The Tsarevna Frog (Russia)
Source: Verra Xenophontovna Kalamatiano de Blumenthal, Folk Tales from the Russian (Chicago, New
York, and London: Rand, McNally and Compnay, 1903), pp. 13-26. Pitt.edu Gently rewritten by Jane Dorfman
RussiaIn the old, old Russian tsarstvo (kingdom), I do not know when, there lived a sovereign prince with the princess his wife. They had three sons, all of them young, and such brave fellows that no pen could describe them. The youngest had the name of Ivan Tsarevitch.
One day their father said to his sons, who knows why: "My dear boys, take each of you an arrow, draw your strong bow and let your arrow fly; wherever it falls--there will be a wife for you."
The arrow of the oldest Tsarevitch (Tsar’s son) fell on a boyar-house-a minor nobleman just in front of the women’s quarters; the arrow of the second Tsarevitch flew to the red porch of a rich merchant, and on the porch there stood a sweet girl, the merchant's daughter. The youngest, the brave Tsarevitch Ivan, had the ill luck to send his arrow flying into the midst of a swamp, where it was caught by a croaking frog.
Ivan Tsarevitch came to his father: "How can I marry a frog?" complained the son.
"Never mind," replied his father. “You have to marry the frog, for such is evidently your destiny. Be happy it is a female frog.”
Thus the brothers were married: the oldest to a the nobleman's daughter, the second to the merchant's beautiful daughter, and the youngest, Tsarevitch Ivan, to a croaking frog.
After a while the sovereign prince called his three sons and said to them: "Have each of your wives bake a loaf of bread by tomorrow morning."
Ivan returned home. There was no smile on his face, and his brow was clouded.
"C-r-o-a-k! C-r-o-a-k! Dear husband of mine why so sad?" gently asked the frog. "Was there anything disagreeable in the palace?"
"Disagreeable indeed," answered Ivan Tsarevitch; "the Tsar, my father, wants you to bake a loaf of fine white bread by tomorrow."
"Do not worry, husband. Go to bed; the morning hour is a better adviser than the dark evening."
The Tsarevitch, taking his wife's advice, went to sleep. Then the frog threw off her frog skin, for surely you knew that she was enchanted, and turned into a beautiful and kind girl, Vassilissa by name. She now stepped out on the porch and called aloud: "Nurses and kind staff, come to me at once and prepare a loaf of white bread for tomorrow morning. Make a loaf exactly like those I used to eat in my royal father's palace."
In the morning Ivan awoke with the crowing cocks, and you know the cocks and chickens are never late.
Yet the loaf was already made, and so fine it was that nobody could even describe it, for only in fairyland one finds such marvelous loaves. It was adorned all about with pretty figures in dough, with towns and fortresses on each side, and within it was white as snow and light as a feather.
His father was pleased and the Tsarevitch received his special thanks. His wif’s loaf was far superior to those of the other daughters-in-law.
"Now there is another task," said the Tsar smilingly. "Have each of your wives weave a rug by tomorrow."
“By tomorrow!” exclaimed his sons.
“Yes, by tomorrow,” said their perhaps too elderly father.
Tsarevitch Ivan came back to his home. There was no smile on his face and his brow was clouded.
“Dear Tsarevitch Ivan, my beloved husband, why so troubled again? Was your father not pleased?"
"He was quite pleased with the loaf. But, the Tsar, my father, has ordered a rug by tomorrow."
"Do not worry, Tsarevitch. Go to bed. The morning hour will bring help."
Again the frog turned into Vassilissa, the wise maiden, and again she called aloud: "Dear nurses and faithful staff, come to me for new job. Weave a silk rug like the one I used to sit upon in the palace of the king, my father."
Once said, quickly done. When the cocks began their early "cock-a-doodle-doo," Tsarevitch Ivan awoke, and lo! there lay the most beautiful silk rug before him, a rug that no one could begin to describe. Threads of silver and gold were interwoven among bright-colored silken ones, and the rug was so beautiful everyone must marvel over it. It outshone the overnight work of the other two wives as the sun the moon.
The Tsar was very pleased, thanked his son Ivan, and issued yet another order. He now wished to see the three wives of his handsome sons decked out in their finery. The sons were to present their brides on the next day.
The Tsarevitch Ivan returned home. More downcast than before.
"Mdear husband, why so sad? Hast thou heard anything unpleasant at the palace?" "Unpleasant enough, indeed! My father, the Tsar, ordered all of us to present our wives to him. Now tell me, as much as I have come to love and depend on you how could I dare insist you go to the palace?" "It is not so bad after all, and could be much worse," answered the frog, gently croaking. "You will go alone and I will follow later. When you hear a noise outside, a great noise, do not be afraid; simply say: "There is my miserable froggy coming in her miserable box." The two elder brothers arrived first with their wives, beautiful, bright, and cheerful, and dressed in rich garments. Both the happy bridegrooms made fun of their younger brother. "Why alone, little brother?" they laughingly said to him. "Why did you not bring your wife along with thee? No clothes to fit her? Where did you ever find such a beauty? We are ready to wager that in all the swamps in the dominion of our father it would be hard to find another one like her." Then what a noise! The palace trembled, the guests were all frightened. Ivan alone remained quiet and said: "No danger; it is my froggy coming in her box." Up to the palace door came flying a golden carriage drawn by six splendid white horses, and Vassilissa, beautiful beyond all description, gently reached her hand to her husband who recognizes her by her kind expression. He led her with him to the heavy oak tables, which were covered with snow-white linen and loaded with many wonderful dishes. Vassilissa drank some wine, and what was left in the tumbler she poured into her left sleeve. She ate some of the fried swan, and the bones she threw into her right sleeve. The wives of the two elder brothers watched her and thinking that she surely knew what to do, did exactly the same. When the long, hearty dinner was over, the guests began dancing and singing. The beautiful Vassilissa came forward, as bright as a star, bowed to her sovereign, bowed to the honorable guests and danced with her husband, the happy Tsarevitch Ivan. While dancing, Vassilissa waved her left sleeve and a pretty lake appeared in the midst of the hall and cooled the air. She waved her right sleeve and white swans swam on the water. The Tsar, the guests, the servants, even the gray cat sitting in the corner, all were amazed and wondered at the beautiful Vassilissa. Her two sisters-in-law alone envied her. When their turn came to dance, they also waved their left sleeves as Vassilissa had done, and, oh, wonder! they sprinkled wine all around. They waved their right sleeves, and instead of swans the bones flew in the face of the Tsar father. The Tsar grew very angry and told them leave the palace. In the meantime Ivan Tsarevitch watched a moment to slip away unseen. He must get to the bottom of these enchantments, He ran home, and there found the frog skin laying on the hearth, and he burned it in the fire.
Vassilissa, when she came back, searched for the skin, and when she could not find it her beautiful face grew sad and her bright eyes filled with tears. She said to Ivan, her husband: "Oh, dear Ivan, what hast you done? There was but a short time left for me to wear the ugly frog skin. The moment was near when we could have been happy together forever. Now I must bid you goodbye. Look for me in a faraway country to which no one knows the roads, at the palace of Kostshei the Deathless." And Vassilissa turned into a whiteswan and flew away through the window. Tsarevitch Ivan wept bitterly for his lost wife and vowed to find her. No one knows how long his journey was, but one day he met an old, old man. He bowed to the old man, who said: ";Good-day, brave fellow. What are you searching for, and where are you going?" Tsarevitch Ivan answered sincerely, telling all about his misfortune without hiding anything. "And why on earth did you burn the frog skin? It was wrong to do so. Listen now to me. Vassilissa was born wiser than her own father, and as he envied his daughter's wisdom, he condemned her to be a frog for three long years. But I pity you and want to help. Here is a magic ball. In whatever direction this ball rolls, follow it without fear." Ivan Tsarevitch thanked the old man, and followed his new guide, the ball. Long, very long, was his road. One day in a wide, flowery field he met a bear, a big Russian bear. Ivan Tsarevitch took his bow and was ready to shoot the bear. "Do not kill me, kind Tsarevitch," said the bear. "Who knows but that I may be useful to you?" And Ivan did not shoot the bear. Above in the sunny air there flew a duck, a lovely white duck. Again the Tsarevitch drew his bow to shoot it. But the duck said to him: "Do not kill me, good Tsarevitch. I certainly shall be useful to you some day." He spared the duck. Continuing his way he saw a hare. The Tsarevitch prepared an arrow to shoot it, but the gray, hare said: "Do not kill me, brave Tsarevitch. I will show my gratitude to you in a very short time." The Tsarevitch did not kill the hare, but passed by. He walked farther and farther after the rolling ball, and came to the deep blue sea. On the sand there lay a fish. I do not remember the name of the fish, but it was a big fish, almost dying on the dry sand. "O Tsarevitch Ivan!" prayed the fish, "have mercy upon me and push me back into the cool sea." The Tsarevitch did so, though he was getting very hungry and walked along the shore. The ball, rolling all the time, brought Ivan to a hut, a queer, tiny hut standing on tiny hen's feet. "Izboushka! Izboushka!"-- for so in Russia do they name small huts -- "Izboushka, I want you to turn thy front to me," cried Ivan, who remembered his old nurse’s stories, and the tiny hut turned its front at once. Ivan stepped in and saw a witch, one of the ugliest witches he could imagine. "Ho! Ivan Tsarevitch! What brings you here?" was his greeting from the witch. "I know you, you old mischief!" said Ivan. "Is it the way to treat guests in Russia to ask questions before the tired guest gets something to eat, something to drink, and some hot water to wash the dust off?" Baba Yaga, for that is who the witch was, gave the Tsarevitch plenty to eat and drink, and hot water to wash the dust off. Tsarevitch Ivan felt refreshed that soon he became talkative, and related the wonderful story of his marriage. He told how he had lost his dear wife, and that his only desire was to find her. "I know all about it," answered the witch. "She is now at the palace of Kostshei the Deathless, and you must understand that Kostshei is terrible. He watches her day and night and no one can ever conquer him. His death depends on a magic needle. That needle is within a hare; that hare is within a large travelling trunk; that trunk is hidden in the branches of an old oak tree; and that oak tree is watched by Kostshei as closely as Vassilissa herself. Then the witch told Ivan Tsarevitch how and where to find the oak tree. Ivan fairly ran went to the place. But when he perceived the oak tree he was much discouraged, not knowing what to do or how to begin the work. Lo and behold! that old acquaintance of his, the Russian bear, came running along, approached the tree, uprooted it, and the wooden trunk fell and broke. A hare jumped out of the trunk and began to run fast; but another hare, the very one Ivan has spared, came running after, caught it and tore it to pieces. Out of the hare there flew a gray duck, but the beautiful white duck followed the bird and struck the gray’s side so hard, it lost an egg. That egg fell into the deep sea. When the egg disappeared in the blue waters Ivan could not help weeping, for he thought all was lost. All of a sudden a big fish came swimming up, the same fish he had spared, and brought the egg to Ivan in his mouth. Ivan’s tears turned to joy! He cracked the egg and found the needle inside, the magic needle upon which everything depended. At the same moment Kostshei lost his strength and power forever. Ivan Tsarevitch entered his palace, killed him with the magic needle. There in one of the chambers he found his own dear wife, his beautiful Vassilissa. They went home together and were very happy ever after.
"Mdear husband, why so sad? Hast thou heard anything unpleasant at the palace?" "Unpleasant enough, indeed! My father, the Tsar, ordered all of us to present our wives to him. Now tell me, as much as I have come to love and depend on you how could I dare insist you go to the palace?" "It is not so bad after all, and could be much worse," answered the frog, gently croaking. "You will go alone and I will follow later. When you hear a noise outside, a great noise, do not be afraid; simply say: "There is my miserable froggy coming in her miserable box." The two elder brothers arrived first with their wives, beautiful, bright, and cheerful, and dressed in rich garments. Both the happy bridegrooms made fun of their younger brother. "Why alone, little brother?" they laughingly said to him. "Why did you not bring your wife along with thee? No clothes to fit her? Where did you ever find such a beauty? We are ready to wager that in all the swamps in the dominion of our father it would be hard to find another one like her." Then what a noise! The palace trembled, the guests were all frightened. Ivan alone remained quiet and said: "No danger; it is my froggy coming in her box." Up to the palace door came flying a golden carriage drawn by six splendid white horses, and Vassilissa, beautiful beyond all description, gently reached her hand to her husband who recognizes her by her kind expression. He led her with him to the heavy oak tables, which were covered with snow-white linen and loaded with many wonderful dishes. Vassilissa drank some wine, and what was left in the tumbler she poured into her left sleeve. She ate some of the fried swan, and the bones she threw into her right sleeve. The wives of the two elder brothers watched her and thinking that she surely knew what to do, did exactly the same. When the long, hearty dinner was over, the guests began dancing and singing. The beautiful Vassilissa came forward, as bright as a star, bowed to her sovereign, bowed to the honorable guests and danced with her husband, the happy Tsarevitch Ivan. While dancing, Vassilissa waved her left sleeve and a pretty lake appeared in the midst of the hall and cooled the air. She waved her right sleeve and white swans swam on the water. The Tsar, the guests, the servants, even the gray cat sitting in the corner, all were amazed and wondered at the beautiful Vassilissa. Her two sisters-in-law alone envied her. When their turn came to dance, they also waved their left sleeves as Vassilissa had done, and, oh, wonder! they sprinkled wine all around. They waved their right sleeves, and instead of swans the bones flew in the face of the Tsar father. The Tsar grew very angry and told them leave the palace. In the meantime Ivan Tsarevitch watched a moment to slip away unseen. He must get to the bottom of these enchantments, He ran home, and there found the frog skin laying on the hearth, and he burned it in the fire.
Vassilissa, when she came back, searched for the skin, and when she could not find it her beautiful face grew sad and her bright eyes filled with tears. She said to Ivan, her husband: "Oh, dear Ivan, what hast you done? There was but a short time left for me to wear the ugly frog skin. The moment was near when we could have been happy together forever. Now I must bid you goodbye. Look for me in a faraway country to which no one knows the roads, at the palace of Kostshei the Deathless." And Vassilissa turned into a whiteswan and flew away through the window. Tsarevitch Ivan wept bitterly for his lost wife and vowed to find her. No one knows how long his journey was, but one day he met an old, old man. He bowed to the old man, who said: ";Good-day, brave fellow. What are you searching for, and where are you going?" Tsarevitch Ivan answered sincerely, telling all about his misfortune without hiding anything. "And why on earth did you burn the frog skin? It was wrong to do so. Listen now to me. Vassilissa was born wiser than her own father, and as he envied his daughter's wisdom, he condemned her to be a frog for three long years. But I pity you and want to help. Here is a magic ball. In whatever direction this ball rolls, follow it without fear." Ivan Tsarevitch thanked the old man, and followed his new guide, the ball. Long, very long, was his road. One day in a wide, flowery field he met a bear, a big Russian bear. Ivan Tsarevitch took his bow and was ready to shoot the bear. "Do not kill me, kind Tsarevitch," said the bear. "Who knows but that I may be useful to you?" And Ivan did not shoot the bear. Above in the sunny air there flew a duck, a lovely white duck. Again the Tsarevitch drew his bow to shoot it. But the duck said to him: "Do not kill me, good Tsarevitch. I certainly shall be useful to you some day." He spared the duck. Continuing his way he saw a hare. The Tsarevitch prepared an arrow to shoot it, but the gray, hare said: "Do not kill me, brave Tsarevitch. I will show my gratitude to you in a very short time." The Tsarevitch did not kill the hare, but passed by. He walked farther and farther after the rolling ball, and came to the deep blue sea. On the sand there lay a fish. I do not remember the name of the fish, but it was a big fish, almost dying on the dry sand. "O Tsarevitch Ivan!" prayed the fish, "have mercy upon me and push me back into the cool sea." The Tsarevitch did so, though he was getting very hungry and walked along the shore. The ball, rolling all the time, brought Ivan to a hut, a queer, tiny hut standing on tiny hen's feet. "Izboushka! Izboushka!"-- for so in Russia do they name small huts -- "Izboushka, I want you to turn thy front to me," cried Ivan, who remembered his old nurse’s stories, and the tiny hut turned its front at once. Ivan stepped in and saw a witch, one of the ugliest witches he could imagine. "Ho! Ivan Tsarevitch! What brings you here?" was his greeting from the witch. "I know you, you old mischief!" said Ivan. "Is it the way to treat guests in Russia to ask questions before the tired guest gets something to eat, something to drink, and some hot water to wash the dust off?" Baba Yaga, for that is who the witch was, gave the Tsarevitch plenty to eat and drink, and hot water to wash the dust off. Tsarevitch Ivan felt refreshed that soon he became talkative, and related the wonderful story of his marriage. He told how he had lost his dear wife, and that his only desire was to find her. "I know all about it," answered the witch. "She is now at the palace of Kostshei the Deathless, and you must understand that Kostshei is terrible. He watches her day and night and no one can ever conquer him. His death depends on a magic needle. That needle is within a hare; that hare is within a large travelling trunk; that trunk is hidden in the branches of an old oak tree; and that oak tree is watched by Kostshei as closely as Vassilissa herself. Then the witch told Ivan Tsarevitch how and where to find the oak tree. Ivan fairly ran went to the place. But when he perceived the oak tree he was much discouraged, not knowing what to do or how to begin the work. Lo and behold! that old acquaintance of his, the Russian bear, came running along, approached the tree, uprooted it, and the wooden trunk fell and broke. A hare jumped out of the trunk and began to run fast; but another hare, the very one Ivan has spared, came running after, caught it and tore it to pieces. Out of the hare there flew a gray duck, but the beautiful white duck followed the bird and struck the gray’s side so hard, it lost an egg. That egg fell into the deep sea. When the egg disappeared in the blue waters Ivan could not help weeping, for he thought all was lost. All of a sudden a big fish came swimming up, the same fish he had spared, and brought the egg to Ivan in his mouth. Ivan’s tears turned to joy! He cracked the egg and found the needle inside, the magic needle upon which everything depended. At the same moment Kostshei lost his strength and power forever. Ivan Tsarevitch entered his palace, killed him with the magic needle. There in one of the chambers he found his own dear wife, his beautiful Vassilissa. They went home together and were very happy ever after.