Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/40

24 "Oh, Swan, fair maiden, I have a double task: Prince Vladímir has bidden me sew a shúba, and the sables are not prepared, the buttons are not moulded, and the buttonholes are not sewn."

"You take me with you, and it will all be done in time."

Then he began to think in his thoughts, "How shall I take her with me?"

"Now, Danílo, what are you thinking?"

"I must do as you say: I will take you with me."

So she flapped her wings, and she moved her little head, and said, "Turn to me with your white face; we will build for ourselves a princely house. Shake your locks, that our house may have rooms." Then twelve youths appeared, all of them carpenters, sawyers, stone-hewers; and they set to work, and the house was soon ready.

Then Danílo took her by her right hand, and he kissed her on her sweet lips, and he led her into the princely home. They sat down at a table, ate and drank. They refreshed themselves, and their hands met at one table. "Now, Danílo, go to rest and to bed; think of nothing else; it will all be done." So she laid him to sleep and herself went out to the crystal flight of steps. And she waved her pinions and she shook her little head: "My father," she cried, "send me your craftsmen!"

And the twelve youths appeared and asked, "Swan-bird, fair maiden, what do you bid us do?"

"Sew me this shúba at once: the sables are not prepared, the buttons are not moulded, the buttonholes are not sewn."

So they set to work: one of them made the sables ready and sewed the shúba, one of them worked the forge and moulded the buttons, and one of them sewed the buttonholes, and in a minute, wondrously, the shúba was made.