--- title: Opening, part 8 — Russian Folk-Tales · full text with trees description: Opening, part 8, «Russian Folk-Tales» by A. N. Afanas'ev: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: But the younger brother, who had turned to the left, heard that there was a fair princess in a certain kingdom who was indescribably lovely. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/) [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 8 # Opening, part 8 Opening, part 8 of «Russian Folk-Tales» by A. N. Afanas'ev: the whole text, 149 sentences and 2531 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/page/2/) But the younger brother, who had turned to the left, heard that there was a fair princess in a certain kingdom who was indescribably lovely.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") But she was very grudging, and she announced in all countries that she would only marry the man who could feed her army for three whole years; yet every one had to try his luck.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") So the boy went there, and he went on his way, went on the broad road.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") And he spat into his little bag, and spat it full of pure gold.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Well, it may be long, it may be short, it may be near, it may be far, but he at last reached the fair princess, and he said he would accomplish her task.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") He had no need to ask for gold, he simply had to spit and there it was.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") For three years he maintained the princess’s army, gave it food and drink and dress.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") So the time came for a jolly feast and for the wedding.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") But the princess was still full of wiles.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") She asked herself and she sought to know whence God had sent him such enormous wealth.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") So she invited him to be her guest, received him, honoured him.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") And the doughty youth fell sick, and he vomited up the liver of the hen, and the Tsarévna swallowed it.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") From that day gold fell from her lips, and she would not have her bridegroom with her.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") “What shall I do with this ignoramus?” she asked her \_boyárs\_, and she asked her generals.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") “He has had the idiotic idea of wanting to marry me.”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") So the \_boyárs\_ said he must be hung, and the generals said he must be shot.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Tsarévna had a better idea—that he ought to be sent to hell.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") So the doughty youth escaped and once more set forth on his road.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") And he had only one thought in his mind, how he should make himself wise and revenge himself on the Tsarévna for her unkind jest.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went on and went on, and he came into the dreamy wood, and he looked and he saw three men fighting with their fists.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are you fighting about?”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “We have three finds in the road, and we cannot divide them; every one wants them for himself.”[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are the finds? what are you contending for?”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “Look, this is a barrel: you only have to knock it, and a soldier leaps out of its mouth.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") This is a flying carpet: wherever you think it will take you.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") And this is a whip: strike a maiden and say ‘You have been a maiden, now become a mare,’ and she will become a mare at once.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") “These are valuable gifts, and they are hard to divide.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") But this is the way out: I will send an arrow in this direction, and you all run after it; he who reaches it first shall have the barrel, and the second shall have the flying carpet, and the third shall have the whip.”[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “Very well; shoot the dart.”[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") So the youth sent out the arrow very far.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") The three darted after it and ran, and they never looked up.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") But the doughty youth took the barrel and the whip, sat upon the flying carpet, waved it one end, and he rose higher than the forest that stood there, lower than the clouds above, and he flew whither he would.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") So he went back to the forbidden lands of the fair princess, began beating the barrel, and an enormous army came out; infantry, cavalry and artillery, with cannon and with powder waggons.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") And the mighty host rolled on and rolled on.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The doughty youth asked for a horse, mounted it, and went up to his army and commanded it.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The drums beat out and the trumpets sounded, and the army went at a pace.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Tsarévna saw from her rooms and was very much frightened, and sent her \_boyárs\_ and generals to ask for peace.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") The good youth bade these ambassadors be seized, had them cruelly and savagely punished and sent them back to the Tsarévna, who was to come herself and ask for a reconciliation.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Well, there was no help for it: so the Tsarévna herself got out of her carriage, recognised him and swooned.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") But he took the whip, struck her on the back: “You are a maiden, now become a mare!”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") And the Tsarévna turned into a mare.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") He bridled and rode her, and went to the kingdom of his elder brother.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") He galloped at a full pace, put both spurs into her back and used a scourge of three iron rods, and the army followed him, an unbelievable host.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") It may be long, it may be short, at last they came to the boundary, and the doughty youth stopped, collected his army into the barrel, and went to the capital.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") He went straight to the royal palace, and the king himself saw him and looked at the mare and began to wonder: “What is this great hero approaching?[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") I have never seen such a fine mare in all my life.”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") So he sent his generals to trade for that horse.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") “No, what an envious king you have!” said the youth.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") “It would evidently be out of the question in your city to come here with a young wife; if you are so greedy for a mare, you would certainly take away my wife.”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went to the palace and said, “Hail, brother!”[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, I never knew you!”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") So they set to kissing each other.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") “What sort of barrel have you?”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") “That is for drinking.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") How should I journey forth on the road otherwise?”[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") “And the carpet?”[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") “Sit down and you will find out.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") So they sat on the flying carpet, and the younger brother shook it at the corner and they flew higher than the forest, lower than the wandering cloud, straight back to their own country.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") So they flew back, took a room with their father, and as to who they were they never told their father and mother.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") So they then thought they would give a feast to all the christened world.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") They assembled all the people in countless hosts, and for three whole days they gave food and drink to all without requital, without any charge.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") And afterwards every one began saying had any one a tale of wonder to tell; let him start.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") But no one would say: “We, it is said, are strange folk, but——”[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well, I will tell you a story,” said the younger brother; “only do not talk until the end.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") Whoever interrupts three times is to be ruthlessly punished.”[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") So they all agreed.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") And he began to tell how the two old folks had lived together, how they had had a hen which laid jewels, and how the mother had made friends with the apprentice.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") “What a lie!” interrupted the mistress.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") But the son went on with his tale.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") And he narrated how they had twisted the hen’s neck, and the mother again interrupted.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") At last the story went up to the point when the old woman wished to take away the children, and again she would not stand it: “It is untrue!” she said.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") “Could ever such a thing happen?[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Could ever a mother wish to be torn from her children?”[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") “Obviously, it is possible.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") Look at us, mother; we are your children.”[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the whole story came out, and the father bade his wife be chopped up into bits.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") He tied the apprentice to the tail of horses, and the horses broke in every direction and scattered his bones over the fields.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let the dog die a dog’s death!” said the old man.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") And he gave all his property to the poor and went to live in his elder son’s kingdom.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/page/2/) - ← previous: [Opening, part 7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/7/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/8/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Russian Folk-Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg62509/)