The fairy tale of Vasilisa the Beautiful and the King of the Sea. The tale of the sea king and the wise Vasilisa

Information for parents: The Sea Tsar and Vasilisa the Wise is one of the best Russian folk tales. It tells about Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise, who escaped from the Sea King. This fairy tale will be of interest to children aged 4 to 9 years. The text of the fairy tale “The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise” is written in a fascinating way and is suitable for bedtime reading to a child.

Read the fairy tale The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise

He began to make his way to his state, began to approach his land, and the day was hot - hot, the sun was so hot! And a great thirst came upon him; whatever you give, just to drink some water! He looked around and saw a large lake not far away; rode up to the lake, got off his horse, lay down on the ground and let’s swallow the cold water. He drinks and does not sense trouble; and the king of the sea grabbed him by the beard.

- Let me go! - the king asks.

“I won’t let you in, don’t you dare drink without my knowledge!”

- Take whatever ransom you want - just let him go!

- Give me something you don’t know at home.

The king thought - thought... What doesn’t he know at home? He seems to know everything, he knows everything,” and he agreed. I tried a beard - no one holds it; got up from the ground, mounted his horse and rode home.

So he comes home, the queen meets him with the prince, so joyful, and when he found out about his dear child, he burst into bitter tears. He told the queen how and what had happened to him, they cried together, but there was nothing to do, tears couldn’t fix the matter.

They began to live as before; and the prince grows and grows, like dough on sourdough, not by days, but by hours, and he has grown big.

“No matter how much you keep it with you,” the king thinks, “but you have to give it away: the matter is inevitable!” He took Ivan Tsarevich by the hand and led him straight to the lake.

“Look here,” he says, “for my ring; I accidentally dropped it yesterday.

He left the prince alone and turned home. The prince began to look for the ring, walked along the shore, and an old woman came across him.

-Where are you going, Ivan Tsarevich?

- Let go, don't bother me, old witch! And without you it’s annoying.

- Well, stay with God!

And the old lady walked away.

...And Ivan Tsarevich thought about it: “Why did I curse the old woman? Let me turn it over; old people are cunning and shrewd! Maybe he’ll say something good.” And he began to turn the old woman over:

- Turn back, grandma, forgive my stupid word! After all, I said out of annoyance: my father made me look for the ring, I go and look, but the ring is gone!

“You are not here for the ring: your father gave you to the king of the sea; the king of the sea will come out and take you with him to the underwater kingdom.

The prince cried bitterly.

- Don’t worry, Ivan Tsarevich! There will be a holiday on your street; just listen to me, old woman. Hide behind that currant bush over there and hide quietly. Twelve doves will fly here - all red maidens, and after them the thirteenth; they will swim in the lake; and in the meantime, take the shirt from the last one and don’t give it back until she gives you her ring. If you fail to do this, you are lost forever; The sea king has a high palisade around the entire palace, for as much as ten miles, and a head is stuck on each spoke; only one is empty, don’t get caught in it!

Ivan Tsarevich thanked the old woman, hid behind a currant bush and waited for the time to come.

Suddenly twelve doves fly in; hit the damp ground and turned into red maidens, every single one of them indescribable beauty: neither thought of, nor guessed, nor written with a pen! They threw off their dresses and went into the lake: they play, splash, laugh, sing songs.

Following them, the thirteenth dove flew in; she hit the damp ground, turned into a red maiden, threw off her shirt from her white body and went for a swim; and she was the prettiest of all, the most beautiful of all!

For a long time Ivan Tsarevich could not take his eyes off her; he looked at her for a long time and remembered what the old woman had told him; he crept up quietly and took away the shirt.

A red maiden came out of the water, grabbed her - there was no shirt, someone took it away; everyone rushed to look; They searched and searched and couldn't see it anywhere.

- Don’t look, dear sisters! Fly home; It’s my own fault - I overlooked it, and I’ll answer myself. The red maiden sisters hit the damp ground, became doves, flapped their wings and flew away. Only one girl remained, looked around and said:

“Whoever it is who has my shirt, come out here; If you are an old man, you will be my dear father; if you are middle-aged, you will be a beloved brother; if you are my equal, you will be a dear friend!

As soon as she said the last word, Tsarevich Ivan appeared. She gave him a gold ring and said:

- Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! Why haven't you come for a long time? The king of the sea is angry with you. This is the road that leads to the underwater kingdom; walk on it boldly! You will find me there too; after all, I am the daughter of the sea king, Vasilisa the Wise.

Vasilisa the Wise turned into a dove and flew away from the prince.

And Ivan Tsarevich went to the underwater kingdom; he sees - and there the light is the same as ours; and there are fields, and meadows, and green groves, and the sun warms.

He comes to the sea king. The sea king shouted at him:

- Why haven’t you been here for so long? For your guilt, here is a service for you: I have a wasteland for thirty miles, both in length and across - only ditches, gullies and sharp stones! So that by tomorrow it would be as smooth as the palm of your hand, and the rye would be sown, and by early morning it would grow so tall that a jackdaw could bury itself in it. If you don’t do this, off your head!

Ivan Tsarevich comes from the sea king, and he himself sheds tears. Tall Vasilisa the Wise saw him through the window from her mansion and asked:

- Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Why are you shedding tears?

- How can I not cry? - the prince answers. “The king of the sea forced me to level ditches, gullies and sharp stones in one night and sow rye so that by morning it would grow and a jackdaw could hide in it.”

- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed with God, the morning is wiser than the evening, everything will be ready!

Ivan Tsarevich went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

- Hey you, my faithful servants! Level the deep ditches, remove the sharp stones, sow them with rye so that it will ripen by morning.

Tsarevich Ivan woke up at dawn, looked - everything was ready: there were no ditches, no gullies, the field stood as smooth as the palm of his hand, and there was rye on it - so high that the jackdaw would be buried.

I went to the sea king with a report.

“Thank you,” says the sea king, “for being able to serve.” Here's another job for you: I have three hundred stacks, each stack contains three hundred kopecks - all white wheat; By tomorrow, thresh all the wheat for me cleanly, down to a single grain, and don’t break the stacks and don’t break the sheaves. If you don’t do it, off your head!

- I’m listening, Your Majesty! - said Ivan Tsarevich; he walks around the yard again and sheds tears.

- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him.

- How can I not cry? The king of the sea ordered me to thresh all the stacks in one night, not to drop the grain, and not to break the stacks and not to break the sheaves.

- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead! Go to bed with God; The morning is wiser than the evening.

The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

- Hey, you creeping ants! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you crawl here and pick out the grain from your father’s stacks cleanly.

In the morning the sea king calls Ivan Tsarevich:

- Did you serve?

— Served, Your Majesty!

- Let's go have a look.

They came to the threshing floor - all the stacks were untouched, they came to the granaries - all the bins were full of grain.

- Thank you, brother! - said the sea king.

“Make me another church from pure wax so that it will be ready by dawn; this will be your last service.

Again Tsarevich Ivan walks through the yard and washes himself with tears.

- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him from the high tower.

- How can I not cry, good fellow? The king of the sea ordered to make a church from pure wax in one night.

- Well, it’s not a problem yet, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed; The morning is wiser than the evening.

The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

- Hey you, hard-working bees! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you fly in herds and mold the church of God out of pure wax, so that it will be ready by morning.

In the morning, Ivan Tsarevich got up, looked - the church was made of pure wax, and went to the sea king with a report.

- Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich! Whatever servants I had, no one was able to please as much as you. Therefore, be my heir, the preserver of the entire kingdom, choose any of my thirteen daughters as your wife.

Ivan Tsarevich chose Vasilisa the Wise; They were immediately married and feasted in joy for three whole days.

No less time passed, Ivan Tsarevich yearned for his parents, and he wanted to go to Holy Rus'.

- Why are you so sad, Ivan Tsarevich?

- Oh, Vasilisa the Wise, I was sad for my father, for my mother, I wanted to go to Holy Rus'.

- Now this trouble has come! If we leave, there will be a great chase after us; the king of the sea will be angry and put us to death. We have to outwit!

Vasilisa the Wise spat in three corners, locked the doors to her mansion and ran with Ivan Tsarevich to Holy Rus'.

The next day, early, messengers from the king of the sea arrive to raise the young people and invite them to the palace to the king. Knocking on doors:

- Wake up, wake up! Father is calling you.

- It’s still early, we didn’t get enough sleep: come back later! - one saliva answers.

So the messengers left, waited an hour or two and knocked again:

“It’s not time to sleep, it’s time to get up!”

- Wait a little: let’s get up and get dressed! - answers the second saliva.

For the third time the messengers arrive:

“The king of the sea is angry, why are they cooling off for so long?”

- We'll be there now! - answers the third saliva.

We waited - the messengers waited and let's knock again: no response, no response! The doors were broken down, but the mansion was empty.

They reported giving, the young people ran away for tea; He became embittered and sent a great pursuit after them.

And Vasilisa the Wise with Ivan Tsarevich are already far, far away! They ride greyhound horses without stopping, without rest.

Come on, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?

Ivan Tsarevich jumped off his horse, pressed his ear to the damp ground and said:

- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping!

- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise and immediately turned the horses into a green meadow, Ivan Tsarevich into an old shepherd, and she herself became a peaceful lamb.

The chase comes:

- Hey, old man! Have you seen a good fellow galloping here with a red maiden?

“No, good people, I haven’t seen it,” answers Ivan Tsarevich, “I’ve been grazing in this place for forty years, not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past!”

The chase turned back:

- Your Royal Majesty! We didn’t run into anyone on the way, we only saw a shepherd tending a sheep.

- What was missing? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and sent a new pursuit.

And Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise have been riding greyhounds for a long time.

- Well, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?

Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:

- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping.

- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise; she herself became a church, turned Tsarevich Ivan into an old priest, and horses into trees.

The chase comes:

- Hey, father! Didn't you see a shepherd pass here with a lamb?

- No, people: kind, I haven’t seen you; I have been working in this church for forty years - not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past.

The chase turned back:

- Your Royal Majesty! Nowhere were they found a shepherd with a lamb; Only on the way did they see the church and the old priest.

- Why didn’t you destroy the church and capture the priest? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and he himself galloped after Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise.

And they went far.

Vasilisa the Wise speaks again:

- Ivan Tsarevich! Fall down to the damp ground - will you hear the chase?

Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:

“I hear people’s rumors and the horse’s tramp more than ever.”

“It’s the king himself who’s galloping.”

Vasilisa the Wise turned the horses into a lake, Ivan Tsarevich into a drake, and she herself became a duck.

The king of the sea galloped to the lake and immediately guessed who the duck and the drake were; hit the damp ground and turned into an eagle. The eagle wants to kill them to death, but it didn’t work out that way: whatever doesn’t fly apart from above... the drake is about to hit, and the drake dives into the water; is about to hit the duck, and the duck dives into the water! I fought and fought, but I couldn’t do anything. The king of the sea galloped to his underwater kingdom, and Vasilisa the Wise and Ivan Tsarevich waited for a good time and went to Holy Rus'.

Whether it was long or short, they arrived in the thirtieth kingdom.

“Wait for me in this little forest,” says Ivan Tsarevich to Vasilisa the Wise, “I’ll go and report to my father and mother first.”

- You will forget me, Ivan Tsarevich!

- No, I won’t forget.

- No, Ivan Tsarevich, don’t talk, you’ll forget! Remember me even when two doves begin to fight at the windows!

Ivan Tsarevich came to the palace; his parents saw him, threw themselves on his neck and began to kiss him and have mercy on him; In his joy, Ivan Tsarevich forgot about Vasilisa the Wise.

He lives another day with his father, with his mother, and on the third he plans to woo some princess.

Vasilisa the Wise went to the city and hired herself as a worker at a malt mill. They began to prepare the bread; she took two pieces of dough, made a pair of doves and put them in the oven.

- Guess, mistress, what will happen from these doves?

- What will happen? Let's eat them - that's all!

- No, I didn’t guess!

Vasilisa the Wise opened the stove, opened the window - and at that very moment the doves perked up, flew straight into the palace and began to beat on the windows; No matter how hard the royal servants tried, they could not drive him away.

It was only then that Ivan Tsarevich remembered about Vasilisa the Wise, sent messengers in all directions to question and search, and found her at the bakery; He took the white people by the hands, kissed them on the sugary lips, brought them to their father, to their mother, and they all began to live together and get along and make good things.

About the fairy tale

Fairy tale "The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise"

Thanks to the Russian folk tale, all aspects of human life are revealed. This work, having passed through centuries and years and reached our times, has absorbed the most important and integral character traits of the Russian person. She walks next to us throughout our lives, from birth to old age, making us wiser, kinder and fairer.

One of the best fairy tales in Russian literature today is the Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise. This story is about two fairy-tale characters in love, Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise, who escaped from the Sea King.

The text of the fairy tale, like the content, is very beautifully presented, written in simple language, so it will be interesting to children from 4 to 9 years old. Reading a children's book with many illustrations is a pleasure, especially before bed.

The meaning of this story is good and evil and their opposition to each other. The children's fairy tale describes many lessons that can be useful in the lives of readers: the promised word must be kept, the elderly should be treated with respect and the people around them in the same way, do not give up, overcome difficulties and go boldly to victory. Find the strength within yourself to forgive and correct mistakes before it’s too late.

Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise were perfect, and Vasilisa, on top of everything else, knows how to use magical power. Only after going through all the difficulties and trials do the heroes find happiness. The main idea of the fairy tale is the desire of the heroes to overcome life's troubles and victory over them.

Briefly about the content of Russian folk tales

The king was in a hurry home after visiting distant and foreign lands. He promised the Sea King that he would give him something that he had never seen in his kingdom and did not know. His long-awaited son was born. He did not know and did not know about this. With the joyful news, the king’s thoughts darkened from the misfortune he had doomed his own child to. Ivan Tsarevich - that was his name. When he grew up, the insidious sea lord demanded his immediate appearance.

Before setting off, a kind old sorceress revealed the truth to Ivan Tsarevich and taught him how to get the ring of Vasilisa, the daughter of the Sea King. The prince obeyed and did everything as the old woman ordered. The beauty gave him her ring and showed him the way to the underwater kingdom. Tsar Morskoy gave Ivanushka three tasks, and ones that were impossible to complete.
If only it weren’t for Vasilisa’s help, then the hope for success would be zero.

The tasks were completed, and the Sea King was satisfied. To celebrate, he offered to choose one of thirteen daughters, but the prince knew exactly who he needed and chose Vasilisa. A cheerful wedding thundered, and they lived happily ever after.

Time passed, and Ivanushka began to think about his native land. The prince became yearning and asked his wife to go and see their homeland together. They had to endure many obstacles, but still they found themselves in the distant kingdom. With courage and cunning they defeated the King of the Sea. There is only one test left in the lives of the heroes - loyalty. They passed all the tests, and began to live and not bother.

Returning to the native land is how most Russian folk tales end. So in this story, the hero and his young wife Vasilisa the Wise return to their homeland. So the reader of the book sees how important it is to preserve and protect family relationships, and how important they are for a Russian person. The Slavs have always paid no small interest to the concept of fate. It’s not for nothing that they say that a husband is the betrothed one whom fate itself has chosen.

The story that is told in the fairy tale “The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise” is instructive in nature and will definitely teach the attentive reader a lot. The important idea of this fairy tale is that if you don’t know something, then you shouldn’t promise something. This can have unpleasant consequences. And if you have already promised, then the promise must be kept. The moral of the story is that you should always remain human and be polite to older people, listen to their wise advice, and help with deeds. The fairy tale shows the happiness that comes from understanding how good it is that you have a beloved wife who you can rely on in joy and in sorrow.

Read the Russian folk tale “The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise” on our website online, free of charge and without registration.

He began to make his way to his state, began to approach his land, and it was a hot, hot day, the sun was so hot! And a great thirst came upon him; whatever you give, just to drink some water! He looked around and saw a large lake not far away; rode up to the lake, got off his horse, lay down on the ground and let’s swallow the cold water. He drinks and does not smell trouble; and the king of the sea grabbed him by the beard.

- Let me go! - the king asks.

“I won’t let you in, don’t you dare drink without my knowledge!”

- Take whatever ransom you want - just let him go!

- Give me something you don’t know at home.

The king thought and thought... What doesn’t he know at home? He seems to know everything, he knows everything,” and he agreed. I tried - no one keeps a beard; got up from the ground, mounted his horse and rode home.

When he arrives home, the queen meets him with the prince, so joyful; and as soon as he found out about his sweet brainchild, he burst into bitter tears. He told the princess how and what had happened to him, they cried together, but there was nothing to do, tears couldn’t fix the matter.

They began to live as before; and the prince grows and grows, like dough on sourdough - by leaps and bounds - and he grew up big.

“No matter how much you keep it with you,” the king thinks, but you have to give it away: the matter is inevitable!” He took Ivan Tsarevich by the hand and led him straight to the lake.

“Look here,” he says, “for my ring; I accidentally dropped it yesterday.

He left the prince alone and turned home.

The prince began to look for the ring, walked along the shore, and an old woman came across him.

-Where are you going, Ivan Tsarevich?

- Let go, don't bother me, old witch! And without you it’s annoying.

- Well, stay with God!

And the old lady walked away.

And Ivan Tsarevich thought about it: “Why did I curse the old woman?” Let me turn it over; old people are cunning and shrewd! Maybe he’ll say something good.” And he began to turn the old woman over:

- Turn back, grandma, forgive my stupid word! After all, I said out of annoyance: my father made me look for the ring, I go and look, but the ring is gone!

“You are not here for the ring: your father gave you to the king of the sea; the king of the sea will come out and take you with him to the underwater kingdom.

The prince cried bitterly.

- Don’t worry, Ivan Tsarevich! There will be a holiday on your street; just listen to me, old woman. Hide behind that currant bush over there and hide quietly. Twelve doves will fly here - all red maidens, and after them the thirteenth; they will swim in the lake; and in the meantime, take the last one’s shirt and still don’t give it back until she gives you her ring. If you fail to do this, you are lost forever; The sea king has a high palisade around the entire palace, for as much as ten miles, and a head is stuck on each spoke; only one is empty, don’t get caught in it!

Ivan Tsarevich thanked the old woman, hid behind a currant bush and waited for the time to come.

Following them, the thirteenth dove flew in; she hit the damp ground, turned into a beautiful girl, threw off her shirt from her white body and went for a swim; and she was the prettiest of all, the most beautiful of all!

For a long time Ivan Tsarevich could not take his eyes off her; he looked at her for a long time and remembered what the old woman had told him; he crept up quietly and took away the shirt.

A red maiden came out of the water, grabbed her - there was no shirt, someone took it away; Everyone rushed to look: they looked, they looked, but they couldn’t see it anywhere.

- Don’t look, dear sisters! Fly home; It’s my own fault - I didn’t look enough, and I’ll answer myself.

The red maiden sisters hit the damp ground, became doves, flapped their wings and flew away. Only one girl remained, looked around and said:

“Whoever it is who has my shirt, come out here; If you’re an old man, you’ll be my dear father; if you’re middle-aged, you’ll be a beloved brother; if you’re my equal, you’ll be a dear friend!

As soon as she said the last word, Tsarevich Ivan appeared. She gave him a gold ring and said:

Vasilisa the Wise turned into a dove and flew away from the prince.

And Ivan Tsarevich went to the underwater kingdom; he sees - and there the light is the same as ours; and there the fields, and meadows, and groves are green, and the sun is warm.

He comes to the sea king. The sea king shouted at him:

Ivan Tsarevich comes from the sea king, and he is shedding tears. Tall Vasilisa the Wise saw him through the window from her mansion and asked:

- Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Why are you shedding tears?

- How can I not cry? - the prince answers. “The king of the sea forced me to level ditches, gullies and sharp stones in one night and sow them with rye, so that by the morning of sleep it would grow and a jackdaw could hide in it.”

- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed with God; morning is wiser than evening, everything will be ready!

Ivan Tsarevich went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

- Hey you, my faithful servants! Level the deep ditches, remove the sharp stones, sow the rye so that it will ripen by morning.

I went to the sea king with a report.

- I’m listening, Your Majesty! - said Ivan Tsarevich; he walks around the yard again and sheds tears.

- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him.

- How can I not cry? The king of the sea ordered me to thresh all the stacks in one night, not to drop the grain, and not to break the stacks and not to break the sheaves.

- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead! Go to bed with God; The morning is wiser than the evening.

The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

- Hey, you creeping ants! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you crawl here and pick out the grain from your father’s stacks cleanly.

In the morning the sea king calls Ivan Tsarevich:

- Did you serve?

- Served, Your Majesty!

- Let's go have a look.

They came to the threshing floor - all the stacks were untouched, they came to the granary - all the bins were full of grain.

- Thank you, brother! - said the sea king. “Make me another church from pure wax so that it will be ready by dawn: this will be your last service.”

Again Tsarevich Ivan walks through the yard and washes himself with tears.

- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him from the high tower.

- How can I not cry, good fellow? The king of the sea ordered to make a church from pure wax in one night.

- Well, it’s not a problem yet, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed; The morning is wiser than the evening.

The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

- Hey you, hard-working bees! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you fly here and mold a church of God out of pure wax so that it will be ready by morning.

In the morning, Ivan Tsarevich got up, looked - the church was made of pure wax, and went to the sea king with a chill.

- Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich! No matter what servants I had, no one was able to please as much as you. For this, be my heir, protector of the whole kingdom; choose any of my thirteen daughters as your wife.

Ivan Tsarevich chose Vasilisa the Wise; They were immediately married and feasted in joy for three whole days.

No less time passed, Ivan Tsarevich yearned for his parents, and he wanted to go to Holy Rus'.

- Why are you so sad, Ivan Tsarevich?

- Ah, Vasilisa the Wise, I was sad for my father, for my mother, I wanted to go to Holy Rus'.

- This trouble has come! If we leave, there will be a great pursuit after us; the king of the sea will be angry and put us to death. We have to manage!

Vasilisa the Wise spat in three corners, locked the doors to her mansion and ran with Ivan Tsarevich to Holy Rus'.

The next day, early, messengers from the king of the sea arrive to raise the young people and invite them to the palace to the king. Knocking on doors:

- Wake up, wake up! Father is calling you.

- It’s still early, we didn’t get enough sleep: come back later! - one saliva answers.

So the messengers left, waited an hour or two and knocked again:

- It's not time to sleep, it's time to get up!

- Wait a little: let’s get up and get dressed! - another saliva answers.

For the third time the messengers arrive:

“The King of the Sea is angry, why are they cooling off for so long?”

- We'll be there now! - answers the third saliva.

The messengers waited and waited and let's knock again: no response, no response! The door was broken down, but the mansion was empty.

They reported to the king that the young people had run away; He became embittered and sent a great pursuit after them.

And Vasilisa the Wise with Ivan Tsarevich are already far, far away! They ride greyhound horses without stopping, without rest.

“Come on, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?”

Ivan Tsarevich jumped off his horse, pressed his ear to the damp ground and said:

- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping!

- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise and immediately turned the horses into a green meadow, Ivan Tsarevich into an old shepherd, and she herself became a peaceful lamb.

The chase comes:

- Hey, old man! Have you seen a good fellow galloping here with a red maiden?

“No, good people, I haven’t seen it,” answers Ivan Tsarevich, “I’ve been grazing in this place for forty years, not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past!”

The chase turned back:

- Your Royal Majesty! We didn’t run into anyone on the way, we only saw a shepherd tending a sheep.

- What was missing? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and sent a new pursuit.

And Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise have been riding greyhounds a long time ago.

- Well, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?

Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:

- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping.

- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise; she herself became a church, turned Tsarevich Ivan into an old priest, and horses into trees.

The chase comes:

- Hey, father! Didn't you see a shepherd pass here with a lamb?

- No, good people, I haven’t seen it; I have been working in this church for forty years - not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past.

The chase turned back:

- Your Royal Majesty! Nowhere were they found a shepherd with a lamb; Only on the way did they see the church and the old priest.

- Why didn’t you destroy the church and capture the priest? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and he himself galloped after Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise.

And they went far.

Vasilisa the Wise speaks again:

- Ivan Tsarevich! Fall down to the damp ground - you won't hear the chase!

Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:

“I hear people’s rumors and the horse’s tramp more than ever.”

“It’s the king himself who’s galloping.”

Vasilisa the Wise turned the horses into a lake, Ivan Tsarevich into a drake, and she herself became a duck.

The king of the sea galloped to the lake and immediately guessed who the duck and the drake were; hit the damp ground and turned into an eagle. The eagle wants to kill them to death, but it didn’t work out that way: whatever doesn’t fly away from above... the drake is about to hit, and the drake dives into the water; The duck is about to hit, and the duck dives into the water! I fought and fought and could not do anything. The king of the sea galloped to his underwater kingdom, and Vasilisa the Wise and Ivan Tsarevich waited for a good time and went to Holy Rus'.

Whether it was long or short, they arrived in the thirtieth kingdom.

“Wait for me in this little forest,” says Ivan Tsarevich to Vasilisa the Wise, “I’ll go and report to my father and mother in advance.”

- You will forget me, Ivan Tsarevich!

- No, I won’t forget.

- No, Ivan Tsarevich, don’t talk, you’ll forget! Remember me even when two doves begin to fight at the windows!

Ivan Tsarevich came to the palace; his parents saw him, threw themselves on his neck and began to kiss and pardon him; In his joy, Ivan Tsarevich forgot about Vasilisa the Wise.

He lives another day with his father, with his mother, and on the third he plans to woo some princess.

Vasilisa the Wise went to the city and hired herself as a worker at a malt mill. They began to prepare the bread; she took two pieces of dough, made a pair of doves and put them in the oven.

- Guess, mistress, what will happen from these doves?

- What will happen? Let's eat them - that's all!

- No, I didn’t guess!

Vasilisa the Wise opened the stove, opened the window - and at that very moment the pigeons started up, flew straight into the palace and began to beat on the windows; No matter how hard the royal servants tried, they could not drive them away.

Far away, in the thirtieth state, he lived - there was a king and a queen; they had no children. The king traveled through foreign lands, to distant sides, and did not go home for a long time; At that time, the queen gave birth to a son, Ivan, a prince, but the king doesn’t even know about it.
He began to make his way to his state, began to approach his land, and the day was hot, hot, the sun was so hot! And a great thirst came upon him; no matter what he could give, just to drink water! He looked around and saw a large lake not far away; rode up to the lake, got off his horse, lay down on the ground and let’s swallow the cold water. He drinks and does not smell trouble; and the king of the sea grabbed him by the beard.
- Let me go! - the king asks.
- I won’t let you in, don’t you dare drink without my knowledge!
- Take whatever ransom you want - just let him go!
- Give me something you don’t know at home.
The king thought and thought... What doesn’t he know at home? He seems to know everything, he knows everything,” and he agreed. I tried a beard - no one holds it; got up from the ground, mounted his horse and rode home.
When he comes home, the queen meets him with the prince, so joyful, and when he found out about his sweet brainchild, he burst into bitter tears. He told the queen how and what had happened to him, they cried together, but there was nothing to do, tears couldn’t fix the matter.
They began to live as before; and the prince grows and grows, like dough on sourdough, by leaps and bounds, and he has grown big.
“No matter how much you keep it with you,” the king thinks, “you have to give it away: the matter is inevitable!” He took Ivan the prince by the hand and led him straight to the lake.
“Look here,” he says, “for my ring; I accidentally dropped it yesterday.
He left the prince alone and turned home. The prince began to look for the ring, walked along the shore, and an old woman came across him.
-Where are you going, Ivan the Tsarevich?
- Get rid of me, don't bother me, old witch! And without you it’s annoying.
- Well, stay with God!
And the old lady walked away.
...And Ivan the Tsarevich thought about it: “Why did I scold the old woman? Let me turn her over; old people are cunning and shrewd! Perhaps they will say something good.” And he began to turn the old woman over:
- Turn back, grandma, forgive my stupid word! After all, I said out of annoyance: my father made me look for the ring, I go and look, but the ring is gone!
- You are not here for the ring: your father gave you to the king of the sea; the king of the sea will come out and take you with him to the underwater kingdom.
The prince cried bitterly.
- Don’t worry, Ivan the Tsarevich! There will be a holiday on your street; just listen to me, old woman. Hide behind that currant bush over there and hide quietly. Twelve doves will fly here - all red maidens, and after them the thirteenth; they will swim in the lake; and in the meantime, take the shirt from the last one and don’t give it back until she gives you her ring. If you fail to do this, you are lost forever; The sea king has a high palisade around the entire palace, for as much as ten miles, and a head is stuck on each spoke; only one is empty, don’t get caught in it!
Ivan Tsarevich thanked the old woman, hid behind a currant bush and waited for the time.
Suddenly twelve doves fly in; hit the damp ground and turned into red maidens, every single one of them indescribable beauty: neither thought of, nor guessed, nor written with a pen! They threw off their dresses and went into the lake: they play, splash, laugh, sing songs.
Following them, the thirteenth dove flew in; she hit the damp ground, turned into a red maiden, threw off her shirt from her white body and went for a swim; and she was the prettiest of all, the most beautiful of all!
For a long time Ivan Tsarevich could not take his eyes off her; he looked at her for a long time and remembered what the old woman had told him; he crept up quietly and took away the shirt.
A red maiden came out of the water, grabbed her - there was no shirt, someone took it away; everyone rushed to look; They searched and searched and couldn't see it anywhere.
- Don’t look, dear sisters! Fly home; It’s my own fault - I overlooked it, and I’ll answer myself. The red maiden sisters hit the damp ground, became doves, flapped their wings and flew away. Only one girl remained, looked around and said:
- Whoever it is who has my shirt, come out here; If you are an old man, you will be my dear father; if you are middle-aged, you will be a beloved brother; if you are my equal, you will be a dear friend!
As soon as she said the last word, Ivan the Tsarevich appeared. She gave him a gold ring and said:
- Ah, Ivan the Tsarevich! Why haven't you come for a long time? The king of the sea is angry with you. This is the road that leads to the underwater kingdom; walk on it boldly! You will find me there too; after all, I am the daughter of the sea king, Vasilisa the Wise.
Vasilisa the Wise turned into a dove and flew away from the prince.
And Ivan the Tsarevich went to the underwater kingdom; he sees - and there the light is the same as ours; and there the fields, and meadows, and groves are green, and the sun is warm.
He comes to the sea king. The sea king shouted at him:
- Why haven’t you been here for so long? For your guilt, here is a service for you: I have a wasteland for thirty miles, both in length and across - only ditches, gullies and sharp stones! So that by tomorrow it would be as smooth as the palm of your hand, and the rye would be sown, and by early morning it would grow so tall that a jackdaw could bury itself in it. If you don’t do this, off your head!
Ivan, the prince, is coming from the sea king, and he is shedding tears. Tall Vasilisa the Wise saw him through the window from her mansion and asked:
- Hello, Ivan the Tsarevich! Why are you shedding tears?
- How can I not cry? - the prince answers. - The king of the sea forced me to level ditches, gullies and sharp stones in one night and sow rye so that by morning it would grow and a jackdaw could hide in it.
- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed with God, the morning is wiser than the evening, everything will be ready!
Ivan the Tsarevich went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:
- Hey you, my faithful servants! Rake deep ditches, remove sharp stones, sow with rye so that it will ripen by morning.
Tsarevich Ivan woke up at dawn, looked - everything was ready: there were no ditches, no gullies, there was a field as smooth as the palm of his hand, and there was rye on it - so high that the jackdaw would be buried.
I went to the sea king with a report.
“Thank you,” says the sea king, “for being able to serve.” Here's another job for you: I have three hundred stacks, each stack contains three hundred kopecks - all white wheat; Thresh all the wheat for me by tomorrow, cleanly, down to a single grain, and don’t break the stacks and don’t break the sheaves. If you don’t do it, off your head!
- I’m listening, Your Majesty! - said Ivan the Tsarevich; he walks around the yard again and sheds tears.
- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him.
- How can I not cry? The king of the sea ordered me to thresh all the stacks in one night, not to drop the grain, and not to break the stacks and not to break the sheaves.
- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead! Go to bed with God; The morning is wiser than the evening.
The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:
- Hey, you creeping ants! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you crawl here and pick out the grain from your father’s stacks cleanly and cleanly.
In the morning the sea king calls Ivan the prince:
- Did you serve?
- Served, Your Majesty!
- Let's go have a look.
They came to the threshing floor - all the stacks were untouched, they came to the granaries - all the bins were full of grain.
- Thank you, brother! - said the sea king.
- Make me another church from pure wax so that it will be ready by dawn; this will be your last service.
Again, Ivan the Tsarevich walks through the yard and washes himself with tears.
- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him from the high tower.
- How can I not cry, good fellow? The king of the sea ordered to make a church from pure wax in one night.
- Well, it’s not a problem yet, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed; The morning is wiser than the evening.
The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:
- Hey you, hard-working bees! No matter how many of you there are in this world, you all fly in herds and mold the church of God out of pure wax, so that by morning “it will be ready.
In the morning Ivan the prince got up, looked at the church made of pure wax, and went to the sea king with a report.
- Thank you, Ivan the Tsarevich! Whatever servants I had, no one was able to please as much as you. Therefore, be my heir, the preserver of the whole kingdom, choose any of my thirteen daughters as your wife.
Ivan Tsarevich chose Vasilisa the Wise; They were immediately married and feasted in joy for three whole days.
No more or less time passed, Ivan the Tsarevich yearned for his parents, and he wanted to go to Holy Rus'.
- Why is Ivan the Tsarevich so sad?
- Ah, Vasilisa the Wise, I was sad for my father, for my mother, I wanted to go to Holy Rus'.
- Now this trouble has come! If we leave, there will be a great pursuit after us; the king of the sea will be angry and put us to death. We have to manage!
Vasilisa the Wise spat in three corners, locked the doors to her mansion and ran with Ivan the Tsarevich to Holy Rus'.
The next day, early, messengers from the king of the sea arrive to raise the young people and invite them to the palace to the king. Knocking on doors:
- Wake up, wake up! Father is calling you.
- It’s still early, we didn’t get enough sleep: come back later! - one saliva answers.
So the messengers left, waited an hour or two and knocked again:
- It's not time to sleep, it's time to get up!
- Wait a little: let’s get up and get dressed! - answers the second saliva.
For the third time the messengers arrive:
- The king of the sea is angry, why are they cooling off for so long?
- We'll be there now! - answers the third saliva.
We waited, the messengers waited, and let’s knock again: no response, no response! The doors were broken down, but the mansion was empty.
They reported giving, the young people ran away for tea; He became embittered and sent a great pursuit after them.
And Vasilisa the Wise with Ivan the Tsarevich are already far away! They ride greyhound horses without stopping, without rest.
Well, Ivav the prince, fall down to the damp earth and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?
Ivan Tsarevich jumped off his horse, pressed his ear to the damp ground and said:
- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping!
- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise and immediately turned the horses into a green meadow, Ivan the prince - into an old shepherd, and she herself became a peaceful lamb.
The chase comes:
- Hey, old man! Have you seen a good fellow galloping here with a red maiden?
“No, good people, I haven’t seen it,” answers Ivan the Tsarevich, “I’ve been grazing in this place for forty years, not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past!”
The chase turned back:
- Your Royal Majesty! We didn’t run into anyone on the way, we only saw a shepherd tending a sheep.
- What did you miss? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and sent a new pursuit.
And Ivan, the prince and Vasilisa the Wise, have been riding greyhounds for a long time.
- Well, Ivan the Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?
Ivan the Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:
- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping.
- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise; she herself became a church, turned Ivan the prince into an old priest, and turned horses into trees.
The chase comes:
- Hey, father! Didn't you see a shepherd pass here with a lamb?
- No, people: kind, I haven’t seen you; I have been working in this church for forty years - not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past.
The chase turned back:
- Your Royal Majesty! Nowhere were they found a shepherd with a lamb; Only on the way did they see the church and the priest - an old man.
- Why didn’t you destroy the church and capture the priest? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and he himself galloped after Ivan the Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise.
And they went far.
Vasilisa the Wise speaks again:
- Ivan Tsarevich! Fall down to the damp ground - will you hear the chase?
Prince Ivan got off his horse, put his ear to the damp ground and said:
- I hear people’s rumors and the horse’s tramp more than ever.
- It is the king himself who is galloping.
Vasilisa the Wise turned the horses into a lake, Ivan the Tsarevich into a drake, and she herself became a duck.
The king of the sea galloped to the lake and immediately guessed who the duck and the drake were; hit the damp ground and turned into an eagle. The eagle wants to kill them to death, but that’s not the case: whatever doesn’t fly apart from above... the drake is about to strike, and the drake dives into the water; just about to hit the duck, and the duck dives into the water! I fought and fought, but I couldn’t do anything. The king of the sea galloped to his underwater kingdom, and Vasilisa the Wise and Ivan the Tsarevich waited for a good time and went to Holy Rus'.
Whether it was long or short, they arrived in the thirtieth kingdom.
“Wait for me in this little forest,” says Tsarevich Ivan to Vasilisa the Wise, “I’ll go and report to my father and mother in advance.”
- You will forget me, Ivan the Tsarevich!
- No, I won’t forget.
- No, Ivan the Tsarevich, don’t talk, you’ll forget! Remember me even when two doves begin to fight at the windows!
Ivan the Tsarevich came to the palace; his parents saw him, threw themselves on his neck and began to kiss him and have mercy on him; In his joy, Ivan the Tsarevich forgot about Vasilisa the Wise.
He lived another day with his father and mother, and on the third he decided to woo some princess.
Vasilisa the Wise went to the city and hired herself as a worker at a malt mill. They began to prepare the bread; she took two pieces of dough, made a pair of doves and put them in the oven.
- Guess, mistress, what will happen from these doves?
- What will happen? Let's eat them - that's all!
- No, I didn’t guess!
Vasilisa the Wise opened the stove, opened the window - and at that very moment the pigeons started up, flew straight into the palace and began to beat on the windows; No matter how hard the royal servants tried, they could not drive him away.
It was only then that Tsarevich Ivan remembered about Vasilisa the Wise, sent messengers everywhere to question and search, and found her at the bread mill; He took the white people by the hands, kissed them on the sugary lips, brought them to their father, to their mother, and they all began to live together and get along and make good things. That's

Let me go! - the king asks.

I won’t let you in, don’t you dare drink without my knowledge!

Take whatever ransom you want - just let him go!

Give me something you don’t know at home.

They began to live as before; and the prince grows and grows, like dough on sourdough - by leaps and bounds - and he has grown big.

“No matter how much you keep it with you,” the king thinks, but you have to give it away: the matter is inevitable!” He took Ivan Tsarevich by the hand and led him straight to the lake.

Look here,” he says, “for my ring; I accidentally dropped it yesterday.

He left the prince alone and turned home.

The prince began to look for the ring, walked along the shore, and an old woman came across him.

Where are you going, Ivan Tsarevich?

Stop bothering me, old witch! And without you it’s annoying.

Well, stay with God!

And the old lady walked away.

Turn back, grandma, forgive my stupid word! After all, I said out of annoyance: my father made me look for the ring, I go and look, but the ring is gone!

You are not here for the ring: your father gave you to the king of the sea; the king of the sea will come out and take you with him to the underwater kingdom.

The prince cried bitterly.

Don’t worry, Ivan Tsarevich! There will be a holiday on your street; just listen to me, old woman. Hide behind that currant bush over there and hide quietly. Twelve doves will fly here - all red maidens, and after them the thirteenth; they will swim in the lake; and in the meantime, take the last one’s shirt and still don’t give it back until she gives you her ring. If you fail to do this, you are lost forever; The sea king has a high palisade around the entire palace, for as much as ten miles, and a head is stuck on each spoke; only one is empty, don’t get caught in it!

Ivan Tsarevich thanked the old woman, hid behind a currant bush and waited for the time to come.

For a long time Ivan Tsarevich could not take his eyes off her; he looked at her for a long time and remembered what the old woman had told him; he crept up quietly and took away the shirt.

A red maiden came out of the water, grabbed her - there was no shirt, someone took it away; Everyone rushed to look: they looked, they looked, but they couldn’t see it anywhere.

Don't look, dear sisters! Fly home; It’s my own fault - I overlooked it, and I’ll answer myself.

The red maiden sisters hit the damp ground, became doves, flapped their wings and flew away. Only one girl remained, looked around and said:

Whoever it is who has my shirt, come out here; If you are an old man, you will be my dear father; if you are middle-aged, you will be a beloved brother; if you are my equal, you will be a dear friend!

As soon as she said the last word, Tsarevich Ivan appeared. She gave him a gold ring and said:

Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! Why haven't you come for a long time? The king of the sea is angry with you. This is the road that leads to the underwater kingdom; walk on it boldly! You will find me there too; after all, I am the daughter of the sea king, Vasilisa the Wise.

Vasilisa the Wise turned into a dove and flew away from the prince.

And Ivan Tsarevich went to the underwater kingdom; he sees - and there the light is the same as ours; and there the fields, and meadows, and groves are green, and the sun is warm.

He comes to the sea king. The sea king shouted at him:

Why haven't you been here for so long? For your guilt, here is a service for you: I have a wasteland for thirty miles, both in length and across - only ditches, gullies and sharp stones! So that by tomorrow it would be as smooth as the palm of your hand, and the rye would be sown, and by early morning it would grow so tall that a jackdaw could bury itself in it. If you don’t do this, off your head!

Ivan Tsarevich comes from the sea king, and he is shedding tears. Tall Vasilisa the Wise saw him through the window from her mansion and asked:

Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Why are you shedding tears?

How can I not cry? - the prince answers. - The king of the sea forced me to level ditches, gullies and sharp stones in one night and sow them with rye, so that by the morning of sleep it would grow and the jackdaw could hide in it.

It's not a problem, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed with God; morning is wiser than evening, everything will be ready!

Ivan Tsarevich went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

Hey you, my faithful servants! Level the deep ditches, remove the sharp stones, sow the rye so that it will ripen by morning.

Ivan Tsarevich woke up at dawn, looked - everything was ready: there were no ditches, no gullies, the field stood as smooth as the palm of the hand, and the rye flaunted on it - so high that the jackdaw would be buried.

I went to the sea king with a report.

Thank you,” says the sea king, “for being able to serve.” Here's another job for you: I have three hundred stacks, each stack contains three hundred kopecks - all white wheat; By tomorrow, thresh all the wheat for me cleanly, down to a single grain, and don’t break the stacks and don’t break the sheaves. If you don’t do it, off your head!

I'm listening, Your Majesty! - said Ivan Tsarevich; he walks around the yard again and sheds tears.

Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him.

How can I not cry? The king of the sea ordered me to thresh all the stacks in one night, not to drop the grain, and not to break the stacks and not to break the sheaves.

It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead! Go to bed with God; The morning is wiser than the evening.

The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

Hey you, creeping ants! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you crawl here and pick out the grain from your father’s stacks cleanly.

In the morning the sea king calls Ivan Tsarevich:

Did you serve?

Served, Your Majesty!

Let's go have a look.

They came to the threshing floor - all the stacks were untouched, they came to the granary - all the bins were full of grain.

Thank you brother! - said the sea king. - Make me another church from pure wax so that it will be ready by dawn: this will be your last service.

Again Tsarevich Ivan walks through the yard and washes himself with tears.

Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him from the high tower.

How can I not cry, good fellow? The king of the sea ordered to make a church from pure wax in one night.

Well, that’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed; The morning is wiser than the evening.

The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:

Hey you, hard-working bees! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you fly here and mold a church of God out of pure wax so that it will be ready by morning.

In the morning, Ivan Tsarevich got up, looked - the church was made of pure wax, and went to the sea king with a chill.

Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich! No matter what servants I had, no one was able to please as much as you. For this, be my heir, protector of the whole kingdom; choose any of my thirteen daughters as your wife.

Ivan Tsarevich chose Vasilisa the Wise; They were immediately married and feasted in joy for three whole days.

No less time passed, Ivan Tsarevich yearned for his parents, and he wanted to go to Holy Rus'.

Why are you so sad, Ivan Tsarevich?

Ah, Vasilisa the Wise, I was sad for my father, for my mother, I wanted to go to Holy Rus'.

This trouble has arrived! If we leave, there will be a great pursuit after us; the king of the sea will be angry and put us to death. We have to manage!

Vasilisa the Wise spat in three corners, locked the doors to her mansion and ran with Ivan Tsarevich to Holy Rus'.

The next day, early, messengers from the king of the sea arrive to raise the young people and invite them to the palace to the king. Knocking on doors:

Wake up, wake up! Father is calling you.

It’s still early, we didn’t get enough sleep: come back later! - one saliva answers.

So the messengers left, waited an hour or two and knocked again:

It's not time to sleep, it's time to get up!

Wait a little: let's get up and get dressed! - another saliva answers.

For the third time the messengers arrive:

The king of the sea is angry, why are they cooling off for so long?

We'll be there now! - answers the third saliva.

The messengers waited and waited and let's knock again: no response, no response! The door was broken down, but the mansion was empty.

They reported to the king that the young people had run away; He became embittered and sent a great pursuit after them.

And Vasilisa the Wise with Ivan Tsarevich are already far, far away! They ride greyhound horses without stopping, without rest.

Come on, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?

Ivan Tsarevich jumped off his horse, pressed his ear to the damp ground and said:

I hear people's rumors and horse tramping!

They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise and immediately turned the horses into a green meadow, Ivan Tsarevich into an old shepherd, and she herself became a peaceful lamb.

The chase comes:

Hey old man! Have you seen a good fellow galloping here with a red maiden?

No, good people, I haven’t seen it,” answers Ivan Tsarevich, “I’ve been grazing in this place for forty years, not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past!”

The chase turned back:

Your Royal Majesty! We didn’t run into anyone on the way, we only saw a shepherd tending a sheep.

What was missing? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and sent a new pursuit.

And Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise have been riding greyhounds a long time ago.

Well, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?

Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:

I hear people's rumors and horse tramping.

They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise; she herself became a church, turned Tsarevich Ivan into an old priest, and horses into trees.

The chase comes:

Hey, father! Didn't you see a shepherd pass here with a lamb?

No, good people, I haven’t seen it; I have been working in this church for forty years - not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past.

The chase turned back:

Your Royal Majesty! Nowhere were they found a shepherd with a lamb; Only on the way did they see the church and the old priest.

Why didn’t you destroy the church and seize the priest? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and he himself galloped after Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise.

And they went far.

Vasilisa the Wise speaks again:

Ivan Tsarevich! Fall down to the damp ground - you won't hear the chase!

Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:

I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping more than ever.

It is the king himself who is galloping.

Vasilisa the Wise turned the horses into a lake, Ivan Tsarevich into a drake, and she herself became a duck.

The king of the sea galloped to the lake and immediately guessed who the duck and the drake were; hit the damp ground and turned into an eagle. The eagle wants to kill them to death, but it didn’t work out that way: whatever doesn’t fly apart from above... the drake is about to hit, and the drake dives into the water; The duck is about to hit, and the duck dives into the water! I fought and fought and could not do anything. The king of the sea galloped to his underwater kingdom, and Vasilisa the Wise and Ivan Tsarevich waited for a good time and went to Holy Rus'.

Whether it was long or short, they arrived in the thirtieth kingdom.

Wait for me in this little forest,” says Ivan Tsarevich to Vasilisa the Wise, “I’ll go and report to my father and mother in advance.”

You will forget me, Ivan Tsarevich!

No, I won't forget.

No, Ivan Tsarevich, don’t talk, you’ll forget! Remember me even when two doves begin to fight at the windows!

Ivan Tsarevich came to the palace; his parents saw him, threw themselves on his neck and began to kiss and pardon him; In his joy, Ivan Tsarevich forgot about Vasilisa the Wise.

He lives another day with his father, with his mother, and on the third he plans to woo some princess.

Vasilisa the Wise went to the city and hired herself as a worker at a malt mill. They began to prepare the bread; she took two pieces of dough, made a pair of doves and put them in the oven.

Guess, mistress, what will happen from these doves?

What will happen? Let's eat them - that's all!

No, I didn’t guess!

Hello, young literary scholar! It’s good that you decided to read the fairy tale “The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise”; in it you will find folk wisdom that has been edified by generations. The story takes place in distant times or “A long time ago” as people say, but those difficulties, those obstacles and difficulties are close to our contemporaries. With the virtuosity of a genius, portraits of the heroes are depicted, their appearance, rich inner world, they “breathe life” into the creation and the events taking place in it. Thanks to children's developed imagination, they quickly revive colorful pictures of the world around them in their imagination and fill in the gaps with their visual images. Devotion, friendship and self-sacrifice and other positive feelings overcome all that oppose them: anger, deceit, lies and hypocrisy. Simple and accessible, about nothing and everything, instructive and edifying - everything is included in the basis and plot of this creation. Rivers, trees, animals, birds - everything comes to life, is filled with living colors, helps the heroes of the work in gratitude for their kindness and affection. The fairy tale “The Sea King and Vasilisa the Wise” can be read for free online countless times without losing your love and desire for this creation.

Far away, in the thirtieth state, there lived a king and a queen; they had no children. The king traveled through foreign lands, to distant sides, and did not go home for a long time; At that time the queen gave birth to him a son, Ivan Tsarevich, but the king does not know about it.
He began to make his way to his state, began to approach his land, and it was a hot, hot day, the sun was so hot! And a great thirst came upon him; whatever you give, just to drink some water! He looked around and saw a large lake not far away; rode up to the lake, got off his horse, lay down on the ground and let’s swallow the cold water. He drinks and does not smell trouble; and the king of the sea grabbed him by the beard.
- Let me go! - the king asks.
“I won’t let you in, don’t you dare drink without my knowledge!”
- Take whatever ransom you want - just let him go!
- Give me something you don’t know at home.
The king thought and thought... What doesn’t he know at home? He seems to know everything, he knows everything,” and he agreed. I tried - no one keeps a beard; got up from the ground, mounted his horse and rode home.
When he arrives home, the queen meets him with the prince, so joyful; and as soon as he found out about his sweet brainchild, he burst into bitter tears. He told the princess how and what had happened to him, they cried together, but there was nothing to do, tears couldn’t fix the matter.
They began to live as before; and the prince grows and grows, like dough on sourdough - by leaps and bounds - and he grew up big.
“No matter how much you keep it with you,” the king thinks, but you have to give it away: the matter is inevitable!” He took Ivan Tsarevich by the hand and led him straight to the lake.
“Look here,” he says, “for my ring; I accidentally dropped it yesterday.
He left the prince alone and turned home.
The prince began to look for the ring, walked along the shore, and an old woman came across him.
-Where are you going, Ivan Tsarevich?
- Let go, don't bother me, old witch! And without you it’s annoying.
- Well, stay with God!
And the old lady walked away.
And Ivan Tsarevich thought about it: “Why did I curse the old woman?” Let me turn it over; old people are cunning and shrewd! Maybe he’ll say something good.” And he began to turn the old woman over:
- Turn back, grandma, forgive my stupid word! After all, I said out of annoyance: my father made me look for the ring, I go and look, but the ring is gone!
“You are not here for the ring: your father gave you to the king of the sea; the king of the sea will come out and take you with him to the underwater kingdom.
The prince cried bitterly.
- Don’t worry, Ivan Tsarevich! There will be a holiday on your street; just listen to me, old woman. Hide behind that currant bush over there and hide quietly. Twelve doves will fly here - all red maidens, and after them the thirteenth; they will swim in the lake; and in the meantime, take the last one’s shirt and still don’t give it back until she gives you her ring. If you fail to do this, you are lost forever; The sea king has a high palisade around the entire palace, for as much as ten miles, and a head is stuck on each spoke; only one is empty, don’t get caught in it!
Ivan Tsarevich thanked the old woman, hid behind a currant bush and waited for the time to come.
Suddenly twelve doves fly in; hit the damp ground and turned into red maidens, every single one of them indescribable beauty: neither thought of, nor guessed, nor written with a pen! They threw off their dresses and went into the lake: they play, splash, laugh, sing songs.
Following them, the thirteenth dove flew in; she hit the damp ground, turned into a beautiful girl, threw off her shirt from her white body and went for a swim; and she was the prettiest of all, the most beautiful of all!
For a long time Ivan Tsarevich could not take his eyes off her; he looked at her for a long time and remembered what the old woman had told him; he crept up quietly and took away the shirt.
A red maiden came out of the water, grabbed her - there was no shirt, someone took it away; Everyone rushed to look: they looked, they looked, but they couldn’t see it anywhere.
- Don’t look, dear sisters! Fly home; It’s my own fault - I didn’t look enough, and I’ll answer myself.
The red maiden sisters hit the damp ground, became doves, flapped their wings and flew away. Only one girl remained, looked around and said:
“Whoever it is who has my shirt, come out here; If you’re an old man, you’ll be my dear father; if you’re middle-aged, you’ll be a beloved brother; if you’re my equal, you’ll be a dear friend!
As soon as she said the last word, Tsarevich Ivan appeared. She gave him a gold ring and said:
- Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! Why haven't you come for a long time? The king of the sea is angry with you. This is the road that leads to the underwater kingdom; walk on it boldly! You will find me there too; after all, I am the daughter of the sea king, Vasilisa the Wise.
Vasilisa the Wise turned into a dove and flew away from the prince.
And Ivan Tsarevich went to the underwater kingdom; he sees - and there the light is the same as ours; and there the fields, and meadows, and groves are green, and the sun is warm.
He comes to the sea king. The sea king shouted at him:
- Why haven’t you been here for so long? For your guilt, here is a service for you: I have a wasteland for thirty miles, both in length and across - only ditches, gullies and sharp stones! So that by tomorrow it would be as smooth as the palm of your hand, and the rye would be sown, and by early morning it would grow so tall that a jackdaw could bury itself in it. If you don’t do this, off your head!
Ivan Tsarevich comes from the sea king, and he is shedding tears. Tall Vasilisa the Wise saw him through the window from her mansion and asked:
- Hello, Ivan Tsarevich! Why are you shedding tears?
- How can I not cry? - the prince answers. “The king of the sea forced me to level ditches, gullies and sharp stones in one night and sow them with rye, so that by the morning of sleep it would grow and a jackdaw could hide in it.”
- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed with God; morning is wiser than evening, everything will be ready!
Ivan Tsarevich went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:
- Hey you, my faithful servants! Level the deep ditches, remove the sharp stones, sow the rye so that it will ripen by morning.
Tsarevich Ivan woke up at dawn, looked - everything was ready: there were no ditches, no gullies, the field stood as smooth as the palm of his hand, and there was rye on it - so high that the jackdaw would be buried.
I went to the sea king with a report.
“Thank you,” says the sea king, “for being able to serve.” Here's another job for you: I have three hundred stacks, each stack contains three hundred kopecks - all white wheat; By tomorrow, thresh all the wheat for me cleanly, down to a single grain, and don’t break the stacks and don’t break the sheaves. If you don’t do it, off your head!
- I’m listening, Your Majesty! - said Ivan Tsarevich; he walks around the yard again and sheds tears.
- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him.
- How can I not cry? The king of the sea ordered me to thresh all the stacks in one night, not to drop the grain, and not to break the stacks and not to break the sheaves.
- It’s not a problem, there will be trouble ahead! Go to bed with God; The morning is wiser than the evening.
The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:
- Hey, you creeping ants! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you crawl here and pick out the grain from your father’s stacks cleanly.
In the morning the sea king calls Ivan Tsarevich:
- Did you serve?
- Served, Your Majesty!
- Let's go have a look.
They came to the threshing floor - all the stacks were untouched, they came to the granary - all the bins were full of grain.
- Thank you, brother! - said the sea king. “Make me another church from pure wax so that it will be ready by dawn: this will be your last service.”
Again Tsarevich Ivan walks through the yard and washes himself with tears.
- Why are you crying bitterly? - Vasilisa the Wise asks him from the high tower.
- How can I not cry, good fellow? The king of the sea ordered to make a church from pure wax in one night.
- Well, it’s not a problem yet, there will be trouble ahead. Go to bed; The morning is wiser than the evening.
The prince went to bed, and Vasilisa the Wise came out onto the porch and shouted in a loud voice:
- Hey you, hard-working bees! No matter how many of you there are in this world, all of you fly here and mold a church of God out of pure wax so that it will be ready by morning.
In the morning, Ivan Tsarevich got up, looked - the church was made of pure wax, and went to the sea king with a chill.
- Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich! No matter what servants I had, no one was able to please as much as you. For this, be my heir, protector of the whole kingdom; choose any of my thirteen daughters as your wife.
Ivan Tsarevich chose Vasilisa the Wise; They were immediately married and feasted in joy for three whole days.
No less time passed, Ivan Tsarevich yearned for his parents, and he wanted to go to Holy Rus'.
- Why are you so sad, Ivan Tsarevich?
- Ah, Vasilisa the Wise, I was sad for my father, for my mother, I wanted to go to Holy Rus'.
- This trouble has come! If we leave, there will be a great pursuit after us; the king of the sea will be angry and put us to death. We have to manage!
Vasilisa the Wise spat in three corners, locked the doors to her mansion and ran with Ivan Tsarevich to Holy Rus'.
The next day, early, messengers from the king of the sea arrive to raise the young people and invite them to the palace to the king. Knocking on doors:
- Wake up, wake up! Father is calling you.
- It’s still early, we didn’t get enough sleep: come back later! - one saliva answers.
So the messengers left, waited an hour or two and knocked again:
- It's not time to sleep, it's time to get up!
- Wait a little: let’s get up and get dressed! - another saliva answers.
For the third time the messengers arrive:
“The King of the Sea is angry, why are they cooling off for so long?”
- We'll be there now! - answers the third saliva.
The messengers waited and waited and let's knock again: no response, no response! The door was broken down, but the mansion was empty.
They reported to the king that the young people had run away; He became embittered and sent a great pursuit after them.
And Vasilisa the Wise with Ivan Tsarevich are already far, far away! They ride greyhound horses without stopping, without rest.
“Come on, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?”
Ivan Tsarevich jumped off his horse, pressed his ear to the damp ground and said:
- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping!
- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise and immediately turned the horses into a green meadow, Ivan Tsarevich into an old shepherd, and she herself became a peaceful lamb.
The chase comes:
- Hey, old man! Have you seen a good fellow galloping here with a red maiden?
“No, good people, I haven’t seen it,” answers Ivan Tsarevich, “I’ve been grazing in this place for forty years, not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past!”
The chase turned back:
- Your Royal Majesty! We didn’t run into anyone on the way, we only saw a shepherd tending a sheep.
- What was missing? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and sent a new pursuit.
And Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise have been riding greyhounds a long time ago.
- Well, Ivan Tsarevich, fall down to the damp ground and listen, is there any pursuit from the sea king?
Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:
- I hear people’s rumors and horse tramping.
- They're after us! - said Vasilisa the Wise; she herself became a church, turned Tsarevich Ivan into an old priest, and horses into trees.
The chase comes:
- Hey, father! Didn't you see a shepherd pass here with a lamb?
- No, good people, I haven’t seen it; I have been working in this church for forty years - not a single bird has flown past, not a single animal has prowled past.
The chase turned back:
- Your Royal Majesty! Nowhere were they found a shepherd with a lamb; Only on the way did they see the church and the old priest.
- Why didn’t you destroy the church and capture the priest? After all, it was them! - the sea king shouted and he himself galloped after Ivan Tsarevich and Vasilisa the Wise.
And they went far.
Vasilisa the Wise speaks again:
- Ivan Tsarevich! Fall down to the damp ground - you won't hear the chase!
Ivan Tsarevich got off his horse, put his ear to the damp earth and said:
“I hear people’s rumors and the horse’s tramp more than ever.”
“It’s the king himself who’s galloping.”
Vasilisa the Wise turned the horses into a lake, Ivan Tsarevich into a drake, and she herself became a duck.
The king of the sea galloped to the lake and immediately guessed who the duck and the drake were; hit the damp ground and turned into an eagle. The eagle wants to kill them to death, but it didn’t work out that way: whatever doesn’t fly away from above... the drake is about to hit, and the drake dives into the water; The duck is about to hit, and the duck dives into the water! I fought and fought and could not do anything. The king of the sea galloped to his underwater kingdom, and Vasilisa the Wise and Ivan Tsarevich waited for a good time and went to Holy Rus'.
Whether it was long or short, they arrived in the thirtieth kingdom.
“Wait for me in this little forest,” says Ivan Tsarevich to Vasilisa the Wise, “I’ll go and report to my father and mother in advance.”
- You will forget me, Ivan Tsarevich!
- No, I won’t forget.
- No, Ivan Tsarevich, don’t talk, you’ll forget! Remember me even when two doves begin to fight at the windows!
Ivan Tsarevich came to the palace; his parents saw him, threw themselves on his neck and began to kiss and pardon him; In his joy, Ivan Tsarevich forgot about Vasilisa the Wise.
He lives another day with his father, with his mother, and on the third he plans to woo some princess.
Vasilisa the Wise went to the city and hired herself as a worker at a malt mill. They began to prepare the bread; she took two pieces of dough, made a pair of doves and put them in the oven.
- Guess, mistress, what will happen from these doves?
- What will happen? Let's eat them - that's all!
- No, I didn’t guess!
Vasilisa the Wise opened the stove, opened the window - and at that very moment the pigeons started up, flew straight into the palace and began to beat on the windows; No matter how hard the royal servants tried, they could not drive them away.
It was only then that Ivan Tsarevich remembered about Vasilisa the Wise, sent messengers in all directions to question and search, and found her at the bakery; He took the white people by the hands, kissed them on the sugary lips, brought them to their father, to their mother, and they all began to live together and get along and make good things.