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Rh Then the maiden looked on him wonderingly and said: "Right kindly dost thou speak, though I have been taught that men were hard and cruel. Nevertheless a word given cannot be recalled and if thou art so minded, I will wed thee. Perhaps I shall not repent."

The archer rejoiced and kissed and caressed her, and they lay down, each under a little shrub, and slept till daybreak, when he took her to the capital and they were married. Then Taraban bethought himself of his duty, and leaving her at home, went to the Palace and prostrated himself before the Tzar.

"Health to thee, my best bowman!" said the Tzar. "What wouldst thou ask?"

"O Tzar's Majesty!" he said, "I am guilty before thee! I have wedded a wife without thy royal permission."

"Well," said the Tzar, "thy fault is not a great one. Come hither to-morrow, however, and bring thy wife that she may salute me. Then I may know whether she whom thou hast chosen will ornament my Court."

So, next day, Taraban brought his wife to the Palace, and her beauty was such that it made the other ladies of the Court look like crows. The