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Ершов Петр Павлович - Pyotr Yershov. The little humpbacked horse, Страница 3
Ершов Петр Павлович - Pyotr Yershov. The little humpbacked horse="justify"> "God save you from every harm,"
Cried the Tsar's groom in alarm.
"Really, only in a dream
Could I say such things, I deem.
But no matter what you say
You will not fool me this way!"
Wrathfully, the Tsar's beard shook:
"What-me argue with you?
Look-If you do not bring to me
That Tsar-Maid, in sennights three,
To my Royal Chamber-now,
By my Royal Beard, I vow-
Hide yourself where e'er you please,
Under ground, or under seas-
I'll have you impaled, my man!
Off, you scum!" In tears, Ivan
To the hayloft made his way,
Where his little humpback lay.
"Why, Ivanushka, so sad?
What's the matter now, my lad?"
Little humpbacked horse enquired;
"Are you ill? or only tired?
What's the trouble? Tell me who
Has upset you? Tell me, do."
And Ivan, in bitter tears,
Kissed his little horse's ears
Sobbing: "Oh, my humpback dear,
I must bring the Tsar-Maid here.
Oh, whatever shall I do?"
In reply, his horse said: "True
Your misfortune's great, I know
But I'll help you in your woe.
You rejected my advice-
Now, you have to pay the price;
But, Ivan, 'twixt you and me,
This is easy as can be.
Service lies ahead, my man;
Now, go to the Tsar, Ivan,
Say: To catch the Tsar-Maid, Sire,
Two large cloths I shall require,
And a tent of gold brocade,
And a dinner-service, made
All of gold, from overseas;
Sweetmeats, too, her taste to please.'"
So Ivan with fearless tread
Went back to the Tsar, and said:
"For the Tsar-Maid's capture, Sire,
Two large cloths I will require,
And a tent of gold brocade,
And a dinner-service, made
All of gold, from overseas;
Sweetmeats, too, her taste to please."
"Ah-at last you've found your head,"
Yawned the Tsar, and from his bed
Gave his lords most strict commands
To fulfil Ivan's demands.
Called Ivan a brave young man,
Said: "God-speed to you, Ivan."
Dawn had scarce begun to peep,
Humpback roused Ivan from sleep:
"Hey, my lad, stop snoring, do,
Up! your duty's calling you."
So Ivan got up and dressed
Warmly for his royal quest;
Took the tent of gold brocade,
Took the dinner-service, made
All of gold, from overseas,
Sweetmeats, too, her taste to please.
Took the cloths, and everything
Tied up tightly with a string,
Put it all into a sack,
Climbed upon his horse's back,
Chewing on a piece of bread,
To the rising sun he sped,
Off to seek the Tsar-Maid Fair.
Seven days they rode, I swear;
When the eighth day dawned, they stood
In a dark and dense green wood,
Here the humpback stopped, and said:
"See-the ocean lies ahead-
There it is, the whole year round,
This Tsar-Maiden can be found;
Only twice a year, not more,
Does she spend the day on shore;
And, tomorrow, I've a notion,
We shall see her on the ocean."
Then he galloped fast once more
Till they reached the ocean shore;
In the distance, they could see
One white wave roll languidly.
Then Ivan dismounted. "Here,"
Said the humpback in his ear,
"Pitch your tent of gold brocade,
Lay the cloth, and service, made
All of gold from overseas,
And the sweets her taste to please.
Hide behind the tent, and see
That you don't act foolishly.
Yonder-see, the boat is nearing,
With the Tsar-Maid in it, steering.
She'll walk in the tent-but you
Let her be, what e'er you do;
Let her walk inside the tent,
Eat and drink to heart's content.
When you hear her Gusli play,
Rush inside without delay,
Seize the Tsar-Maid-hold her tight,
Shout for me with all your might.
You won't need to call me twice-
I'll be with you in a trice,
And we'll go-but mind you keep
All your wits awake-don't sleep;
For if you but let her go,
You'll be in for lots of woe.
" Then he flew off, like the wind,
Leaving our Ivan behind;
And Ivan, as he was told,
Hid behind the tent of gold,
There he pierced the gold brocade,
So that he could watch the Maid.
As the noonday sun shone clear,
To the shore the Maid drew near;
Gusli in her hand, she went
Straight inside the golden tent.
"Hm! So that's the Tsar-Maid Fair,
" Breathed the groom-"! do declare
All those tales were simply lies
When they praised her to the skies;
She is not the least bit pretty-
Pale and skinny, more's the pity;
And her chicken legs, so thin!
Why-it really is a sin!
Let who wills, take her to wife-
1 would not, to save my life."
Here the Tsar-Maid plucked a string,
And so sweetly did she sing
That Ivan, quite unaware,
Drooped his sleepy head right there,
Closed his eyes in slumber deep,
Lulled by her sweet voice to sleep.
Slowly sank the sun from sight.
Suddenly, he woke in fright;
By him, furiously neighing,
Stood his horse and kicked him, saying;
"Sleep, my lad, sleep till tomorrow-
Sleep, and wake to grief and sorrow-
You will be impaled, not I!"
Here Ivan began to cry,
Sobbing on his horse's mane,
Saying: "I won't sleep again-
Pardon me this once, please do!"
"Well, the Lord will pardon you,"
Said his humpback in reply-
"Maybe all's not lost; we'll try
And perhaps we'll mend things yet-
But-no sleeping-don't forget!
For again, at break of day,
That Fair Maid will steer this way;
She will go into the tent,
On your honeyed mead intent;
Only-mind what I have said,
Otherwise, you'll lose your head."
Humpback disappeared once more,
And Ivan searched on the shore
For some flints and rusty nails
From the wrecks of stranded sails,
To arouse him, should once more
He, by chance, begin to snore.
It was early morning when
That Tsar-Maiden came again,
Beached her boat once more and sped,
By the fragrant odours led,
To the dainties which were laid
In the tent of gold brocade ...
And again she plucked a string,
And so sweetly did she sing
That Ivanushka once more
Felt as sleepy as before.
"No, you nasty little cheat,"
Growled Ivan, upon his feet-
"This time you won't get away
You will not fool me today."
And, unmoved by her sweet song,
Seized her by her tresses long...
"Help me, help me, Humpback dear,
Hurry to me, do you hear!"
In a flash, his horse stood there-
Saying: "Well done, I declare!
Mount me quickly, now, Ivan,
Hold her tight as tight you can."
At the Palace gates, at last
They arrived; the Tsar ran fast
To the Fair Tsar-Maiden and
Led her by her lily hand
'Neath a silken canopy
To his royal throne; then he
Fondly gazing in her eyes
Said, with honeyed voice, and sighs:
"Peerless, beautiful princess-
Be my bride! Agree-say yes!
When I first saw you, desire
Burned within my breast like fire!
Oh! Your lovely eyes so bright-
They will haunt me day and night!
They will torture me by day
And at nights, drive sleep away!
Say but one sweet word to me
Everything is ready, see-
And tomorrow, oh my life,
We'll be wedded man and wife,
And live happy as the May.'
She, however, turned away
From the Tsar, with scornful eye,
And refused to make reply.
But this only added fire
To his passionate desire-
Kneeling, he her fingers pressed,
Tenderly her hands caressed,
And repeated foolishly:
"Say but one sweet word to me!
Wherein have I grieved you, pray?
Is my love so hateful, say?"
"Lack-a-day, and woe is me,"
Said the Tsar-Maid mournfully-
"If you love me truly, bring
Me in three days' time, my ring
Lying in the ocean bed-
Only then can we be wed."
Eagerly the Tsar roared: "Hey!
Fetch Ivan at once, I say!"
And excited, almost ran
Off himself to fetch Ivan!
When Ivan appeared, the Tsar
Turned to him and murmured: "Ah!
Vanya-here's a job for you-
Go down to the ocean blue;
From its bottom, you must bring
Me the Tsar-Maid's signet-ring.
If you execute this task,
I will give you all you ask."
"But I've only just got back,
And my joints are fit to crack;
Now you've found another quest!
Can't I even have a rest?"
"Sirrah! dare you tell me tarry?
Can't you see I want to marry?"
Raged the Tsar, and with a roar
Stamped his foot upon the floor.
"No more arguments, I say-
Now, be off without delay!"
As Ivan turned round to go,
The Tsarevna called out: "Oh,
Listen-visit, on your way,
My green mansions, and convey
Greetings to my mother dear-
Say, her daughter-do you hear-
Asks, why she conceals her rays
These three nights and these three days;
Why my handsome brother shrouds
His bright face in gloomy clouds,
Never sending rays of love
From the misty heights above?
Don't forget my message, now."
As Ivan made his last bow,
"I will not forget," he said,
"If it doesn't slip my head;
But please tell me who's your brother?
Also, tell me who's your mother?
I don't know them, I confess."
In reply, the fair princess
Said: "The Moon-she is my mother,
And the Sun-he is my brother."
"See you're back in time, my man!"
Called the bridegroom to Ivan,
Who retired and made his way
To his humpback in the hay.
"Why, Ivanushka, so sad?
What's the matter now, my lad?"
Said his humpback with a neigh.
"Help me, little humpback, pray,
For the Tsar now wants to wed
That there skinny girl, he said.
And," Ivan said to his horse,
"He must. send me off, of course,
On a journey to the sea-
Only gave three days to me-
And some cursed signet-ring
From the sea bed I must bring!
For that skinny Tsar-Maid,
I Have to travel to the sky-
Give her compliments and love
To the Sun and Moon above.
And besides, there are a few
Questions I must ask them, too.
" Said his horse: "Twixt you and me,
This is easy as can be;
Service, brother, lies ahead!
Now, you just go off to bed.
Early in the morning, we
Will be travelling to the sea."
In the morning, fresh from rest,
Our Ivan, now warmly dressed,
Put three onions in his pack,
Climbed upon his horse's back
And sped on his distant quest...
Till yesterday, Makar used to follow the plough.
But look at him today-he's a Voivode now!
Ta-ra-n-ra, ta-ra-rai,
All the horses ran away;
But the peasants, at long last,
Caught them all and bound them fast.
Master Raven, croak, croak, croak,
Blows his trumpet on an oak
And amuses Christian true,
Singing: "Now folks, listen, do-
Once a peasant and his wife
Led a very merry life.
He was always blithe and gay,
She was merry as the May;
When he danced and when she sang,
Then with mirth the village rang."
This is but the prelude, friends,
And my tale starts when it ends.
Hark to what the house-fly's singing
As upon our gates it's swinging:
"What's the price for news today?
News-fresh news-what will you pay?
Have you heard? The new-wed wife
Got the beating of her life
From her husband's mother-who
Tied her to the oven, too;
Trussed her up, secure and neat,
Took her shoes from off her feet.
'Leave the lads alone,' she said,
And at nights just stay in bed.'"
Now my prelude's said and done,
And my story is begun.
Well, Ivan rode off to bring
Back the Tsar-Maid's signet-ring;
And his horse flew like the wind,
Leaving miles and leagues behind-
Twenty thousand leagues, ere night,
Covered in a single flight.
Near the sea, he loudly neighed
Saying: "We will reach a glade
In a minute, maybe more,
Leading to the ocean shore,
Where, with monster head and tail,
Lies the Monster-Marvel Whale.
These ten years he lies in pain,
Ignorant of how to gain
Pardon, to this very day.
He will humbly beg and pray
That you pardon for him gain
When we reach the Sun's domain.
Promise him, Ivan, and see
That you do so faithfully!"
When they reached the glade, they flew
Straight towards the ocean blue;
There, across it, lay the whale-
Monster head and monster tail;
He was all one mass of holes,
From his ribs grew stakes and poles;
On his tail-a forest black;
And a village on his back;
Peasants on his lip drove ploughs,
Children danced between his brows;
Oak-trees on his huge jaws grew,
Maidens there sought mushrooms, too.
Clatter, clatter, clatter, clack,
Rode the humpback o'er his back,
While the Monster-Marvel Whale
Eyed them as he swished his tail,
Opening his huge jaws wide
As most bitterly he sighed:
"May God speed you, gentles two-
Whither bound, and whence are you?"
"We're the Tsar-Maid's envoys, see-
From the capital are we,"
Little humpbacked horse replied-
"Eastward, to the Sun, we ride,
To his residence of gold."
"Fathers, may I make so bold,"
Said the whale, "to beg of you,
When you reach the heavens blue,
Ask the Sun, how long must I
Suffer this disgrace, and why?
For what sins, let him explain,
Must I bear this grief and pain?"
"Yes, yes, Monster Whale, all right,"
Yelled Ivan with all his might,
While the whale, with bitter cries,
Begged Ivan, between his sighs:
"Please have pity on poor me-
These ten years I'm suffering, see-
Do this favour for me, do,
I will serve you some day too!"
"Yes, yes, Monster Whale, all right!'
Yelled Ivan with all his might.
Then his horse, with one leap bore
Vanya to the other shore,
Leaving clouds of dust behind
As he flew on like the wind.
Near or far, or high or low,
How they travelled, I don't know-
Nor did anybody say
If they saw them on the way;
Tales, you know, are quickly spun,
Deeds are sooner said than done;
Only, brothers, I did hear
(Indirectly, though, I fear)
That the humpback came to where
Earth meets sky; and it is there,
Peasant maidens, spinning flax,
Use the clouds as distaff racks.
Bidding Mother Earth good-bye,
Vanya rode up to the sky;
Like a prince, he proudly flew
Through the skies, his hat askew.
"What a wonder-Oh, I say,"
Mused Ivan aloud, as they
Rode the cloudy meadows blue-
"Though our country's pretty, too,
But compared with this blue sky,
It's not worth a button-why,
Our old Earth down there is so
Black and muddy, as you know;
Here, the soil is bright and blue,
And how brilliant it is, too!
But, my horse, what can that be
In the East, up yonder, see-
Gleaming like the dawn up there ?
That must be, I do declare,
Nothing but the sun's chief city,
But-how high up, more's the pity!"
"That's the Tsar-Maid's tower you see,
Our Tsaritsa's that's to be,"
Neighed the humpback in his ear:
"Every night the Sun sleeps here,
And, here every day, the Moon
Comes to take her rest at noon."
Palace portals met their sight,
Crowned in crystal, gleaming bright;
All its pillars made of gold,
Twisted cunningly, and scrolled
On each pillar shone a star;
Round the palace, near and far,
Fragrant gardens, fair to see,
Spread in verdant brilliancy.
Birds of paradise were singing
In their golden cages, swinging
'Mong the silver branches there.
Mansions rose there, tall and fair.
Stars upon the palace spire,
Burning with a holy fire,
Formed a Christian Cross, whose rays
Set the heavens all ablaze.
Through the portals then they rode
And Ivan, dismounting, strode
To the palace, with bare head.
There he saw the Moon, and said:
"Greetings, gracious Moon Moonovich,
I'm Ivanushka Petrovich
And from countries far away
Greetings I bring you today."
"Take a seat, Ivan Petrovich,"
Murmured gracious Moon Moonovich,
"Tell me now, and let me know,
Why you left the Earth below
For our realms so bright and blue;
From what people, land are you?
How you found your way, confess-
Tell me all the truth, no less!"
"From a land on Earth I come,
From a realm of Christiandom,"
Sitting down, Ivan replied.
"I have crossed the ocean wide
My Tsaritsa's will to do-
In your palace, bow to you-
Then repeat these words-now hear:
Tell my darling mother dear
That her daughter down below,
On the Earth, desires to know
Why, for these three nights and days,
She conceals from her her rays;
Why my handsome brother shrouds
His bright face in gloomy clouds,
Never sending rays of love
From his misty heights above?-'
This is all-I think-though young,
She has got a silver tongue.
It's not easy to recall
Every word that she let fall."
"Which Tsaritsa-who is she?"
"Why, the Tsar-Maid, don't you see?"
"What-our Tsar-Maid ?-you don't say
It was you stole her away?"
With a gasp cried Moon Moonovich.
And Ivanushka Petrovich
Answered: "Why, yes-surely Ma'am-
I'm the Royal Groom, I am.
And our Tsar gave me just three
Weeks to find and fetch her, see?
Otherwise, you see, he said,
I would lose my curly head."
Here the Moon in glad surprise
Hugged Ivan and dried her eyes.
"Okh, Ivanushka Petrovich,"
Murmured gracious Moon Moonovich,
"You have brought such news today
That I don't know what to say;
When we lost our dear Princess,
How we mourned, you'll never guess;
That's the reason why, you see,
I've been grieving bitterly
These three nights and these three days,
In dark clouds concealed my rays;
All this time I mourned and wept,
Never ate a crumb, nor slept-
This is why her brother shrouds
His bright face in gloomy clouds;
Why he sends no warming rays
Down to Earth these many days,
Shedding many a bitter tear,
Mourning for his sister dear.
Let me know, though-is she well-
Is she homesick for us, tell?"
"She'd be pretty, I would say,
But she's wasting right away;
She's as skinny as can be
Only skin and bones, you see-
When she's married, though, no doubt
She'll improve and get quite stout,
For the Tsar will wed her soon."
"What? The villain!" screamed the Moon-
"Why-he's eighty, if a day,
And he wants to wed with May!
I declare, upon my life,
She will never be his wife;
See what that old nasty toad
Wants-to reap, who never sowed.
Why, he's greedy as he's vain!"
Here Ivan spoke up again:
"Please do not deny this boon
For the whale, 0 gracious Moon-
O'er the ocean down below
Lies a Monster Whale, you know-
He is all one mass of holes,
From his ribs stick stakes and poles
And, poor thing, he begged me to
Speak for him when I saw you-
Why has he deserved this pain,
And how can he pardon gain?
Will he get his freedom soon?"
In reply, the lustrous Moon Said:
"He bears this punishment,
For, without the Lord's consent,
Thirty ships, one day, he swallowed
As their ocean course they followed.
If he sets them free again
God will take away his pain,
All his wounds
He will assuage
And reward him with old age."
Here Ivan rose from his chair,
Said: "Farewell" with courtly air,
Thrice he kissed the bright Moon's face,
Clasping her in warm embrace.
"Well, Ivanushka Petrovich,"
Murmured gracious Moon Moonovich,
"Many, many thanks to you
From my son and from me, too;
Put my daughter's mind at ease
With my blessing, Vanya, please;
Tell my daughter that I say:
'Mother's with you night and day-
Cease from grieving-sigh no more-
Soon will end your sorrow sore,
For you'll never never wed
Any greybeard, toothless head,
But a young and handsome man.'
God be with you, now, Ivan."
Bowing low as best he knew,
Vanya climbed his humpback true,
Whistled like a noble knight
Then rode back with all his might.
Next day, our Ivan once more
Came up to the ocean shore;
Clatter, clatter, clatter, clack
Rode he over that whale's back,
While the Monster-Marvel Whale
Sighed and slowly waved his tail,
Saying: "Sires-about my boon?
Will I get my freedom soon?"
But the humpback merely said:
"Wait, 0 Whale," and ran ahead
To the village market-place
Where he called the populace;
Tossed his coal-black mane and head,
Snorted thrice, and loudly said:
"Heed my words, 0 Christians true-
Mark what I am telling you-
If you wish to keep away
From a briny grave today,
Get you gone this minute, now;
Wonders will take place, I vow,
For the Monster Whale will turn
And the sea will seethe and churn."
Here the peasants, great and small,
Christians true-they one and all
Hurried off to home and farm,
Crying out in wild alarm;
Gathered all their carts, and placed
All their goods on them in haste
And, with many a woeful wail,
Fled from off that Monster Whale;
And, by noon, you could not find
Anybody left behind.
Twas as though Mamai's fierce horde
Had swept the land with fire and sword.
O'er its tail the humpback sped,
Reached and bent down to its head,
Shouted loud as loud could be:
"Listen, Monster Whale, to me!
All this is your punishment-
For, without the Lord's consent,
Thirty ships, one day, you swallowed
As their ocean course they followed;
If you set them free again
He will take away your pain,
All your wounds he will assuage,
And reward you with old age."
And, when his long speech was said,
Bit his bridle, tossed his head,
Gave one leap-and lo, once more
Stood upon the distant shore.
Then the Monster Whale turned round,
Like a mighty heaving mound;
Threshed the ocean with his tail,
And a fleet of thirty sail
One by one cast from his jaws,
Sails and sailors, boats and oars.
Such a din here rent the deep
That the Sea-King woke from sleep.
Brazen guns in broadsides flashed,
Trumpets blared and cymbals crashed,
And the chaplain with his choir
Held a Mass amid the fire.
White sails were unfurled at last,
Flags flew gaily from each mast;
And the sailors sang this song
As they rowed their ships along:
"O'er the billows, o'er the sea,
O'er the ocean wide and free,
At the bottom of the world,
Fly our ships with sails unfurled."
All the ships sailed out of view,
Hidden by the billows blue,
While the Monster-Marvel Whale
Threshed the waters with his tail,
Opened up his jaws so wide,
Lifted up his voice, and cried:
"Tell me, friends, what can I do
In return, or give to you?
Coloured sea-shells, do you wish?
Would you care for golden fish?
Lovely pearls? Oh-anything
You may ask for, I will bring."
"No, 0 Whale-fish," said Ivan-
"We don't need them; if you can,
We would rather have you bring
Us the Tsar-Maid's signet-ring
From the bottom of the sea,
For our Tsar's bride that's to be."
"Certainly-for friends like you
There is nothing I won't do;
Ere the sun sets, I will bring
You the lovely Maiden's ring,"
Said the whale, and sank like lead
To the very ocean bed.
There, the Monster-Marvel Whale
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