Bowing low before him, they
Left Guidon and sailed away.
He, though, hastened to the shore,
Where he met the swan once more,
Told her that his heart was burning,
For his sire, his soul was yearning…
In the twinkling of an eye
He became a tiny fly,
And he flew across the sea
Where, 'twixt sky and ocean, he
Settled on the deck and stole
Out of sight into a hole.
Merrily the breeze is singing,
O'er the waves a ship is winging,
Past the Island of Buyan,
To the realm of Tsar Saltan,
Now his longed-for land so dear,
Stands out in the distance, clear,
Now the ship at anchor rests,
And the merchants, honored guests,
Palacewards their footsteps make
With our gallant in their wake.
There, in regal raiment, sate
Tsar Saltan in royal state.
On his head-his jeweled crown,
On his face-a' pensive frown,
While the one-eyed cook, and weaver,
And their mother, sly deceiver,
Sit around the tsar and stare
At him with a toad-like glare.
Tsar Saltan, with royal grace,
Gave the merchants each his place,
Then he said: "Now, masters mine-
Sailed you far across the brine?
Are things well where you have been?
What strange wonders have you seen?"
Quoth the merchants: "If you please,
We have sailed the seven seas;
Peace reigns overseas, serene.
There, we saw this wondrous scene:
On an island, far away,
Stands a city, grand and gay-
Churches tall, with golden domes,
Gardens green and stately homes;
By the palace grows a fir
In whose shade, O royal sir,
Stands a crystal cage; and there
Dwells a squirrel, strange and rare-
Full of frolic; all day long,
Cracking nuts, it sings a song,
Nuts, most wondrous to behold-
Every shell is solid gold,
Kernels-each an emerald bright;
Sentries guard it day and night,
It has slaves, like any lord,
Yes, and scribes each nut record.
Troops in passing give salute
With their martial drum and flute.
Maidens store these gems away
Under lock and key each day;
Coins are minted from each shell,
Coins with which they buy and sell.
People live in plenty there,
Not in huts, but mansions fair.
Prince Guidon reigns there, and he
Sends his compliments to thee."
Here the tsar said, in amaze:
"If but God prolong my days,
I shall visit this strange isle
Guest with this Guidon a while."
But the cook, and royal weaver,
With their mother, sly deceiver,
Did not wish to let the tsar
See this wondrous isle so far.
And the weaver, smiling wryly,
Thus addressed the tsar, most slyly:
"Wherein lies this wonder, pray?
Squirrels cracking nuts all day-
Heaping emeralds, we're told,
Left and right a-throwing gold!
Nothing strange in this see I!
Be this true, or but a lie,
I know of a better wonder.
Lo! The ocean swells in thunder,
Surges with a mighty roar,
Overflows a barren shore,
Leaving, wonderful to see,
Thirty stalwart knights and three,
All in mail a-gleaming bright,
Marching proudly left and right;
Each one brave beyond compare,
Tall of stature, young and fair,
All alike beyond belief,
Led by Chernomor, their chief.
That's a wonder, now, for you,
Marvelously strange, but true."
Wisely, though, the guests were mute-
They with her did not dispute.
But the tsar waxed very curious,
And Guidon waxed very furious,
Fiercely buzzed and settled right
On his aunt's left eye, in spite.
Turning pale, she gave a cry-
She was blinded in her eye.
Screams of anger filled the air-
"Catch it! kill that insect there!
O you nasty insect, you!"
But Guidon just calmly flew
Through the casement, o'erthe main,
Swiftly to his own domain.
By the blue sea he is pacing,
On the blue sea he is gazing.
And once more, before his sight
Swam the graceful swan, snow-white.
"Greetings, my fair prince," said she,
"Why are you so sad, tell me?
Why are you so dismal, say,
Like a gloomy, cloudy day?"
"Grief is gnawing at my breast,"
Answered Prince Guidon, distressed-
"There's a wonder, I confess,
That I'm longing to possess,"
"Tell me then, what is this wonder?"
"Somewhere swells the sea in thunder,
Breakers surge, and with a roar,
Sweeping o'er a barren shore,
Leave behind, for all to see
Thirty stalwart knights and three,
All in mail a-gleaming bright,
Marching proudly left and right;
Each one brave beyond compare,
Tall of stature, young and fair.
All alike beyond belief,
Led by Chernomor, their chief."
In reply, the snow-white swan
Murmured: "Is this all, Guidon?
Wonder not- though this may be
Strange for you, 'tis not for me,
or these sea-knights, prince, are none
But my brothers, every one.
Do not grieve; go home and wait,
Meet my brothers at your gate."
He obeyed her cheerfully,
Climbed his tower and scanned the seas
Lo! the waters, with a roar.
Seethed and swept the barren shore,
Leaving, wonderful to see,
Thirty stalwart knights and three,
All in mail a-gleaming bright,
Marching proudly left and right,
Two by two; and Chernomor,
Hoary-headed, went before,
Leading them in martial state
Right up to the city gate,
Prince Guidon, with flying feet,
Ran in haste his guests to greet;
Crowds pressed round in unbelief.
"Prince," proclaimed the hoary chief-
"It is by the swan's request
And, at her express behest,
We have come from out the sea
Your fair city's guards to be.
Henceforth, from the ocean blue,
We will always come to you
Every day, on guard to stand
By your lofty walls so grand.
Now, however, we must go-
We're not used to land, you know:
We'll return, I promise you."
And they disappeared from view.
Breezes o'erthe ocean play
Speed a barque upon its way;
Sails all spread, it skims the seas,
Running swiftly 'fore the breeze,
Past a craggy island, where
Stands a city, proud and fair.
Cannons with a mighty roar
Bid the merchants put to shore;
When the merchants land, Guidon
Bids them be his guests anon;
Feasts them first with meat and wine,
Then he says: "Now, masters mine-
Tell me what you have for sale,
Whither bound, and whence you hail?"
Said the merchants: "If you please,
We have sailed the seven seas;
Swords of Damask steel we've sold,
Virgin silver, too, and gold.
Now we're overdue, you know,
And we still have far to go-
Past the Island of Buyan,
Back to gracious Tsar Saltan,"
"Gentles," murmured Prince Guidon-
"May fair breezes speed you on,
O'er the ocean, o'er the main,
Back to Tsar Saltan again.
Yes, and when your tsar you see,
Give him compliments from me."