Ivan- Tsarevich and the grey Wolf

Once upon a time there was a Tsar named Berendéi who had three sons, the youngest of which was named Ivan. Now this Tsar had a splendid garden and the most splendid thing about it was an apple-tree with golden apples.

Somebody began to visit the Tsar’s garden and steal the golden apples. The Tsar was upset and sent guards to keep watch over the garden. Yet however many he sent, they could not catch the thief.

The Tsar became quite tormented by this business and even stopped eating and

drinking. His sons tried to comfort him:

“Dear father, do not be sad, we shall go and keep watch ourselves.” The eldest son said:

“Tonight it is my turn. I shall go and guard the garden from the thief.” And off he went. For all he prowled about that evening, he did not

see anyone. Eventually he lay down on the soft grass and fell asleep.

In the morning the Tsar asked him:

“Well, do you have any good news for me?

Did you see the thief?”

“No, father dear, I stayed awake the whole night, didn’t

close an eye, but I never saw anyone.”

The next night the middle son went to keep watch.

He too slept the whole night through and in the morning said he had not seen the thief.

The time came for the youngest son to go and keep watch. Ivan went to guard his father’s garden and was afraid even to sit, let alone lie down. When he felt his eyelids becoming heavy, he washed them with dew from the grass and was wide awake again.

He had watched half the night when suddenly it seemed to him that there was a light in the garden. It grew brighter and brighter until the whole garden was lit up. There on the apple-tree he saw the FireBird pecking at the golden fruit.

Ivan-Tsarevich crept quietly up to the tree and grabbed the bird by its tail.

The Fire-Bird took fright and flew away, and Ivan was left with a single feather from its tail in his hand.

In the morning Ivan-Tsarevich came to his father.

“Well, my dear son, did you see the thief?”

“Father dear, I did not catch him, but, yes, I saw who is ruining our garden. Here I have brought you a souvenir of the thief. It is the Fire-Bird!”

The Tsar took the feather and from that moment he began eating and drinking again and forgot about his sorrow. After a while he started thinking about the Fire-Bird.

He called his sons to him and said:

“My dear children, why don’t you saddle up

some good horses and ride out into the world,

take a look what it is like and see if you can find this Fire-Bird.” The three brothers took their leave, saddled up three good horses and set out, the eldest in one direction, the next in another, and Ivan-Tsarevich in a third.

Ivan-Tsarevich rode for quite a time. It was a fine summer’s day and he began to feel tired. He climbed off his horse, tied it up and dropped off to sleep.

After a while, Ivan woke up and realised that his horse had

gone. He set off to look for it, walked and walked, and finally found a heap of bare bones – all that remained of his horse.

Ivan- Tsarevich was dismayed. He had so far to go and now he was without a

horse.

“Well, so what,” he though to himself. “I said I would, so I shall have to.” And he set off on foot.

He walked and walked until he was dead tired. Then he sat down on the soft grass and hung his head.

From out of nowhere a grey wolf came running up to him:

“Why do you sit and hang your head, Ivan-Tsarevich?”

“‘ve every reason to be sad, Grey Wolf. I have lost my good horse.”

“It was I, Ivan-Tsarevich, who ate your horse… I am sorry for you. Tell me why you were travelling so far and where you are bound.”

“My father sent me out to travel the world and to find the Fire-Bird.”

“Huh! You and your good horse would never have reached the Fire-Bird in three years. I alone know where it lives. Very well — I have eaten your horse, so I shall serve you loyally and truly. Get on my back and hold tight.” Ivan-Tsarevich got onto the wolf’s back and the Grey Wolf took off at such a pace that the forests were just a blur and the lakes swept past beneath his tail. After quite some time they reached a tall fortress. The Grey Wolf stopped and said:

“Listen carefully, Ivan-Tsarevich, and mark my words.

You have to climb over the wall — don’t worry; this is a good moment as all the guards are asleep. In a tower you

will see a window; in the window stands a golden cage and in the cage the FireBird sits. Take the bird, put it into the breast of your clothing, but be sure not to touch the cage!”

Ivan-Tsarevich climbed the wall and saw the tower. The golden cage did indeed stand in the window and there inside was the Fire-Bird. He took the bird, tucked it into the breast of his clothing and then looked at the cage. He looked and marvelled. “How beautiful and how costly it is! What a shame not to take it,” he thought — and forgot what the wolf had said. The moment his hand touched the cage, the fortress was filled with noise: trumpets sounded, drums rolled, the guards awoke. They seized Ivan-Tsarevich and brought him before Tsar Afron.

Isar Afron was enraged and demanded to know who he was

and where he came from.

“I am Tsar Berendeis son, Ivan-Tsarevich.”

“What a disgrace! A Tsar’s son and he goes out thieving!”

“And what about your bird that came and plundered our garden?”

“If you had come to me and asked properly, I would have given the bird to you, out of respect for your parent, Tsar Berendei – but now I shall have it cried everywhere what a rogue you are… All right then, if you perform one task for me, I shall forgive you. In such-and-such a kingdom Tsar Kusman has a horse with a golden mane.

Bring me that horse and I shall give you the Fire-Bird and the cage as well”.

Ivan-Tsarevich went back downcast to find the Grey Wolf. And the wolf said:

“I told you not to touch the cage! Why didn’t you listen to my instructions?”

“I’m sorry. Forgive me, Grey Wolf,

“Sorry, is it… Oh well, get on my back again. Never let it be said that I leave

things half done.”

Again the Grey Wolf ran off with Ivan-Tsarevich. After quite some time they reached the fortress where the horse with the golden mane was to be found.

“Climb over the wall, Ivan-Tsarevich, while the guards are sleeping. Go to the

stables, take the horse, but on no account touch the bridle!”

Ivan climbed into the fortress. All the guards were asleep. He made his way into the stables, found the horse with the golden mane, and then he caught sight of the bridle — it was made of gold and decorated with precious stones, indeed the only thing that could be put on such a horse.

Ivan-Tsarevich reached for the bridle and the fortress was filled with noise: trumpets sounded, drums rolled, the guards awoke. They seized Ivan-Tsarevich and brought him before Tsar Kusman.

“Who are you and where are you from?”

“I am Ivan-Tsarevich.”

“Well, well, and look what you have been up to! Horse-stealing – even a common peasant would know better than that. All right then, if you perform one task for me, I shall forgive you. Tsar Dalmat has

a daughter called Yeléna the Beautiful. Carry her off and bring her to me and I shall give you the horse with the golden mane and the bridle as well”.

Ivan-Tsarevich went back even more downcast to find the Grey Wolf.

“I told you not to touch the bridle. Why didn’t you listen to my instructions?”

“I’m sorry. Forgive me, Grey Wolf,

“Sorry, is it… Oh well, get on my back

again.”

Again the Grey Wolf ran off with Ivan-Tsarevich. They ran as far as Tsar Dal-mat’s fortress and there in the garden Yelena the Beautiful used to walk with her nurses and nannies. The Grey Wolf said:

“This time I shall leave you here and go myself. You start back the way we came and I shall soon catch up with you.”

Ivan-Tsarevich set off back the way they had come, while the Grey Wolf leapt over the wall and into the garden. He crouched behind a bush and waited… Yelena the Beautiful came out with her nurses and nannies. They strolled and strolled, and the moment Yelena the Beautiful fell a little behind her nurses and nannies, the Grey Wolf pounced, tossed her over his back and was gone.

Ivan-Tsarevich was walking along when suddenly the Grey Wolf caught up with him and there on the wolf’s back was Yelena the Beautiful. Ivan-Tsarevich was overjoyed, but the Grey Wolf said:

“Get on my back quickly, in case they come after us!” The Grey Wolf tore along with Ivan-Tsarevich and Yelena the Beautiful on his back. He moved at such a pace that the forests were just a blur and the lakes and rivers swept past beneath his tail. After a time they came near Tsar Kusman’s fortress. The Grey Wolf asked:

“Why so quiet Ivan-Tsarevich? Is there something on your mind?”

“Of course I am unhappy, Grey Wolf. How can I bear to part with such a maiden? How can I exchange Yelena the Beautiful for a horse?”

The Grey Wolf replied:

“I won’t part you from such beauty. We shall hide her somewhere here. I shall turn myself into Yelena the Beautiful and you bring me to the Tsar.”

So they hid Yelena the Beautiful in a hut in the forest. The Grey Wolf turned head-over-heels and became the spit and image of Yelena the Beautiful. Ivan- Tsarevich brought her to Tsar Kusman. The Tsar was delighted and thanked him profusely:

“Thank you, Ivan-Tsarevich, for bringing me my bride. Take the horse with the golden mane and the bridle as well”

Ivan-Tsarevich mounted the horse and rode back to Yelena the

Beautiful. He sat her in front of him on the horse and rode on.

Tsar Kusman meanwhile arranged his wedding. The feasting went on into the evening and when it came time he carried his bride up to the bedchamber. He lay her

down on the bed and as he looked into her face he saw — a wolf’s snout and fangs!

The Tsar fell back in fear and the wolf made good his escape.

The Grey Wolf caught up with Ivan-Tsarevich and asked him:

“Is there something on your mind?”

“Of course, Grey Wolf. How can I bear to part with such a treasure? How can I exchange the horse with a golden mane for the Fire-Bird?”

“Don’t despair, I shall help you.”

So, as they came near Tsar Afron’s fortress, the wolf said:

“You hide this horse and Yelena the Beautiful. I shall turn myself into the horse

with the golden mane and you bring me to the Tsar.”

They hid Yelena the Beautiful and the horse with the golden mane in the forest.

The Grey Wolf turned head-over-heels and became the spit and image of the horse with the golden mane. Ivan-Tsarevich brought it to Tsar Afron. The Tsar was delighted and gave him the Fire-Bird together with its golden cage.

Ivan-Tsarevich returned on foot to the forest, sat Yelena the Beautiful on the horse with the golden mane, took up the Fire-Bird in its golden cage and rode off towards his own country.

Meanwhile Tsar Afron gave orders for the horse to be brought out and was about to mount it, when it turned back into the Grey Wolf. The Tsar fell back in fear and the Grey Wolf made good his escape.

Soon he caught up with Ivan-Tsarevich and said:

“Now I bid you farewell, as I can go no further.”

Ivan-Tsarevich sprang from his horse and bowed deeply three times, thanking

the Grey Wolf with great respect. But the wolf said:

“Do not take your last leave of me, you will have need of me again.” Ivan-Tsarevich thought “What more need can I have of him? All my wishes have come true.” He mounted the horse with the golden mane and rode on with Yelena

the Beautiful and the Fire-Bird. He had reached familiar places, when he decided to stop for lunch. He had a little food with him and they washed it down with cool spring water. Then they lay down to rest.

As soon as Ivan-Tsarevich had fallen asleep, his brothers came riding up. They had travelled through other lands, seeking the Fire Bir wand were now returning empty-handed. When they saw all that Ivan-Tsarevich was bringing back, they plotted together:

“Let us kill our brother and all this will be ours.”

And they did kill Ivan-Tsarevich, mounted the horse with the golden mane and took the Fire-Bird. They sat Yelena the Beautiful on one of their own horses and threatened her with terrible things if she spoke a word of what they had done.

Ivan- Tsarevich lay dead and the crows were already gathering, when out of nowhere the Grey Wolf appeared and seized a great crow and one of its young.

“You, crow, fly and fetch living and dead water. If you bring me both living and dead water, I shall let your youngster go.”

The crow had no choice but to go, as the wolf kept tight hold of the fledgling.

After a time the bird came back with living and dead water. The Grey Wolf sprinkled dead water on Ivan-Tsarevich’s wounds and they healed. He then sprinkled the prince with living water and Ivan-Tsarevich came back to life.

“Oh, how deeply I slept!”

“Deep indeed,” said the wolf. “If it had not been for me, you would never have woken. Your own brothers killed you and carried off all you had gained. Get on my back quickly!”

They went chasing after Ivan’s brothers and when they caught up with them the

Grey Wolf tore them both apart and scattered the pieces in all directions.

Ivan-Tsarevich bowed again to the Grey Wolf and took his leave of him for ever.

Ivan-Tsarevich returned home on the horse with the golden mane, bringing the

Fire-Bird for his father and Yelena the Beautiful for himself.

Tsar Berendei was delighted and began to ask his son about his adventures. Ivan-Tsarevich told him how the Grey Wolf had helped him, how his brothers had killed him as he slept, and how the Grey Wolf had torn them to pieces.

The Tsar was saddened, but soon comforted. Ivan-Tsarevich married Yelena the

Beautiful and they lived happily ever after.