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 50 Mar’ia Morevna In a certain kingdom, in a certain state lived Prince Ivan. He had three sisters: one was Princess Mar’ia, the second was Princess Olga,28 and the third was Princess Anna. Their father and mother had died, and as they were dying they ordered their son, “Marry each of your sisters to the first man who comes to court her. Don’t keep them here for long!” The prince buried his parents, and from grief he went out to stroll with his sisters in the green garden. Suddenly a black cloud came over them, and a horrible thunderstorm arose.“Let’s go home, sisters!” said Prince Ivan. The moment they went into the palace, it was as if thunder struck: the ceiling opened, and a bright falcon flew into their room. The falcon struck against the floor, turned into a handsome young man, and said, “Hello, Prince Ivan! I used to live here as a guest but now I’ve come as a suitor; I want to court your sister Princess Mar’ia.” “If you please my sister, I won’t interfere with her. May God protect her!” Princess Mar’ia agreed. The falcon married her and took her away to his kingdom. One day passed after another, hours ran after hours, and a whole year passed as quickly as if it had never been. Prince Ivan went out to stroll in the green garden with his two sisters. Again a storm cloud arose with a whirlwind , with lightning.“Let’s go home, sisters!” The moment they came into the palace, it was as if thunder struck: the roof fell open, the ceiling split in two, and an eagle flew in. The eagle struck the floor and turned into a handsome young man. “Hello, Prince Ivan! Before I lived here as a guest, but now I’ve come as a suitor.” And he asked to marry Princess Olga. Prince Ivan answered,“If you please Princess Olga, then let her marry you. I won’t interfere with her freedom.” Princess Olga agreed and married the eagle. The eagle snatched her up and took her away to his kingdom.  Mar’ia Morevna 51 Another year passed. Prince Ivan said to his youngest sister, “Let’s go and stroll in the green garden!” They strolled a bit, and once again a storm arose with a whirlwind, with lightning.“Let’s go back home, sister!” They went back home, and they hadn’t yet had a chance to sit down when thunder boomed, the ceiling split in two, and a raven flew in. The raven struck the floor and turned into a handsome young man. The first two were handsome, but this one was even more handsome.“Well, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I’ve come as a suitor. Let me marry Princess Anna.” “I won’t limit my sister’s freedom. If you please her, she may marry you.” Princess Anna married the raven, and he took her away to his kingdom. Prince Ivan was left alone. For a whole year he lived without his sisters, and he started to feel bored.“I’ll go find my sisters,” he said. He got ready to travel, walked and walked, and saw a great army lying dead in the field. Prince Ivan asked,“If there’s anyone here alive, answer me! Who destroyed this great army?” A man who was still alive called back to him, “This whole army was killed by Mar’ia Morevna, the beautiful princess.” Prince Ivan went on farther. He saw some white tents, and the beautiful princess Mar’ia Morevna came out to meet him.“Welcome, Prince! Where is God taking you—by your will or by compulsion?” PrinceIvanansweredher,“Fineyoungmendon’ttravelundercompulsion!” “Well, if there’s no hurry, come and be a guest in my tents.” Prince Ivan was glad to do so. He spent two nights in the tents, won Mar’ia Morevna’s love, and married her. Mar’ia Morevna, the beautiful princess, took him with her to her realm. They lived together for a certain time, and then the princess decided to go to war. She left all the household affairs to Prince Ivan and told him,“You may go everywhere and keep an eye on everything, but don’t let yourself look into that shed!” He couldn’t stand it, and the moment Mar’ia Morevna rode away he dashed straight to the shed, opened the...

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