--- title: Opening, part 32 — Russian Folk-Tales · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 32, «Russian Folk-Tales» by A. N. Afanas'ev: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: So Ilyá Múromets changed into the beggar’s dress and rode straight back to the palace of the Prince, and cried out in a knightly voice: “Hail to thee, Prin --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/32/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 Folk-Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/) / Opening, part 32 # Opening, part 32 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/32/) **2** But, when her three children had been thrown into the pond in the King’s garden, they were not drowned, for the King’s gardener took them home and brought them up.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") They were fine children; you could \_see\_ them growing up, not by years, but months, not by days, but by hours.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") The King’s sons shot up, youths no men could imagine, guess, or draw, or paint; and the Tsarévna was such a beauty\![70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") Almost terribly beautiful\![71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") One day, when they were older, they asked the gardener to let them build themselves a little home behind the town.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") The gardener consented, and they erected a big, splendid house, and led a merry life in it.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") The brothers used to go hunting hares, and one day they went off and left their sister alone at home.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") A visitor knocked at the door: the sister opened the door and saw an old hag, who said: “You have a pretty little place here; three things are lacking.”[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are they?[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") I always thought we had everything!”[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") The hag replied: “You still need the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life.”[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") And then the sister was left all alone once more; when her brothers came home, she said: “Brothers, we lack nothing save three things.”[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are they?”[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") “We haven’t a Talking-Bird, a Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!”[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") The elder brother said: “Sister, give me your blessing, and I’ll go and discover you these marvels.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") If I die, or am killed, you will know by this knife dripping blood.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") There it is, stuck into the wall.”[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went, and wandered away, far, far away into the forest.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") At last he came to a gigantic oak-tree; and on the tree there was an old man sitting, whom he asked how he was to procure the “Talking-Bird, a Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life.”[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man replied: “Possible it is, but not easy; many go, but few return.”[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") But the young man persisted and left the old man.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man gave him a rolling-pin, and told him to let it roll on in front of him, and follow wherever it went.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") The pin rolled on, and after it walked the Prince: it rolled up to a steep hill, and was lost.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Prince went up the hill, went half-way up; and, as he went along, he heard a voice: “Hold him, seize him, grip him!”[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked round and was turned into stone.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") That very same hour blood began to drip from the knife in the cottage, and the sister told the younger brother that the elder was dead.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") So he answered: “Now I will go, sister mine, and capture the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!”[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") So she blessed him, and he went on and on for very many weary miles, and met the old man on the tree, who gave him another rolling-pin: and the pin rolled up to the mountain; and both were lost, pin and Prince\![95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") The sister waited for many years, but he never came back, and she thought he, too, must have died.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") So she set out to find the Talking-Bird, Singing-Tree, and Water of Life.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") She arrived at last at that same oak-tree, saw the old man sitting on it, greeted him, and shaved his head and brows, as she brought scissors and a mirror with her.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") “Look,” she said, “what a change it makes in you!”[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked into the mirror: “Yes,” he said; “I am quite a fine man now.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") I’ve sat here thirty years: never a soul cut my hair, you guessed my need.”[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she asked him: “Grandfather, how can I get the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life?”[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") He answered: “How can you get them?[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Cleverer folk than you have been after them, and they have all been lost.”[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") But she persisted: “Please tell me!”[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") So he gave her another rolling-pin, and told her to follow it: she would hear cries of “Catch her: scotch her,” but she must not look round, for fear of being turned into stone.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") “At the top you will see a well and the Talking-Bird.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") As you come back, you will see lofty stones standing upright; sprinkle them all with the Water of Life.”[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") So on she went: the pin rolled on, far or near, long or short, it reached a steep mountain; and the girl climbed up and heard cries: “Where are you going?[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") We shall kill you\![110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") We shall eat you up!”[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") But still she went on and on, reached the summit, and there she found a well and the Talking-Bird.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") She took it and asked it: “Tell me how to get the Singing-Tree and the Water of Life.”[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") The Bird replied: “Go straight by this path.”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") She did, and came upon the Singing-Tree, and in it all sorts of birds were singing.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") She broke off a sprig, pulled up a water-lily, and put some of the Water of Life into the cup of the flower, and turned back homewards.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") As she clomb downhill, she saw boulders standing upright, and sprinkled them with the Water of Life; and her brothers jumped up alive and said: “Oh, what a long sleep we have had!”[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, my brothers, but for me you would have slept on for ever.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") And look here; I have got you the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!”[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") The brothers were overjoyed, went home and planted the Singing-Tree in the garden; it overspread the whole garden, and all kinds of birds began singing.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") One day they were out hunting and the King met them by chance.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") He fell in love with the gay huntsmen, and invited them home.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") They said they would ask their sister, and come at once if she consented.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") So they went back home.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") The sister met them and greeted them, and the brothers said: “Please, sister, may we go and dine with the King?[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") He has asked us in.”[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") She said “Yes,” and they went.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") At the banquet, the King gave them the place of honour, and they begged he would honour them with a visit.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") Some days later the King went.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") They gave him a rich spread, and showed him the Singing-Tree and the Talking-Bird.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") He was amazed and said: “I am the King, and have nothing as good!”[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the King looked at them and said: “Who is your father?”[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") They said: “We do not know.”[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Talking-Bird broke in and said: “They are your children.”[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the King looked at the maiden and wanted to marry her.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") Again the Talking-Bird said: “You may not; she is your daughter.”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") The King then saw how matters stood; was overjoyed; took them to live with him for ever.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") As to the two evil sisters, he had them shot; but his wife he released from the chapel, and took her to himself again, and they lived merrily on for many years of happiness.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") AT THE BEHEST OF THE PIKE[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Once there lived a poor peasant; and, however much he might toil and moil, he got nothing out of it.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh,” he thought to himself, “mine is a sorry lot; I spend all my days on my fields; and then, when I look, I am starving, whilst my neighbour is lying all day long on his back, and then he has a big estate and all the profits swim into his pockets.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") Evidently I have not pleased God.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") I will get up in the morning and pray until evening, and perhaps the Lord may have mercy on me.”[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/32/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/32/) - next →: [Opening, part 33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/33/) - ↑ back to [Russian Folk-Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/)