Dobrynya the Dragon-Slayer, and Marina

From far, very far in the open plain, and farther yet in the valley, fled the herd of beasts, of wild beasts and serpents: at their head ran the Skiper-beast, with woolly hide, crumpled horns, and little hoofs of steel. The Skiper-beast fled to the Dniepr river, and all the Dniepr 's waters were troubled. Its fair steep banks quaked, the delicate tree-tops fell to the earth in concert, brothers, when they heard of that birth. — For in Holy Russia the Rich, young Dobrynya Nikitich was born that day.

When Dobrynya grew to man's estate, three years he feasted, three years he served as steward, three more he stood as keeper at the gate. Yet no fair word did he win of Vladimir, or soft bread, but only a good steed.

In the tenth year, courteous Prince Vladimir made a great feast in. royal Kief town, whereat many heroes and bold warrior-maidens were assembled, eating and drinking merrily. Young Dobrynya Nikitich sat at the end of the oaken board, and spoke:

"Fair Sun Vladimir of royal Kief! I have served thee long in thy princely court: grant me leave now to wander about Kief, through its narrower lanes."

"Fly not forth, young sparrow," answered Prince Vladimir, "young Dobrynya, gallop not away."

But all the mighty Russian heroes said: "Go crave permission of the honorable widow, Afímya Alexandrevna, thy mother, to prowl about the narrow lanes of Kief."

This Dobrynya did, and his mother counselled him: "Walk through all the streets of Kief town, roam the little alleys at thy will; only, go not to the vile Princess Marina Ignátievna, who dwelleth in a certain little lane. She is a witch, she hath murdered Prince on Prince, many Kings and Crown princes, nine Russian heroes, clear falcons all, and common folk without number. If thou goest to that Marina, thou wilt lose thy life, Dobrynya."

The next day Dobrynya rose right early, washed himself very white in spring water, took his stout bow, his quiver of fiery arrows, and set out. As he wandered through the streets and many narrow lanes, he shot small sparrows on the halls, blue doves upon the chambers, and so wandering, came at length to Marina's lane. Her palace was richly adorned. In her window sat a dark-blue dove and his mate cooing, yellow bill to bill, and mouth to mouth, with wing enfolding wing; and it pleased not Dobrynya that they should sit thus. He strung a silken cord to his bow, and fitted thereto a flaming arrow, and shot at the dove and his mate. The cord sang on the stout bow, but his left foot slipped, his right hand trembled — the arrow struck not the dove and mate, but flew straight to the lofty palace, through the lattice window to Marinushka the vile, and slew Tugárin Dragon's Son her dear friend who was with her there.

Dobrynya reflected: — "If I enter that palace I shall lose my head; if I enter not — my arrow." Then he sent his trusty servant, his page, for the arrow. "Thou miscreant, Marina! give back our burning arrow," quoth the page. But Marina said: "Nay, let him who shot the arrow come himself." Thereupon Dobrynya entered with haste the spacious court, and with courtesy the new halls: fairly came he into the new chamber, and took his fiery arrow.

Marinka lay upon a couch; in her right hand was a fiery dragon; on her left, two little serpents. She took Dobrynya by his white hand, by his silver ring, kissed his sugar mouth, and said:

"Ah, sweet Dobrynya Nikitich, give me thy love!" Dobrynya made answer: "Sweet Marinushka Ignátievna, I will not! Thou hast slain nine mighty Russian heroes, and art minded to slay me likewise." Then he turned from the new chamber, and went forth into the spacious court, and so home to his mother.

Up sprang Marinushka then, seized her dagger, and hacked Dobrynya's footsteps, flung them into the oven painted with many devices, and, conjured them with a powerful incantation: "Burn, ye footsteps of Dobrynya, burn, in this oven of many hues; and may his spirit likewise burn within him for me! As I cut these footsteps, may Dobrynya's dear little heart cut for me!"

Then worse than a sharp knife cut Dobrynya's heroic heart. That evening he ate nothing, at midnight he slumbered not, and waited only for the white dawn.

Early rang the matin bells, and very early he arose, girt on his sharp sword, and went to the cathedral to the service; and thence to Marina's dwelling.

When he came to the Princess, he bowed low before her; but she rose not, sat in discourteous wise, and returned not his salutation.

"Ah, sweet Marinushka, give me thy love!" he said.

"What need is there for thee, young Dobrynya, to jest and make merry over me? Long since I sought thy love, and thou lovedst me not: — and now thou cravest it of me! Now thou art in my hands! If I will, I can turn thee into a magpie, a raven, a pig, or an aurochs with golden horns, silver hoofs and velvet hide, or into a frog of the under world; — and from that last estate there is no return forever."

Then she transformed him into a brown aurochs, and sent him forth into the open plain, to drink swamp water and to eat marsh grass, to be chief over the nine brown aurochs who roamed there — the mighty heroes her bridegrooms.

And as Dobrynya roamed there, a golden-horned aurochs, he espied a flock of geese, which belonged to Avdótya Ivanovna, his beloved aunt. AU these did he trample under foot to the last gosling, not one did he leave. Then the goose-herds came and made complaint.

"Ai, young Avdótya Ivanovna! an aurochs with golden horns hath trampled under foot all our geese; not one hath he left us." After them followed the keepers of the swans, the shepherds and herdsmen, with the same complaint. Not a living creature of all thek flocks and herds had the golden aurochs spared. Then Avdótya Ivanovna spoke:

"That aurochs of the golden horns is my well-beloved nephew, young Dobrynya, whom Marina the Vile hath transformed." But when the guardians of the horses came and told how the aurochs had dispersed their charge over all the plain, sparing none, Avdótya rose in wrath. She turned herself into a magpie, and flew to Marina the Vile, perched in her little lattice window, and began to scold, and say: "Vile Princess Marinushka! why hast thou transformed Dobrynya into a golden-horned aurochs, and loosed him to roam the open plain"? Turn back Dobrynya from his aurochs form, else will I turn thee into a long-tailed dog, and the children shall pursue thee; — into a magpie, and thou shalt hover evermore above the open plain in semblance of a pie."

Then Marina perceived that there was no help, and so transformed herself into a gray swallow, flew to the open plain, and alighting upon the aurochs's golden horns chattered and said: "Swear to me, Dobrynya Nikitich — for thou hast roamed the field and art weary, the bubbling marshes and art tired — swear now a great oath to take the golden crown with me, with Marinushka, and I will turn thee back from a golden-horned aurochs to thine own shape again."

"Ah, sweet Marinushka!" Dobrynya answered, "only turn me from this form, and I will take that great oath. I will wed thee, Marina, and will even give thee the little lessons wherewith a husband instructeth his wife."

Then Marina believed him, and turned him into a goodly youth as of old.

"Now I must wed thee about a bush, Marinushka," he said, "about a willow bush in the open plain." So three times about the willow bush they paced, and Dobrynya called Marina his wife, and set out with her for royal Kief town.

When they were come to Marina's lofty palace, Dobrynya commanded the servant:

"Ai, my trusty servant! prithee a cup of green wine; yet give me first a sharp sword."

Then Marina turned him into a little ermine, and began to frighten him; but the ermine escaped her snares. Then she turned him into a falcon, and began to alarm and to tease the falcon, which waved his wings, and besought the Princess Marina:

"I cannot fly as a falcon should, I can only wave my wings; grant me to drain a cup of green wine."

The young Princess thereupon transformed him into a goodly youth, and Dobrynya shouted:

"Ho there, my trusty servant! a cup of green wine!

But the trusty servant gave him very quickly a sharp sword. The cup of wine he quaffed not, but brandished his sword, and cut off Marina's turbulent head for her ungentle deeds.

In the morning he went to his warm steam bath, and thither came princes and nobles.

"Hail, Dobrynya Nikitich, with thy bride!" they said.

"Hail, ye princes and nobles and all the Court of Vladimir! Last night I was wedded, brothers, and no longer alone, but now I am single and no longer wedded. I have cut off Marina's turbulent head for her ruthless deeds; for she had slain many Russian people, Princes and their heirs, Kings and Crown Princes, nine mighty Russian heroes, and of common folk an innumerable host!"