age in a fight
of life and death with the Tsar Lukoper, but you do not know, perhaps,
how powerful he is, and what an immense army he has with him; besides,
you are still very young, and have not the strength of manhood. Stay
rather in my city, take me for your wife, and protect my country and
people against our foes."

Bova, however, was unmoved by her words; and again entreated her to
let him have a steed and armour. When the Princess Drushnevna saw how
earnestly he begged, she took from the wall a battle sword, buckled it
on him with her own hands, put on his armour, and led him to the stone
stable to fetch a steed, which stood there behind twelve iron doors
and twelve huge locks. Then she commanded the grooms to strike off the
locks; but as soon as the horse perceived a rider worthy of him, he
began to burst the doors with his hoofs, broke them all down, ran out,
set himself on his hind legs before Bova, and neighed so loud that the
fair Drushnevna and all the bystanders were ready to fall down
senseless.

When Bova took the horse by his black-grey mane and began to pat him,
he stood still as if rooted to the spot; and Bova Korolevich seeing
this, placed a Tcherkess saddle upon him, with girths of Persian silk
and golden buckles. And when he vaulted into the saddle and took leave
of the Princess Drushnevna, she embraced and kissed him. The royal
Chamberlain, named Orlop, who saw this, began to reproach her, which
angered Bova so much that he hurled him to the ground half-dead with
the butt-end of his lance, and rode out of the city. Then Bova struck
the flanks of his steed, which started, rose from the ground, and
leaped over the city wall.

When Bova beheld the camp of the Tsar Lukoper, in which the tents
stood as thick as trees in a forest, he drew his battle sword and
mace, and rode straight against the mighty Tsar. The crash of two
mountains falling upon one another is not so great as was the onset
between these two powerful knights. Lukoper struck at Bova's heart
with his lance, but Bova parried the thrust with his shield, and the
lance was shivered in pieces. Then Bova struck Lukoper on the head
with his sword, and cleft his body in twain to the very saddle; after
which he fell upon Lukoper's army, and many as he slew with his
battle-axe, as many again were trodden down under his horse's hoofs.
Bova fought five days without resting, and overthrew well nigh the
whole army; a small number only escaped, who f