Ilya in Disguise

On a day, as Ilyá rode in the open plain, he communed thus with himself: "Lo, I have been in many lands, but 'tis long since I was in Kief town; I will ride thither, and learn what is doing there."

When he came to the palace in the royal city, Prince Vladimir was holding a merry feast. Ilyá entered straight the banquet-hall, crossed himself as prescribed, did reverence as enjoined, bowing on all four sides, and to the Fair Sun Prince Vladimir and the Princess Apráxia in particular. But Vladimir knew him not.

"What is thy name and tribe?" he asked; "and what thy patronymic?"

And Ilyá made answer: "Bright Vladimir, Fair little Sun! I am called Nikíta from beyond the Forest."

"Ho there, thou brave and free little fellow! Sit down with us now, to eat bread and to feast: there is yet a little place yonder at the lower end of the table; the other places are all filled. For prince-nobles, rulers, rich merchants and bold warrior-maids hold feast with me to-day, and sixty great Russian heroes."

The Old Cossack liked not this speech, — that he should break bread at the lower end of the table; and he said this word: "And ho, thou Fair Sun Prince Vladimir! Thou eatest, feastest with the crows thyself, yet seatest me with the little crows? Nay! but I will not eat bread with nursling crows!"

This speech in turn pleased not the Fair Sun Prince. He sprang to his nimble feet, clouding over like the dusky night, and roared as he had been a wild beast.

"Ho there, ye mighty Russian heroes! Will ye hear yourselves called crows — yea, and little crows? — Seize the fellow, ye heroes, three by each arm; lead him into the spacious court, and there strike off his turbulent head."

They led him forth; but Ilyá. waved one hand, and three heroes lay dead; he waved the other hand, and the other three fell dead likewise,

Then Prince Vladimir commanded that twelve should seize him; and with them it fared the same. Then twelve grasped him, with six more behind; and these eighteen met their fate likewise, for Ilyá's heroic heart burned within him when he was thus led out with ignominy.

He fitted an arrow to his stout bow. "Fly, my shaft, about the princely windows" he conjured it; "bear off all the golden spires, and the wonder-working crosses on God's temples."

Then he gathered up all the spires and crosses, went to the royal pot-house, sold the precious spires for countless treasure, and began to drink up the imperial roofs in green wine. He assembled also all the hangers-on of the pot-house, sots, and all who could drink green wine, led them into the kabák, and bade them help him drink the princely spires.

"What will the Prince do," said they, "when he knoweth that we are drinking his royal spires?"

"Drink, boon companions! care ye not for that. To-morrow I shall reign as Prince in Kief town, and ye shall be my chiefs."

— Fair Sun Vladimir of royal Kief perceived that a great misfortune was at hand, and knew not who it might be that was come thus to town. But young Dobrynya Nikitich spoke up: "I know all the mighty heroes save one, — the Old Cossack Ilyá of Múrom. Of him I have heard that his death is not decreed in battle. This is no Nikíta from beyond the Forest. It is Ilyá of Múrom. Thou hast not known, Vladimir, how to welcome thy guest on his coming, nor honor him at his going."

"Whom shall we send to bid him to an honorable feast?" said Vladimir in amaze. "Bold Alyósha Popóvich will not know how to bid him.

and Churilo Plenkóvich is good for nothing but to strut among the maids and women. We must send a clever man, who can read and write, one whose discourse is reasonable. Go thou, therefore, Dobrynya Nikitich; beat thy forehead against the brick floor, against damp mother earth, before him, and say: ' Prince Vladimir hath sent me to thee, thou Old Cossack, Ilyá of Múrom, to bid thee to a worshipful feast. He knew thee not, good youth, and for that cause alone did he place thee at the lower end of the board to eat his bread. But now he entreateth thee to him with heartiness and great joy, "and commands thee not to bear ill will for what is past. For thy place, which was the worst of all shall now be the best, to wit, in the great comer.'"

Then Dobrynya thought within himself: "Shall I not go to sudden death at Ilyá's hands? But if I obey not Fair Sun Prince Vladimir, it will fare ill with me."

So he betook himself to the imperial pot-house, where sat Ilyá of Múrom drinking and carousing with the brawlers.

"It is better that I should approach him from behind!" thought Dobrynya. And so he did, and seized Ilyá by his mighty shoulders, and delivered his message.

"Happy art thou, young Dobrynya Nikitich," quoth the Old Cossack, "in that thou camest upon me from behind. Hadst thou approached me from the front, thou shouldst have become ashes ere now! Now go, and say these words to thy Fair Sun Prince: ' Let strict ukases be promulgated throughout all the towns of Kief and Chérnigof, that all the pot-houses and drinking places of whatever sort be opened freely for the space of three days, that all the people may drink green wine without price. And whoso drinketh no green wine, let him quaff the beer of drunkenness; and he who drinketh that not, sweet mead; that all may know that the Old Cossack Ilyá of Múrom is come to famous Kief town.' Let this be done, and let an honorable banquet be made, or the Prince shall reign no longer than until to-morrow's morn!"

Then quickly, quickly, very, veiy quickly and with speed ran Dobrynya to Prince Vladimir, and quickly, very, very quickly were the stern ukases issued, and a mighty banquet prepared.

And vast multitudes assembled in the pot-houses, not to eat or drink, but to view the Old Cossack.

When Ilyá came to the princely palace, he did reverence to all, and to the Prince and Princess in particular. Then Vladimir rose to his nimble feet, and spoke: "Ho there, thou Old Cossack Ilyá of Múrom! Here is a place for thee beside me, either on my right hand or my left, and yet a third place — wherever it pleaseth thee to sit." Therewith he took Ilyá by his white hands, and kissed him on his sugar mouth.

And as they sat on the four-square stools about the oaken tables laden with sweet viands, Ilyá took not the highest place, but a lesser, and put the sots from the imperial pot-house about him. And they began to eat and drink and make merry.

Thus was Ilyá reconciled to courteous Prince Vladimir.