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here was once a peasant whose wife died, leaving him with three daughters. The old man wanted to hire a housekeeper to look after the house, but Maryushka, the youngest daughter, said,
"There's no need for a housekeeper, father, I will look after the house myself."
And so it was agreed. Maryushka began to look after the house. She knew how to do everything and everything went well.
The father loved Maryushka and was happy that he had such a clever and hard¬working daughter growing up. More than that, Maryushka was as pretty as any picture. Her sisters, though, were envious of her and mean to her. They were not beautiful, but terribly fond of fashion. They spent all their time powdering and rouging their faces, and dressing in new clothes. All they thought about were dresses, boots and shawls.
One day the father was setting off to market and asked his daughters
"What should I buy for you girls to make you happy?"
And the two older daughters said,
"Buy us a kerchief each, with a pattern of big flowers worked in gold."
But Maryushka stood silent. Her father asked again,
"What should I buy for you, daughter?"
"Father, buy me a feather of Finist Bright Falcon."
When he returned, their father brought kerchiefs for the two eldest, but he couldn't find the feather.The time came for the father to go off to market again.
"Well, girls," he said, "order your presents."
The eldest two daughters were delighted.
"Buy us a pair of boots each with silver heels."
But Maryushka again answered,
"Father, buy me a feather of Finist the Bright Falcon."
V.Smirnova. "Finist the Bright Falcon"
Casket. 1999 PaleKh |
The father went round the market the whole day. He bought the boots, but he couldn't find the feather and came home without it.
The old man went off to market a third time, and the two eldest girls said, "Buy us a dress each."
But Maryushka again said, "Father, buy me a feather of Finist the Bright Falcon."
The father spent the whole day looking, but he couldn't find the feather. As he was leaving town he met an old, old man coming the other way.
"Good evening to you, grandfather."
"Good evening to you. Whither are you bound?"
"Home to my village, grandfather, but it's with a heavy heart that I go. My youngest daughter asked me to buy a feather of Finist the Bright Falcon and I could not find one."
"I have such feather. It is very dear to me, but for the sake of a good person I am willing to part with it."
The old man took out the feather and handed it over. There looked to be nothing special about it. The peasant rode home wondering why it was so important to Maryushka. The father brought his daughters their presents. The two eldest quickly dressed up and poked fun at Maryushka.
"You were always a fool. Stick your feather in your hair and show off! "
Maryushka kept quiet, avoided their company and then, when everyone had gone to bed, she tossed the feather on the floor an whispered,
"Dear Finist the Bright Falcon, appear to me, my long-awaited suitor!"
And a young man more handsome than can be described did indeed appear to her. At dawn he struck the floor and turned into a falcon. Maryushka opened the window for him and the falcon flew up into the deep blue sky. Three times Maryushka welcomed her suitor. By day he flew as a falcon through the azure skies, but when night came he flew to Maryushka and became a fine young man. On the fourth day her wicked sisters noticed and told on her to their father.
"Dear daughters," he said, "you would do better to look to yourselves."
"Very well," the two girls thought, "let's see how things develop."
They stuck sharp knives into the window frame and then hid to watch what would happen. The Bright Falcon flew down. He came to the window, but coulnd't get into Maryushka's room. He struggled and struggled, cut his breast to ribbons, but Maryushka slept on and didn't hear. And then the falcon spoke,
"Whoever needs me will find me, but it won't be easy. You will find me when you have worn out three pairs of iron shoes, broken three iron staffs and torn three iron hats."
Maryushka heard this, leapt out of bed and looked out of the window, but the falcon was gone, leaving only bloody marks on the pane. Maryushka wept
bitterly, washed the bloody marks away with her tears and became more beautiful than ever.
She went to her father and said,
"Do not scold me, father. I must go on a long jour¬ney. If I live we shall see each other again; if I die then that is how it was meant to be."
M.Veselov. "Finist the Bright Falcon"
Coffer. 1985. Kholui |
The father felt very sorry for his favourite daughter, but he agreed that she should go. Maryushka had three pairs of iron shoes made, three iron staffs and three iron hats, and set off on her long journey to find her beloved - Finist the Bright Falcon. She walked across open steppes, through dark forests and over tall mountains. The birds sang jolly songs to gladden her heart, the streams washed her fair face and the dark woods greeted her. And nothing could harm Maryushka: grey wolves, bears, foxes - all wild creatures came running to her. She wore out a pair of iron shoes, broke an iron staff and tore an iron hat. One day Maryushka came out into a clearing and saw there a hut on chicken legs turning around.
Maryushka called out,
"Hut, o hut, stand with your back to the trees, your front to me! I want to get in and eat bread."
The hut turned so its back was to the trees and its front to Maryushka. The girl climbed in and saw Baba-Yaga with the leg of bone sitting there, her legs from one corner to the other, her lips on a shelf and her nose grown into the ceiling. Baba-Yaga caught sight of Maryushka and called out,
"Pish and pah! I smell a Russian soul! Well, my pretty one, are you looking for an adventure, or looking to avoid one?"
"I am seeking Finist the Bright Falcon, grandma."
"Well, my pretty one, you'll not find him soon. Your Bright Falcon is in a land far, far away. The enchantress Tsaritsa gave him a potion and made him marry her. Take this silver dish and gold egg. When you come to that land far, far away, go to work for the Tsarina. When you have done your work take the dish, put the gold egg in it and it will roll of its own accord. When you are asked to sell it, refuse. Ask to see Finist the Bright Falcon."
Maryushka thanked Baba-Yaga and went on her way. The forest grew dark, Maryushka grew scared. She hesitated to take another step when a cat came towards her. He sprang towards her and purred,
"Don't be afraid, Maryushka. Go on. It will get even scarier, but you keep going and don't look back."
The cat rubbed his back and was gone. Maryushka went on and the forest grew darker still. Maryushka walked and walked. She wore out a pair of iron shoes, broke an iron staff, tore an iron hat and came to a hut on chicken legs. Around it stood a fence of stakes, with a skull on each one and each skull glowed with light.
Maryushka called out,
"Hut, o hut, stand with your back to the trees, your front to me! I want to get in and eat bread."
The hut turned so its back was to the trees and its front to Maryushka. The girl climbed in and saw Baba-Yaga with the leg of bone sitting there, her legs from one corner to the other, her lips on a shelf and her nose grown into the ceiling.
Baba-Yaga caught sight of Maryushka and called out,
"Pish and pah! I smell a Russian soul! Well, my pretty one, are you looking for an adventure, or looking to avoid one?"
"I am seeking Finist the Bright Falcon, grandma."
"Have you seen my sister?"
"Yes, grandma."
"Very well, my pretty one, I shall help you. Take this silver embroidery hoop and gold needle. The needle will embroider of its own accord with gold and silver thread on crimson velvet. When you are asked to sell it, refuse. Ask to see Finist the Bright Falcon."
Maryushka thanked Baba-Yaga and went on her way. The forest was full of noises, cracks and whines. Skulls lit up the trees. Maryushka grew afraid. She looked and saw a dog running towards her.
"Woof, woof, Maryushka. Don't be afraid, my dear. Go on.
It will get even scarier, but don't look back."
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G.Belousova. "Finist the Bright Falcon"
Coffer. 1995. Palekh
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It spoke and was gone. Maryushka went on and the forest grew darker still. Roots caught her legs, branches snagged her arms. Maryushka walked and walked, and didn't look back. A long time went by, or maybe a short one, but she wore data pair of iron shoes, broke an iron staff and tore an iron hat. She came to a clearing, and there stood a hut on chicken legs. Around it stood a fence of stakes, with a horse's skull on each one and each skull glowed with light.
Maryushka called out,
"Hut, o hut, stand with your back to the trees, your front to me! I want to get in and eat bread."
The hut turned so its back was to the trees and its front to Maryushka. The girl climbed in and saw Baba-Yaga with the leg of bone sitting there, her legs from one corner to the other, her lips on a shelf and her nose grown into the ceiling.
Baba-Yaga caught sight of Maryushka and called out,
"Pish and pah! I smell a Russian soul! Well, my pretty one, are you looking for an adventure, or looking to avoid one?"
"I am seeking Finist the Bright Falcon, grandma."
"You will have a hard time finding him, my pretty one, but I shall help. Take this silver distaff and gold spindle. Pick it up and it will spin of its own accord - not ordinary thread, but gold."
"Thank you, grandma."
"Thank you can wait, but listen now to what I tell you. When you are asked to sell the gold spindle, refuse. Ask to see Finist the Bright Falcon."
Maryushka thanked Baba-Yaga and went on her way. The forest cracked and howled. Owls circled round, mice came out of their holes and all made for Maryushka. The girl saw a grey wolf running towards her.
"Don't despair," he said. "Climb on me and don't look back."
Maryushka climbed onto the grey wolf and they flew like the wind. Ahead lay broad steppes, velvety meadows, rivers of honey, banks of kissel, mountains reaching up to the clouds. Maryushka rode on and on, until there appeared be¬fore her a crystal palace with a carved porch and a patterned window, and looking out of that window was the Tsaritsa.
""Well," said the wolf, "off you get, Maryushka. Go and get yourself hired as a servant."
Maryushka climbed off, took her bundle, thanked the wolf and went up to the crystal palace. Maryushka bowed to Maryushka bowed to the Tsaritsa and said,
"I do not know your name or title , but do you need a servant in your household?"
The Tsaritsa replied,
"I have long been looking for a servant, but she must be able to spin, weave and embroider."
"I can do all that."
"Then come in and start work."
So Maryushka became a servant. She worked all day and when evening came Maryushka took the silver dish and gold egg and said,
"Roll, roll, gold egg around the silver bowl. Show me my sweetheart."
The egg rolled around the silver bowl and Finist the Bright Falcon appeared. Maryushka looked at him and her eyes filled with tears.
"Finist, Finist, my bright falcon, why did you leave me alone, to weep bitterly over you!"
The Tsaritsa heard those words and said, "Maryushka, sell me the silver bowl and gold egg."
"No," said Maryushka. "They are not for sale. I can give them to you, though, if you let me look upon Finist the Bright Falcon."
The Tsaritsa thought long and hard.
"Very well," she said, "so be it. Tonight, when he is asleep, I shall show him to you."
Night came and Maryushka was allowed into the bedroom to see Finist the Bright Falcon. She found her beloved fast asleep. She looked and looked and could not look her fill. She kissed his sweet lips and pressed herself to his chest, but her dar¬ling slept on and did not stir. Morning came and Maryushka had failed to wake her sweetheart.
Maryushka worked all day and when evening came she took Ihe silver embroidery hoop and gold needle. She sat over her needlework and said to herself,
"Sew, sew a pattern, for Finist the Bright Falcon. Make a fine towel for him to dry himself in the mornings."
The Tsaritsa heard and said,
"Maryushka, sell me the silver embroidery hoop and gold needle."
"I will not sell them," said Maryushka, "but I will give them to you, if you let me see Finist the Bright Falcon."
The Tsaritsa thought long and hard.
"Very well," she said, "so be it. Come again tonight."
Night came and Maryushka was allowed into the bedroom to see Finist the Bright Falcon, but he was fast asleep.
"Finist, my bright falcon, wake up, get up!"
Finist the Bright Falcon slept soundly. Try as she might, Maryushka could not wake him. Morning came. Maryushka sat at her work. She took up the silver dis¬taff and gold spindle. The Tsaritsa saw them.
"Do sell them to me."
"I will not sell them," said Maryushka, "but I will give them to you, if you let. me see Finist the Bright Falcon, if only for an hour."
"Very well." said the other, thinking to herself, "She'll never wake him anyway."
Night came and Maryushka was allowed into the bedroom to see Finist the Bright Falcon, but he was fast asleep.
"Finist, my bright falcon, wake up, get up!"
Finist the Bright Falcon slept soundly. Try as she might, Maryushka could not wake him. Dawn was approaching and Maryushka burst into tears.
"My darling Finist, my bright falcon, wake up, get up, look upon your Maryushka, press her to your heart."
One of Maryushka's tears fell on the bare shoulder of Finist the Bright Falcon and scalded him. Finistthe Bright Falcon awoke, looked around and saw Maryushka. He hugged and kissed her.
"Is it really you, Maryushka. Have you worn out three pairs of iron shoes, brc ken three iron staffs, torn three iron hats and found me? Let's go home now."
They started to prepare for the journey, but the Tsaritsa noticed and gave orders to sound the trumpets and announce her husband's betrayal. The princes and merchants gathered and began to discuss how Finist the Bright Falcon should be punished. Then Finist the Bright Falcon spoke up:
"Which do you think is the real wife - the one who loves firmly or the one who sells and deceives?"
All were agreed that the true wife of Finist the Bright Falcon was Maryushka. The couple hugged and kissed and they returned to their own country. They he a feast, sounded the trumpets, fired the cannon and the feast was such a great event that people remember it to this day
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