RUSSIAN GARLAND
thy mother, the Princess Epistimia. I am the only one left alive, and have lain nine days here half-dead with fear."
Yaroslav wept when he heard this, and mounting his steed, commended himself to the Saints, and rode to seek the Tsar Daniil the White. He came to the city at noon without being seen, except by some little boys playing in the streets; and he asked them where the Tsar Kartaus was, as he wished to give him alms; so they showed him the prison. At the gate a guard was standing, but Yaroslav struck him down, and broke open the doors. On entering the prison, he saw Kartaus, his father Lasar, and the twelve knights, all blinded; at which cruel sight he fell to the ground, and with tears exclaimed: "Long life to thee, O Tsar, to thee my father, and to you brave knights!" Then answered Kartaus: "I hear thy voice but cannot see thy face. Whence comest thou, what is thy name, and whose son art thou?" So Yaroslav told him who he was; but Kartaus replied: "Fellow, away! and mock me not."
"Father," replied Yaroslav, "I am indeed Yaroslav, and come to relieve you." "Lie not, fellow!" said Kartaus; "if Yaroslav had been alive we should not sit here in prison and suffer such a cruel fate; but I should have been reigning
220
