Page:The Russian story book, containing tales from the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod and other early sources.djvu/164

 baker of cakes, and the nurse, until the last took pity upon their despair and told them that the lady mother of their lord had gone to High Mass, and that they would be able to distinguish her when she left the church by three certain signs. Before her would come a great army of men armed with shovels, and then another army with brooms to make all clean on the pathway, and then a third army laying cloth of brilliant scarlet upon the tawny sand. Last of all would come the mother of young Lord Diuk, with a great company of lovely maidens round about her. "And when you go into the town," the nurse concluded, "you must not salute all the ancient ladies in fine raiment like mine, for there are so many of us thus arrayed that we pay little heed to it. And if you do reverence to all of us your back will remain bent like the bow of Ilya of Murom."

The talesmen went on their wondering way and in due time met the mother of the young Lord Diuk, preceded and attended as the nurse had told, and dressed in garments of rich but quiet beauty. Before her the three men bowed, and in pleasant tones she asked why they had come to the city.

"Your son sent us as talesmen," was the answer, "to make lists of all his possessions in treasure and goods and herds and flocks."

"That is beyond your powers," said the lady; "but come first of all to partake of my hospitality, and then I will show you whatever you choose to see."

So they went to the feast of rich food and richer