The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich, the Bird of Light, and the Grey Wolf

In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, there once lived Tsar Vyslav Andronovich, who had three sons: the first was named Dmitri Tsarevich, the second Vasili Tsarevich, and the third Ivan Tsarevich. The Tsar had a garden so rich that no other kingdom could boast a finer one, and in it grew many rare trees, some bearing fruit and others not. Among them was an apple tree that the Tsar loved above all others, and every apple that grew on it was made of pure gold. But it so happened that a wondrous Bird of Light began to visit the Tsar's garden. Its feathers were all of gold, and its eyes shone like eastern crystal. Every night it would fly into the garden, perch on the beloved apple tree, pluck the golden apples, and fly away. Tsar Vyslav Andronovich was deeply grieved by this loss, so he called his three sons to him and said, "My dear children, which of you will go into my garden and catch the Bird of Light?

Whoever captures it alive, I will give him half of my kingdom during my lifetime, and at my death he shall inherit it all."

Then his sons, the Tsareviches, answered with one voice, "Gracious lord, our father, Your Imperial Majesty, we will be glad to try to catch the Bird of Light alive."

On the first night, Dmitri Tsarevich went into the garden and sat under the apple tree from which the Bird of Light used to steal the apples. But he soon fell asleep and never heard the bird when it came and plucked many more apples.

In the morning, Tsar Vyslav Andronovich called his son Dmitri and asked him, "Well, my beloved son, did you see the Bird of Light?" And Dmitri answered, "Father, gracious lord, it did not come this night."

So the next night Vasili Tsarevich went to keep watch in the garden. He sat under the same apple tree, and after sitting there for one hour, he fell into such a deep sleep that he did not hear the Bird of Light when it flew onto the tree, perched there, and plucked many apples.

In the morning, the Tsar called his second son and questioned him, and he answered, "Gracious lord, my father, the Bird of Light did not come this night."

On the third night, Ivan Tsarevich went into the garden to keep watch. He sat under the same apple tree and waited one hour, then a second, then a third. Suddenly, the whole garden lit up as if many fires were burning, and the Bird of Light flew in, landed on the apple tree, and began to pluck the apples. Ivan Tsarevich crept toward it as quietly as he could and seized it by the tail, but he could not hold on, and the bird flew away, leaving only one feather from its tail in his hand.

In the morning, when Tsar Vyslav awoke, Ivan Tsarevich went to him and gave him the feather of the Bird of Light. The Tsar was very glad that his youngest son had succeeded, even though he had only a single feather. This feather was so marvelous and bright that when it was placed in a dark room, it shone like the red sun. The Tsar put the feather in his cabinet as a treasure to keep forever, and from that time on, the Bird of Light never came to the garden again.

Later, Tsar Vyslav again called his sons to him and said, "My beloved sons, journey forth with my blessing. You must search for the Bird of Light and bring it to me alive. Remember what I promised: whoever captures the bird shall have half my kingdom now and all after my death."

Dmitri and Vasili were envious of their younger brother Ivan because he had succeeded in pulling a feather from the Bird of Light's tail. But Ivan Tsarevich asked his father for permission and his blessing to go on the quest. Tsar Vyslav tried to dissuade Ivan, but he could not, so he let him go, granting his persistent request. Ivan Tsarevich received his father's blessing, took his horse, and set out on his journey, not knowing where he was going.

He traveled along the road and byway—whether near or far, whether high or low, the tale is told quickly, but the deed takes time—until he came to an open field with green meadows. In the middle of the field stood a stone column, and on the column were these words written:

"If you go straight from this column, you shall suffer hunger and cold. If you go to the right, you shall have health and life, but your horse shall be slain. And if you go to the left, you shall yourself be slain, but your horse shall live and be healthy."

Ivan Tsarevich read the inscription and decided to go to the right, thinking that if his horse were to be killed, at least he himself would remain alive. So he rode on for one day, then a second, then a third. Suddenly, a fierce grey Wolf met him and said, "All hail to you, warrior, doughty of might! Ivan Tsarevich, have you read what is written on the column? It says that your horse shall be slain. So why have you come this way?" And with these words, the Wolf attacked the horse of young Ivan Tsarevich, tore it in two, and then ran off to one side.

Ivan Tsarevich wept bitterly for his horse and continued on foot. He walked all day and grew very tired. When he wanted to sit down and rest, suddenly the grey Wolf came up to him and said, "I feel pity for you, Ivan Tsarevich, tiring yourself by walking. Come, sit on me—on the grey Wolf—and tell me where you wish to go and for what purpose." Ivan Tsarevich told the grey Wolf his mission, and the grey Wolf flew off with him faster than any horse. In a short time, as if in a single night, he brought Ivan Tsarevich to a stone wall, stopped, and said, "Now, Ivan Tsarevich, jump off me—off the grey Wolf—and go through this stone wall. Behind the wall is a garden, and in that garden the Bird of Light sits in a golden cage. You must take the Bird of Light, but do not touch the golden cage, or they will capture you at once."

Ivan Tsarevich slipped through a gap in the stone wall into the garden, saw the Bird of Light in the golden cage, and was delighted. He took the bird out of the cage and was about to leave, but then he thought to himself, "Why should I take the Bird of Light without the cage? Where would I put it?" So he turned back, and as soon as he took the golden cage, a great clamor and clangor arose, as if ropes were tied to the cage. All the watchmen woke up, ran into the garden, seized Ivan Tsarevich with the Bird of Light, and took him to their Tsar, whose name was Dolmat.

Tsar Dolmat was very angry with Ivan Tsarevich and shouted in a furious tone, "Are you not ashamed, young man, to come stealing? Who are you, from what land? Who is your father? What is your name?"

Ivan Tsarevich answered, "I am the son of Tsar Vyslav Andronovich, and they call me Ivan Tsarevich. Your Bird of Light flew into my father's garden every night and stole the golden apples from the apple tree he loved. For that reason, my father sent me to find the Bird of Light and bring it to him."

"Oh, brave youth, Ivan Tsarevich!" cried Tsar Dolmat. "I would certainly have given you the bird if you had come to me honestly. But what did you do? You stole it. Now listen, Ivan Tsarevich. If you will do me a service, I will forgive you and give you the Bird of Light with honor. You must go across thrice-nine kingdoms to the thrice-tenth realm, and there obtain for me the golden-maned horse from Tsar Afron. Do that, and you shall have the bird."

Ivan Tsarevich became very sorrowful and left Tsar Dolmat. He found the grey Wolf and told him everything.

"Hail to you, warrior, doughty of might!" the grey Wolf said. "Why did you not listen to my words? Why did you take the golden cage?"

"I am guilty," Ivan Tsarevich said to the Wolf.

"Well, so be it," said the grey Wolf. "Sit on me, on the grey Wolf. I will take you wherever you wish."

Ivan Tsarevich sat on the grey Wolf's back, and the Wolf ran like an arrow, may be far, may be near, until they reached the kingdom of Tsar Afron at night. They came to the white-stoned stables of the Tsar, and the grey Wolf said to Ivan Tsarevich, "Go into the white-stoned stables and take the golden-maned horse. But there is a golden bridle hanging on the wall; do not touch it, or it will go ill with you."

Ivan Tsarevich went into the stables, took the horse, and was about to leave. But he saw the golden bridle on the wall, and his eyes fell upon it. He could not resist and took it from the hook. As soon as he touched it, a clangor and clamor filled the stables, as if ropes were attached to the bridle. All the watchmen woke, ran in, seized Ivan Tsarevich with the golden-maned horse, and brought him to Tsar Afron.

Tsar Afron was very angry and demanded to know who Ivan was, who his father was, and his name. Ivan told him everything, and Tsar Afron said, "I would have given you the golden-maned horse if you had asked me, but since you have acted so dishonorably, you must do me a service. You must ride across thrice-nine lands into the thrice-tenth kingdom and bring me Princess Elena the Fair, whom I have loved for a long time with all my heart and soul. If you do this, I will forgive you and give you the horse as an honor. But if you refuse, I will proclaim you a thief throughout all the realms."

Ivan Tsarevich left the palace and began to weep bitterly. He returned to the grey Wolf and told him what had happened.

"Hail to you, brave warrior, doughty of might!" the grey Wolf said. "Why did you not listen to my words and take the golden bridle?"

"I have been guilty before you," said Ivan Tsarevich.

"Well, so be it," the grey Wolf said. "Sit on my back, and I will take you where you need to go."

So Ivan Tsarevich mounted the grey Wolf, and they sped like an arrow until they came to the kingdom of Princess Elena the Fair. They stopped at the golden palisade that surrounded the wonderful garden, and the Wolf said, "Ivan Tsarevich, slip off my back and go behind that road, then wait for me in the open field under the green oak." Ivan Tsarevich did as he was told, and the grey Wolf sat near the golden palisade, waiting for Princess Elena to come into the garden for a walk.

In the evening, as the sun was setting in the west, Princess Elena the Fair came into the garden with all her maids of honor, servants, and attendants, including the boyaryni. When she came near the place where the grey Wolf hid, he suddenly leapt over the railing, seized the princess, and ran off with all his might. He went to the open field under the green oak where Ivan Tsarevich was waiting and said, "Ivan Tsarevich, sit on my back quickly!" Ivan Tsarevich mounted, and the grey Wolf sped away with both of them toward the kingdom of Tsar Afron.

All the maids and servants ran into the palace, and a hunt was organized, but no matter how many hunters they sent, they could not catch the grey Wolf, so they turned back in frustration.

As they rode, Ivan Tsarevich, seated on the grey Wolf's back with Princess Elena the Fair, fell in love with her, and she with him. When they arrived at the garden of Tsar Afron, Ivan Tsarevich became very sad and began to weep.

The grey Wolf asked him, "Why are you weeping, Tsarevich?"

Ivan answered, "Oh, my friend, the grey Wolf, how can I not weep? I love Princess Elena with all my heart, and now I must give her up to Tsar Afron in exchange for the golden-maned horse. And if I do not, he will dishonor me before all kingdoms."

"I have served you well, Ivan Tsarevich," the grey Wolf said, "and I will serve you yet again. Listen to me: I shall turn myself into Princess Elena, and you will take me to Tsar Afron and receive the golden-maned horse. When you ride off, I will ask leave to walk in the open field, and then I will return to you."

Then the grey Wolf struck the ground and turned himself into a perfect likeness of Princess Elena.

Ivan Tsarevich took the false princess to Tsar Afron's palace. The Tsar was overjoyed to receive such a treasure, which he had long desired, and he gave Ivan the golden-maned horse. Ivan mounted the horse, left the town, and met the real Princess Elena. They rode off together toward the kingdom of Tsar Dolmat.

The grey Wolf, in the form of Princess Elena, stayed with Tsar Afron for a day, then two, then three. Then he asked leave to go for a walk in the open field to ease his sorrow. Tsar Afron, thinking she was his queen, gladly granted permission and sent her with a large entourage.

Meanwhile, Ivan and Elena rode on, almost forgetting the grey Wolf, when Ivan suddenly recollected, "Oh, where is my grey Wolf?"

At that moment, the grey Wolf appeared before him and said, "Sit on me, Ivan Tsarevich, and let the princess ride on the golden-maned horse." So Ivan mounted the grey Wolf, and they continued toward the kingdom of Tsar Dolmat.

When they reached the outskirts of that kingdom, Ivan began to plead with the grey Wolf, "My beloved friend, you have served me many times; serve me once more. Can you turn yourself into a golden-maned horse?"

The grey Wolf struck the ground and became a majestic golden-maned horse. Ivan left the real Princess Elena in the green meadow, mounted the false horse, and rode into the palace of Tsar Dolmat. As soon as Tsar Dolmat saw Ivan riding the golden-maned horse, he came out of his palace, met him in the courtyard, embraced him, and led him into the white-stoned palace. Overjoyed, Tsar Dolmat ordered a great feast, and they ate, drank, and made merry for two days. On the third day, Tsar Dolmat presented Ivan with the Bird of Light in its golden cage. Ivan took the bird, left the town, and rejoined Princess Elena, and together they rode back toward his homeland.

After Ivan had left, Tsar Dolmat decided to ride his new golden-maned horse in the open fields. But as soon as he mounted, the horse reared up and transformed into a giant grey Wolf, which raced away after Ivan.

The grey Wolf caught up with Ivan and said, "Sit on me, Ivan Tsarevich, and let the princess ride the golden-maned horse." So Ivan mounted the grey Wolf, and they continued their journey.

Soon they came to the very spot where the grey Wolf had torn Ivan's horse apart. The grey Wolf stopped and said, "Ivan Tsarevich, I have served you faithfully. Here I slew your horse, and here I have brought you back. From this point, you must go on alone. You have the golden-maned horse, but I can serve you no further."

With these words, the grey Wolf turned and vanished into the forest. Ivan Tsarevich wept bitterly, but he and Princess Elena continued on the golden-maned horse. When they were within twenty versts of his kingdom, they stopped to rest under a tree. Ivan tied the horse to the tree, took the cage with the Bird of Light, and they lay down on the grass, talking lovingly, and soon fell asleep.

Now it happened that Ivan's brothers, Dmitri and Vasili, were also returning home after searching for the Bird of Light in vain. Furious at their failure, they came upon their sleeping brother and the fair princess. When they saw the golden-maned horse and the Bird of Light in its golden cage, they were filled with envy and decided to kill Ivan. Dmitri drew his sword and cut Ivan's throat, then woke Princess Elena and demanded, "Fair maiden, from what kingdom are you, and who is your father? What is your name?"

Princess Elena, seeing Ivan dead, was terrified and with bitter tears answered, "I am Princess Elena the Fair, and Ivan Tsarevich found me. You have slain him in his sleep, which is evil. If you were honorable champions, you would fight him in the open field, but you killed him while he slept. How can you expect praise? For a sleeping man is like a dead one."

Then Dmitri put his sword to her breast and threatened, "Listen, Elena the Fair, you are in our power. We will bring you to our father, Tsar Vyslav, and you will tell him that we found you and the Bird of Light and the golden-maned horse. Say exactly that, or we will kill you on the spot."