Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/302

286 Now the day was ebbing away, and the fair maiden made ready to go back, and was bidding farewell to her father and her sisters, saying, "This is the time I must go back: I was bidden keep to my term." But the envious sisters rubbed onions on their eyes and made as though they were weeping: "Do not go away, sister; stay until to-morrow."

She was very sorry for her sisters, and stayed one day more.

In the morning she bade farewell to them all and went to the palace. When she arrived it was as empty as before. She went into the garden, and she saw the serpent lying dead in the pond! He had thrown himself for sheer grief into the water.

"Oh, my God, what have I done!" cried out the fair maiden, and she wept bitter tears, ran up to the pond, hauled the snake out of the water, embraced one head and kissed it with all her might. And the snake trembled, and in a minute turned into a good youth.

"I thank you, fair maiden," he said. "You have saved me from the greatest misfortune. I am no snake, but an enchanted Prince."

Then they went back to the merchant's house, were betrothed, lived long, and lived for good and happy things.