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 161 The Three Kingdoms—Copper, Silver, and Gold Once upon a time there happened to live an old man and an old woman who had three sons. The first was Egorushko Zalët,89 the second Misha Kosolapoy,90 and the third was Ivan Zapechnik.91 The father and mother decided to marry them off, and they sent the oldest son to find a bride. He walked and walked for a long time. No matter where he took a look at the girls, he couldn’t find a bride for himself; none of them caught his eye. Then on the road he met a dragon with three heads. He was frightened, but the dragon said to him,“Where are you headed, good man?” Egorushko said,“I’ve set out to find a wife, but I can’t find myself a bride.” The dragon said,“Come with me. I’ll show you how to find a bride.” So they walked and walked, and they came up to a big boulder. The dragon said,“Move the stone. Whatever you want, you’ll get it there.” Egorushko tried to move the stone, but he couldn’t do anything. The dragon said to him,“So, no bride for you!”And Egorushko went back home and told his father and mother about everything. His father and mother thought and thought again, what to do and how to live, and they sent their middle son, Misha Kosolapoy. The very same thing happened with him. Then the old man and woman thought and thought, and they didn’t know what to do. If they sent Ivashko92 Zapechnik, he wouldn’t be able to do anything! But Ivashko Zapechnik himself started asking to go and have a look at the dragon.At first his father and mother wouldn’t let him go, but then they let him. Ivashko too walked and walked, and he met the dragon with three heads. The dragon asked him,“Where are you headed, good man?” He said, “My brothers wanted to get married, but they couldn’t find brides. Now my turn has come.” “If you please, let’s go, and I’ll show you if you’ll be able to get a bride.”  The Three Kingdoms—Copper, Silver, and Gold 162 So the dragon set out with Ivashko. They came to the same boulder, and the dragon ordered him to move it from its place. Ivashko seized it, and it was as if there was no boulder: it flew away. Underneath it there was a hole in the ground with straps fastened beside it. Then the dragon said,“Ivashko! Sit down on the straps, I’ll lower you. There you’ll come to three kingdoms, and in each kingdom you’ll see a maiden.” Ivashko went down and set off walking. He walked and walked, and he came to the copper kingdom. He dropped in there and saw a maiden who was splendidly beautiful. The maiden said,“Welcome, unknown guest! Come here and sit down wherever you see an empty place. Tell me, where are you coming from and where are you going?” “Ah, lovely maiden!” said Ivashko,“you haven’t fed me, you haven’t given me a drink, but you’ve started to ask for news.” Then the maiden brought together all kinds of food and drink on the table. Ivashko ate and drank and began to tell her how he was traveling to find himself a bride.“If you’ll be so kind, I’ll ask you to marry me.” “No, good man,”said the maiden.“You keep on going.You’ll come to the silver kingdom, and there’s a maiden there even more beautiful than I am!” And she gave him a silver ring. So the good young man thanked the maiden for her bread and salt,93 said good-bye and set off. He walked and walked, and he came to the silver kingdom. He dropped in there and saw a maiden sitting who was even more beautiful than the first one. He said a prayer to God and bowed down to the ground.“Hi there, fair maiden!” She answered,“Welcome, traveler! Sit down and boast: whose are you, where do you come from, and what task has brought you this way?” “Ah, fair maiden!” said Ivashko. “You haven’t given me a drink, you haven’t fed me, but you’ve started to ask for news.” So the maiden got the table together, brought all...

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