Page:The Russian story book, containing tales from the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod and other early sources.djvu/128

 changed herself into a lovely bride, but she could not change the emerald hue of her eyes.

"Now I will wed you, Marina," said the wise Nikitich. "Round this bush we go, three times round this willow bush, and then you may call Nikitich your husband if you will." So round the bush they went, hand in hand, three times round the willow bush, while the eyes of the beautiful bride gleamed greener than ever before.

So the bride and bridegroom came, side by side, to the palace of Marina, where Nikitich called to one of the servants:

"Ho, there, bring me a cup of green wine, and a sword of damascened steel, sharp and bright."

At these words the witch bride put forth her spells again and turned her bridegroom into a little ermine and began to frighten him. Then she turned him into a falcon, but by her witchcraft she was able to prevent him from flying anywhere except round and round her head.

"I cannot fly like the falcon clear," said Nikitich, "I can only flap my wings up and down. Give me, I beg of you, a cup of green wine to drink."

Then as if to delight her own eyes and tease him still further, the witch bride turned him once more into a goodly young man who shouted out again:

"Ho, there, bring me a cup of green wine and a sword of damascened steel, sharp and bright."

Once more Marina raised her lily-white hands and began to perform her enchantments. But before she could change her bridegroom again the servant