Alexander Pushkin
A tale of a dead princess and seven knights

Long the Tsar sat lonely, brooding.
But he, too, was only human.
Tears for one sad year he shed...
And another woman wed. 
She (if one be strictly truthful) 
Was a born Tsaritsa — youthful, 
Slim, tall, fair to look upon, 
Clever, witty — and so on. 
But she was in equal measure 
Stubborn, haughty, wilful, jealous. 
In her dowry rich and vast 
Was a little looking-glass. 
It had this unique distinction: 
It could speak with perfect diction. 
Only with this glass would she 
In a pleasant humour be. 
Many times a day she’d greet it 
And coquettishly entreat it: 
“Tell me, pretty looking-glass, 
Nothing but the truth, I ask: 
Who in all the world is fairest 
And has beauty of the rarest?” 
And the looking-glass replied: 
“You, it cannot be denied. 
You in all the world are fairest 
And your beauty is the rarest.” 
The Tsaritsa laughed with glee, 
Shrugged her shoulders merrily, 
Puffed her cheeks and bat her eyelids. 
Flicked her fingers coyly, slyly, 
Pranced around with hand on hips. 
Arrogance upon her lips.

All this time the Tsar’s own daughter 
Quietly, as Nature taught her, 
Grew and grew, and came quite soon 
Like a flower into bloom: 
Raven-browed, of fair complexion, 
Breathing kindness and affection. 
And the choice of fiancé 
Lighted on Prince Yelisei. 
Suit was made. The Tsar consented 
And her dowry was indented: 
Seven towns with wealthy store, 
Mansion-houses — sevenscore.

On the night before the wedding 
For a bridal party dressing 
The Tsaritsa, time to pass, 
Chatted with her looking-glass: 
“Who in all the world is fairest 
And has beauty of the rarest?” 
Then what did the glass reply? 
“You are fair, I can’t deny. 
But the Princess is the fairest 
And her beauty is the rarest.” 
Up the proud Tsaritsa jumped. 
On the table how she thumped, 
Angrily the mirror slapping, 
Slipper heel in fury tapping! 
“O you loathsome looking-glass, 
Telling lies as bold as brass! 
By what right is she my riyal? 
Such young folly I shall bridle. 
So she’s grown up — me to spite! 
Little wonder she’s so white: 
With her bulging mother gazing 
At that snow — what’s so amazing! 
Now look here, explain to me 
How can she the fairer be? 
Scour this realm of ours and seek well, 
Nowhere shall you find my equal. 
Is not that the truth?” she cried. 
Still the looking-glass replied: 
“But the Princess is the fairest 
And her beauty is the rarest.” 
The Tsaritsa burst with spite, 
Hurled the mirror out of sight 
Underneath the nearest cupboard 
And when breath she had recovered 
Summoned Smudge, her chamber maid, 
And to her instructions gave: 
“Take the Princess to the forest, 
Bind her hand and foot and forehead 
To a tree! When wolves arrive 
Let them eat the girl alive!”

Woman’s wrath would daunt the devil! 
Protest was no use whatever. 
Soon the Princess left with Smudge 
For the woods. So far they trudged 
That the Princess guessed the reason. 
Scared to death by such foul treason, 
Loud she pleaded: “Spare my life! 
Innocent of guilt am I! 
Do not kill me, I beseech you! 
And when I become Tsaritsa 
I shall give you rich reward.” 
Smudge, who really loved her ward, 
Being loth to kill or bind her, 
Let her go, remarking kindly: 
“God be with you! Do not moan!” 
And, this said, went back alone. 
“Well?” demanded the Tsaritsa, 
“Where’s that pretty little creature?” 
“In the forest on her own,” 
Smudge replied. “And there she’ll stay. 
To a tree I firmly lashed her. 
When a hungry beast attacks her 
She’ll have little time to cry 
And the quicker she shall die!”

Rumour spread and caused a panic: 
“What, the Tsar’s own daughter vanished!” 
Mournful was the Tsar that day. 
But the young Prince Yelisei 
Offered God a fervent prayer 
And departed then and there 
To seek out and homeward guide 
His sweet-tempered, youthful bride.

Meanwhile his young bride kept walking 
Through the forest until morning, 
Vague as to her whereabouts. 
Suddenly she spied a house. 
Out a dog ran growling, yapping, 
Then sat down, his tail tap-tapping. 
At the gate there was no guard. 
All was quiet in the yard.
Close at heel the good dog bounded 
As the Princess slowly mounted 
Stairs to gain the living floor, 
Turned the ring upon the door. 
Silently the door swung open 
And before her eyes unfolded 
A bright chamber: all around 
Benches strewn with rugs she found, 
Board of oak beneath the ikon 
And a stove with tiles to lie on. 
To the Princess it was clear 
Kindly folk were dwelling here 
Who would not deny her shelter. 
No-one was at home, however. 
So she set to, cleaned the pans, 
Made the whole house spick and span, 
Lit a candle in the corner, 
Fed the fire to be warmer, 
Climbed onto the platform bed 
There to lay her sleepy head.

Dinner time. The yard resounded, 
Horses stamped and men dismounted. 
Thick-moustached and ruddy-skinned, 
Seven lusty Knights walked in.

Said the Eldest: “How amazing! 
All so neat! The fire blazing! 
Somebody’s been cleaning here 
And is waiting somewhere near. 
Who is there? Come out of hiding! 
Be a friend in peace abiding! 
If you’re someone old and hoar, 
Be our uncle evermore! 
If you’re young and love a scuffle, 
We’ll embrace you as a brother. 
If a venerable dame, 
Then shall ‘mother’ be your name. 
If a maiden fair, we’ll call you 
Our dear sister and adore you.”

So the Princess rose, came down 
To the Seven Knights and bowed, 
Her good wishes emphasising, 
Blushing and apologising 
That to their delightful home 
Uninvited she had come. 
Straight they saw her speech bore witness 
To the presence of a Princess. 
So they cleared a corner seat, 
Offered her a pie with meat, 
Filled a glass with wine and served it 
On a tray, as she deserved it. 
But the glass of heady wine 
She politely did decline 
And the pie she broke with caution, 
Savouring a tiny portion. 
Pleading she was very tired, 
Soon she gracefully retired 
And the Seven Knights conveyed her 
To the best and brightest chamber 
And, away as they did creep, 
She was falling fast asleep.

Days flew by — the Princess living 
All the time without misgiving 
In the forest, never bored 
With the Seven Knights abroad. 
Darkness would the earth still cover 
When at dawn the seven brothers 
Would ride out to try their luck 
With a long-bow, shooting duck, 
Or to ply their sword in battle 
And a Saracen unsaddle, 
Headlong at a Tartar go, 
Chop his head off at a blow, 
Or give chase to a Circassian, 
From the forest send him dashing.

She, as lady of the house, 
Rose much later, moved about 
Dusting, polishing and cooking, 
Never once the Knights rebuking. 
They, too, never chided her. 
Days flew by like gossamer.

And in time they grew to love her. 
Thereupon all seven brothers 
Shortly after dawn one day 
To her chamber made their way 
And the Eldest Knight addressed her: 
“As you know, you are our sister. 
But all seven of us here 
Are in love with you, my dear, 
And we all desire your favours. 
But that must not be, God save us! 
Find some way to give us peace! 
Be a wife to one at least, 
To the rest remain a sister! 
But you shake your head. Is this to 
Say our offer you refuse? 
Nothing from our stock you’ll choose?”

“O my brave and bonny brothers, 
Virtuous beyond all others!” 
In reply the Princess said,

“God in heaven strike me dead 
If my answer be not honest: 
I’ve no choice — my hand is promised! 
You’re all equal in my eyes, 
All so valiant and wise, 
And I love you all, dear brothers! 
But my heart is to another 
Pledged for evermore. One day 
I shall wed Prince Yelisei!”

Hushed, the brothers kept their station, 
Scratched their foreheads in frustration. 
“As you wish! So now we know,” 
Said the Eldest with a bow. 
“Pray forgive us — and I promise 
You’ll hear nothing further from us!” 
“I’m not angry,” she replied. 
“By my pledge I must abide.” 
Bowing low, the seven suitors 
Left her room with passions muted. 
So in harmony again 
Did they live and friendship reign.

The Tsaritsa was still livid 
Every time she saw in vivid 
Memory the Princess fair. 
Long the mirror, lying there, 
Was the object of her hatred; 
But at last her wrath abated. 
So one day it came to pass 
That she took the looking-glass 
Up again and sat before it, 
Smiled and, as before, implored it: 
“Greetings, pretty looking-glass! 
Tell me all the truth, I ask: 
Who in all the world is fairest 
And has beauty of the rarest?” 
Said the mirror in reply: 
“You are fair, I can’t deny.

But where Seven Knights go riding 
In a green oak-grove residing 
Humbly lives a person who 
Is more beautiful than you.” 
The Tsaritsa’s wrath descended 
On her maid: “What folly tempted 
You to lie? You disobeyed!” 
Smudge a full confession made.... 
Uttering a threat of torture, 
The Tsaritsa grimly swore to 
Send the Princess to her death 
Or not draw another breath. 
One day by her window waiting 
For her brothers homeward hasting 
Sat the young Princess and span. 
Suddenly the dog began 
Barking. Through the courtyard scurried 
A poor beggar-woman, worried 
By the dog she kept at bay 
With her stick. “Don’t go away! 
Stay there, stay!” the Princess shouted, 
From the window leaning outward. 
“Let me call the dog to heel 
And I’ll offer you a meal.”

And the beggar-woman answered: 
“Pretty child, you take my fancy! 
For that dog of yours, you see, 
Could well be the death of me. 
See him snarling, bristling yonder! 
Come here, child!” The Princess wanted 
To go out, and took a loaf. 
But the dog its body wove 
Round her feet, refused to let her 
Step towards the woman-beggar. 
When the woman, too, drew near, 
Wilder than an angry bear 
It attacked her. How perplexing! 
“Had a bad night’s sleep, I reckon!” 
Said the Princess. “Catch it! There!” 
And the bread flew through the air. 
The poor beggar-woman caught it. 
“I most humbly thank you, daughter, 
God be merciful!” said she. 
“In return take this from me!” 
The bright apple she was holding, 
Newly picked, fresh, ripe and golden, 
Straight towards the Princess flew.... 
How the dog leapt in pursuit! 
But the Princess neatly trapped it 
In her palms. “Enjoy the apple 
At your leisure, little pet! 
Thank you for the loaf of bread...,” 
Said the beggar-woman, brandished 
In the air her stick and vanished.... 
Up the stairs the Princess ran 
With the dog, which then began 
Pitifully staring, whining 
Just as if its heart were pining 
For the gift of speech to say: 
“Throw that apple far away!” 
Hastily his neck she patted: 
“Hey, Sokolko, what’s the matter? 
Lie down!” Entering once more 
Her own room, she shut the door, 
Sat there with her spindle humming, 
Waiting for her brothers’ coming. 
But she could not take her gaze 
From the apple where it lay 
Full of fragrance, rosy, glowing, 
Fresh and juicy, ripe and golden, 
Sweet as honey to the lips! 
She could even see the pips.... 
First the Princess thought of waiting 
Until dinner. But temptation 
Proved too strong. She grasped the bright 
Apple, took a stealthy bite 
And with fair cheek sweetly hollowed 
A delicious morsel swallowed. 
All at once her breathing stopped, 
Listlessly her white arms dropped. 
From her lap the rosy apple 
Tumbled to the floor. The hapless 
Maiden closed her swooning eyes, 
Reeled and fell without a cry, 
On the bench her forehead striking, 
Then lay still beneath the ikon....

Now the brothers, as it chanced, 
Were returning in a band 
From another warlike foray. 
Out to meet them in the forest 
Went the dog and, running hard, 
Led them straight into the yard. 
Said the Knights: “An evil omen! 
Grief in store!” The door they opened, 
Walked into the room and gasped. 
But the dog like lightning dashed 
For the apple and devoured it. 
Death that instant overpowered it. 
For the apple was, they saw, 
Filled with poison to the core. 
By the dead Princess the brothers 
Bent their heads in tears and uttered 
Holy prayer to save her soul; 
Nothing could their grief console. 
From the bench they raised her, dressed her, 
Wished within a grave to rest her, 
Then had second thoughts. For she 
Was as rosy as if sleep 
“Garlands of repose were wreathing 
Round her — though she was not breathing. 
Three whole days they waited, but 
Still her eyes were tightly shut. 
So that night with solemn ritual 
In a coffin made of crystal 
They laid out the body fair 
Of the Princess and from there 
To a hollow mountain bore her, 
Where a tomb they fashioned for her: 
Iron chains they used to fix 
Her glass case to pillars six 
With due caution, and erected 
Iron railings to protect it. 
“Sun, dear Sun! The whole year coursing 
Through the sky, in springtime thawing 
From the chill earth winter snow! 
You observe us all below. 
Surely you’ll not grudge an answer? 
Tell me, did you ever chance to 
See the Princess I revere? 
I’m her fiancé.” “My dear,” 
Said the Sun with some insistence, 
“I have nowhere seen your Princess, 
So she’s dead, we must presume, 
That is, if my friend, the Moon, 
Has not met her on his travels 
Or seen clues you may unravel.”

Through the dark night Yelisei, 
Feeling anything but gay, 
With a lover’s perseverance 
Waited for the Moon’s appearance. 
“Moon, O Moon, my friend!” he said, 
“Gold of horn and round of head, 
From the darkest shadows rising, 
With your eye the world apprizing, 
You whom stars with love regard 
As you mount your nightly guard! 
Surely you’ll not grudge an answer? 
Tell me, did you ever chance to 
See the Princess I revere? 
I’m her fiancé.” “O dear!” 
Said the Moon in consternation, 
“No, I have not seen the maiden. 
On my round I only go 
When it is my turn, you know. 
It would seem that I was resting 
When she passed.” “How very vexing 
Cried aloud Prince Yelisei. 
But the Moon went on to say: 
“Wait a minute! I suggest you 
Have the Wind come to the resclie. 
Call him now! It’s worth a try. 
And cheer up a bit! Goodbye!”

Yelisei, not losing courage, 
To the Wind’s abode now hurried. 
“Wind, O Wind! Lord of the sky, 
Herding flocks of clouds on high, 
Stirring up the dark-blue ocean, 
Setting all the air in motion, 
Unafraid of anyone 
Saving God in heaven alone! 
Surely you’ll not grudge an answer? 
Tell me, did you ever chance to 
See the Princess I revere? 
I’m her fiancé.” “O hear!” 
Said the Wind in turmoil blowing. 
“Where a quiet stream is flowing 
Stands a mountain high and steep 
In it lies a cavern deep; 
In this cave in shadows dismal 
Sways a coffin made of crystal. 
Hung by chains from pillars six. 
Round it barren land in which 
No man ever meets another. 
In that tomb your bride discover!” 
With a howl the Wind was gone. 
Yelisei wept loud and long. 
To the barren land he journeyed 
Desperately, sadly yearning 
Once again to see his bride. 
On he rode. A mountain high 
Rose before him, soaring steeply 
From a land laid waste completely. 
At its foot — an entrance dim. 
Yelisei went quickly in. 
There, he saw, in shadows dismal 
Swayed a coffin made of crystal 
Where the Princess lay at rest 
In the deep sleep of the blest. 
And the Prince in tears dissolving 
Threw himself upon the coffin... 
And it broke! The maiden straight 
Came to life, sat up, in great 
Wonder looked about and yawning 
As she set her bed see-sawing 
Said with pretty arms outstretched: 
“Gracious me! How long I’ve slept!” 
Down she stepped from out the coffin... 
O the sighing and the sobbing! 
Carrying his bride, he strode 
Back to daylight. Home they rode, 
Making pleasant conversation 
Till they reached their destination. 
Swiftly rumour spread around: 
“The Princess is safe and sound!”

It so happened the Tsaritsa 
In her room was idly seated 
By her magic looking-glass 
And to pass the time did ask: 
“Who in all the world is fairest 
And has beauty of the rarest?” 
Said the mirror in reply: 
“You are fair, I can’t deny, 
But the Princess is the fairest 
And her beauty is the rarest!” 
The Tsaritsa leapt and smashed 
On the floor her looking-glass, 
Rushing to the door she saw the 
Fair young Princess walk towards her.

Overcome by grief and spite, 
The Tsaritsa died that night. 
From the grave where she was buried 
To a wedding people hurried, 
For the good Prince Yelisei 
Wed his Princess that same day. 
Never since the World’s creation 
Was there such a celebration; 
I was there, drank mead and yet 
Barely got my whiskers wet.

Translated by Peter Tempest