Page:Slavonic Fairy Tales.djvu/67

52 her. Three days thus passed away; but as she did not die, her resolution failed her, and she determined to live; she regretted to lose her beauty; she listened to the calls of hunger, and on the fourth day took some food.

The princess now began to think how she might possibly escape from the Dragon. One day she said to him coaxingly,—

"Dear Dragon, your strength is great, your wings far spreading and powerful; can no one withstand you?"

"My time is not yet come," said the Dragon. "It was written at the hour of my birth that the only being who could withstand me would be Ivan the Pea, grown up from a pea."

The Dragon laughed as he said this, not anticipating such an antagonist. The strong put confidence in their strength; but what is said in jest will sometimes become a truth.

Meanwhile, the czarina sorrowed for the loss of her daughter and of her two sons. One day she went with her ladies-in-waiting into the garden to try to amuse herself. It was hot, and the czarina became very thirsty. In the garden there was a beautiful well of spring water, flowing into a white marble basin. The czarina dipped a golden cup into the basin, and, drinking hastily, swallowed a pea with the water. In the