Bowing low before him, they
Left the prince 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…
So she drenched him, head to toe.
In a trice, he shrank, and lo!
Ere or he could even gasp,
He had turned into a wasp.
Then he buzzed, and rapidly
Overtook the ship at sea;
Gently settled aft, and stole
Out of sight into a hole.
Merrily the breeze is singing,
O'erthe 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,
Near him-royal cook, and weaver
And their mother, sly deceiver.
With four eyes, though they be three,
Stare at him voraciously.
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:
There's an island far away-
On this isle-a city gay;
There, each dawn brings in new wonders:
There, the ocean swells and thunders,
Breakers, with a mighty roar,
Foaming, flood its 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;
Hoary Chernomor, their chief,
Marches with them from the deep,
Counts them off, by twos, to keep
Guard of this fair isle; and they
Cease patrol nor night nor day.
Nor can you find guards so true,
Vigilant and fearless, too.
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."
Silent were the cook and weaver.
But their mother, sly deceiver,
Said, as she smiled crookedly:
"You may think this strange-not we!
Fancy! Idle mermen play
Sentry-go on land all day!
Be this true, or but a lie,
Nothing strange in this see I-
Stranger things exist, mark you-
This report, though, is quite true:
There's a young princess, they say,
That she charms all hearts away.
Brighter than the sun at noon,
She outshines the midnight moon,
In her braids a crescent beams,
On her brow, a bright star gleams.
She herself is sweet of face.
Full of majesty and grace.
When she speaks, her voice doth seem
Like the music of a stream.
That's a wonder, now, for you-
Marvelously strange, but true."
Wisely, though, the guests prefer
Not to bandy words with her.
Tsar Saltan, he waxed most curious,
Our tsarevich waxed most furious,
But decided that he'd spare
Granny's eyes for her gray hair.
Buzzing like a bumble-bee,
Round his granny circled he,
Stung her nose with all his might,
Raising blisters red and white.
Panic once more filled the air:
"Murder! catch that insect there!
Help! O don't you let it go!
Catch it!-hold it!-kill it!-O!
O, you nasty insect, you!
Just you wait!" Guidon, though, flew
Through the casement, o'erthe main
Back to his domain again.
By the sea, the prince now paces,
On the blue sea now he gazes,
Suddenly, before Guidon
Swam the graceful snow-white swan.
"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
"Every youth has his own bride-
Only I unmarried bide."
"Who is she you wish to wed?
Tell me, now." Guidon then said:
"There's a fair princess; they say
That she charms both young and old-
Brighter than the sun at noon,
She outshines the midnight moon;
In her braids, a crescent beams,
On her brow, a bright star gleams.
She herself is sweet of face,
Full of majesty and grace.
When she speaks, her sweet voice seems
Like the flow of tinkling streams.
Is this true, though, or a lie?"
Anxiously, he waits reply.
Silently, the snow-white swan
Pondered; then she said: "Guidon-
Yes-this maiden I can find;
But a wife's no mitten, mind,
From your lily hand to cast,
Or unto your belt make fast;
Listen now to my advice:
Weigh this matter well-think twice,
So that on your marriage morrow
You do not repent in sorrow."
Here Guidon with ardor swore
That he'd thought of this before;
That 'twas high time he was married,
Too long single had he tarried;
That for this princess so fair
He would any perils dare,
Sacrifice his very soul,
Barefoot, walk right to the pole.
Sighing thoughtfully, the swan
Murmured: "Why so far, Guidon?
Know, your future bride is here-
I am that princess, my dear."
Then she spread her wings, to soar
O'er the waves towards the shore.
There, amid a clump of trees,
Folded them with graceful ease,
Shook herself, and then and there
Turned into a maiden fair-
In her braids, a crescent beamed,
On her brow, a bright star gleamed;
She was sweet in form and face,
Full of majesty and grace.
When she spoke, her sweet voice seemed
Like the flow of tinkling streams.
He embraced the fair princess,
Folded her unto his breast.
Hand in hand with her he sped
To his mother dear, and said,
Falling on his bended knees:
"Mother darling- if you please,
I have chosen me a bride-
She will be your love and pride,
Your consent we crave to wed,
And your blessing, too," he said-
"Bless our marriage, so that we
Live in love and harmony."
O'er the kneeling pair, she stands,
Holy icon in her hands,
Smiling through her happy tears,
Saying: "God bless you, my dears."
Prince Guidon did not delay-
They were married that same day,
Settled down, a happy pair,
Lacking nothing but an heir.
Breezes o'er the 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,
Contraband, prince, was our ware,
And our profits- rich and rare,
We have far to travel yet-
Homewards- East- our course is set,
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.
Pray remind your tsar from me,
That his gracious majesty
Said he'd visit us some day:
We regret his long delay.
Give him my regards." Thereon
Off the merchants went. Guidon
This time stayed with his fair bride,
Never more to leave her side.