her usual question put:

“Who is now by far the fairest

And has beauty of the rarest?”

And the answer satisfied:

“You, it cannot be denied.

You in all the world are fairest

And your beauty is the rarest!”

In pursuit of his sweet bride

Through the country far and wide

Still Prince Yelisei goes riding,

Weeping bitterly. No tidings!

For no matter whom he asks

People either turn their backs

Or most rudely rock with laughter:

No one knows what he is after.

Now to the bright Sun in zeal

Did the bold young Prince appeal:

“Sun, dear Sun! The whole year coursing

Through the sky, in springtime thawing

From the chill earth winter snow!

You observe us all below.

Surely you’ll not grudge an answer?

Tell me, did you ever chance to

See the Princess I revere?

I’m her fiancé” “My dear,”

Said the Sun with some insistence,

“I have nowhere seen your Princess,

So she’s dead, we must presume,

That is, if my friend, the Moon,

Has not met her on his travels

Or seen clues you may unravel.”

Through the dark night Yelisei, 

Feeling anything but gay,

With a lover’s perseverance 

Waited for the Moon’s appearance. 

“Moon, O Moon, my friend!” he said, 

“Gold of horn and round of head, 

From the darkest shadows rising, 

With your eye the world apprising, 

You whom stars with love regard 

As you mount your nightly guard! 

Surely you’ll not grudge an answer? 

Tell me, did you ever chance to 

See the Princess I revere?

I’m her fiancé.” “O dear!” 

Said the Moon in consternation, 

“No, I have not seen the maiden.

On my round I only go

When it is my turn, you know.

It would seem that I was resting

When she passed.” “How very vexing!”

Cried aloud Prince Yelisei.

But the Moon went on to say:

“Wait a minute! I suggest you

Have the Wind come to the rescue.

Call him now! It’s worth a try.

And cheer up a bit! Goodbye!”

Yelisei, not losing courage,

To the Wind’s abode now hurried.

“Wind, O Wind! Lord of the sky,

Herding flocks of clouds on high,

Stirring up the dark-blue ocean,

Setting all the air in motion,

Unafraid of anyone

Saving God in heaven alone!

Surely you’ll not grudge an answer?

Tell me, did you ever chance to

See the Princess I revere?

I’m her fiance.” “O hear!”

Said the Wind in turmoil blowing.

“Where a quiet stream is flowing

Stands a mountain high and steep

In it lies a cavern deep;

In this cave in shadows dismal

Sways a coffin made of crystal.

Hung by chains from pillars six.

Round it barren land in which

No man ever meets another.

In that tomb your bride discover!”

With a howl the Wind was gone.

Yelisei wept loud and long.

To the barren land he journeyed

Desperately, sadly yearning

Once again to see his bride.

On he rode. A mountain high

Rose before him, soaring steeply

From a land laid waste completely.

At its foot—an entrance dim.

Yelisei went quickly in.

There, he saw, in shadows dismal

Swayed a coffin made of crystal

Where the Princess lay at rest

In the deep sleep of the blest.

And the Prince in tears dissolving

Threw himself upon the coffin…

And it broke! The maiden straight

Came to life, sat up, in great

Wonder looked about and yawning

As she set her bed see-sawing

Said with pretty arms outstretched:

“Gracious me! How long I’ve slept!”

Down she stepped from out the coffin…

O the sighing and the sobbing!

Carrying his bride, he strode

Back to daylight. Home they rode,

Making pleasant conversation

Till they reached their destination.

Swiftly rumour spread around:

“The Princess is safe and sound!”

It so happened the Tsaritsa

In her room was idly seated

By her magic looking-glass

And to pass the time did ask:

“Who in all the world is fairest

And has beauty of the rarest?”

Said the mirror in reply:

“You are fair, I can’t deny,

But the Princess is the fairest

And her beauty is the rarest!”

The Tsaritsa leapt and smashed

On the floor her looking-glass,

Rushing to the door she saw the

Fair young Princess walk towards her.

Overcome by grief and spite,

The Tsaritsa died that night.

From the grave where she was buried

To a wedding people hurried,

For the good Prince Yelisei

Wed his Princess that same day.

Never since the World’s creation

Was there such a celebration;

I was there, drank mead and yet

Barely got my whiskers wet.