University of Virginia Library

Tzar Solomon and Tzaritza
Solomonida[1]

BEYOND the glorious blue sea, in Imperial
Tzargrad,[2] Tzar Vasily Okulovich made a
great and honourable feast to many princes,
nobles, errant-knights, stout and mighty heroes,
and all the bold warrior-maidens, Tatars, bodyguards,
and merchants from other lands.

The white day drew to even, the feast waxed
merry, the sovereign was well diverted, and paced
the banquet hall, shaking his yellow curls. He
spoke:

"Oh, ye my princes, boyars, mighty heroes,
damsels-errant, Tatars, and body-guard! All in
Tzargrad are wedded, every maid and widow is
given in marriage; and I, your prince, most fair
Tzar Vasily Okulovich, alone go unwed. Know
ye not, therefore, a spouse for me? Stately of
form must she be, of equal understanding; her
eyes like the falcon clear, her brows of the black
sable, the sable of Siberia; gracious her speech
must be, as of the white migratory swan, her face
white as the snow, her cheeks like the poppy in
hue, her gait like that of the golden-antlered stag,
and in all this world must none be found her
equal."

—All at the feast fell silent. The great hid
behind the lesser, and he, in turn, behind the
small, and from that little Tatar, the Tzar had no
reply. Then from a side table, from his seat of
precious fishes' teeth, rose Tarakashko, a guest
from over the sea, came very close to the Tzar,
did him lowly reverence, and spoke with all
softness:

"Bless, my liege, the word I shall utter! I
have journeyed afar, beyond the blue sea; in the
royal town of Jerusalem dwelleth the Tzaritza
Solomonida. Such another have I never beheld
upon this earth. She sitteth, lord, in a lofty castle;
the red sun burneth her not, the frequent, drizzling
rains wet her not, and good men scoff not at her."

Then answered Tzar Vasily: "Thou art foolish,
Guest Tarakashko from over the sea! How may
a wife be taken from a living husband?"

"I know, in sooth, how to take a wife with
cunning and wisdom. Build me now three scarlet
ships; fashion their prows like wild beasts, and
their sides in the semblance of dragons. In place
of eyes, set a whole fox of the cavern, in place of
black brows a whole Siberian sable. Set a tree
of cypress, and on it place birds of paradise that
they may sing imperial songs. Prepare a couch
of ivory, and at its head place, lord, a little gusly,
which will sing, hum, breathe forth delicate tones
of itself—all the airs of Tzargrad; that they may
be a solace to Jerusalem, and may sing reason and
understanding into the turbulent head—the turbulent
head of a human being. Roll on board
food, my liege lord, noble vodka,[3] and the drink
that bringeth oblivion of all things. Give me
skippers, lord, and work-people; so will I bring
thee Solomonida, my liege."

Then the Tzar did all as commanded, and Guest
Tarakashko made ready and sailed out upon the
blue sea, and drew near to the city of Jerusalem.

—Solomon went forth upon the open plain, and
came to bid farewell to the Tzaritza Solomonida.

"Most fair Solomonida, I go now to the open
plain," he said. And the Tzaritza made answer:

"Most wise Tzar Solomon Davidovich! Last
night I slept but little, and beheld many things in
my dreams. Methought, lord, that the golden ring
upon thy right hand did melt, and the Novgorod
setting rolled away, and was scattered about thee."

"Thou hast but slept, and had a dream," spoke
Solomon.

"Nay, lord," the Tzaritza said: "I slept but
little, and had many visions. Methought they bore
thy white swan far away from thy green garden."

This Solomon could interpret. "Most fair
Tzaritza Solomonida! yield not to manly charms."
Then took he leave of her, and went forth upon
the open plain to collect tribute for twelve years.

—Guest Tarakashko from beyond the sea
entered the harbour, and paid a tax; he cast
anchor, and paid dues, lowered his sails, and paid
yet more.

Then he took noble and precious gifts, and came
to the Tzaritza in her lofty castle, crossed himself
as enjoined, did reverence as commanded, and
spoke these words:

"Most fair Tzaritza Solomonida! Receive from
my hand these honourable gifts, and give me scribes
and surveyors, to write down the wares upon my
vessels, that thou mayest take due tribute, and
grant me leave to trade in Jerusalem."

So the Tzaritza appointed scribes and surveyors
according to his desire, and Tarakashko
led them to his first vessel, and gave them lordly

vodka; led them to the second, and brought them
the liquor of oblivion. The scribes all drank, and
lay about upon the ships.

Guest Tarakashko wept sore thereat, came to
the Tzaritza and made complaint. "Most fair
Tzaritza Solomonida! no scribes and surveyors
hast thou given me, but pot-house sots. Methinks
they cannot have tasted of green wine for an
age, for they lie like Christian beasts about my
decks."

Then the Tzaritza rose, and took a force of five
hundred men, and went to the first vessel to view
the matter. There Tarakashko brought lordly
vodka, and on the second treated her to the wine
of oblivion; and the Tzaritza drank too much.
For Guest Tarakashko was crafty, and had made
her, for his purpose, pass through these two first
vessels as he led her to the third where stood the
couch of ivory. The Tzaritza lay down upon the
fair couch, the little harp sounded softly, the birds
of heaven sang, and the Tzaritza fell asleep.

Guest Tarakashko beheld, and shouted in a
hissing voice:

"Ho there, my skippers and sailors all! Hoist
the linen sails, run far out upon the blue sea!"

When the Tzaritza wakened from her deep
slumber, and all the skippers were hastening to
and fro, hoisting the linen sails, and steering out
to sea, she roused herself, and said:

"Guest Tarakashko from over the sea! if thou
bearest me away for thyself, I will not go with
thee!"

But Tarakashko was cunning, and knew right
well how to shape his answer: "Not for myself
do I bear thee, lady, but for Tzar Vasily Okulovich.
And in sooth our faith is better than thine:
Wednesdays and Fridays are like all other days

with us, and we eat meat." And this faith seemed
good to the Tzaritza, and she resisted not.

Quickly they ran to Tzargrad, and cast anchor in
the ship harbour. Tzar Vasily came to meet them,
took Solomonida by her white hands, kissed her
sugar mouth, and led her to the cathedral where
they straightway took the golden crowns. Then
they began to live and pass the time in mirth.

—Solomon returning from the open plain found
not his Tzaritza. Then the most wise Tzar
gathered a force of forty thousand men, all clad
in chain mail, and marched around the blue sea
to Tzargrad. When he came to a green grove, he
halted, and left all his host beneath the trees, and
commanded them:

"All ye, my well-beloved host! I go now alone
to Tzargrad. If I be near to speedy death, I will
blow one blast upon my aurochs horn: then saddle
your good steeds in haste. If a second time I
sound, then mount your good steeds quickly. If
a third blast I blow, then ride, ride with what
speed ye may, to the oaken gallows, and defend
me from sudden death."

Then Solomon took leave of his men, and went
alone to Tzargrad, on foot, and so came over against
the royal palace, and shouted in a ringing voice:

"Most fair Tzaritza Solomonida! give alms to
a wandering psalm-singer!"

The little lattice window was opened wide: no
white swan it was which twittered, but the Tzaritza,
who spoke these words: "I look—lo! 'tis no
wandering psalm-singer I see—'tis Solomon the
most wise Tzar. Prithee, Solomon, enter my
lofty palace. That which I have done, lord, was
against my will."

So Solomon entered the lofty palace, crossed
himself as commanded, did reverence as enjoined,

bowing on all sides. Fair Solomonida seated him
at the white oak table, gave him all manner of
savoury viands and pleasant liquors, and showed
him great honour.

But then came Tzar Vasily from the open plain,
and knocked at the silver ring, and Solomon said:
"Solomonida most fair! is there not some place
where I may hide?"

"Creep into this iron-bound chest, Solomon."

She undid the double locks, and when Solomon
had entered she made them fast again, admitted
Tzar Vasily, and sitting upon the chest, spoke
thus: "Most fair Vasily Okulovich! Solomon is
reputed both wise and cunning. But of a truth,
there is none more foolish; for lo! a woman now
sitteth upon him!"

"Show me Solomon most wise, fairest Solomonida,"
quoth Vasily.

Then she undid the twofold locks, and besought
Vasily: "Give speedy death to Solomon, fair
Vasily! Cut off his turbulent head; for, of a
truth, Solomon is both wise and crafty."

Solomon sprang to his nimble feet, seized Vasily
by his white hands, and said: "With us 'tis not
the usage to cut off the heads of Tzars. Make now,
therefore, a lofty scaffold, and hang upon it three
great nooses; the first of rope, the second of bast,
the third of silk."

"Ho there, Tzar Vasily!" cried the Tzaritza
then, "full time is it for thee to execute judgment
upon Solomon, and sever his turbulent head, else
will he yet escape by his craft and wisdom."

Nevertheless the Tzar did all as Solomon had
commanded, and they all went forth to the gallows
of white oak—Solomon the most wise Tzar, Solomonida
the fairest Tzaritza, Tzar Vasily, and Guest
Tarakashko from over the sea.

When they were come to the gallows, Solomon
spoke this word: "Tzar Vasily Okulovich! the
horse draweth the forward wheels; why, then,
should the devil bear the hind wheels?" But no
one could read that riddle.

Then Solomon mounted the first step, and said:

"Most fair Tzar Vasily Okulovich! in my youth
and childhood I fed the peasant flock. Grant me
now, lord, to blow my aurochs horn once more."

"Blow, Solomon, as much as thou wilt," said
Vasily.

But Solomonida urged speedy death. "He is in
my hands now," quoth Vasily. Solomon blew the
first blast upon his horn, and all his force was
tossed about. Right quickly did they saddle their
good steeds, while Tzar Vasily feared and was
disquieted.

"What marvel is this that hath been wrought,
Solomon?" he asked. "On the open plain there
is stamping, and clinking of metal."

"Fear not, Tzar Vasily," Solomon made answer,
"and be not disquieted. My horses in Jerusalem
have fled from their stalls to the gloomy forest,
and would fain recall Solomon most wise."

Then he mounted the second step. With
Vasily's good leave, and against the will of Solomonida,
he blew a second blast upon his horn.
All his host was thrilled to motion, as his men
mounted their good steeds in haste. And Vasily
trembled thereat, and was afraid.

"What wonder hath been wrought in the plain,
Solomon? For there is a clanging and a beating
of hoofs."

"Fear thou nothing, Tzar Vasily! My bird in
Jerusalem hath flown from the garden to the
dusky grove, and beateth the grove with its wings,
recalling Solomon most wise."

Then he mounted the third step, and craved
leave to sound his horn for the last time. He
blew a battle call, and all his great host was
moved, as though clear falcons had flown overhead,
or gray wolves had sped swiftly past. With
all speed they rode to the oaken gallows, and took
Tzar Solomon most wise therefrom. Then they
sat Tzar Vasily in the silken noose, Tzaritza
Solomonida the Fair in the rope, and Guest Tarakashko
in the noose of bast. And having taken
captive all Tzargrad, they journeyed back around
the blue sea to Jerusalem, and began again to live
and to pass their days in pleasure.