orthwith ordered their horses to be saddled; each
seized in his right hand a steel sword, and in his left a sharp lance,
and they rode forth out of the city. When the Tsar Lukoper beheld
them, he rode with the blunt end of his lance against Marcobrun and
Sensibri, overthrew them one after another, took them prisoners, and
sent them to his father, Saltan Saltanovich, who was encamped with his
army on the seashore. Then Lukoper fell upon the armies of Sensibri
and Marcobrun, and slew them without mercy, while his gallant steed
trampled down still more than he killed; and in a short time the
royal forbidden meadows were covered with the dead.

Just at this time Bova Korolevich awoke from his sleep, and heard the
noise of Lukoper's army, and the neighing of the horses. Then he went
to the Princess Drushnevna and said: "Gracious Lady, I hear the noise
of Lukoper's warriors, who are disporting in a tourney after the
victory over your father and Marcobrun, whom he has sent prisoners to
his father the Tsar Saltan Saltanovich, on the seashore. I am
therefore come, as your faithful servant, to crave permission to take
from the royal stable a good horse, with trappings, a sword, and a
steel lance. Let me go forth against Lukoper's army, measure my
strength with him, and try the valour of his boasting warriors." The
Princess answered: "I will consent to your wish, young fellow; but you
must first tell me truly of what rank of life you are, and what is
your real name? You have not told my father the truth: your handsome
figure and valorous deeds show clearly that you are no poor man's
son."

"Lady," replied Bova Korolevich, "I would not disclose to you my true
rank and name, but that I am now going forth to a battle of life and
death, and know not whether I shall return from it alive, or lose my
head in rescuing my King from prison; therefore I will confess the
truth. My father was the renowned King Guidon, a mighty hero in the
field, and a merciful prince to his subjects. My mother is Queen
Militrisa, daughter of the Tsar Kirbit Versoulovich: my name is Bova.
I left my country in early youth, when King Dadon laid waste our
kingdom, treacherously murdered my father, and seized upon his
dominions. He sought to kill me too; but I fled, sailed with some
merchants to your kingdom, and was bought by your father."

When the Princess heard this story she loved Bova Korolevich still
more, and she said to him: "Brave Knight, you would eng