LYUBIM AND THE WINGED WOLF
I disdained to tell you why I was sad, but it came into my mind that old folk must know more than young ones." "There it is, Lyubim Tsarevich," said the old woman, "you can't easily get away from old folk. Say, why are you sad? Tell the old wife." And Lyubim Tsarevich said to her: "I have no good horse and no armour, yet I must travel far and wide in search of my brothers." Then the old woman said: "What think you? There is a horse and a suit of armour in your father's forbidden meadow[1], behind twelve gates, and this horse is fastened by twelve chains. On that meadow is also a broadsword and a fine suit of armour."
When Lyubim Tsarevich had heard this, and thanked the old woman, he went straightway, overjoyed, to the forbidden meadow. On reaching the place where the horse was, he stopped, and bethought him "How shall I break through the twelve gates?" At last he made the attempt, and presently broke down one gate; then the steed perceived by his scent the presence of the brave youth, and with a great effort burst his chains;
- ↑ The "royal forbidden meadows" were those belonging to the Sovereign, the use of which was strictly forbidden to his subjects. When an enemy came into the country they first pitched their camp in these fields, as a declaration of hostilities.
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