Tzar Solomon and Tzaritza Solomonida

Beyond the glorious blue sea, in Imperial Tzargrád, Tzar Vasily Okulóvich made a great and honorable feast to many princes, nobles, errant-knights, stout and mighty heroes, and all the bold warrior-maidens, Tatars, body-guards, and merchants from other lands.

The white day drew to even, the feast waxed merry, the sovereign was well diverted, and paced the banquet-hall, shaking his yellow curls. He spoke:

"Oh, ye my princes, boyars, mighty heroes, damsels-errant, Tatars, and body-guard! AU in Tzargrád are wedded, every maid and widow is given in marriage; and I, your prince, most fair Tzar Vasily Okulóvich, alone go unwed. Know ye not, therefore, a spouse for me? Stately of form must she be, of equal understanding; her eyes like the falcon clear, her brows of the black sable, the sable of Siberia; gracious her speech must be, as of the white migratory swan, her face white as the snow, her cheeks like the poppy in hue, her gait like that of the golden-antlered stag, and in all this world must none be found her equal."

— All at the feast fell silent. The great hid behind the lesser, and he, in turn, behind the small, and from that little Tatar, the Tzar had no reply. Then from a side table, from his seat of precious fishes' teeth, rose Tarakáshko, a guest from over the sea, came very close to the Tzar, did him lowly reverence, and spoke with all softness:

"Bless, my liege, the word I shall utter! I have journeyed afar", beyond the blue sea; in the royal town of Jerusalem dwelleth the Tzaritza Solomónida. Such another have I never beheld upon this earth. She sitteth, lord, in a lofty castle; the red sun burneth her not, the frequent, drizzling rains wet her not, and good men scoff not at her."

Then answered Tzar Vasily: "Thou art foolish. Guest Tarakáshko from over the sea! How may a wife be taken from a living husband?"

"I know, in sooth, how to take a wife with cunning and wisdom. Build me now three scarlet ships; fashion their prows like wild beasts, and their sides in the semblance of dragons. In place of eyes, set a whole fox of the cavern, in place of black brows a whole Siberian sable. Set a tree of cypress, and on it place birds of paradise that they may sing imperial songs. Prepare a couch of ivory, and at its head place, lord, a little gúsly, which will sing, hum, breathe forth delicate tones of itself— all the airs of Tzargrád; that they may be a solace to Jerusalem, and may sing reason and understanding into the turbulent head — the turbulent head of a human being. Roll on board food, my liege lord, noble vódka, and the drink that bringeth oblivion of all things. Give me skippers, lord, and work-people; so will I bring thee Solomónida, my liege."

Then the Tzar did all as commanded, and Guest Tarakáshko made ready and sailed out upon the blue sea, and drew, near to the city of Jerusalem.

— Solomon went forth upon the open plain, and came to bid farewell to the Tzaritza Solomónida.

"Most fair Solomónida, I go now to the open plain," he said. And the Tzaritza made answer:

"Most wise Tzar Solomon Davidovich! Last night I slept but little, and beheld many things in my dreams. Methought, lord, that the golden ring upon thy right hand did melt, and the Nóvgorod setting rolled away, and was scattered about thee."

"Thou hast but slept, and had a dream," spoke Solomon.

"Nay, lord," the Tzaritza said: "I slept but little, and had many visions. Methought they bore thy white swan far away from thy green garden."

This Solomon could interpret. "Most fair Tzaritza Solomónida! yield not to manly charms."

Then took he leave of her, and went forth upon the open plain to collect tribute for twelve years.

— Guest Tarakáshko from beyond the sea entered the harbor, and paid a tax; he cast anchor, and paid dues, lowered his sails, and paid yet more.

Then he took noble and precious gifts, and came to the Tzaritza in her lofty castle, crossed himself as enjoined, did reverence as commanded, and spoke these words:

"Most fair Tzaritza Solomónida! Receive from my hand these honorable gifts, and give me scribes and surveyors, to write down the wares upon my vessels, that thou mayest take due tribute, and grant me leave to trade in Jerusalem."

So the Tzaritza appointed scribes and surveyors according to his desire, and Tarakáshko led them to his first vessel, and gave them lordly vodka; led: them to the second, and brought them the liquor of oblivion. The scribes all drank, and lay about upon the ships.

Guest Tarakáshko wept sore thereat, came to the Tzaritza and made complaint. "Most fair Tzaritza Solomónida! no scribes and surveyors hast thou given me, but pot-house sots. Methinks they cannot have tasted of green wine for an age, for they lie like Christian beasts about my decks."

Then the Tzaritza rose, and took a force of five hundred men, and went to the first vessel to view the matter. There Tarakáshko brought lordly vódka, and on the second treated her to the wine of oblivion; and the Tzaritza drank too much. For Guest Tarakáshko was crafty, and had made her, for his purpose, pass through these two first vessels as he led her to the third where stood the couch of ivory. The Tzaritza lay down upon the fair couch, the little harp sounded softly, the birds of heaven sang, and the Tzaritza fell asleep.

Guest Tarakáshko beheld, and shouted in a hissing voice:

"Ho there, my skippers and sailors all! Hoist the linen sails, run far out upon the blue sea!"

When the Tzaritza wakened from her deep slumber, and all the skippers were hastening to and fro, hoisting the linen sails, and steering out to sea, she roused herself, and said:

"Guest Tarakáshko from over the sea! if thou bearest me away for thyself, I will not go with thee!"

But Tarakáshko was cunning, and knew right well how to shape his answer: "Not for myself do I bear thee, lady, but for Tzar Vasily Okulóvich. And in sooth our faith is better than thine: Wednesday and Fridays are like all other days with us, and we eat meat." And this faith seemed good to the Tzaritza, and she resisted not.

Quickly they ran to Tzargrád, and cast anchor in the ship harbor. Tzar Vasily came to meet them, took Solomónida by her white hands, kissed her sugar mouth, and led her to -the cathedral where they straightway took the golden crowns. Then they began to live and pass the time in mirth.

— Solomon returning from the open plain found not his Tzaritza. Then the most wise Tzar gathered a force of forty thousand men, all clad in chain mail, and marched around the blue sea to Tzargrád. When he came to a green grove, he halted, and left all his host beneath the trees, and commanded them:

"All ye, my well-beloved host! I go now alone to Tzargrád. If I be near to speedy death, I will blow one blast upon my aurochs horn: then saddle your good steeds in haste. If a second time I sound, then mount your good steeds quickly. If a third blast I blow, then ride, ride with what speed ye may, to the oaken gallows, and defend me from sudden death."

Then Solomon took leave of his men, and went alone to Tzargrád, on foot, and so came over against the royal palace, and shouted in a ringing voice:

"Most fair Tzaritza Solomónida! give alms to a wandering psalm-singer!"

The little lattice window was opened wide: no white swan it was which twittered, but the Tzaritza, who spoke these words: "I look — lo! 'tis no wandering psalm-singer I see — 'tis Solomon the most wise Tzar. Prithee, Solomon, enter my lofty palace. That which I have done, lord, was against my will."

So Solomon entered the lofty palace, crossed himself as commanded, did reverence as enjoined, bowing on all sides. Fair Solomónida seated him at the white oak table, gave him all manner of savory viands and pleasant liquors, and showed him great honor.

But then came Tzar Vasily from the open plain, and knocked at the silver ring, and Solomon said: "Solomónida most fair! is there not some place where I may hide?

"Creep into this iron-bound chest, Solomon."

She undid the double locks, and when Solomon had entered she made them fast again, admitted Tzar Vasily, and sitting upon the chest, spoke thus: "Most fair Vasily Okulóvich! Solomon is reputed both wise and cunning. But of a truth, there is none more foolish; for lo! a woman now sitteth upon him!"

"Show me Solomon most wise, fairest Solomónida," quoth Vasily.

Then she undid the twofold locks, and besought Vasily: "Give speedy death to Solomon, fair Vasily! Cut off his turbulent head; for, of a truth, Solomon is both wise and crafty."

Solomon sprang to his nimble feet, seized Vasily by his white hands, and said: "With us 'tis not the usage to cut off the heads of Tzars. Make now.

therefore, a lofty scaffold, and hang upon it three great nooses; the first of rope, the second of bast, the third of silk."

"Ho there, Tzar Vasily!" cried the Tzaritza then, "full time is it for thee to execute judgment upon Solomon, and sever his turbulent head, else will he yet escape by his craft and wisdom."

Nevertheless the Tzar did all as Solomon had commanded, and they all went forth to the gallows of white oak — Solomon the most wise Tzar, Solomónida the fairest Tzaritza, Tzar Vasily, and Guest Tarakáshko from over the sea.

When they were come to the gallows, Solomon spoke this word: "Tzar Vasily Okulóvich! the horse draweth the forward wheels; why, then, should the devil bear the hind wheels?" But no one could read that riddle.

Then Solomon mounted the first step, and said:

"Most fair Tzar Vasily Okulóvich! in my youth and childhood I fed the peasant flock. Grant me now, lord, to blow my aurochs horn once more."

"Blow, Solomon, as much as thou wilt," said Vasily.

But Solomónida urged speedy death. "He is in my hands now," quoth Vasily. Solomon blew the first blast upon his horn, and all his force was tossed about. Eight quickly did they saddle their good steeds, while Tzar Vasily feared and was disquieted.

"What marvel is this that hath been wrought, Solomon?" he asked. "On the open plain there is stamping, and clinking of metal."

"Fear not. Tzar Vasily," Solomon made answer, "and be not disquieted. My horses in Jerusalem have fled from their stalls to the gloomy forest, and would fain recall Solomon most wise."

Then he mounted the second step. With Vasily's good leave, and against the will. of Solomónida, he blew a second blast upon his horn. All his host was thrilled to motion, as his men mounted their good steeds in haste. And Vasily trembled thereat, and was afraid.

"What wonder hath been wrought in the plain, Solomon? For there is a clanging and a beating of hoofs."

"Fear thou nothing. Tzar Vasily! My bird in Jerusalem hath flown from the garden to the dusky grove, and beateth the grove with its wings, recalling Solomon most wise."

Then he mounted the third step, and craved leave to sound his horn for the last time. He blew a battle call, and all his great host was moved, as though clear falcons had flown overhead, or gray wolves had sped swiftly past. With all speed they rode to the oaken gallows, and took Tzar Solomon most wise therefrom. Then they set Tzar Vasily in the silken noose, Tzaritza Solomónida the Fair in the rope, and Guest Tarakáshko in the noose of bast. And having taken captive all Tzargrád, they journeyed back around the blue sea to Jerusalem, and began again to live and to pass their days in pleasure.