--- title: Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 9 — Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Musc… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 9, «Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore»: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Many years went by. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collecti…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/) / Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 9 # Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 9 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/) **2** - [101](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/101/) — Cannot you hear a sound as of pursuers?" - [102](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/102/) — The prince bent his ear to the ground, but he could hear nothing. - [103](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/103/) — Then Vasilissa herself lighted down from her good steed, laid herself flat on the earth, and said: "Ah Prince! - [104](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/104/) — I hear a great noise as of chasing after us." - [105](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/105/) — Then she turned the horses into a well, and herself into a bowl, and the Prince into an old, very old man. - [106](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/106/) — Up came the pursuers. - [107](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/107/) — "Heigh, old man!" say they, "haven't you seen a youth and a maiden pass by?" - [108](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/108/) — "I saw them, my friends! only it was a long while ago. - [109](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/109/) — I was a youngster at the time when they rode by." - [110](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/110/) — The pursuers returned to the Water King. - [111](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/111/) — "There is no trace of them," they said, "no news: all we saw was an old man beside a well, and a bowl floating on the water." - [112](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/112/) — "Why did not ye seize them?" cried the Water King, who thereupon put the pursuers to a cruel death, and sent another troop after the Prince and Vasilissa the Wise. - [113](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/113/) — The fugitives in the mean time had ridden far, far away. - [114](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/114/) — Vasilissa the Wise heard the noise made by the fresh set of pursuers, so she turned the Prince into an old priest, and she herself became an ancient church. - [115](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/115/) — Scarcely did its walls hold together, covered all over with moss. - [116](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/116/) — Presently up came the pursuers. - [117](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/117/) — "Heigh, old man! haven't you seen a youth and a maiden pass by?" - [118](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/118/) — "I saw them, my own! only it was long, ever so long ago. - [119](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/119/) — I was a young man when they rode by. - [120](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/120/) — It was just while I was building this church." - [121](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/121/) — So the second set of pursuers returned to the Water King, saying: - [122](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/122/) — "There is neither trace nor news of them, your Royal Majesty. - [123](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/123/) — All that we saw was an old priest and an ancient church." - [124](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/124/) — "Why did not ye seize them?" cried the Water King louder than before, and having put the pursuers to a cruel death, he galloped off himself in pursuit of the Prince and Vasilissa the Wise. - [125](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/125/) — This time Vasilissa turned the horses into a river of honey with \_kissel\_\[147\] banks, and changed the Prince into a Drake and herself into a grey duck. - [126](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/126/) — The Water King flung himself on the \_kissel\_ and honey-water, and ate and ate, and drank and drank until he burst! - [127](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/127/) — And so he gave up the ghost. - [128](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/128/) — The Prince and Vasilissa rode on, and at length they drew nigh to the home of the Prince's parents. - [129](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/129/) — Then said Vasilissa, - [130](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/130/) — "Go on in front, Prince, and report your arrival to your father and mother. - [131](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/131/) — But I will wait for you here by the wayside. - [132](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/132/) — Only remember these words of mine: kiss everyone else, only don't kiss your sister; if you do, you will forget me." - [133](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/133/) — The Prince reached home, began saluting every one, kissed his sister too--and no sooner had he kissed her than from that very moment he forgot all about his wife, just as if she had never entered into his mind. - [134](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/134/) — Three days did Vasilissa the Wise await him. - [135](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/135/) — On the fourth day she clad herself like a beggar, went into the capital, and took up her quarters in an old woman's house. - [136](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/136/) — But the Prince was preparing to marry a rich Princess, and orders were given to proclaim throughout the kingdom, that all Christian people were to come to congratulate the bride and bridegroom, each one bringing a wheaten pie as a present. - [137](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/137/) — Well, the old woman with whom Vasilissa lodged, prepared, like everyone else, to sift flour and make a pie. - [138](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/138/) — "Why are you making a pie, granny?" asked Vasilissa. - [139](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/139/) — "Is it why? you evidently don't know then. - [140](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/140/) — Our King is giving his son in marriage to a rich princess: one must go to the palace to serve up the dinner to the young couple." - [141](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/141/) — "Come now! - [142](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/142/) — I, too, will bake a pie and take it to the palace; may be the King will make me some present." - [143](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/143/) — "Bake away in God's name!" said the old woman. - [144](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/144/) — Vasilissa took flour, kneaded dough, and made a pie. - [145](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/145/) — And inside it she put some curds and a pair of live doves. - [146](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/146/) — Well, the old woman and Vasilissa the Wise reached the palace just at dinner-time. - [147](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/147/) — There a feast was in progress, one fit for all the world to see. - [148](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/148/) — Vasilissa's pie was set on the table, but no sooner was it cut in two than out of it flew the two doves. - [149](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/149/) — The hen bird seized a piece of curd, and her mate said to her: - [150](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/150/) — "Give me some curds, too, Dovey!" - [151](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/151/) — "No I won't," replied the other dove: "else you'd forget me, as the Prince has forgotten his Vasilissa the Wise." - [152](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/152/) — Then the Prince remembered about his wife. - [153](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/153/) — He jumped up from table, caught her by her white hands, and seated her close by his side. - [154](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/154/) — From that time forward they lived together in all happiness and prosperity. - [155](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/155/) — \[With this story may be compared a multitude of tales in very many languages. - [156](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/156/) — In German for instance, "Der Koenig vom goldenen Berg," (Grimm, \_KM. - [157](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/157/) — \_ No. 92. - [158](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/158/) — See also Nos. - [159](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/159/) — 51, 56, 113, 181, and the opening of No. 31), "Der Koenigssohn und die Teufelstochter," (Haltrich, No. 26), and "Gruenus Kravalle" (Wolf's "Deutsche Hausmaerchen," No. 29)--the Norse "Mastermaid," (Asbjoernsen and Moe, No. 46, Dasent, No. 11) and "The Three Princesses of Whiteland," (A. and M. No. 9, Dasent, No. 26)--the Lithuanian story (Schleicher, No. 26, p. 75) in which a "field-devil" exacts from a farmer the promise of a child--the Wallachian stories (Schott, Nos. - [160](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/160/) — 2 and 15) in which a devil obtains a like promise from a woodcutter and a fisherman--the Modern Greek (Hahn, Nos. - [161](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/161/) — 4, 5, 54, and 68) in which a child is promised to a Dervish, a \_Drakos\_, the Devil, and a Demon--and the Gaelic tales of "The Battle of the Birds" and "The Sea-maiden," (Campbell, Nos. - [162](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/162/) — 2 and 4) in the former of which the child is promised to a Giant, in the latter to a Mermaid. - [163](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/163/) — The likeness between the Russian story and the "Battle of the Birds" is very striking. - [164](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/164/) — References to a great many other similar tales will be found in Grimm (\_KM. - [165](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/165/) — \_ iii. pp. - [166](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/166/) — 96-7, and 168-9). - [167](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/167/) — The group to which all these stories belong is linked with a set of tales about a father who apprentices his son to a wizard, sometimes to the Devil, from whom the youth escapes with great difficulty. - [168](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/168/) — The principal Russian representative of the second set is called "Eerie Art," "Khitraya Nauka," (Afanasief, v. No. 22, vi. - [169](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/169/) — No. 45, viii. p. 339). [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/27/) **2** - ← previous: [Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/26/) - next →: [Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/28/) - ↑ back to [Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/)