Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/212

196 and then said, "I can no longer be your guest: I am going seeking my wife, Márya Moryévna the fair Princess."

And the Eagle answered: "It will be an evil quest. Leave us your silver fork; we will look at it and think of you."

So he left his silver fork, and he went on the road. And a day went by and a second, and at the dawn of the third day he saw a palace fairer than the first two. And in front of the palace there was an oak, and on the oak there perched a crow. And the Crow flew down from the oak, struck the earth, turned into a doughty youth, and cried out, "Ánna Tsarévna come out as fast as you can: our brother has arrived."

Then Ánna Tsarévna came out, met him joyously, began to kiss and to welcome him, asking him how he was. And they spoke of all they had lived and done.

After three days Iván Tsarévich said, "I can stay no longer with you; I am going to seek my wife, Márya Moryévna, the fair Queen."

"This will be a hard search for you," the Crow said. "At least leave us your silver snuff-box; we can gaze on it and think of you."

So Iván Tsarévich left them his silver snuff-box, and set out on his road.

Then a day went and another day, and on the third day he at last reached Márya Moryévna. When she saw her beloved through the window, she rushed out to him, flung herself at his neck, wept, and said, "Oh! Iván Tsarévich, why did you not obey me? Why did you look into the lumber-room and let Koshchéy the Deathless out?"

"Forgive me, Márya Moryévna; let bygones be bygones: come away with me now, whilst Koshchéy the Deathless is away: possibly he may not catch us up.

So they went away.